05: A War Without Weapons
Kung Ji’s hut, Xian Outpost, Reish
Kung Ji leaned over his desk, frowning at the papers organized neatly on top of his map of the Wall. Requests for supplies, casualty reports, and apologies from supply line caravans were stacked neatly into three piles. Most galling was the unopened ornate scroll from the Sages, which he already knew was a denial of his request for an audience and an assurance that the Sages 'had the utmost confidence in his abilities as a commander to meet the challenges facing the military at this time.'
Firewood, blankets, and food. Even more than the Cult, the Exiles, or the Sleepers, the Descendents of the Dragon were fighting a war against the cold Reish nights and the gnawing threat of starvation. At least they had boots for the defenders of the Wall thanks to a recent shipment. Moving some of the papers to the side, Kung Ji began tracing supply lines with his finger from the Wall into Jinhai's heartland, noting areas that were failing to produce the promised supplies, scowling at the number of shortfalls.
There was a knock at the door.
"Not now," Kung Ji snarled, sitting down in his chair and grinding his knuckles into his temples.
The door opened anyway, and Kung Ji looked up to see his aide apologetically bowing. "I'm so sorry, General, but she insisted that you see her as soon as possible..." the man's voice trailed off as she walked around him to enter the room. Looking pained and no doubt anticipating a demotion, the aide left Kung Ji's office, closing the door behind him.
"Xi," Kung Ji said, rising to his feet and nodding respectfully to welcome the visitor, "what brings you here?"
"I need your help, General," she said, stepping forwards, and Kung Ji felt his heart skip a beat. He ignored it. Xi was wearing her traditional dress, her mechanical angel wings delicately folded behind her back like she didn't even know they were there. A bag was slung across one shoulder, and a spirit-flower that glowed like moonlight was tucked into her hair, giving her face a slight glow.
"Take a seat," Kung Ji said, sitting down himself. "How can I help?"
Xi smiled as she sat down. "Don't be too hard on your aide, General," she said. "This truly is an urgent matter."
Kung Ji nodded amicably. His aide, like most men in Jinhai, was half in love with the popular spiritual leader. A following had sprung up around Xi quite unexpectedly in the recent years, and it was only energized by her Ascension to join the Overseers--and her subsequent return to her people. Spirits, if anyone else had barged into his office Kung Ji would have thrown them out and had them flogged, assuming they even made it to his office. But all Xi had needed to do was ask a few kind questions and smile, and here she was. If Kung Ji was being honest with himself, something he always strove for, he would admit that he was half in love with her too. He was not being honest with himself today.
"Please, call me by my name," he said. "I have heard glowing reports of your work and wouldn't have barriers of formality between us. We are all informed by the great dragon's teachings and working in defense of Jinhai, after all."
"And it is the preservation of our homeland that brings me here today," Xi said. "We face a dire threat, Kung Ji, and I do not exaggerate when I say that it is more dangerous than any Sleeper horde or demonic raid."
"What is it?"
Xi reached into her bag and pulled out what looked like a tree root, carefully placing it on the desk. Kung Ji leaned forwards to inspect the object, his eyebrows knitting together in concern as he watched the dead root twist with diabolical energy.
"Corruption, Kung Ji," Xi explained. "It's seeping deeper into Jinhai, killing trees, tainting the water supply, ruining farmland. You cannot fight it with arrows or spears, cannot stop it with shields, but it is killing our people and your soldiers more surely than any Exile or Cultist could. Even worse, it is changing our people, twisting proud warriors and simple laborers alike into perverse caricatures of humanity."
"We know of the corruption," Kung Ji said, leaning back in his chair, "and the Sages have established wards around Jinhai to stave it off. Some leaks through, but Jinhai remains pure, protected. Of course, the closer you are to--"
"This root was taken from the gardens of the Great Fortress of Xia Han," Xi said, and Kung Ji stopped talking. "The corruption is getting worse, and it will only get worse unless we do something about it. We can't just set up spiritual wards and wait for this diabolical pollution to break through them, Kung Ji. It's already done so, but no one realizes just how bad the corruption has become. There are other threats, easier to visualize, identify, and fight. So we focus on the Exiles, on the Cultists, on the Sleepers, even while the land beneath our feet turns to poison." She gestured to the map on the desk. "Don't tell me that you haven't noticed the difficulties our farms have had supplying food to our soldiers and to our people, or the forests that are too corrupted to be turned into firewood and arrows. We're drawing from deeper and deeper behind the Wall, but the corruption will spread even there eventually. If we don't fight back now, we'll reach a point where we won't be able to halt the change."
"So what can I do?" Kung Ji asked. "You've already said that this is not an enemy we can fight with spears and arrows."
"I need an audience with Ao Shun and the Sages," Xi said. "They need to know the extent of the threat, and we need their help if we're going to cleanse the corruption from the land."
Kung Ji laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Xi, I can't even get an audience with the Sages for myself. They've rebuffed me at every turn, ignored every cry for help and request for advice I have sent them. How am I supposed to help you do something I can't even do?"
She looked him in the eyes, then. "Please," she pleaded, her voice desperate.
This will never work, he thought to himself, but in spite of his misgivings the Glorious Strategist's mind began to whir into action. "I'll see what I can do," he said.
The Sages were surrounded by layers of protections no matter where they traveled. Local militia guarded approaches, then a detachment of regular soldiers, and then finally Daode's picked Honor Guards. Not to mention the throngs of civilians who flocked to see the Sages wherever they went, who could pose an obstacle through sheer density.
This last would only be made worse by Xi's presence, with people swarming around her to ask for blessings or even just have the chance to see the living angel. For all that Xi's earnest entreaties and personal following would help them get past guards and sentries the closer they got to the Sages, if people saw her out in the open she would be more of a liability than an asset.
Which was why Kung Ji had commandeered a supply wagon to get them past the crowds. The Sages were gathered at Honor Hill for a ceremony and public address, which would make them easier to reach. The general and the angel sat in the back of the wagon, patiently bearing the bumps in the road and the slow progress while Kung Ji's aide steered them past the crowds. There was the muffled sound of a guard asking for papers, and then they were beyond the first layer of security. The wagon turned to the left, then came to a halt.
"I'll lead the way," Kung Ji said, hopping out of the back and grabbing a crate to unload. A few feet away, a militiaman was unloading another wagon with supplies for the feast following the Sages' speech to the public. "We're clear," he said, and Xi got out of the wagon.
They began to climb the steps up towards the next tier of Honor Hill, leaving the kitchens and caretakers' quarters behind and approaching the areas dedicated to remembering the fallen. Xi bowed her head and whispered prayers to the spirits, stopping to light a few sticks of incense while Kung Ji ordered a guard to let them pass.
"Of course, General," the guard said, bowing.
"As you were," Kung Ji commanded, and they continued to climb. We're past the second layer.
Climbing past the shrines and honor rolls of the dead, Kung Ji dismissed three more patrolling guards before they reached the entrance to the next tier of Honor Hill devoted to renowned heroes, great sacrifices, and legendary acts of valor. He had been here before, for the dedication of the shrine honoring the defenders of the rifts when they had first opened. He paused and bowed in the direction of that gallery before opening the door.
"Halt," the guard on the other side barked. "No one has been cleared to enter this level. The Sages are in contemplation and are not to be disturbed." Kung Ji registered the red trim around the jade armor and sighed inwardly.
It was only a matter of time before Daode's Honor Guard stopped us. "I'm General Kung Ji, back from the front for an urgent audience with the Sages," he said. There was no point in trying to give a direct order.
The honor guard's eyes narrowed, and Kung Ji heard the approaching footsteps of a second guard. "I have not been informed of such an audience, General. With respect, you will have to wait outside."
Xi stepped forwards, extending her hands in a gesture of peace and supplication. "Please, we need to speak with the Sages."
The guard took a step back in shock, then composed himself as the second guard arrived. "What's going on here?" the second guard, a woman, asked.
"We've come to plead an audience with the Sages and with Ao Shun," Xi explained, her voice bright, her eyes hopeful. Kung Ji's heart twisted in his chest.
"It's our duty to keep all unauthorized visitors from disturbing the Sages' contemplations," the female guard said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "They are busy, and do not have time for interruptions."
Kung Ji bristled. For months he had been sending requests for an audience, or even for advice, only to be ignored. And now, with the future of Jinhai at stake, they were going to be turned back once again. He opened his mouth to argue, but Xi cut him off.
"We understand that you have a duty, ma'am, and the spirits honor your discipline and sacrifice. Know that I would not be here if the need was not great, if time was not short, and if the matter was not urgent. The souls of our ancestors cry out," Xi pleaded, "and I cannot bear to hear their anguish any longer."
And suddenly they were through, being escorted by the two guards to the entrance to the next tier of Honor Hill. It was the second level from the top, and it was here that the Sages were locked in contemplation. It was from a balcony on this level that they would give their address. The male guard watched them while the female guard slipped inside the entrance. Less than a minute later, she returned.
"The Sages are deep in contemplation, but the honored Sage of Discipline will hear your entreaty," she said. "Blessings of the spirits be upon you."
Xi placed a hand on the honor guard's shoulder. "And upon you as well," she said. Then Kung Ji opened the door and the two of them stepped inside. This tier of Honor Hill was decorated with gardens, still pools surrounded by carefully managed grass and clusters of flowers. Banners inscribed with the names of countless fallen heroes hung from the walls, the writing too small to read from any distance.
Lingbao, the Sage of Discipline, nodded silently as they entered and led them over to a side garden. Kung Ji noted that the other two Sages were moving farther away, no doubt to avoid being disturbed by any conversation. Respectfully, he kept his voice low.
"Thank you for agreeing to see us," he said, bowing before taking a seat on a stone bench.
"It appears that you made your case most forcefully," Lingbao said, taking a seat himself. "It must be urgent for our lead general to desert his post and smuggle his way into this sanctuary."
Kung Ji felt the heat of shame and anger flushing across his face. "I would not disturb you if it was not a matter of importance, honored sage," he finally said, forcing down his indignation.
Xi knelt before the sage. "Honored sage, I knew of no other way to speak with you. Please forgive the general for his actions, he was only acting on my behalf."
"You have a great talent at convincing others to help you," Lingbao noted, his voice clipped and neutral. "We had wondered how long it would take before that became a problem."
Kung Ji bristled, but Xi ignored the jibe. "Honored sage, the land of Jinhai is dying from corruption. The pollution of foul magic is spilling across our borders and poisoning our land, and in spite of our best efforts it grows worse with every passing day. We need to speak with Ao Shun. Only the great Dragon of Wisdom can turn back the tide. Only with your help can we purify our lands."
Lingbao considered her entreaty dispassionately. "We are aware of the corruption, Xi," he said. "If that is all of the news you bring to us, then I may be forced to discipline our guards over their lax security."
"Are you aware of its extent?" she asked, bringing out the root from Xia Han once more. "It is reaching even into our most sacred strongholds. We cannot ignore it any longer."
"And what do you think we sages are doing?" Lingbao demanded. "We are not idle, for all that you must suspect as much. We have been focusing on threats and urgent crises no less than the General here, our Glorious Strategist who you have so easily swayed to your side when he should be directing our soldiers at the Wall."
"So you're going to just dismiss her the same way you have dismissed me?" Kung Ji demanded, jumping to his feet and balling his fists. "You're going to ignore this problem because you're 'too busy?' How many of my requests for your advice and counsel have been ignored, Lingbao? Do you even know how many messages I have sent to you, only to receive the same reply?"
Lingbao looked at him sternly. "General, we have only rebuffed your requests for aid because we have the utmost confidence--"
"In my abilities as a commander to meet the challenges," Kung Ji snapped. "I know."
"And have you met those challenges?" Lingbao asked.
Kung Ji paused. "Yes," he admitted.
"So have you truly needed our aid?"
The Glorious Strategist wrestled with the answer. The Sage wanted him to say no, while he still felt like he needed their help. "It would have been a great honor and help," he finally said.
"A great honor and help," Lingbao repeated, raising an eyebrow. "General, I am certain that you are aware of the difficulties facing our military defenses. You know of each damaged section of wall in need of bricks and mortar, of each shortage of supplies, of each casualty faced by the armies under your command. But do you know of the concerns of the common people? Do you understand the demands placed upon us, the spiritual leaders of the Descendants of the Dragon? Or have you been so focused on your own problems to the exclusion of all else?
"We are here, my fellow Sages and I, to deliver an address to the crowds of people outside. They are waiting, they are anxious, they are worried. Their hearts are full of doubt and yearn for guidance as much as yours has, if not more. We are gathered here, at Honor Hill, because of those concerns."
"What concerns?" Kung Ji asked, feeling blinded and outmaneuvered.
"You have fought angels and demons, General, and have seen the dead rise to fight against us. The people outside have believed for generations that when they die, their spirits will remain in this world to guide and protect the generations that follow them, but now are confronted by worlds not our own and by threats that come from beyond the grave. They are scared. They do not know what will become of their souls after death. What happens if they pass on, but their body rises, a hollow shell driven by sorcery or unknowable technology? Is their soul trapped in that shell? What becomes of someone who has suffered such a fate? If you are purged by the light-weapons of the Overseers, does your soul live on? If you are dragged down by the demonic Exiles, does your soul forever suffer even after your body gives out?
"The Sages have been searching for the truth to these questions, General, while you have searched for the means to fight these enemies. We have been searching for ways to calm the masses. You may know of the bread riots that arose in the Jade Province, but do you know of the soul riots that broke out in three other provinces as people refused to volunteer to defend the Wall for fear of eternal damnation? We have been busy, General, and you have been able to handle the challenges confronting you on your own. So forgive us for continuing to trust you and the discipline and honor of our soldiers while we focus our attention elsewhere."
Kung Ji sat back down, defeated, but Xi rose to her feet. "Honored Sage, I know of your work and of the fears of the people, and the spirits of the ancestors share in that fear. But at the same time, we cannot ignore the spreading corruption. It poisons our land and twists our people, it is killing us just as surely as the sorceresses' magic and the demons' claws. And it is only getting worse."
"We have warded our lands," Lingbao said. "If necessary, we will do so again, and purify any taint of corruption that has found its way through in the meantime."
"That isn't enough," Xi said. "It's not enough to just defend against the taint, to react to the spreading corruption. The land is dying and the spirits of our ancestors are crying out in pain, honored sage. We need to do something, and that is why I need your help. I have spoken with Kung Ji and we think we have come up with a plan, but we will need the Sages and the Dragon of Wisdom if we are to succeed and save not just Jinhai but our entire world."
Lingbao considered her comments. "Very well, we will listen to your plan after today's address. If it is of merit, we will pass it on to Ao Shun. I will admit that we have been so focused on these spiritual concerns that the corruption of our land has been ignored for too long." He paused. "And General? Thank you for your efforts in the war. I know that you have not always received the recognition or acknowledgement you have deserved, and that our rejections of your entreaties have been hurtful, but know that this comes from our great trust and confidence in your skills."
It should have felt like a victory, Lingbao agreeing to hear them out, finally achieving an audience with the Sages after so long, but Kung Ji didn’t feel triumphant as he sat on that bench in the garden and stared at his clenched fists. How could they listen to her? How could they ignore me for so long and then listen to some… some nobody, someone with no rank or command?
Xi turned and looked at him, a sweet smile on her face. “We did it, General! Thank you so much; I never could have gotten this far without your help.” She saw his frown even as he did his best to hide it and her brow furrowed in concern. She sat down next to him on the bench and took his hand. He stared downwards, ignoring her gaze as she tried to meet his eyes. “Is something wrong?”
Kung Ji might have admitted to many things in that moment. He might have told Xi about his struggle to defend Jinhai without the Sages’ acknowledgment or help, about how he never thought this insane plan to force an audience with the Sages would work, about his anger and frustration that it did work--frustration he felt turning towards her, rather than the Sages themselves. Instead, he took a deep breath, shook his head, and unclenched his hands. “No,” he assured her.
He was not being honest with himself today, either.
Story by Benionin, JasonOCE
Art by @SmarttCaitlin