Early in the morning, as the soldiers in the camp began their morning exercises, the air thick with the scent of pine and exertion, Haitao and his ten men walked along the sideline, watching other soldiers training with weapons and others practicing archery.
Och murmured, a grumble deep in his chest, "We should have swords and spears, not fishing rods." He clenched the bamboo rod in his hand, his knuckles white.
Chaigatai patted Och's left shoulder twice, a gesture of weary comfort, and said, "We have to face the fact that those captains didn't want us to join their team and left us to the clown."
Muunokhoi smiled, a thin, hopeful curve of his lips, and said, "For now, let's swallow it up. If a full month passes, we can confide our dissatisfaction with General Batzorig."
Erden said, a shrug of resignation, "Let's just go with the flow and get our monthly salary."
"Free money. We can relax while getting paid," Terbish said, a wide, lazy grin spreading across his face. He smiled and followed the others toward the riverbank.
When the ten men came to the river, Haitao glanced at his group, a mischievous glint in his eye, and said, "Look around, what do you see?"
Terbish jumped up, his excitement childlike, and said, "I saw a lot of rocks!"
Haitao laughed, a booming, good-natured sound. "Very good." He put two thumbs up at Terbish. "You can go fish now."
"And water," Erden added, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Haitao smiled and threw the fishing line into the river, sat under the tree and closed his eyes, a picture of serene contentment, while the other men started fishing, their movements lackadaisical.
Chinua, Khunbish, and Khenbish found their fishing spots a little further away from the others, seeking a quiet solitude. Once they threw their fishing lines into the river, they sat on the rocks and waited.
Chinua looked across the river, where she noticed thick bushes and tall trees. She said, a thoughtful frown on her face, "I wonder how long this river is and where does this river lead?"
"The river is a tributary of the Stone River and flows through Hmagol," a voice stated.
Chinua turned around and saw Haitao sleeping under the tree, enjoying the breeze from the wind, a picture of utter relaxation. Chinua stood up, walked to Haitao and sat down, her movements quiet and deliberate.
Chinua asked, "So this river comes from the far west?"
Haitao opened his eyes, a slow, deliberate blink, and sat up beside Chinua. "The connection to the river is just part of Stone River."
Chinua turned to look at Haitao and asked, "So this river leads to the city of Ntuj-Tshua?"
Haitao smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "Yes..." He opened his eyes fully and turned to look at Chinua. "What do you see?"
Chinua looked around, taking in the tall trees, heavy bushes, and many large stones standing on the banks of the river. A sudden spark of understanding ignited in her mind, and she finally understood the hidden meaning Haitao was teaching his men. She chuckled, a low, delighted sound, and said excitedly, "I see opportunities!"
Haitao smiled, his eyes twinkling with approval. "What else did you see?"
"I see traps and escape routes," Chinua replied, her voice now brimming with insight.
Haitao's laughter echoed beyond the woods, a hearty, unrestrained sound. He stood up and continued to laugh. The men by the river turned around and looked at Chinua and Haitao suspiciously, their fishing momentarily forgotten.
Timicin stood up and shouted, his voice sharp with curiosity, "Hey, what are you talking about?"
Haitao shouted, his voice carrying across the water, "Whoever catches the least fish tonight will cook for us!" He stood up and put his hands on his waist, a commanding posture. "Also, everyone can't go back to the camp for lunch and dinner. If you don't catch fish, there will be no lunch and dinner. We will go up the mountain tomorrow." Everyone frowned at Haitao, a collective groan of complaint, and continued fishing. Haitao turned to Chinua, a challenging glint in his eye. "Better catch some fish or you'll have nothing to eat."
Chinua stood up and said, a thoughtful expression on her face, "Fishing is a good exercise for patience." She started walking towards the bank.
Haitao said, "Chinua, fishing is not only a good exercise for patience, but also good for food, and study the speed of current flow."
Chinua turned to Haitao and nodded with a smile, a silent acknowledgement of his deeper wisdom. "I see," she said.
Chinua walked back to the river and said, "Let's go fishing elsewhere."
Chinua, Khunbish, and Khenbish began to move away from the other group, their footsteps quiet on the riverbank. While strolling along the riverbank, Chinua stopped suddenly, her body tensing. She hurriedly said, "Back up." She reached out to Khunbish and Khenbish, who quickly pulled her away.
"What's wrong, Chinua?" Khenbish asked, his voice laced with concern.
"As soon as I stepped there, my foot sank," Chinua said, pointing to a smooth sandy patch, her brow furrowed. "Khenbish, throw your rod there."
Khenbish threw his bamboo rod into the smooth sand, and Khenbish's rod sank slowly, disappearing inch by agonizing inch.
Khenbish turned to Chinua and said, his voice hushed, "Quicksand."
Chinua looked at the non-threatening area, her gaze calculating. "I wonder how deep it is?"
"Deep enough to swallow a man," Khenbish replied, a grim note in his voice.
"Is there a way to measure its depth?" Chinua asked, her mind already working.
"Bamboo," Khunbish offered.
"Do you two know why Captain Haitao brought us here?" Chinua asked.
"We don't know," Khunbish admitted.
Chinua picked up a stone and threw it into the quicksand, watching its slow descent. She turned and smiled at Khunbish and Khenbish, a look of profound respect in her eyes. She said, "I believe that Captain Haitao is the strongest among the other nine captains of General Batzorig."
Khenbish asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise, "How is this possible? Does Chinua know that everyone calls him the Clown?"
Chinua laughed, a soft, knowing sound, and then sighed, a hint of admiration in her voice. "I call him a genius."
Khunbish and Khenbish were taken aback because this was the first time Chinua called someone a genius. Khenbish asked, "Why?"
Chinua looked at Khenbish and said, "Ask me what Captain Haitao asked you."
"What did you see?" Khenbish recited, his voice curious.
Chinua turned to look at the river, her gaze sweeping across the landscape with newfound clarity, and said, "I see traps and escape routes."
Khunbish asked, "Why did Chinua choose to answer that way?"
Chinua said, "Captain Haitao has very good intention to teach everyone the best knowledge on how to defeat the enemy in war. Look over there?" She pointed to the other side of the river. "Dense bushes and trees. Great for hiding. If the enemy decides to use the river, we can set up booby traps along the river. If the enemy decides to come from land, and if we have to retreat, then the other side of the river is the best place."
Khunbish smiled, a new understanding dawning on his face. "I think only geniuses can understand the teachings of geniuses."
Chinua said, "Throughout history, those who conquered land and won battles did not win by strength, but by good strategy and planning. Only good strategy can guarantee victory." She began walking back toward the group, her stride confident. "When Captain Haitao teaches, listen to him with your heart, not just your ears."
Khenbish asked, his voice filled with awe, "Chinua was the first person to truly understand Captain Haitao's teachings. No one else, including either of us, understood the importance of Captain Haitao's teachings."
Chinua said, a gentle reminder in her tone, "This is also a good lesson for the two of you: never underestimate the person in front of you."
When Chinua, Khunbish, and Khenbish returned to their squad of soldiers, everyone had caught a lot of fish, the aroma of fresh catch filling the air. They made a huge bonfire; they sat and roasted the fish they caught, the crackling flames casting a warm glow.
Timicin stood up, waved at Chinua, and said, "Chinua, come and sit down." He looked at Chaghatai. "You move away and make room for Chinua."
Chaghatai turned to Och, a put-upon expression on his face, and said, "Och, move a little; we are making room for those three."
Khunbish sat next to Timicin, Khenbish sat next to Chaghatai, and Chinua sat between Khunbish and Khenbish, the small group settling into a companionable silence.
Haitao looked around at the ten people sitting around the campfire and said, a satisfied smirk on his face, "So, I guess everyone has lunch and now dinner, right?" He grabbed a grilled fish and began to eat it. "Which of you has no fish to eat?"
"We didn't," Chinua admitted, her voice calm.
"Who said you didn't," said Timicin, a faint blush rising on his cheeks. He handed Chinua a grilled fish.
Muunokhoi smiled. "We've caught a lot of fish. You three don't have to worry; you won't starve to death tonight." He looked at the people sitting around the campfire, a friendly generosity in his eyes. "Am I right?"
Everyone smiled at Muunokhoi, a silent agreement.
Chinua took the fish and thanked Timicin. She divided the fish into three pieces and handed the fleshiest part to Khunbish and Khenbish, a gesture of selfless care, and she began to eat the head, her practical nature on display.
Timicin said, a hint of surprise in his voice, "Chinua, why did you give the fish to those two?"
Chinua smiled, her eyes soft with affection, and said, "Love your soldiers as you love your sons; they will be ready to fight and die beside you in every battle."
Och, who was sitting two seats away from Chinua, turned his head to look at Chinua and stared at her, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. When he saw Chinua for the first time, he didn't think too much about her, because she didn't impress him much, but listening to Chinua's answer now made him reconsider his views on Chinua. A seed of respect had been planted.
Och stuck his head out and asked, his voice tinged with skepticism, "The three of you have been running for a day and there's no fish. What did you do?"
Chinua looked back at Och and said, "We didn't do much, just look at the river and the rocks and the trees."
Och was about to question Chinua when a loud horn sounded, a sudden, jarring blast that pierced the night, and the dark camp lit up, illuminating the secluded mountain, casting long, dancing shadows.
"What is that?" Od asked, his voice strained with alarm.
"Intruder," Khunbish stated, his hand already on the hilt of his concealed dagger.
Haitao stood up, his relaxed posture instantly replaced by alertness, and said, "Let's go back to the camp." He took out his bamboo canteen and was about to pour water on the bonfire when suddenly a dark figure rushed towards the group of people, a blur of motion.
The two men in black kicked Od and Chaghatai to the ground, their movements brutal and swift, and went straight to Och. Och, who is tall and has some fighting skills, began to fight with the two men in black, a flurry of fists and defensive movements, while the rest of the recruits rushed behind Haitao, their faces pale with fear.
As the two men began to draw their daggers, Timicin jumped forward to help Och fight off the two men in black, his earlier annoyance forgotten in the face of danger.
Chinua helped Od to stand up and shouted, her voice clear and commanding amidst the chaos, "Khunbish and Khenbish, capture them alive!"
"Yes, Chinua!" Khunbish and Khenbish roared in unison, their eyes gleaming with fierce loyalty, already moving to obey.