Er Yin return camp with a happy tone. Everyone congrats her on her marriage except for the Duke. Luo Ming told her that he had not return to camp since that day he left. He was place in-charge of everything in camp. Thus he is happy to see Er Yin as she can help him.
She spend her days working on the physical work while Luo Ming work on the paper work since his handwriting are much nicer than her's. Besides that he knows more Chinese characters than her. Er Yin train the new recruits and conduct physical training on senior soldiers. Regardless they are men or women, they each receive the same training. She thought of her new husband, she needs to train him too. Those years without exercise had made him a little plump at every inch on his body. She shake her head as she thinks of it.
At night sometimes, she stare blankly at the darkness. She is thinking of the Duke, where is he and what is he doing now. Is he facing some danger? It can't be since he have return to the capital. It probably is about his family. On her days off, she ride to the nearest town. Walking around, she remember things that she did with the Duke. It was the happiest thing she had done with another person. He made her feel like any other normal girl in the town. He made her feel beautiful that day. She sit at the inn and have her usual bowl of noddles. Outside suddenly a pour of light rain. She look out and watch people rushing around. She see couples covering for each other to escape the rain. She slowly begin to understand why her mother always urge her to get marry in the early years. However it wasn't a choice for her. She have chosen the hardest path to walk and keep everyone she love alive. She return to camp at night falls. She look at the dark sky, a few stars are blinking.
"Are you returning soon?"
She mumble softy to herself. She look at the biggest tent. Slowly she walk towards it and enter. Everything is in order inside. Everything is clean and neat. She remove the lavender in stick she purchase in town and lit it up in the tent. The tent smells nice. She notice the books at the table. She look at them, he is always reading them. One book on military tacts and a few mystery novels. She look at the scroll of papers laying on the table. Out of curiosity, she open them up and have a look. Mainly they are his own painting of what he see. The landscape of their country. He even paint a branch with Plum Blossoms on it along with a poem he writes at the corner of the paper. Er Yin cannot read all the words but she understand it must be a praise for the beauty and resilient of it. She unroll the final one. It is a painting of a person sitting on horseback with a bow in her hands and the corner it writes her name. At that moment, her tears form in her eyes. She wipe her tears on her sleeves and hurry to roll it back. She walk away and out of the tent. She inspect the surrounding and talk to soldiers on duty. The night goes on without a sound. Only occasionally the howl of the wolf which must be looking for their partner in the night.
A month nearly ends and Er Yin is trying with her swing on the new spear that was derived a week ago. It is design to be longer and a bigger iron tip. Also the bearing is made thicker than the usual thin one which she usually slam it on the ground with a few swing and it will break. The metal smiths who made it named it Ji (Halberd). The usual spear is lighter and easier to manipulate while the Ji is heavier and harder to control because of the swing and fall of gravity. She have to get use to the new weight and control of this new weapon. Besides that, the metal smiths comes up with She Qiang(snake head spear). A newer version of the thin ones but this time it have a twisted blades. Luo Ming and Er Yin agree to order more She Qiang and keep all five Ji. Since it is heavy only the senior soldiers will use it on the battle ground. The rest will continue with a mix of all sorts of weapons that they have purchase from the metal smith. A few female soldiers have come up with a design of chains with hooks. The metal smith have come up with the sample for them to view. They tested it, seems like what they need. Only two are created for only two female soldiers will carry it since they are expert in throwing and catching. Beside learning to shoot arrows with fire, they are learning to throw a small metal balls that is able any soldiers to throw from a distance which will cause a small explosion. Upgrading their armour is also important since it is too thin and enemies are able to pierce through without an issue. Thus the metal material is made thicker but heavier.
Er Yin and Luo Ming is trying out all weapons they have receive, none seems to have any defective. Thus the metal smiths are satisfy and left with the documents signed and stamped by Luo Ming. That evening after dinner, Er Yin goes around to check the uniform of senior soldiers. New supply of uniforms are order for the recruits. Thus any one who needs new supply have to add on the order so that they will not be late for the coming Winter.
"Soon winter is here again."
"Yes, another year is ending soon. We survived the year."
"I heard rumours that the Turkic is restless."
"The mongol too..."
"They should have a fight with each other and we can sit on the side to watch them."
"It won't be easy if both of them fight."
"Yes and at least on our side, we will be at ease for awhile."
"I heard that we lost another fortress."
"Maybe that's why our Duke is not back. The emperor must be frustrated."
"Everyone in court uniform is frustrated."
That night while guarding. From a distance she see a lone rider. He is carrying the banner of the imperial guards. She alert the men guarding the gates. The rider comes near and smoothly ride into camp. Er Yin and Luo Ming comes running to him. He handed it over to Luo Ming. One of the guards offer him a drink. He drink it fast and sit on the ground while Luo Ming hurry to open the small tube casing. He read the small letter. His eyes open wide and look at Er Yin.
"We have to get ready. They are coming."