Chapter 25
“We are trying to avoid all out battle if possible, correct?” asked General Ammar. They sat in council early the next morning and discussed the news that Sheiji’s spy had delivered the night before.
“Yes. We do not have the numbers to fight a major battle,” Sheiji replied. Of course they had foreseen that Sui-Tsai would send an army to stop them, but they had not planned on it happening so soon. They had, after all, crossed the border of Jiwu and Imatsuro only yesterday.
“Then it would be best to avoid the Crossing of the Rivers. That much is obvious,” said Ariuk. “Where is that spy?”
“Here, my lord,” Bourtai spoke up.
“Your name is…Bourtai?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Very good. Do you suppose this could be a trap, Bourtai? They might say they are cutting us off at the Crossing but they are really waiting along the Charanaro,” Ariuk suggested.
“It is possible, my lord,” Bourtai replied, thinking hard.
“Then perhaps it is best to go straight through the Crossing of the Rivers and take the chance,” Sheiji replied. “Whatever we choose to do, there is a risk of battle.”
“True,” agreed General Hano. “If there is an equal risk, we might as well take the shortest route to Taiyunyi and that would be through the Crossing. If we went a different route, we would also have to deal with the problem of finding a place shallow enough to ford. Most places in the Charanaro are too deep and swift for even the cavalry.”
“Bourtai, you said they have five thousand men at arms. How many would join our forces, do you think?” Sheiji asked.
“In the midst of the battle?”
“Yes. Would they be likely to turn traitor on Sui-Tsai?”
Bourtai’s brow wrinkled, “Sui-Tsai rules by fear. Fear makes quick friends, but it does not make loyal ones, Vua. Even still, they may be too frightened of punishment to desert.”
“If I could somehow win them over,” Sheiji thought aloud. “I have an idea. We’ll need more soldiers if we want to win the battle. Forgive me, Ariuk, but your father’s army is not the most skilled.”
General Mura-Tada hid a smile.
“What’s your idea, Sheiji?” Ariuk asked.
“It’s a secret,” Sheiji replied. “We’ll be staying here for the rest of the day.”
“Vua?”
Sheiji just smiled and dismissed the group.
“Omrin, bring me some dirt!” Sheiji called to his servant.
Omrin appeared from around the corner looking worried, “Dirt, Vua?”
“Yes, please.”
“Where do I get ‘dirt,’ Vua?” Omrin asked doubtfully.
“Try outside,” Sheiji laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt myself.”
While Omrin fetched dirt, Sheiji looked for an older tunic and trousers. It was difficult, since all his clothing was newly gifted from King Naro, but the dirt would help.
Within the hour, Sheiji stood in the center of the village. In his dirt-stained peasant’s clothing and white turban he looked no different from the villagers. Omrin had not been happy when he discovered what Sheiji was about to do. He had threatened to tell all three generals as well as Ariuk if Sheiji didn’t “stop this nonsense.” In the end, Sheiji agreed to let an armed guard follow him as long as he stayed out of sight.
Sheiji spotted an old woman hobbling to the village well. It was as if no one even saw her, the poor woman. She was so frail and her back was bent nearly double, but no one stepped forward to help her.
Sheiji deliberately walked up to her and took the rope from her wrinkled hands. “I will help you, Grandmother,” he said, using the term of respect for old women.
The woman looked surprised for a minute, and then smiled widely. She had lost all her teeth. “You’re a good boy,” she croaked as Sheiji followed her back to her house with the full bucket of water.
Sheiji laughed inwardly and wondered what she would do if she knew who he really was. “Grandmother?” he said once they were inside her small, stone house. “Could I ask you something?”
“Wait, wait,” the woman replied. “You sit here,” she offered him a stool. Sheiji, in regard to custom, refused and sat on the floor. The woman ladled out some boiling water into two teacups already filled with crushed tea leaves. Then she took two rice cakes from near the fire and offered them to Sheiji. He took one and told her to eat the other.
Once the tea had finished steeping, the old woman sat opposite from Sheiji on the stool. “What did you want to ask me, child?”
“You’ve been around a long time. You might even remember when Kawa first became king,” Sheiji began.
“Yes,” the woman smiled. “I was nine years old. My parents took my brothers and me to Taiyunyi to watch the coronation. I still remember the look on his face. He was so proud, yet kind, I think.”
Sheiji nodded in agreement, “Why do you suppose he chose his youngest son to be his heir?”
The old woman sat silently, staring into the flames in the hearth. At last she spoke, “He was destined from birth to be ruler. So said the prophecy. He had what it takes. He had the blood.”
“So you do not think Sui-Tsai should be king?” Sheiji asked.
“That is a dangerous question, child. Do you wish to have me hanged?” the woman asked. Then she sighed, “But I have lived a good life. I will tell you what I think.”
“Wait a moment, Grandmother,” Sheiji stood and walked to the door. He shut it against prying ears.
“Sui-Tsai should not be king,” the woman began when Sheiji had sat again. “His taxes will destroy Imatsuro. There are some who wish him to be king in their hearts, but the rest of us follow in body only. He is not like Kawa. He cares nothing for the poor except to exploit them. He wants war and money.” The woman shook her head slowly.
“Do you believe that Sheiji-Yueng is dead?” Sheiji asked softly.
“Sometimes I don’t know what to believe,” the woman replied. “I am sure, though, that he was not kidnapped. Either Sui-Tsai had him murdered or he fled for his life. If he fled, I pray he survived and will return to reclaim his throne.”
“Will you help me, Grandmother?”
“What?”
Sheiji stood, “I am Sheiji-Yueng, Grandmother. I’m on my way to Taiyunyi to reclaim my throne. Your prayers have been answered.”