35 A Wise Leader

After dinner, the group of soldiers settled around a crackling fire, their voices a low hum of conversation. Chinua sat apart, on the steps of the house, her gaze fixed on Amgalan and Delbee as they washed dishes at the water jar nearby. She watched Amgalan with an unexpected pang of sadness. Mönkhbat came and sat beside her, his arm naturally falling around her shoulders.

"What's wrong?" Mönkhbat asked, his voice soft with concern.

"I suddenly felt that life is unfair sometimes," Chinua confessed, her gaze still distant.

"Life is never fair," Mönkhbat stated simply, a hint of weariness in his tone.

Chinua turned to him. "Why?" she asked, genuinely seeking understanding.

"That's just the way life is," Mönkhbat replied, a slight shrug.

Chinua looked him directly in the eye. "Tell me honestly, do you hate father?"

Mönkhbat sighed, a long, drawn-out breath. "I don't hate him. I understand him."

"As the third prince of Hmagol, the great general of the South, you should have lived in a mansion, with servants," Chinua lamented, a note of helplessness in her voice. "But your house is like everyone else's. You should have servants to attend to you from morning till dawn, but you have none. Your wife is clearly a princess, but she wears dirty clothes."

Mönkhbat heard the frustration in Chinua's tone and offered a gentle comfort. "Chinua is also a princess. Why doesn't Chinua wear gorgeous clothes like other princesses, but chooses to live among Hmagol's soldiers?"

"I have a duty that I must fulfill," Chinua replied, her voice resolute.

"I also have a duty to fulfill too," Mönkhbat said, a warm smile gracing his face.

From a distance, Chaghatai nudged his comrades. "I don't want to say this, but the actions of Chinua and General Mönkhbat are very inappropriate."

The soldiers watched, a silent ripple of unease passing through them, as Chinua talked intimately with Mönkhbat, his arm still around her.

"Although I like Chinua," Erden murmured, shaking his head with concern, "I feel sorry for the wife when she has to witness General Mönkhbat treat Chinua the way he did."

"I agree with you," Od whispered. "We need to talk to Chinua."

"Don't you know who General Mönkhbat is?" Timicin interjected, his voice low.

"A general in the South, like General Batzorig in the North," Och offered, still looking at the pair.

"He is not only a general," Timicin revealed, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "but also the Third Prince of Hmagol."

A collective gasp swept through the soldiers.

Muunokhoi leaned in, his eyes wide. "You mean, Chinua wants to climb the ladder that way?"

"Chinua is not that kind of person," Khawn countered immediately.

"How do you know, huh?" Och challenged, scoffing. "You've only been with her for a few days. We've been with her for two years, and we still didn't know she was a woman until recently!"

Naksh and Jeet remained silent. They didn't know Chinua well enough to voice an opinion on such matters, so they chose to keep their thoughts to themselves.

"We should just ask Chinua straight out," Chaghatai insisted.

"Muunokhoi, you go ask Chinua," Od volunteered.

"But she's still talking to General Mönkhbat," Muunokhoi protested, clearly hesitant.

"Let's find a good time to talk to Chinua and ask her about her relationship with General Mönkhbat," Terbish suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.

Listening to the hushed conversation of the small group of soldiers not far away, Mönkhbat looked at Chinua. "You haven't told them yet?" he asked softly.

Chinua shook her head. "I haven't told them yet," she confirmed. "I made a bet with father that after entering the Northern Camp, I would not seek preferential treatment in my name."

Mönkhbat laughed, a deep, knowing sound. "Preferential treatment or not has nothing to do with telling your close comrades who you are. Listen, Chinua, when you walk onto the battlefield, it may be the last time you speak to your comrades. To win a battle, you must put your life in their hands, and they also put their lives in your hands. If you and your comrades have doubts, every mission you encounter will fail because of distrust." He patted Chinua on the shoulder, his expression serious. "I suggest you tell them the truth."

"I will find a way to tell them," Chinua promised, her gaze distant.

"In the future," Mönkhbat continued, his voice firm, "your decisions must be decisive. Your orders must be clear. If your orders are not clear, it is your fault, not your men's."

"I will remember," Chinua murmured.

"So, what will happen to the two slaves?" Mönkhbat asked, changing the subject slightly.

"Captain Taban told you," Chinua replied, a hint of playful defiance.

"It's his job to report to me," Mönkhbat countered, a slight smirk on his face.

"Are you going to punish me?" Chinua asked, a challenge in her eyes.

"Taban said you didn't buy them," Mönkhbat stated simply.

Chinua shook her head, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "I didn't. The merchant disowned them because he didn't want to get into trouble with Captain Taban."

"Since there was no transaction between the two of you," Mönkhbat concluded, a faint smile touching his lips, "it doesn't mean you are breaking any laws."

Amgalan entered the house, carrying a bucket of washed dishes. Mönkhbat stood up and gently took the heavy bucket from her. Amgalan smiled, a serene warmth in her eyes. "Go to bed early. Everyone must get up early tomorrow. I hope everyone doesn't mind sleeping on the floor."

Chinua stood up, a genuine smile on her face. "Not at all."

Early the next morning, the group of soldiers stood at the door, watching as Mönkhbat bid farewell to his wife. Mönkhbat leaned down, kissing Amgalan softly on the forehead. "See you in nine months," he said, his smile tender.

Amgalan returned his smile, her eyes filled with gentle concern. "Be careful."

Zamir stepped forward, his voice kind. "Don't worry, we'll take care of her. Go without worry."

Amgalan carefully placed Mönkhbat's helmet on his head and handed him his sword. "Be safe," she whispered.

The group of Northern soldiers, along with Khawn and the two brothers, followed Mönkhbat out of the house and into the side street. There, they met Taban and other soldiers, forming a larger contingent.

Chinua and the others walked behind Haitao.

Hye grabbed Chinua's arm, his voice a frantic whisper. "Why did you drag me to the Southern Camp?"

"General Mönkhbat ordered you to come with us," Chinua replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Now, it's too late for you to leave."

"I am a civilian who has not received military training!" Hye cried, his voice laced with indignation. "I am not worthy to fight side by side with these powerful Southern soldiers!"

Chinua looked at Hye and merely sneered. "That's not my problem now." She quickly quickened her pace, falling in beside Timicin.

Khawn grabbed Hye's arm, holding him back. "Just follow Chinua," he advised calmly.

"I'm not her slave!" Hye protested frantically.

Naksh gave Hye's back a strong shove. "Now you are," he said, a grim smile on his face.

The small group of one hundred soldiers walked out of the village onto the open road. Before them, stretching as far as the eye could see, stood thousands of armed men, waiting.

Haitao turned to Taban. "Captain, those soldiers?" he asked, awe in his voice.

"These are the five thousand soldiers we are taking to the camp to release those who have been in the camp for more than six months," Taban explained.

"So, there's a deployment rotation?" Timicin asked, surprised.

"Yes," Taban confirmed. "General Mönkhbat ordered a rotational deployment, and those who wanted to stay voluntarily stayed longer."

"General Mönkhbat is so mighty and upright!" Och exclaimed, impressed. "No wonder the people serving under him refuse to leave him."

"It's a pity that General Mönkhbat is not the Crown Prince," Erden sighed.

"I agree," Terbish concurred.

"General Mönkhbat would be an excellent ruler," Muunokhoi added, a wistful tone in his voice.

Chinua interjected, her voice sharp. "What's wrong with Crown Prince Bastaikan? Do you think he would not be a good ruler?"

"I heard that he can't walk," Och said, shrugging, "he cannot fight in battle."

"Although he cannot enter the battlefield," Chinua argued, her voice rising, "it does not mean that he cannot use others to fight for him!"

"That doesn't count!" Terbish countered dismissively.

Chinua bristled, her irritation growing. "One must have a brain to govern a country! Governing a country is more important than combat skills! Ruling a country is not just about how many victories it has won. The ruler also must deal with many issues, such as politics, war, diplomacy, and economy. Although Crown Prince Bastaikan cannot stand up and lead his soldiers to the battlefield, he uses his brain to fight for the development of the country!"

Od looked at Chinua, puzzled. "Why are you suddenly angry?"

"I'm talking reasonably!" Chinua snapped.

"I have to agree with Chinua," Timicin said, nodding slowly. "General Mönkhbat may look like a leader, but he only has military experience. You can't rule a country with military rules."

"Chinua," Muunokhoi said, trying to soothe her, "we're just talking in general terms, don't get mad."

"I am not!" Chinua insisted, then charged forward, riding her horse to catch up with Mönkhbat.

Mönkhbat turned to look at Chinua as she drew alongside him. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, a knowing twinkle in his eye.

Chinua sighed heavily, looking at Mönkhbat. "Do you think Bastaikan is unworthy of inheriting father's throne?"

"I think he is the most suitable one," Mönkhbat said, glancing back at the soldiers walking behind them. "He has a lot of knowledge of how to rule the country. Did they speak ill of Crown Prince Bastaikan?"

"They say you'll be a better leader than Bastaikan," Chinua admitted.

"Don't take it to heart," Mönkhbat advised, his voice gentle but firm. "Many people will see it differently. We can't force everyone to think like us. You must learn to let go of the little things that don't matter so they don't affect your judgment when you make important decisions."

"I'll try," Chinua mumbled, still looking troubled.

"What are you going to do with your four men?" Mönkhbat asked, shifting the topic. "They are not soldiers from the Southern or Northern Camp. Here, I don't mind if they stay, but once you go back to the North, I'm sure Batzorig will not allow them into the training camp."

"I haven't thought that far yet," Chinua confessed. "Right now, I'm thinking I need people who are willing to sell me their life and never betray me."

Mönkhbat looked pointedly at Hye, who was sitting behind Khunbish. "Chinua, forcing people to sell their lives to you will never persuade them wholeheartedly."

"How do I convince them?" Chinua asked, truly puzzled.

Mönkhbat rubbed Chinua's head with a warm smile. "You have to ask yourself the same question. What does it take for you to be willing to lay down your life for another person?" Mönkhbat explained, his voice patient. "Seizing and coercing people through fear and force will not make them willing to sell their lives to you. Do you remember how I always taught you how to treat your men?"

"You taught me that I must love my men as my own sons," Chinua recited, the old lesson resurfacing.

Mönkhbat smiled. "A wise leader has to remember that he has to love all his subordinates equally. You must treat everyone like Khunbish and Khenbish. You can't make other people under you think you prefer one over the other."

Chinua looked at Mönkhbat with a strange smile, a hint of realization dawning. "Why did you tell me these rules all of a sudden?"

"Because now you don't just have Khunbish and Khenbish," Mönkhbat replied, his eyes twinkling, "you have three more people under you."

"I don't agree that First Brother cannot rule the country after father, but I agree with them on one point," she said, looking at Mönkhbat with newfound conviction. "I do think that if one of father's sons should be the first Crown Prince, I think that title suits you better than the other brothers."

Mönkhbat's expression became displeased. "Don't talk about it in the future, understand?"

Chinua nodded, her smile fading. "I understand."