36 Determination Win The Race

In the distance, the soldiers approached the Southern Camp. Chinua saw towering mountains all around, their formidable chains forming a natural fortress, a perfect shield protecting Hmagol from Tanggolian invasions.

Taban pointed at the sky-piercing peaks. "That's Lao-Da fortress. On the other side of those mountains is Tanggolia," he explained, turning to look at the Northern soldiers.

Mönkhbat turned and called, "Chinua... come here."

Chinua rode her horse to where Mönkhbat waited. Riding beside him, she asked, "Is there a source of water here?"

"Yes, the De-Lia River," Mönkhbat confirmed. "It's a tributary of the Dongnan River. The De-Lia River flows into Tanggolia from the other side of that mountain, and section of the river flows from our side to Umusa Kingdom."

Chinua looked around at the vast, green grassland. "This land is beautiful," she mused. "What are those villagers growing?"

"They are not villagers. They are soldiers," Mönkhbat corrected her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Chinua frowned, observing many soldiers without armor, working in the rice fields like ordinary peasants. She turned to Mönkhbat. "That's unacceptable," she declared, her disapproval evident. "These soldiers should be holding spears and swords, not farm implements."

Mönkhbat chuckled softly. "There is no war, so they are ordinary citizens." He looked ahead, his gaze fixed on the approaching structures. "We're approaching the Lao-Da Pass. This is where I will stay for the next nine months to a year."

"I hope to be here with you for a whole year," Chinua said, a hint of genuine desire in her voice.

Mönkhbat smiled. "You are a soldier in the Northern Camp, and you will return to the North in three months when it's time to get the next supply shipment."

Chinua frowned. "Well, at least for the next three months, I can practice with you."

Mönkhbat's eyes twinkled. "Or you can learn how to farm with other soldiers."

"It is better to hold a sword than a hoe," Chinua retorted. Then she paused, a new idea sparking in her eyes. "After thinking about it, I think I'd rather farm. I will convince Hye to teach your soldiers how to grow peanuts."

Mönkhbat laughed aloud. "You won't let that scholar go, will you?"

Chinua smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That's right."

Mönkhbat chuckled again, shaking his head. "Very determined."

"Someone once told me that only through determination can you achieve your goals," Chinua said, looking at him knowingly.

"That person really needs to stop teaching you," Mönkhbat said, feigning exasperation, though a broad smile revealed he knew he was the one she referred to.

Once they arrived at the Lao-Da Pass, Taban led the Northern soldiers to their designated lodging for the next three months. Away from the main group of cabins, under the sparse shade of a lone tree, stood a detached, old cabin.

"Everyone can stay in this cabin," Taban announced.

Och balked. "Captain, you mean that fourteen of us share this small cabin?"

"I'm sorry, soldier," Taban replied, his voice firm but not unkind. "Currently, only this cabin is available."

Terbish asked, a shiver running down his spine, "What is this cabin used for?"

"To store the dead soldiers' bodies," Taban stated flatly.

The soldiers exchanged horrified glances, especially Muunokhoi, whose lips trembled. "You... you... meaning that this cabin is used to store the dead?" he stammered.

Taban nodded. "You are a soldier, so you don't have to be afraid of the dead. If you are a soldier, you will encounter many dead people. This is something you need to overcome. If you can't overcome it, how are you going to bring your dead soldiers home, back to their families?" He then looked at Haitao. "Would you mind sharing a cabin with me?"

Haitao shook his head, a resolute look on his face. "I don't mind, Captain Taban. Thank you for your hospitality."

"I'll take you to where you sleep," Taban said, nodding to Haitao. "The rest of you go to the distribution station to get the blankets and buckets." With that, Taban took Haitao and departed.

Erden looked at his comrades, a frown creasing his brow. "He could have said sick or injured people, not dead people," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'm not sleeping by the door."

"I want to sleep in the middle!" Muunokhoi declared, his face pale.

It didn't take long for the soldiers to clean the cabin, sweeping out the dust and despair. Just as they were sitting outside, catching their breath, another soldier approached them.

"Captain Taban asked me to take everyone to the distribution station to pick up your daily necessities," the soldier announced.

After the Northern soldiers had picked up their blankets and buckets, they ate, bathed, and, despite the cabin's grim history, settled down for the night.

It was late, the cabin swallowed by the profound stillness of the night. Everyone was asleep. Chinua sat up, confirming that both Khunbish and Khenbish were also deeply slumbering. She rose slowly, opened the door as gently as possible to avoid a creak, and slipped out. Sitting outside the cabin, a small oil lamp casting a flickering glow on the table, Chinua took out her journal and began to meticulously record what she had seen and heard in the Southern Camp.

Just as she was deeply focused on her writing, an approaching shadow made her raise her head. She glanced at the man standing in front of her, then, satisfied it was harmless, returned to her journal.

Hye asked, his voice a quiet murmur, "What are you writing?"

"Journal," Chinua replied, without looking up.

Hye walked to the table and sat across from Chinua. He reached out, picked up one of the stacked journals, and began flipping through the pages. "These are nice and detailed," he commented, placing the journals back on Chinua's right.

Chinua looked at Hye, her gaze direct. "Why do you refuse to help these soldiers? What is your reason?"

"I've told you," Hye sighed, "I don't want to serve any Hmagol's leader."

"But those people they serve are not Hmagol leaders," Chinua countered, her voice firm. "They are ordinary people like you. The only difference between you and those people is—"

"They are different from me," Hye interrupted, "They serve Hmagol leaders."

"You are wrong," Chinua said, closing her journal and placing it on top of the others, her voice gaining passion. "The only people they serve are the people they love. They don't join the military for fame and wealth, but because they feel a responsibility to protect their country, their families, other people's families, and the ordinary citizens of this land, including you." She leaned forward, her eyes piercing. "Why judge a basket of oranges by just tasting one orange?"

Hye looked at Chinua, a flicker of something new in his eyes. "What exactly do you want from me?" he asked.

"I hope you will share your knowledge with these people," Chinua stated simply.

"What can I get in return?" Hye challenged, ever pragmatic.

Chinua smiled. "Other than their smiles and words of appreciation, you don't get anything worthwhile in return."

Hye sighed, a long, drawn-out sound of resignation. "I will teach them how to grow peanuts."

Chinua looked at Hye, her smile widening into a genuine, triumphant grin.

"Don't complain when ploughing the field," Hye grumbled, already anticipating the work.

Early the next morning, when the soldiers woke up, they found Chinua, Hye, Khunbish, and Khenbish had already disappeared.

Chaghatai looked at the still-sleeping figures in the cabin. "Where are they?" he asked.

"They may be on the training ground," Od offered sleepily.

"It's still early," Timicin said, rubbing his eyes. "The morning exercise hasn't started yet."

Erden came out of the cabin and found Jeet and Naksh already sitting at the table. Erden rushed to them. "You two, what about Chinua and the others? Do you two know?"

"Chinua left early with three people to see the landmarks," Naksh replied casually.

Terbish was taken aback. "Landmark? Why?"

"About the farming thing," Jeet supplied.

Och looked utterly confused. "Chinua is going to farm now?" He looked at the rest of the crew. "Why?"

Muunokhoi frowned, then closed his eyes and clasped his hands, bowing three times. "Chinua has endless ideas, and I pray to my ancestors that whatever she is about to do will not involve us." He opened his eyes and looked around. "Uh, where's Khawn?"

"He is learning how to ride a horse at the training ground," Naksh said.

Timicin smiled, a spark of interest in his eyes. "This I've got to see. Which way is to the training ground?"

Naksh pointed to the left. "I saw Captain Taban take him that way," he said.

Hye stood in front of the wide-open space, surveying it critically. He looked at Chinua. "This is suitable for growing peanuts. The soil is loose and moist."

Khunbish asked, practical as ever, "How long until harvest?"

"It usually takes one hundred forty to fifty days to harvest," Hye explained. "Once it's roasted well, it can be kept for six to seven months or a year." He then looked at Chinua, a problem in his eyes. "Now, we need seeds."

Khenbish asked, "How will the seeds be obtained?"

"I don't know," Hye admitted, frustrated. "We're hundreds of miles north. I didn't bring any seeds."

Chinua looked at the three men, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Do you think they sell peanuts in Tanggolia?"

The three men stared at Chinua. Hye was the first to voice the unspoken question. "You mean you're going to Tanggolia?"

"Well," Chinua said with a shrug, "if they do sell it, we might as well go."

"If they found out that we were soldiers, we could be beheaded!" Khunbish exclaimed, aghast.

"We didn't cross the border in armor, how will they know?" Chinua countered.

"General Mönkhbat probably won't let Chinua cross the border," Khenbish added, his voice laced with worry.

"Chinua should know that it is very dangerous to cross the border into Tanggolia," Khunbish insisted.

Hye looked at the two worried soldiers. "Although Chinua is a woman, traveling to Tanggolia won't make her any more dangerous than staying here with these male soldiers. Why are you two worrying so much?"

"Because Chinua is—" Khunbish began, his voice faltering.

Chinua quickly interrupted him, her gaze sharp. "Khunbish, I will speak to General Mönkhbat about our crossing into Tanggolia."

Hye looked intently at Chinua. "Because you are what?" he pressed, sensing a hidden truth.

"It's nothing…" Chinua evaded, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"It must be something to make Khunbish and Khenbish worried about your safety," Hye insisted, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you really?"

"The only thing you have to worry about now is how we get the seeds and how to teach the soldiers to grow peanuts," Chinua stated firmly, avoiding his question. "You don't have to worry about other things that have nothing to do with you." She looked at the three men, her tone dismissive. "You three go back to the cabin."

"Where are you going?" Khenbish asked, bewildered.

"I'm going to see General Mönkhbat," Chinua declared, her determination shining through, "and hope he agrees to let us enter Tanggolia."