War

Chao Hsiao-Hu sat teetering in a brand new military jeep; the road was uneven, so its passengers bounced in it like peas in a frying pan. Through the open window, the winter dawn cast the faint cross-shaped scar on his face in soft yellow light.

The staff officer next to him squinted at a newspaper as he read it out loud, his voice broken up into trembling segments. He finished an article and folded up the paper, and as he sat rubbing his eyes, Hsiao-Hu asked: “Where would you say Major-General Wen is right now?”

The staff officer considered Major-General Wen’s speed and did some mental math. “I say they’re ahead of us. They’re coming in from the west, it’s a shorter trip.”

Chao Hsiao-Hu rested his elbow on the window sill and unbuttoned his blue felt collar. His regiment served under the Central Government, yet they still wore Jinsui uniforms. A strange sight, but it mattered not.

“Ho Bao-Ting has a large army. Let Old Wen take the lead.” He took the newspaper from the staff officer and folded it into a paper airplane, launching it carefully through the window. “I know Ho Bao-Ting very well; he’d run off at the first sign of trouble. All we have to do is intercept him on the way.”

The staff officer nodded approvingly. “Great idea, Colonel!”

– : –

Commander Ho sat in his meeting room and told his officers: “I don’t know this Wen, but I know Chao Hsiao-Hu very well. He’d run off at the first sign of trouble, so all we have to do is charge at him on his way here.”

The officers nodded approvingly. “Great idea, Commander!”

– : –

Since they both had such insight, the real fight was quite lively and engaging. Major-General Wen was from the Academy, first-rate in both strategy and bravery, but he had few men and fewer guns and found himself struggling against Commander Ho on his own turf. After much sweat and toil, he managed to establish a stalemate. Commander Ho had sent out three divisions who’d continued harassing the locals as they fought him off, all leading very vibrant and self-sustaining lives. Their morale was strong, looking ready to continue the seesaw battle indefinitely.

The Central Government hadn’t thought much of Commander Ho’s motley crew, but it turned out that his men were all extremely well-trained bandits, well-armed and well supplied, not to mention in league with the Mongol gangs.

Major-General Wen suspected that his distinguished reputation was about to be laid to rest in Jehol.

Frustrated, he sent Chao Hsiao-Hu multiple telegrams calling for backup. Chao Hsiao-Hu, though, remained “still as a virgin,” refusing to make a move.

– : –

The weather cooled rapidly after the second snowfall.

Because their master feared the cold, the staff at Ho Residence worked around the clock to built underground heating into the main living areas. Above the heated floor, the house warmed up very evenly. Ho Chu-Chu ran around in Commander Ho’s room sweating buckets, her little braids unraveling in her playful bouncing.

Commander Ho called her over and helped her out of her pale green jacket. “Thirsty?”

Chu-Chu bounced into his lap and picked up the teacup he was just drinking from, gulping down the remainder of its contents in one go. She leaned back into Commander Ho’s arms. “It’s so hot, Papa! I want iced plum juice and soda!”

Seeing that she was about to slide off, Commander Ho tried to hoist her up with his hands under her arms. “I knew you would say that—”

His words died when he felt a small hard clump on her chest. It felt like a tumor, or some kind of growth.

“Lass, what…”

Chu-Chu twisted around to stare at him. “Huh?”

Commander Ho turned her around had her straddle him, reaching for the buttons on her little shirt. Chu-Chu blushed and gripped the hem of her shirt, giggling. “What are you doing, Papa?”

Commander Ho knocked her hands away solemnly. “Settle down, let me see what’s going on.”

So Chu-Chu let him. The shirt fell open to reveal the bare chest of a small girl. Commander Ho examined her ribcage and searched for the tumor, finally finding his target under a pair of tiny nipples.

He touched it gently with his hands and asked anxiously: “When did this get here? Does it hurt?”

Chu-Chu only lowered her head with a frown.

Thinking she was unwell, Commander Ho said: “Don’t be afraid, I’ll get you a doctor.”

Chu-Chu turned away, her voice like the buzz of a mosquito. “Don’t…”

Commander Ho was still talking to himself: “How did it get there? When? Right on top of—”

Before Commander Ho could finish expressing his dismay, Chu-Chu fell against his chest and whispered into his ear. “Papa… Mrs. Chang said…”

Commander Ho patted her impatiently on her back. “What did she say?”

Chu-Chu’s voice dropped even lower. “She said I’m growing breasts.”

Commander Ho froze.

He slowly recovered over a long moment. Thinking back to his earlier actions, he burst out laughing.

How was he supposed to know this was what puberty looked like on a little girl? He’d worried himself sick thinking she had tumors.

Taking another look at Chu-Chu, he noted that the two pink dots on her chest really did seem to be showing the first signs of puffing up. Over the next few years they’d fill out like balloons, until she—what if he gave her to Hsiao-Shun?

Commander Ho smiled at Chu-Chu’s belly, lost in thought. If she married Hsiao-Shun, he’d have raised both halves of the little couple, and how delightful that would be!

But he’d have to wait a few more years. That big cock of Hsiao-Shun’s… Wouldn’t do to let him stab her to death with it.

He turned his gaze back to Chu-Chu’s chest, finding those pink dots more and more like flower buds. In spite of himself, he wrapped an arm around Chu-Chu’s back and licked one gently.

Chu-Chu shrunk away.

Still curious, he wondered if a child so young could even feel anything there. His lips lingering on her chest, he suckled her gently.

Chu-Chu let out a small whine, her voice like a kitten’s. “Papa!”

Papa heard her call and tightened his hold, as if he was about to crush her into his own body. He spasmed a little and let out a long, weary sigh.

Chu-Chu nearly suffocated in his hold. Then she smelled something strange.

Commander Ho let go of her. “Go on, lass. Papa’s tired and need to be alone for a bit.”

– : –

Commander Ho was indeed very tired. He changed into a new set of trousers and lay down in bed.

In the evening, Feng Guo-Chung came over with reports from the battlefront. There wasn’t anything interesting to report—the war dragged on, tedious and unchanging.

“Had it been worthwhile to meet them head on, we’d have sent Wen packing already!” Feng said once the reports were done. “Chao Hsiao-Hu though—we haven’t heard anything from him.”

“Not even Wen dares to test our defenses, let alone some bandit brat,” Commander Ho said dismissively. “Never mind, it’s time we stopped mucking around with him. We attack tomorrow, route Wen first, then surround and finish off Chao Hsiao-Hu!”

– : –

“Tomorrow” came quickly. Setting the details of the planned attack aside, Commander Ho, in his boredom, had the sudden thought to bury Lan Bai-Shan’s ashes before the new year arrived.

He didn’t want to keep his urn around anymore. Back when Bai Su-Ch’en had been tormenting him, Lan had shown no sign of coming to his aid, which saddened him a little. If Lan no longer cared about him, then there was no point holding on. He’d continue down his earthly path, and Lan could go on into the wheels of reincarnation.

Once the idea had formed, he promptly hired a fengshui expert to locate a burial spot. Fengshui experts were easy to come by, and the land was vast and boundless, full of options. Within two days, a burial ground was chosen. It was among a grassland between two small hills, a long river winding by. It was perhaps a little out of the way, but no prosperous place with good fengshui would be left vacant to serve as a gravesite.

All there was left to do was wait for the construction of a tombstone.

While he waited, Major-General Wen did not fall back like he’d expected, apparently determined to fight to the last man. Commander Ho paid him little mind; Wen could struggle all he want. Once he was done mopping up the stubborn bastard, he’d settle things for good with that imperishable brat.

– : –

Ho Chu-Chu stood playing a rubber ball with Commander Ho, her clothes drenched in sweat. She bounced the ball to Commander Ho, who then bounced it back, both of them cheerfully engrossed in their game. Hsiao-Shun stood in the background and watched them with big blinking eyes.

Chu-Chu tired out not long after, and she dropped the ball, panting heavily as she bounded into Commander Ho’s lap. Commander Ho wrapped an arm around her waist and played with her little braid around his finger. Chu-Chu drank Commander Ho’s tea with whole-hearted concentration, the picture of childish innocence.

“Lass,” Commander Ho said suddenly. “Once you grow up, how about you marry Hsiao-Shun?”

Chu-Chu threw him a glance and shook her head. “I don’t want to marry Hsiao-Shun gege!”

Commander Ho smiled. “Who do you want to marry then?”

Chu-Chu dove into his arms. “I want to marry Papa!”

Commander Ho laughed. “Lass, have you no shame?”

Chu-Chu squirmed in his lap and pouted.

“Why do you want to marry me, but not Hsiao-Shun?”

Chu-Chu buried her face in Commander Ho’s chest, watching him with only one visible eye. “Papa’s nice to me. Hsiao-Shun gege always ignores me. If I marry him, I’d have no one to play with and be bored to death!”

“Ha! Do you know what it means to marry a man?”

“I know. It means I follow him wherever he goes.”

Commander Ho patted her little rump. “You little imp, you know everything!”

WarChao Hsiao-Hu sat teetering in a brand new military jeep; the road was uneven, so its passengers bounced in it like peas in a frying pan. Through the open window, the winter dawn cast the faint cross-shaped scar on his face in soft yellow light.The staff officer next to him squinted at a newspaper as he read it out loud, his voice broken up into trembling segments. He finished an article and folded up the paper, and as he sat rubbing his eyes, Hsiao-Hu asked: Where would you say Major-General Wen is right now?The staff officer considered Major-General Wen's speed and did some mental math. I say they're ahead of us. They're coming in from the west, it's a shorter trip.Chao Hsiao-Hu rested his elbow on the window sill and unbuttoned his blue felt collar. His regiment served under the Central Government, yet they still wore Jinsui uniforms. A strange sight, but it mattered not.Ho Bao-Ting has a large army. Let Old Wen take the lead. He took the newspaper from the staff officer and folded it into a paper airplane, launching it carefully through the window. I know Ho Bao-Ting very well; he'd run off at the first sign of trouble. All we have to do is intercept him on the way.The staff officer nodded approvingly. Great idea, Colonel! : Commander Ho sat in his meeting room and told his officers: I don't know this Wen, but I know Chao Hsiao-Hu very well. He'd run off at the first sign of trouble, so all we have to do is charge at him on his way here.The officers nodded approvingly. Great idea, Commander! : Since they both had such insight, the real fight was quite lively and engaging. Major-General Wen was from the Academy, first-rate in both strategy and bravery, but he had few men and fewer guns and found himself struggling against Commander Ho on his own turf. After much sweat and toil, he managed to establish a stalemate. Commander Ho had sent out three divisions who'd continued harassing the locals as they fought him off, all leading very vibrant and self-sustaining lives. Their morale was strong, looking ready to continue the seesaw battle indefinitely.The Central Government hadn't thought much of Commander Ho's motley crew, but it turned out that his men were all extremely well-trained bandits, well-armed and well supplied, not to mention in league with the Mongol gangs.Major-General Wen suspected that his distinguished reputation was about to be laid to rest in Jehol.Frustrated, he sent Chao Hsiao-Hu multiple telegrams calling for backup. Chao Hsiao-Hu, though, remained still as a virgin, refusing to make a move. : The weather cooled rapidly after the second snowfall.Because their master feared the cold, the staff at Ho Residence worked around the clock to built underground heating into the main living areas. Above the heated floor, the house warmed up very evenly. Ho Chu-Chu ran around in Commander Ho's room sweating buckets, her little braids unraveling in her playful bouncing.Commander Ho called her over and helped her out of her pale green jacket. Thirsty?Chu-Chu bounced into his lap and picked up the teacup he was just drinking from, gulping down the remainder of its contents in one go. She leaned back into Commander Ho's arms. It's so hot, Papa! I want iced plum juice and soda!Seeing that she was about to slide off, Commander Ho tried to hoist her up with his hands under her arms. I knew you would say thatHis words died when he felt a small hard clump on her chest. It felt like a tumor, or some kind of growth.Lass, whatChu-Chu twisted around to stare at him. Huh?Commander Ho turned her around had her straddle him, reaching for the buttons on her little shirt. Chu-Chu blushed and gripped the hem of her shirt, giggling. What are you doing, Papa?Commander Ho knocked her hands away solemnly. Settle down, let me see what's going on.So Chu-Chu let him. The shirt fell open to reveal the bare chest of a small girl. Commander Ho examined her ribcage and searched for the tumor, finally finding his target under a pair of tiny nipples.He touched it gently with his hands and asked anxiously: When did this get here? Does it hurt?Chu-Chu only lowered her head with a frown.Thinking she was unwell, Commander Ho said: Don't be afraid, I'll get you a doctor.Chu-Chu turned away, her voice like the buzz of a mosquito. Don'tCommander Ho was still talking to himself: How did it get there? When? Right on top ofBefore Commander Ho could finish expressing his dismay, Chu-Chu fell against his chest and whispered into his ear. Papa Mrs. Chang saidCommander Ho patted her impatiently on her back. What did she say?Chu-Chu's voice dropped even lower. She said I'm growing breasts.Commander Ho froze.He slowly recovered over a long moment. Thinking back to his earlier actions, he burst out laughing.How was he supposed to know this was what puberty looked like on a little girl? He'd worried himself sick thinking she had tumors.Taking another look at Chu-Chu, he noted that the two pink dots on her chest really did seem to be showing the first signs of puffing up. Over the next few years they'd fill out like balloons, until shewhat if he gave her to Hsiao-Shun?Commander Ho smiled at Chu-Chu's belly, lost in thought. If she married Hsiao-Shun, he'd have raised both halves of the little couple, and how delightful that would be!But he'd have to wait a few more years. That big cock of Hsiao-Shun's Wouldn't do to let him stab her to death with it.He turned his gaze back to Chu-Chu's chest, finding those pink dots more and more like flower buds. In spite of himself, he wrapped an arm around Chu-Chu's back and licked one gently.Chu-Chu shrunk away.Still curious, he wondered if a child so young could even feel anything there. His lips lingering on her chest, he suckled her gently.Chu-Chu let out a small whine, her voice like a kitten's. Papa!Papa heard her call and tightened his hold, as if he was about to crush her into his own body. He spasmed a little and let out a long, weary sigh.Chu-Chu nearly suffocated in his hold. Then she smelled something strange.Commander Ho let go of her. Go on, lass. Papa's tired and need to be alone for a bit. : Commander Ho was indeed very tired. He changed into a new set of trousers and lay down in bed.In the evening, Feng Guo-Chung came over with reports from the battlefront. There wasn't anything interesting to reportthe war dragged on, tedious and unchanging.Had it been worthwhile to meet them head on, we'd have sent Wen packing already! Feng said once the reports were done. Chao Hsiao-Hu thoughwe haven't heard anything from him.Not even Wen dares to test our defenses, let alone some bandit brat, Commander Ho said dismissively. Never mind, it's time we stopped mucking around with him. We attack tomorrow, route Wen first, then surround and finish off Chao Hsiao-Hu! : Tomorrow came quickly. Setting the details of the planned attack aside, Commander Ho, in his boredom, had the sudden thought to bury Lan Bai-Shan's ashes before the new year arrived.He didn't want to keep his urn around anymore. Back when Bai Su-Ch'en had been tormenting him, Lan had shown no sign of coming to his aid, which saddened him a little. If Lan no longer cared about him, then there was no point holding on. He'd continue down his earthly path, and Lan could go on into the wheels of reincarnation.Once the idea had formed, he promptly hired a fengshui expert to locate a burial spot. Fengshui experts were easy to come by, and the land was vast and boundless, full of options. Within two days, a burial ground was chosen. It was among a grassland between two small hills, a long river winding by. It was perhaps a little out of the way, but no prosperous place with good fengshui would be left vacant to serve as a gravesite.All there was left to do was wait for the construction of a tombstone.While he waited, Major-General Wen did not fall back like he'd expected, apparently determined to fight to the last man. Commander Ho paid him little mind; Wen could struggle all he want. Once he was done mopping up the stubborn bastard, he'd settle things for good with that imperishable brat. : Ho Chu-Chu stood playing a rubber ball with Commander Ho, her clothes drenched in sweat. She bounced the ball to Commander Ho, who then bounced it back, both of them cheerfully engrossed in their game. Hsiao-Shun stood in the background and watched them with big blinking eyes.Chu-Chu tired out not long after, and she dropped the ball, panting heavily as she bounded into Commander Ho's lap. Commander Ho wrapped an arm around her waist and played with her little braid around his finger. Chu-Chu drank Commander Ho's tea with whole-hearted concentration, the picture of childish innocence.Lass, Commander Ho said suddenly. Once you grow up, how about you marry Hsiao-Shun?Chu-Chu threw him a glance and shook her head. I don't want to marry Hsiao-Shungege!Commander Ho smiled. Who do you want to marry then?Chu-Chu dove into his arms. I want to marry Papa!Commander Ho laughed. Lass, have you no shame?Chu-Chu squirmed in his lap and pouted.Why do you want to marry me, but not Hsiao-Shun?Chu-Chu buried her face in Commander Ho's chest, watching him with only one visible eye. Papa's nice to me. Hsiao-Shungegealways ignores me. If I marry him, I'd have no one to play with and be bored to death!Ha! Do you know what it means to marry a man?I know. It means I follow him wherever he goes.Commander Ho patted her little rump. You little imp, you know everything!