Chapter 96: Section Four

At the core council meeting that followed, Huang Shi drummed his fingers on the table for a long while before finally saying slowly to his trusted aides, "That man Bao Jiusun — after some time, he can be promoted to Company Commander."

A look of displeasure crossed the faces of his trusted aides. The first to object was He Baodao: "My lord, he has no military merit."

"If Marshal Mao sent him here, it means his ability is merely average — otherwise he would have risen long ago," Jin Qiude said in a roundabout way, once again reminding Huang Shi to take note of Bao Jiusun's outsider background.

Zhao Manxiong, standing aloof to the side, had intended to say nothing at all. After Huang Shi forced him to state his position, he began rambling evasively, trying to please everyone. Not promoting an outsider was no disadvantage to Zhao Manxiong, and even if the promotion went through… after all, Bao was the man he had recommended.

As Zhao Manxiong spouted nonsense with spittle flying, his small eyes darted rapidly across the faces of the others, observing them. The two sets of actions, proceeding independently without interfering with each other, were so deft it was as if two separate souls controlled his mouth and his eyes respectively… truly like someone suffering from schizophrenia.

Huang Shi had originally intended to change the rules for awarding medals as well — imitating the Soviet medal system, so that not only soldiers but also armaments workers and logistics personnel could receive medals. That way, military households on other fronts would also feel valued and take pride in their work. The Ming dynasty's practice of calculating merit solely by severed heads was far too crude and had caused a lopsided development of the army.

To his surprise, his trusted aides still objected. The reason they insisted on was still that military merit came first, with strategy and troop training second. As for logistics and production work, doing it well was only to be expected, and doing it poorly deserved severe punishment.

Huang Shi, having reached the limit of his patience, finally lost his temper. Every time he was more patient and more amiable, these subordinates only grew more insufferable: "This is my decision. I do not need your approval. I am merely informing you. That is all!"

Huang Shi flipped the tea table over with one shove. "Get out. All of you, get out."

The four Company Commanders had rarely seen Huang Shi fly into such a rage. They all withdrew meekly, and this sight did ease Huang Shi's heart somewhat.

"My lord, calm your anger." After the Company Commanders had left, Hong Antong and Zhang Zaidi immediately righted the tea table.

Huang Shi leaned forward and looked at the rosewood tea table with pained concern. The teapot and three cups had fortunately only fallen onto the dirt floor. Mindful of his dignity, Huang Shi did not bend down to inspect them, but only asked with some nervousness, "Nothing is broken, right?"

"No, my lord, rest assured." Hong Antong and Zhang Zaidi kept their faces taut, neither daring to show a smile. They gently and carefully returned the tea set to the tabletop.

At least he would not have to brew tea in an iron bucket. If this set had been ruined, there truly would have been nowhere to get a new one, unless he sent someone on a special trip to Shanhai Pass to buy a set — but that would really be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Knowing his treasures were undamaged, Huang Shi set his heart at ease. He composed himself and then sighed. Although these subordinates fought among themselves, when it came to defending their common turf they were united as one, forming a tight strategic alliance, each afraid that someone else might steal their favor.

"While I was away, did Jin Qiude and Zhao Manxiong get along?" Huang Shi began questioning the eyes and ears he had left behind — Hong Antong.

"In reply to my lord, they got along very well. One could even say they worked together with one heart," Hong Antong had long since been forewarned by Huang Shi. "They also often came to chat with your subordinate and, in the manner of senior veterans, gave your subordinate much guidance."

Huang Shi smiled at these words. "Mm. I expect they will soon come to you to probe for news, especially about my reaction today. Just tell them I showed considerable regret."

"Your subordinate understands."

"What is your impression of those two?"

"Commander Zhao is a very forthright man. In front of your subordinate, he assumes the role of an elder brother. Commander Jin is very good at telling jokes — your subordinate is always left roaring with laughter…"

Being able to make Hong Antong roar with laughter was no easy feat. Huang Shi doubted he himself had that ability. As for that schemer Zhao Manxiong, he had not the slightest connection to the word "forthright."

"Commander Yang and Commander He do not rate them highly," Zhang Zaidi also began his secret report. "Your subordinate heard them talking about it. They both feel that Old Zhao and Commander Jin are a bit sly."

Huang Shi burst into prolonged laughter at this. "They are not wrong, especially Zhao Manxiong — exceptionally sly."

The two personal guards laughed as well. Seeing Huang Shi's mood improve, they brewed him another pot of tea. As he raised his cup to drink, Hong Antong said with a smile, "My lord may not know this, but every time Commander Zhao comes here and sees this tea set, he always exclaims that he will buy a set of his own someday and leisurely drink a round of tea just like my lord."

"Is that so?" Huang Shi said dismissively. "Then why didn't you let him use it for a few days? It's not as if I was here anyway."

"Your subordinate dared not. This is my lord's treasure."

Huang Shi froze, teacup in hand. He studied the tea set carefully for a moment — everything was spotlessly clean. "I was away for so long. No one ever used these things, correct?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Did you wipe them down often as well?" The tea table was even more immaculate, without a speck of dust.

"Yes, my lord." Hong Antong cleaned them thoroughly every single day, without exception.

Huang Shi did not know whether Hong Antong cleaned them out by the stream. If he did, many soldiers would have seen it — though fetching water and cleaning them indoors would have been the same. Huang Shi set his teacup down heavily. He himself felt nothing, but outsiders must surely see this as a privilege… and in truth, it was indeed a privilege.

Huang Shi stood up, looked at the tea table and tea set, and sighed. These things were symbols of status. Zhao Manxiong, however much he envied them, dared not use them. The other soldiers probably envied them too — while they toiled themselves to exhaustion from dawn to dusk, the commander could leisurely sip tea, with dedicated personal guards to look after these things.

The two personal guards watched as Huang Shi, without the slightest warning, drew his saber and hacked violently at the tea table. The tea set instantly bounced onto the floor… The fine rosewood was very hard. The saber was blocked at once. Huang Shi had to wrench it back and forth several times before he could pull the blade free.

Zhang Zaidi and Hong Antong stared with eyes wide and round. Hong Antong in particular was so frightened he dared not even breathe loudly. They watched as Huang Shi's military boot came crashing down on the teacups on the ground. One after another, they emitted piercing shattering sounds. Finally, Huang Shi swung his blade and smashed the teapot to pieces as well.

"My lord, this…" Zhang Zaidi finally voiced a questioning sound.

"The soldiers eat wild fruit when hungry and drink from mountain springs when thirsty, yet I was brewing tea to amuse myself and even thought myself refined." Huang Shi sneered as he thrust his saber back into its scabbard and kicked the shards away with disgust.

"My lord…" Hong Antong and Zhang Zaidi cried out in unison, but neither had anything to follow. They were somewhat at a loss for words.

Huang Shi laughed self-mockingly. "All the officers and men came to this desolate island. Victory or defeat, life or death, is still unknown. The northern campaign against the Jianzhou slaves is even more distant and uncertain. How can I sit high above and drink tea?"

In the eyes of the two young personal guards, fear had been completely replaced by reverence. Their chests also straightened and swelled.

"This thing," Huang Shi said, pointing at the tea table, "chop it up! Give it to the soldiers for firewood."