"Good day, Jiangjun Han Li. I, your humble subordinate, ask for your permission to speak to you," a soldier announced when the jiangjun's serving boy led him inside a big tent set-up solely for the highest ranking official in the camp.

Even if there were no extravagant amenities inside, but if compared to the other tents in the camp where several soldiers slept like bundled twigs on a small box, it was by far the most comfortable. There were animal skins and silks decorating the floor, a low table, and a cabinet where the jiangjun's things were kept.

"Speak," Jiangjun Han Li motioned to the soldier.

Despite the simplicity of the tent as compared to the grand quarter, the jiangjun was accustomed to back at Lord Hsein's domain, he never failed to flaunt his position nor to hide how well endowed he was. He was wearing a fine bright orange silk woven with beautiful geometric patterns. His wonderful steel armor never failed to boast power with the heavy and detailed design indicating the Hsien symbol which is the Red Hawk.

"Thank you, my lord Jiangjun. I come to tell you that the hawk is back; it is carrying something on it's beak."

"Good, I'll go outside," the jiangjun said as he leisurely exhaled opium smoke from his mouth. The haze had filled the tent that it lent a grim flair. "Now, you can go."

"Yes, Jiangjun Han Li," the soldier bowed respectfully and bode his leave.

The jiangjun took one last, slow wisp from the opium before coming out of his tent.

When he was outside, he whistled with his fingers and, with the beckoning sound, the hawk swiftly landed on his outstretched forearm. The jiangjun smiled as he took the thing that the hawk carried on its beak. He slowly examined it and something came to his mind.

"Duizhu Gang Bingwen," he called the man standing at his right side.

Duizhu Gang Bingwen immediately came nearer to the jiangjun and bowed respectfully, "Yes, Jiangjun Han Li?"

"I want you to prepare all of our men. The enemies are not far from south of us. Wonderful, for I feel overly generous to surprise them." The jiangjun said sarcastically. A sinister smile tugged on his mouth.

"Yes, Jiangjun Han Li," Duizhu Gang Wen said and hastily announced to the men in the camp to assemble themselves.

"Ho!"

A small, wiry boy immediately came and bowed lowly to Jiangjun Han Li as if was a god. "Yes, my lord Jiangjun?"

"Prepare my armor and weapons. Be fast or I will cut your head off your body, do you understand?"

"Yes, Jiangjun Han Li," the boy's voice shook with fear and then he immediately scurried to the jiangjun's tent.

Jiangjun Han Li watched as his men prepared themselves for the surprise attack on the Imperial Majesty's army who were camping not far from where they were. His camp had remained undiscovered by the imperial army for multitude of thick and leafy trees had conveniently obscured it; even noises were shrouded which prevented the other camp from hearing their activities - stealthy, that would best describe his camp if it was a man.

His men had prepared the horses, cannons, different kind of weapons and ammunitions. Several of his men had started to assemble after arming themselves with weapons and armors. Some soldiers were assigned to remain in the camp to guard the their tents and reinforcements while they were away. None of the tents were kept for he was certain his force can easily crush the imperial army. He smiled cruelly when he felt a sudden rush of blood lust seized him.

Defeat was not an option to Jiangjun Han Li. It would never be for a man as mighty as he.

His gaze turned toward the wide stretch of dusky sky tainted with streaks of pink - dawn it might have been but today was fated. He could tell that this day would obviously be another mark to the list of his victorious feats. He was extremely certain that Lord Hsein Mao Dong would be pleased with him enough to elevate his rank to that of a grand nobleman once Lord Hsein Mao Dong became an Emperor.

"I could not believe that the Emperor of Chixian Shenzhou is very stupid; how dare he sent someone not fit enough to face me on the battlefield. This will be an easy ambush." Jiangjun Han Li muttered menacingly as he walked toward his tent.

°°°°°

A bird's cry.

Yan Mei Ling frowned as she watched the bird flying swiftly from the camp to the opposite side. Strange. Something came to her that she couldn't quite put a finger on.

The bird reminded her of something but not of wonderful reminiscent but of grimer ones.

Was the bird a harbinger of an unfortunate thing to come? Oh, she hope it wasn't.

But the birds were creatures looking for permanent shelter in the bounty of the dense forest or they could be migratory, seeking shelter when the harsh and unforgiving winter invaded the season. But that bird couldn't be migratory, that bird could not be hunting either especially at this time of day when there were little chances of catching a prey.

'A bird, such a wonderful and useful creature. It could bring life to the dead night through its music or it could pronounced that the day is promised. Harmless it might seem to be but it could be an instrument of deception. Some armies trained and used it as a spy on its enemies or heralds of secret messages. Better know the difference between a bird trained by nature and a bird exploited by the scheming minds of men.'

Of course that could be a possibility and she always put to heart all the things that her Master Tang Jiao Quon had taught her.

In the time of war, all small things had their meanings. Small things couldn't simply be ignored though they seemed harmless at the moment; for sometimes they could create the biggest of all damage.

Yan Mei Ling stood for a moment taking time to reflect on the thing that came to her. She shook her head. She might have gone crazy. The time she spent in the imperial army camp, the loneliness she was experiencing of being away from the people she loved and, also the unwarranted feelings that Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei invoked in her heart had all twisted her mind.

She breathed in deeply as she tried to collect her thoughts. She slowly closed her eyes and spread her arms, savoring the pristine air and comfort only nature could provide. And for that moment, she allowed herself to forget all the worries that were imposed upon her shoulders.

She allowed herself to be a part of nature, not a separate entity. In a very magical moment, she could feel the soft rustle of the forest grass, the gentle swaying of leaves from the thick and big trees, the steady sound of a water current from a distant, and the orchestrated voices of the animals inhabiting the forest.

Everything seemed in so perfect and peaceful. It felt as if she was floating on the air with no weight sitting upon her. Could the empire be as peaceful as the forest? Life would have been better.

She allowed herself to be relaxed even in that imagined magical moment. But as wonderful as the notion to feel that way for all time, a sudden sense of foreboding came into her diminishing the magic. Where she felt the creatures of the forest, she could hear the ground vibrated which didn't seem natural at all.

Boom. Cluck.

Footsteps. Numerous footsteps!

In panic, Mei Ling opened her eyes as the sound became more pronounced especially when she could hear sounds.

Sounds not from that of the animals living in the forest. It felt unnatural as that of a furious stampede.

She paused and realized. It was as if that her heart just stopped beating.

This was catastrophe! And time was dwindling rapidly. She had to return to the camp!

She needs to go in haste!

----------------------

Author's Note:

Just finished this Chapter, June 5, 2014. I hope to upload Chapter 19 pretty soon.

By the way, this is rough draft but I'll be improving the story lines pretty soon. Possibly, I'll be adding more details. But for now, let me think of what I'm going to put on my Chapter 19. :)

NOTE:

Jiangjun- General

Duizhu - Captain