North Winds Fall (Xianxia - Survive the Protagonist)

Autumn decided to leave the weighty discussions for tomorrow. Everyone decided to meet again once the business of gaining control of the city was further along.

Connor Kaede said the Quartet Army had been divided and operating in many places, so they would be arriving by batallion over the next few weeks. He intended to return to the North Peak Palace where the quartet was at.

Jacob and the South Winds expedition settled temporarily at Xue Chi's house, while Chau and her raiders stayed the night at Xue Son's. Kazumi and her girls went to check out the consort palace and see if anyone was still living there. Wei must have mentioned it to her earlier, as she hadn't left the guest bedroom since they got back to her house.

Sergeant Higa had asked and received permission to go out with Kazumi to patrol in the West. He was still a native of that land.

She had no servants, and only a month or so without them made her completely comfortable in their absence.

She needed a team of people to run this Executive Authority and especially the transition plan. The Family estate had changed hands several times, so it would be more challenging to convince the people that a new stable foundation was being built.

She wandered through her old house while thinking of the plans and tasks that she needed to do. The job ahead was so overwhelmingly large. Reestablishing the old system would be really hard, but creating a new system of government would be harder.

And even with all of the armies available, did they have any hope of holding off the South Winds army?

Regarding her house, Autumn concluded that the persons involved in stealing from it were probably young, and motivated by getting money for food. Small things were taken, and bulky things remained. Random things were taken, there was no systematic approach to the theft, except for the jewelry box.

Whatever kind of crown the Emperor had, undoubtedly it was in private hands now. She would have to go inspect the main palace eventually. She wanted to avoid moving into the palace as long as possible. That was a cold and unfamiliar place, more like a vacation place than a home. Every first of the year was the Emperor's address, which was usually the only time he ever appeared, and the only time she had been in the main palace, except her adventures with Wei.

The switch from the West Winds context to this one was so abrupt that she hadn't even realized she was wearing the uniform of a West Winds Minister Security lieutenant. Her clothes were all gone except for the white dress that had been already made up for her wedding.

Checking in on Wei quickly, who was still sleeping, she went to bed, putting the Lieutenant's insignia on her end table. That, at least, was something she had worked for rather than receiving by default.

Even with just one pillow, she felt like she was sleeping on soft clouds that night.

She was walking around her house in the morning, after a long sleep. She could have woken up a few hours earlier, but it was nice to just lay there for a little bit more.

Until she had someone else she trusted in the house, she refused to leave Wei alone, especially with Sang and Commonborn faction forces still at large.

She would have to wait, and all she could do was sort out her thoughts and plans.

She wasn't expecting someone other than Wei to be in her house, so it took her a moment to recognize that someone was rifling through everything in her kitchen.

The ice box was thawed out completely, but it didn't stink. She checked the night before and found it completely empty.

Now a young boy was peering into it, for longer than expected. On the counter next to him were her army boots.

"What are you doing?" she asked firmly.

With one look at her, he let go of the lid to the ice box and scooped up the boots, ducking underneath her arm, and dashing off.

She couldn't help but laugh as she teleported to the front door just before he reached it.

The boy wiggled out of her grasp, losing the boots in the process, and ran off, turning for a moment to say: "Mr. Blue says hi."

With the odd comment given, he fled, and she didn't try to stop him.

How could society return to normal, when things had gone crazy for so many people?

<<<----]---

"You should know much more about what the Sang Estate is like," Jacob told Chau.

Even if his special forces were more powerful, Chau's raiders knew the land.

"There's a cluster of trees about 80 meters away from the manor. Then a field of cows and plenty of cow manure. The view from every other direction is unobscured, but unless you are eager to sink into a pit of sludge, we'll have to look for another approach.

What self-respecting South Winds cultivator didn't know a few cow tricks?

"Does anyone watch the cow field?" he asked.

"Only the farmhands," she said.

"We'll take the cow field, once we make contact, cover whatever angle you want to, we'll drive our enemies to you," he said.

"If you can stand the smell, then it seems like a great plan. We'll circle around and charge the front, after you make contact," Chau said.

Jacob spoke to his group, both soldiers and civilians. "Remember our first little active power, during training? Just a little unstructured essence burst. Conveniently easy to send the neighbors cows stampeding."

His special forces laughed at that one, but the civilians were more dour.

"I've got a plan for all of our farmhands, especially if you worked on a dairy farm. If you can rustle up some of these cows, we'll be the Cowvalry," Jacob said.

With a team of six, all confirmed Dairy farmhands, they had their battle plan and headed out, sneaking towards the forest.

"Just pretend you're supposed to be there," he said to the farmhands.

Even being part of the Emperor's lineage, Jacob had enough experience to recognize that the Sang family hadn't cleaned up the cows' living space in quite some time. Most likely this was a cow meat farm, as well.

The smell was both awful and familiar. The six farmhands were able to round up four cows who were closer to them than to the actual farmhands near the house.

"You have to get dirty if you want a new home," Jacob said to the rest of his team. Jeremy, Ishar and Vikas were the other three mounted on cow-back, along with the farmhands.

The rest of the group would have to tromp through the nasty field to get to the Sang house proper.

Directing a cow to move was much harder than a trained horse, but with a cultivator, all things were possible.

"Ready?" he asked, and then he directed raw essence into the cow's side, and it bolted forward.

Three cows bolted forward, but Ishar's turned sideways.

The farmhands yelled, but he had his straight sword ready in case any of them opposed him. Reaching the far end of the field, they found no opposition outside, and the farmhands had scattered.

The sounds of splashing and cursing filled his ears as the sorry soldiers had to wade through, and he entered the Sang house, with Jeremy and Vikas.

Two of the guards were just inside the back door. The three of them made quick, silent work of them.

Vikas being a quick work with the throwing knife saved them, so that there was no alarm raised by the third guard as they contemplated the living area where a woman stood with six guards, discussing something.

With Vikas in support, he and Jeremy charged into the living room.

The guards interposed themselves, blocking the way to their charge.

The woman had a similar appearance to Xue Thu, but more beautiful and graceful. It must be Sang Tia, once Xue Tia.

Facing three guards would have been tough, but they were not skilled in coordinating against a superior opponent like him. And those runners through the muck had caught up Newly arrived special forces met rushing in guards, and the living room and adjoining rooms were a swirl of battle.

He cut down two guards in front of Sang Tia, and the princess had a Card up her sleeve. Against Autumn, the much used Papercuts card might have done some damage, but against him it was no more concerning than an ordinary papercut. A slight jolt of pain, maybe a drop of blood but no more.

The guards were cut down in every direction, even as they tried to rush and attack him.

Jacob placed his sword right before the lady's neck and she surrendered. If she had surrendered earlier, maybe some of her guards would be unhurt. As it was they were all wounded or dead, and his own team was unaffected beyond a few bumps and scrapes.

Chau's raiders arrived with fighting spirit, but found no fight left to be had.

Jacob let Chau interview Tia. He was not local to these lands and did not know the significance of Tia's alliance with the Sang family. Was she eagerly part of the hated family, or grudgingly?

He mused that they had formed their own quartet to reestablish the Empire: Xue Thu, himself, Kazumi and Chau. All members of the quartet had a negative opinion of the Sang family.

After a conversation with the lady upstairs, Chau confirmed that most of the Sang forces left were at their outpost near the border with West Winds.

They would keep Sang Tia captive in her own house for now, as his people moved in and established themselves on the manor. Perhaps they could sell the current cows and purchase some dairy cows? He expected their group would have some expertise in the matter that would give them an advantage over local farmers.

The stench of those men who had trod through the muck made him ask one question: "Where is the nearest stream or brook?"

These North streams must be quite chilly in contrast to his homeland, it would be a lovely refresher for the stinkers. He smiled thinking about it.


<<<----]---

The first unit of the Quartet's army arrived that afternoon, after a day spent touring the Family estate with Wei.

The army quickly stopped several looters and thieves in Hightown, and they kept a contingent on the Family estate as well, putting Autumn's mind at ease. The more seedy lowtown was still out of control, and many residential parts of the city would be at risk for days to come.

Jacob and his group would be busy at the Sang manor, but Chau agreed to stay with Wei while she went to Hightown to see what could be done there. She had a lot of needs, even on a personal level, before looking to the Empire's needs.

As much as she appreciated the custom made Ministry Security uniform, she was ready to wear something else. Once it had been washed and scrubbed three times, she would keep it in her closet, in memory of Saito and Prime Minister Kasai. She missed the Governor's Manor, and the people she had met in the west, but she hoped for their safety. If they could hold off the South army's attack, maybe they would be able to go back and help save the West.

The Hightown bank, and all banking was a Xue family enterprise. Although others ran the banks, they were largely controlled by Xue Lee's authority. The bank faced quite a dilemma with the fall of the Empire then.

In addition to her West Winds uniform, she had a few weeks pay in the currency of West Winds. Relative to her home country, their coins were silver, but alloyed with other metals to reduce their silver content. This debased the coins, but it meant that as a Ministry security operative, she had earned 10 small silver coins and 2 larger silver quarters.

Though it had been a rather dour morning full of worry about how to get the new government bootstrapped, the bank manager gave her the first good news.

"We made it through the first battles between Thunderbolt and the Sang family, through the 'Commonborn' faction's formation and control of the bank, and now the Quartet taking over, with the Western army's help.

It seemed every day I would be ordered to start pulling out the contents of the vault. There's been a few tours through the vault looking for especially valuable treasures, but the coinage and well hidden boxes are intact.

I guess everybody thought the best place to preserve their hoard was at the bank," he said.

"I know I used to access the Family account, which is probably off-limits until we have everything settled, but I also opened a small account in case I wanted a little money here after marriage, or emergencies."

The bank manager said, "Hightown's not accepting the old coins, only pure gold coins. We'll have to give you a bank credit slip."

"I expect you'll be a lot more independent after we reform this. At least, you'll be accountable to the legislature rather than the Executive council," she said as she took the note written out and signed by the manager.

Many of her first choices and favorite stores were gone, boarded up, or smashed up. Thunderbolt must have provided a substantial guard force to the bank, for it to be so intact.

The clothing store preferred by the registered families in the past was now her only option. Even it's selection was much less.

Her hair had been wild, with weeks of abandonment leaving it out of control. She wouldn't be able to get in to have her hear looked at until next week because only one salon was still open.

Food was the most worrisome factor of all. If she was going to host people at her house fairly often, she needed even more of it, and she didn't even have any for her and Wei at the moment.

She was able to buy enough loaves from the baker, but the butcher had no fish at all, and only a few pounds of beef left.

She would have to get used to that old staple of the poor: rice. At the general store, she bought enough rice to last a few months, and the last selection they had of some spices to make it more flavorful.

The first army battalion had established a safe pathway between Hightown and the Family estate, and she had to walk back and forth after each purchase, hauling her clothes, bags of bread, and then the meat and rice each on a separate trip.

Would she have to cut her own lumber to light her own stove and cook her own meals too? She felt like a house wife having to prepare for her family's week.

She would address the question of hired help tomorrow, she needed to preserve her energy to cook the first meal she had ever prepared in her own home.

Chau's group returned to the estate soon after she got home, and they actually knew practical stuff, so while she got involved in each step of the process, Chau's soldiers helped find where and what was left of the cords of wood on the estate, and helped her light the stove and gave her advice on how to cook good meals with rice and a little bit of meat.

Chau's whole team stayed and enjoyed the dinner they helped put together. Wei was happy to be able to sit down and have even a basic meal outside of a mess hall or travel rations. Her sister hadn't done much that day but relax and sleep a lot. She had a habit at looking at the gizmo that the Magistrate had given her, and identifying where Kazumi was.

According to Wei, Kazumi had brushed past the Sang border outpost and was camped in open West Winds country a few miles west of the border.

She had been planning on spending the next day searching for her first staff members, as long as Chau would be in part of the day to keep an eye on Wei. But, just after breakfast she was surprised by a woman at her door. She was half tempted to slam the door when the woman gave her name.

Instead she felt the chill of her northern Emperor's blood, and she took a deep breath, giving herself a few seconds to consider a response.

"I don't want the Ho family to be named next to treachery, so I've come myself, offering myself up to your service. Wherever you could use me, Beloved Princess, I would love to make a small restitution against the foul debt my daughter laid upon you," Mrs. Ho was saying.

Amid the anger, and the questioning, Autumn still felt guilty for underpaying Ho Junko, and for her cluelessness about the goings on among her family. The emotional swirl threatened to overcome her: anger, questioning why did it happen?, guilt and shame.

The Ho matron would really grovel if she knew Autumn was not just returning to being a princess. SHe considered the emotional reaction and the reaction an Empress would give. It's one matter to let such a woman in her door, and another to let another Ho become her servant.

Vote for Autumn's reaction:

[ ] Throw her out. It's hard to feel personal animosity towards the Sang family, but the Ho, on the other hand…

[ ] Invite her in. Listen to what she has to say.

She was up three times at night to check the tracker.

In the morning, she woke up late. It was an hour past the normal army revelry which her body still kept to.

She pressed the button on the tracker and the magistrate spoke inside her head once more: "The girls army is approaching the border at faster than march pace. 44.9 degrees north, 4.1 degrees east. Less than five kilometers to the border."

She was laying there half awake with the tracker in her hands when she somehow fumbled it so it landed on the floor.

She worriedly got out of bed, and was about to go test it to see if it worked when it crumbled to dust.

A man, very tall, with a sharp perfectly clean-shaven face, and neatly cropped hair stood where the tracker had fallen.

He didn't have a crown on his head, and didn't wear any rings or baubles, except one on his right ring finger. A signet ring, it seemed. But it had to be the same Magistrate she had met before.

"Your sister maintains a fine house, even the looters can't steal it's charm," he said.

"I didn't know you ever left your kingdom?" Wei said.

"It is only the second time in the history of our world, in which I have traveled into the mortal kingdoms," the Magistrate said.

Without even opening her door, he looked towards the center of Autumn's house.

"There are two disasters to provide prophylaxis for. I will set the table for four and expound my theories before you ladies."

"Four?" Wei pondered.

"Your sister has a surprise guest as well."

As they entered the room, Wei noticed the woman sitting with Autumn was pale, sickly even.

Autumn stood up, alarmed at the sight of the magistrate.

Wei watched as the Magistrate casually summoned onto the table, four tea cups, saucers and some kind of bread. He motioned and Autumn collapsed back in her seat.

They sat down.

"I am the Magistrate. I am my master's representative in this world, and I have only interceded once before in all of history. Today shall be the second. The threat of the South Winds conquering the whole of the world is grave. My master would be displeased if they succeeded. But, if there were only that reason for my visit, I should rather have sent the Cloud army to provide aid at a critical moment. Instead, I have arrived myself because there are indeed two crises."

Autumn's visitor, an older lady, seemed pale enough before the Magistrate spoke, now she was concerned and unsteady.

"How can it be? The South Wind army is at our door? But we have the West Winds between us and them."

Autumn explained, "After Wei and I were forced to flee the country, we were drafted into the West Winds Girls' Army, and we experienced military foolishness and insanity. Wei's unit was sent to attack the North when they were already at war with the South. I hope our friends with the Self-Defense forces have bunkered up somewhere. The West has been tidied up quickly and the South army isn't stopping, it seems."

"Indeed," said the Magistrate. "Now the second crisis I speak of, is concerning you, Xue Thu."

Autumn was surprised, "Me? Why am I a crisis?"

"Have you surmised why none of the daughters before you became Empress?" he asked.

"Tradition. Each Emperor chooses his first three sons as Heir and backups. I never knew there was an Empress until one of the South Winds expats told me about it," she said.

"Hah. That lady was the only other whom I have tested, dear Thu. She failed the test. Have you not heard of the fifth Emperor, your great-great grand uncle? He had twelve daughters and nary a son, and he did not dare to place his eldest daughter as successor. It was his nephew who was elevated to heir and took the throne."

"The old Empire is dead, Magistrate. I'm just trying to pick up the pieces, and rely on the will of our people and not just the schemes of our family," her sister said. "If it goes to my brother Tuan, so be it. It seemed a reasonable compromise to take up the position, not that I had some craving to be Empress."

The Magistrate took her sisters' words strongly. "There is much, Xue Thu, about the nature of worlds and kingdoms which you are unaware of. The North Winds, being firstborn of the nations of this world, has a certain bearing on the character of the world itself. And the Emperor, or indeed Empress, is first of his or her nation. Each world has its characteristic Yang and Yin nature. So the Emperor or Empress can strongly sway and be swayed by that nature.

Most women bear the Yin nature within them, however. The only reason I have decided to put you to the test, is because there is the potential of a different nature in you, Xue Thu. Our world has been of a Yang character from the beginning, and so have the Emperors of the North. I will fight alongside your armies, Xue Thu, and observe your way in battle, and after the war is won, make my pronouncement.

For it is very common for a brash woman, on first encounter, to display a sweet countenance after one gets to know her. It is a protective mechanism of the fairer sex, present in some of your number, I do conceive."

Wei found the Magistrate different than the sweet and strange grandpa he had seemed like in his own palace.

"Mrs. Ho," he continued onto a new subject. "It is a simple but dire thing which happened to your daughter."

"She completely lost her mind. I don't recognize who she became," Mrs. Ho said.

The Magistrate nodded his head. "My master sought the advice of a World diagnostician. He has trouble perceiving the fine details of happenings in this world, being a late stage Golden Core cultivator. He was aware of the problematic hoarding of items meant for the people of the North Winds. Some level of collecting and organizing is important, but my master identified the problem of complete hoarding that the Emperor and Crown Prince participated in. The premier and firstborn kingdom of the world was much diminished from their actions.

My master was at last was fed up with such behavior, and he turned to the diagnostician I spoke of. The woman in question was evidently inexperienced and prescribed that a certain quantity of Heavenly essence should be released within the North Winds.

You see, a small dose of Heavenly essence, such as is produced naturally by our world, aids and provides impetus for heroism and justice. Lightning follows such a heavenly hero, and they can accomplish much. Ms. Miyata is a recent example of such a natural born hero.

However, a larger dose of Heavenly essence, especially an exceedingly large dose such as my master applied, will find an individual to target, and turn them into a crusader. Your daughter, Ms. Ho, fell into this later category. She had power sufficient to fool the World itself, and she could dance on the boundry between 4th stage cultivation and the 1st heavenstage of Qi condensation.

It was mere circumstance that she was chosen rather than another, and such enhanced individuals do not last long in the wider world. She will offend someone of great power and suffer destruction, if she has not already done so.

Ms. Ho did find the true flaws that she was meant to correct, but she also was furious in smaller matters. To a crusader such as her, every slight mistake is unforgivable. Do not wrack yourself with guilt, Xue Thu and Ms. Ho. Ho Junko was gone as soon as the heavenly energies filled her beyond measure."

With some unease, she agreed to pay Mrs. Ho for two weeks, and then decide at that point if she wanted to continue employing the woman.

She would look after Wei and rely on her own contacts and research to propose some initial members of staff.

"You'll need more staff than you had before, to be Empress. Once the bank releases the Family fund, you'll be able to afford it. And we'll have to get into the Palace to see how the accommodations are there for cooking, cleaning, your bedrooms and such," Mrs. Ho said.

"I've never seen most of the palace," Autumn said.

The Magistrate rejoined the conversation: "I am fond of a few of the old portraits. One of the first Royal painters was actually a cultivator."

Before he could say more, he seemed to be reacting to something she couldn't see. "Go get your sword, Thu. This exam will not be easy."

After she rushed into her bedroom and retrieved her Dao blade, she saw the Magistrate had a long metal staff with jagged edges on both ends and grips in the center.

As soon as she drew close, he teleported them both elsewhere.

As an aside, the Magistrate said: "Xue Wei is a sweet young girl. I sense no malice in the Ho missus, but for our own peace of mind I've stashed my hound in your house. He's invisible for now and he doesn't slobber, but he'll follow after Wei wherever she goes."

They were at the newly formed guard post covering the eastern fringes of the Capital city. "Your enemies have determined that this is the last chance they have to retake the city. From the North, hundreds of Sang militia are marching in. From the East, Thunderbolt and her forces, as you can see. Your army is rather spread out, protecting the Palace and trade. They will need a lot of help."

<<<----]---

His family had been guardsmen and soldiers of the Snow great family for three generations. Now they were scouts and watchmen for the Eastern approaches to the capital city.

It appeared that the quartet, including his sponsor, Snow Bea, were giving up their own plans and working together with the Fourth Princess, which had suddenly reappeared with strange accompaniment.

The West girls army were on their side, after working with Snow Chau's raiders, as well as some strange South Winds traitor forces who supported the princess.

How long could this motley crew coexist?

The captain of their detachment yelled, "Got something! Form up you scoundrels!"

They didn't just find a trader with suspicious intentions, this was a full-bodied Army of Thunder. Attacking their outpost.

The Queen of thunder was aiming her boom staff straight at the captain. Who could resist that kind of strike.

While they had barricades, there had been little time since they arrived from the North to truly set up defenses, and they didn't know when they'd be moved on.

The Captain had to order a retreat! They couldn't stop this size of an army, not even for a second!

Suddenly, he saw two figures appearing between them and the Thunder army.

It was a man and a woman. The man had a barbed two-sided metal staff / spear kind of weapon.

The woman… That WAS the princess. The Dao blade was unmistakable.

"Help them!" he yelled and went forward.

The Princess had clashed with Thunderbolt, stepping aside to let a blast of lightning go by, which hit one of there one.

The man was swallowed up by the rushing enemy army but he seemed to be unharmed.

The Thunder army was so numerous that they had even had spare men to sweep by and attack the defensive position. There was no way they could step out and save the princess and man.

Zhiqiang trembled as he faced the enemy. He had already gone too far forward and his only hope was to join the princess.

The Thunder army fought with many different weapons, and he faced an axe, which he frantically dove under, and thrown knives, two of which stabbed him as he tried to burst through.

His heavy maul blasted one enemy backwards, and he could only take the stab of a knife, elbowing his attacker.

The battle between Princess and Thunderbolt was too fierce. Lightning was cracking. He snuck close to their battle, within the zone where no other soldiers dared to fight.

He caught a glimpse of a dragon! It's scales were covered in frost!

The Princess disappeared, and two foes were brave enough to approach him. The rest of their army was charging forward further. He frantically fought, while keeping his thoughts on the brutal fight between two ladies.

The Princess was at close range with Thunderbolt, but a wicked lightning strike and the solid thunk of the staff sent her falling.

He continued to try to stay close to the fight where no soldiers dared approach. He strike one last fool who got close to them. An errant arc from Thunderbolt's lightning caused the man to only whimper and fall, and Zhi cut them down.

Thunderbolt seemed careless now, not even pursuing Autumn but only charging more lightning. The Princess somehow resisted lighting bolts that got through, though she was bleeding and her flesh was cooked in several spots.

Zhi continued to cover all the angles, while transfixed by the fight between the two. Looking back, he saw the detachment's position wiped out, but the Princess' companion was, unfathomably, fighting alongside five copies of himself.

While his clones killed many soldiers, they all took injuries from the sheer number attacking him.

"You can't fight better than that?" the Princess shouted.

Zhi thought she was talking to Thunderbolt, who was gradually winning the fight.

In the next moment, the man with clones appeared between both of them, and they all reappeared elsewhere.

"You were fighting one person, while I fought an army," he said to the Princess. It seemed she had been talking to the man in question. "Go, warn Jacob, tell him to get organized and fight his way to the Palace. Even with my help, the battle will be close.

"You have a death wish," the man said to Zhi.

It was only a few minutes, and the princess said Jacob would rally his forces.

The three of them appeared inside a building.

Autumn immediately spoke up, "The city is under attack, we are organizing in the parade ground.
In the same way, they appeared between the West and South detachments, ordering them to retreat to the Imperial family parade grounds.

<<<----]---

Thunderbolt now seemed to be a completely lightning focused cultivator. She didn't have that old enhancement of heavenly power, even though she was early fourth stage, Autumn had only narrowly been losing.

Pain and the occasional spasm of her muscles showed her how bad the situation would have gone if she didn't have the Magistrate's help.

Her view of the Magistrate as Invincible was gone, he was still incredible though. He seemed to be able to perceive everything happening in the city from afar, giving him an understanding of how to safely route all the forces towards the parade grounds.

He teleported from place to place while Autumn and this trooper: Zhiqiang formed up.

The magistrate's hound was a gigantic animal, easily two hundred pounds, wearing armor that wasn't just protective but also distinctive, with golden crests and silver stripes. Did he fight like a dog, or in some other way.

Chau's raiders formed their immediate front line. They would have to form a square of defenses as the enemy could approach from all directions. If Thunderbolt didn't want them rushing into the palace and escaping, they would have to engage them in battle rather than looting or going into the palace themselves.

Between the hound, magistrate, Chau and herself, they planned a surprise assault on Thunderbolt. It was possible someone significant was in charge of the Sang armies too, but it was important to defeat Thunderbolt. She had a great desire to do so.

At first, they ordered the arriving West and South detachments to form a square to defend from every direction, but finally the Magistrate returned.

"I had to slow the advance. Sang and Thunder are joining together to advance in from the North. We need one front line, and one reserve line. Strike team, you're with me."

The Magistrate petted his hound, who howled in response. "Are you ready?"

It was only a few minutes after their battle line was formed that the Sang-Thunder front advanced onto the field grounds.

Autumn prepared for her attack before they had even been teleported. Upon arrival, she slashed downward with her blade, bringing out her frost dragon.

While her Dao blade was producing the icicle winged creature, , the Magistrate struck out with the staff, but Thunderbolt's own staff resisted his strike.

The hound was more effective. He leaped, and his teeth became covered in flames, and he barrelled into Thunderbolt at her midsection.

Chau struck out with her own blade. Autumn's frost dragon surged and flew towards Thunderbolt, aiming for her forehand.

The shock and surprise and numbers and ferocity of the strike overwhelmed Thunderbolt's defenses. The hound retreated after scoring it's gouging mark. Thunderbolt's face was bloodied by claw marks of the dragon, but the blood was frozen cold.

As Autumn rushed forward, the Magistrate teleported the others to their side of the line.

Thunderbolt tried once more to blast her with lightning, but all that came out were sparks. She couldn't hesitate against such a powerful foe, instead she struck full force, scoring a bruising, gouging hit.

She stepped back and watched as her foe shivered from blood loss and frost. The slightest hostility would be responded to. But Thunderbolt was done, she collapsed onto the ground.

She was about to teleport back to meet the Magistrate and the others when she found Jacob's group rushing in.

They could trap the enemy on both sides this way, so she joined their forces.

The Sang and Thunder forces had advanced forward into the parade ground, but some were fleeing at the sight of their captain down.

Together with Jacob, they were a whirlwind of despair for the enemy. She had produced the frost dragon twice and she was drained, she could only use her teleports sparingly now. This would be a good test to see if her abilities and endurance increased after pushing herself.

Jacob only used his dragon when they approached the collapsing Quartet army. Even with the Magistrate holding the line, the Quartet army was not able to hold on.

With the subterranean dragon rising from the earth, Jacob was able to disrupt the enemy forces and get on the defender's side of the line.

With this breach in the line, they were able to disorient the enemy and, they were able to hold on.

The Hound was doing a great deal of work, using it's large size to bully and put fear in the Sang forces.

After pushing so far forward, the Sang and what little was left of the Thunder army had trouble retreating.

Autumn worked together with the Magistrate, teleporting around to prevent any thoughts of retreat, and blocking off access to the Palace and teleport formations.

While some enemy troops did escape, and many were hurt or dead in the fighting, nearly a hundred surrendered when they finally and fully lost the will to fight.

It was quite a costly victory as only a half dozen men were left of the army, and it was up to their leaders and special forces to hold back the captives.

The Magistrate had put great fear in them as did Jacob and the mostly Sang captives marched meekly to the palace.

After sending Chau through to the Quartet at North Peak palace, it was determined to send the captives there.

The Magistrate made the process easier, by producing five clones of himself like he had before. The six of them constantly were monitoring the captives and preparing the Divine machinery. Although he had taken countless wounds and hits, he still seemed to be moving around successfully.

Autumn and Chau lead the rescue efforts. They didn't have any coordination with local medical care as of yet, and what few supplies they had were quickly exhausted.

The Quartet army had been divided, most of it was still traveling in from around the nation, and then divided further, they had suffered the most from the fighting.

If not for the Magistrate and Jacob, they would have been in a very bad state, and it was still a bad situation, considering the South Winds army heading their way.

They needed to get organized and search for reserves of men and supplies and resources. Even healing cultivators and cooks and farmers would be important. Getting legitimacy in the eyes of the people was crucial as well. Once most people believed Autumn's reign with the diarchy structure was legitimate, they could expect greater help from everyday folk, and more unity in trying to hold together the nation.


What is your immediate priority after the Battle of the Palace Grounds?

[ ] Food - Food supplies are low both for the people and army.

[ ] Healing - Finding traditional medics or healing cultivators would be a big help.

[ ] Legitimacy - Removing Civil war fears and establishing the Diarchy with Autumn as Empress as the worthy government of the North Winds would open up opportunities for getting more help.

[ ] Militia - Gathering volunteers to form a small military would help while waiiting for reinforcements from the Quartet.

She couldn't help but be reminded of the contrast between Mother and Daughter Ho. All Mrs. Ho had was a bit of alcohol and a cloth, but she painstakingly did what she could with the cuts, bruises, scrapes and wounds Autumn had endured in the intense fighting.

Her body was more durable than non-cultivators, and her natural recovery was better, but if she wanted to be presentable and energetic in the next few days, taking care of herself was important.

Mrs. Ho was a fount of wisdom as well. A type of wisdom she had lacked since she left the mother's side at 10. She never had a trusted older lady to teach her these things, although her nature resisted Mrs. Ho's advice, she knew she needed to accept most of it, at least for appearances sake.

"You carry a bearing of heat, you make people uncomfortable rather than providing for them the sense that things are all right. Despite that, I think you have a sweet inner nature, that I've seen through your concern for Wei and other light moments at home. With attentiveness, you can learn to bring decorum and dignity and daintiness to your public persona.

I can only combine what I know of the Emperor and your sisters who mastered this art. The Emperor confers dignity and honor upon others by asking for them to do what he does not. An Empress shopping for her own clothes barely seems worthy of the term, but she confers honor on a fashionable lady by asking her to pick things out, and having a conversation on what seems suitable.

You produce dragons of old on the battlefield, let us take the lead off the battlefield. I've got a fair idea that with the last two stumbling blocks out of the way, I'll be able to hire a staff on credit for a few weeks. After that short time, your Highness will either be recognized, or there will be renewed civil war."

"I need to go out there. If you can get me ready, I'd like to plan a public appearance. It'd be best if the Quartet could appear as well. We need to establish this new system in public eyes, and if I need to settle my heart and remember my old teachings, I will try," Autumn said.

Over the following few days, she began to establish a structure for daily action. Mrs. Ho was bringing in staff by the day, but Autumn made a point to talk with each of them, and try to get to know them.

Sang's forces and Chau's raiders were mobile eyes and ears, finding and rooting out clusters of escaped Thunder army and Sang army soldiers.

They had found a half dozen households supporting these groups, but undoubtedly there were more who would resist as long as it seemed possible to win. The Sang forces had more morale, with their leadership still kicking, while there were signs that the Thunder army remnants were dissolving.

They had captured Thunder army soldiers and found that some of their fellows were joining the Sang, and many were going home, hoping to pretend that they'd never supported Thunderbolt or Rieff Chan.

Apart from the stories of the dwindling civil war, Kazumi's Cherry Blossom girls had finally returned, suffering from attacks by the remnant of South Winds special forces. While Jacob had taken those special forces loyal to him, there were those in the Special forces loyal to the South still.

"You've got another week at most before the Samsarran army invades," Kazumi was telling her.

"Just the Samsarrans?" Autumn asked.

"It's a stroke of luck that the South Winds armies were cut in half. Half of the special forces led by Jacob to join you. And there was a major dispute between the Anattanists and the Samsarrans. The Anattanists want to stop and solidify their control of the West Winds, the Samsarrans are sure they can claim the whole world by invading the North right away. They may be right, even if it is just them," Kazumi said.

"We suffered heavily from the combined attack of Sang and Thunder armies," she said. "I don't know if we can resist a fifth of the Samsarran armies. Our special forces, so to speak, are unparalleled. We have the Magistrate himself, he fought off a hundred soldiers by himself, at least hanging in there. We have Jacob and Chau. And we have you and I. And I hear you have made great strides in your path?"

Kazumi laughed, "I've never heard of the Magistrate not being in his throne room. I've never met him personally, but you hear stories from past ambassadors. Where is here?"

"He's back in his kingdom until the fighting picks up again. He's only there to prevent the South running rampant with the world, and he let me know about it."

"Well, as for me, I can't explain my progress with any textbox on the Path, but I have to be approaching 4th step peak, if I'm in any book at all. I can shape lightning into a solid form, and reconfigure it on the fly. If I had been here, you wouldn't have struggled with Thunderbolt at all. Anyone who tries to attack me with heavenly lightning just grants me more essence, and I can strike back with super-charged attacks in that case.

I'm not really concerned with the details, if I can't use my power to save the West, then what's it all for? I'm here for the battle against South armies, and after that I'm leading anyone who wants to join my cause back into the West winds. I will fight a guerrilla command to save our people, if it takes ten years or twenty."

Autumn said, "I would love to help you, but for right now, I have to be responsible enough to help get the North Winds back on track. I don't plan on staying put forever. Once things are settled and stable, I will do what I can to repay your help. You've done so much for Wei."

"I'm so glad that she has a chance to go back to being a kid," Kazumi said. "I understand her 11th birthday is coming up next week. I should go spend some time with my friend."

<<<----]---

The Magistrate was in an unusually cordial mood as he rode with Autumn in the carriage. They were travelling slowly from the Palace towards Hightown. A procession must be slow, and music can enhance the effect.

This was just a public appearance, but the Empress doesn't appear in public all the time, now does she.

"I think we can upgrade you to Probationary Empress, so long as Xue Wei comes and visits me on occasion. I've got my servant in Mr. Rieff. So long as he amuses me, it will remain that way. You owe me, Xue Thu, and your nation owes the Cloud Kingdom a big debt for the sacrifices we are making to keep your nation standing.

You may make an effort to appear to be the suave empress, but I, who sees more than most, have understood you at the core. After the last battle, it was obvious."

"I think Wei would be happy to visit, so long as she can have her tracker device back." Autumn joked. Wei was forever a better friend to everyone than she was.

As they drew closer to their destination in hightown, Autumn focused. It was important to make a good first impression.

The Hightown merchant association was a minor organization in the old Empire. Whether you had the favor of the Emperor was more important. Autumn had settled on meeting their president, who was also the haberdasher in town.

Wearing a nice suit of his own design, Mr. Qin helped Autumn down from the carriage.

She had always controlled her hair, reigned it in and prevented it from causing problems when she was fighting. When she had to dress up in her princess days, she would ask ila to braid her hair, but otherwise she'd often wear a hat, or wear her hair as a ponytail.

The Girls' Army had never scheduled a haircut, and the Prime Minister's fashion advisor merely dealt with the knots and mess she had accumulated, only trimming here and there.

Her hair, when she looked at it, was on the darker end of brown, naturally obnoxiously curly, and it reached just below her shoulders. Mrs. Mo's staff had chosen to give her a layered look which was new to her.

Her dress was one commissioned for one of the Emperor's consorts, but adjusted to her dimensions. It was for the annual Emperor's gala, on the first of the new year, but it was the best choice, or so her new servants determined.

It was not easy to move around in the sea of fabric, a design incorporating Imperial orange and the purest white. It was easy to make an off-white, but only her nicest princess dresses had pure white.

The old crown was gone, likely one of the first things looted from the palace, and new one would take time, and would wait until the official coronation, but she wore a signet ring that the jeweler had produced as a spare in case the Emperor's own was lost or damaged.

She didn't enjoy this, necessarily, but she could smile and appreciate the moment before the storm. They still had to beat back the South Winds army.

It was a small reception. Many of the merchants who still were open in hightown came out, some craftsmen and registered families. Autumn relied on the Quartet's announcement for them.

"Thank you, President Qin. We truly appreciate the Hightown association and your merchant members who still are open for business."

How do you address an empress was already an open question, how to address a woman who had not yet formally assumed the position, was another. Autumn didn't intend to let these formalities have too much influence, but people made their own decisions.

"Beloved Princess, thank you for your visit. We look forward to your coronation, and the establishment of the new elected system."

"Thank you. We support the Quartet's plan for a co-equal partner, chosen by the strong and wide people of the North. The Quartet plans to share their full proposal soon. Of what they have shown us, we are impressed by their compassion in dissolving the old system of first families and registered families. In the new plan, all families who were considered fulfilling either status will obtain one vote in the election for the 15 member House of Lords. These will be wise men and women who have a patient disposition to aid the new members of the Commons.

All North Winds adults will be able to vote in determining the members of the commons, this includes what was previously called unregistered families.
As part of our separation from the elected side of our government, neither I nor any Xue family member will vote for the house of Commons, but we will have one Xue family vote for the House of Lords.

One last thing before we speak of more pleasant matters: Acting General of the Armies Snow Chau encourages those of you who desire and have the ability to fight for our country to gather at the Imperial family Parade grounds for preparation to defend our people and our nation. There remains one more big fight until we can rest."

<<<----]---

The public visit seemed to be successful, though it would take more efforts to convince the people, there was a start.

Discussion of the imminent South Winds invasion force was next.

"The best thing in our favor," said Chau, "is our best fighters. Between the Magistrate, Kazumi, Jacob and your highness, we have a truly unparalleled combination. The worst thing against us, is that we barely can call the rest of our forces an army. We have raiders and special forces, and the small quartet army.

The Samsarran army may still boast five thousand soldiers. We don't have much food for the army we do have. Some farmers are offering to sell what they have, and we've seen a wave of volunteers since yesterday.

There is still a chance you could find a useful treasure for us if you spend some time collecting. And finding more equipment such as these "cannons" would be very helpful."

The Magistrate spoke up, "I've authorized five hundred of my soldiers to arrive here tomorrow morning and join the fight. Beyond that, I would suggest a hit and move strategy, rely on me and your fellow cultivators. We can force the Samsarran army to slow their march by a few days by constantly pestering them with surprise attacks. We can also take out their officer corps. Five hundred of my men will not be enough to stand against five thousand, or if they are, I dare not pay the heavy cost of lives such a battle would take."

Kazumi had her own thoughts. "Neither the West Winds nor North Winds can survive without their people. I think you should take time to talk to families personally. You might find that there is help in unexpected places. Be honest, let everyone know what we are facing."


How will Autumn prepare for the Samsarran Army invasion?

[ ] Chau's suggestion: Spend time at the North Peak 'collecting' treasures. Hopefully you'll find something useful for the war effort, and you did promise the quartet you would do this.

[ ] Magistrate's suggestion: Form a strike team with the Magistrate, Kazumi, Jacob and yourself. Repeatedly attack the advancing Samsarran army, focusing on confusion and targeted strikes against their senior officers. Relying on the Magistrate's group teleportation, you can get in and out quickly.

[ ] Kazumi's suggestion: Spend some time speaking with everyday people, and find out how people can help. You may find Medics you didn't know about, Admin-cultivators with the ability to use attack powers, or other surprises by simply listening to people.