Niu Pa

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Ox General Niu

"All soldiers, follow me to glory!"

Niu Pa has earned his nickname, being a massive brick of a man. His limbs are strong and his mind is simple, and yet this is strangely endearing to his men, who are perfectly willing to follow him in his fearless charges into the enemy. He is aware that he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and is quite willing to defer to superior strategists and thinkers. To him, a leader must stand at the front of his men, and that position leaves no time for thinking, only action.

• General 6, Move 120’, AC 9, HD 6d8, hp 82, Att 4+/9+, Saves: Wood 8+, Fire 14+, Earth 15+, Metal 14+, Water 10+, Init -2
• Dmg: Hammer (2d10+3), Halberd (2d8+3)
• Str +3 Dex -2 Con +3 Int -1 Wis -1 Cha +3
• Proficiencies: Command, Endurance, Intimidate, Manual of Arms, Might, Riding, Siege Engineering, Chi Power (Art of War),
• Weapon Masteries: Expert: (Giant Hammer, Improvised Thrown, Unarmed, Halberd - Ge), Skilled (All Common, Major, Military)
• Chi Abilities
  • Iron Body (Cloak of Chi, Feel No Pain, Cleanse the Blood, Iron Skin x2, Strength of the Mountains)
  • Art of War (Green Bamboo)
• Languages: Chinese
• Equipment: Good quality giant hammer, halberd, heavy armor 6/8 Stone
  • Ox-horn Helm: good quality helmet (+1 to reputation, shift head wounds 1 column up)
• Mount: Good Heavy Warhorse
• Retainers: See below

Retainers

Sun Wensi, Black Mountain Bandit

• General 5, Move 120’, AC 6, HD 5d8, hp 53, Att 5+/7+, Saves: Wood 10+, Fire 12+, Earth 14+, Metal 13+, Water 11+, Init +0
• Dmg: Axe (1d10+2)
• Str +2 Con +1 Cha +2, Morale +5. Loyalty +5
• Proficiencies: Command, Intimidate, Manual of Arms (Infantry), Riding, Language (Buyeo), Alertness, Trapping, Wakefulness, Tracking, Endurance, Naturalism (Forest)
• Weapon Masteries: Skilled: (Axe, Unarmed, Spear, Crossbow), Basic (All Common, Major, Military)
• Chi Abilities: Iron Body (Cloak of Chi, Cleanse the Blood, Strong Defense), Lightfoot (Sure-footed, Rock Steady, Sprint/Leap)
• Languages: Chinese, Buyeo
• Equipment: 2 Good quality axes, heavy armor 6/8 Stone
• Mount: Medium warhorse
• Retainers: Sun Tong (brother)
• Other: Sun Wensi's lungs are damaged. He cannot force march, his overland speed is 80' and he must rest 2 turns every 6 instead of 1. He may expend 1 use of Cleanse the Blood to negate this penalty for 1 hour. (The Endurance proficiency returns the rest requirement to 1 turn per 6)

Sun Tong, Younger Brother

• General 3, Move 120’, AC 6, HD 3d8, hp 38, Att 6+/8+, Saves: Wood 11+, Fire 13+, Earth 15+, Metal 14+, Water 12+, Init +0
• Dmg: Axe (1d8+2)
• Str +2 Con +2
• Proficiencies: Command, Intimidate, Manual of Arms (Infantry), Riding, Language (Buyeo), Alertness, Wakefulness, Tracking, Naturalism (forest)
• Weapon Masteries: Basic (All Common, Major, Military)
• Chi Abilities: Iron Body (Cloak of Chi, Cleanse the Blood), Lightfoot (Sure-footed, Rock Steady)
• Languages: Chinese, Buyeo
• Equipment: Axe, shield, heavy armor 7/7 Stone
• Mount: Light warhorse
• Retainers:
• Other: Minor Scarring

Gong Zhou, Wise Physician

Zhou is a middle aged man who only recently unlocked his chi. The transformation has sharpened his intellect and invigorated his body.

• Doctor 3, Move 120’, AC 1, HD 3d8, hp 24, Att 9+/9+, Saves: Wood 12+, Fire 14+, Earth 7+, Metal 13+, Water 10+
• Dmg: Unarmed (1d2), Dagger (1d4)
• Int +2, Wis +2
• Proficiencies: +Healing x3, +Animal Husbandry x2, Lay On Hands, Knowledge (Natural History), Naturalism (Northern Plains, Forests), Wakefulness
• Weapon Masteries: Basic (Unarmed, Dagger, Needle))
• Chi Abilities: Iron Body (Cleanse the Blood) Inner Eye (The Sharp Sense, Resist Chi, Resist Manipulation)
• Languages: Chinese
• Equipment: Robes, healer's tools, prepared herbs, dagger 1/6 Stone
• Mount: Light Horse and cart.
• Retainers: Gong Shan (son)
• Followers: None
• Other: Doctors treat medicine as a Strategist's expertise. At level 3 that means +2 to all proficiency checks in Healing and Husbandry.

Gong Shan, Brave Healer

Shan is two years younger than Niu Pa and like his father has just unlocked his chi. The young man shines with inner strength.

• Doctor 1, Move 120’, AC 4, HD 1d8, hp 18, Att 8+/9+, Saves: Wood 11+, Fire 14+, Earth 8+, Metal 14+, Water 13+
• Dmg: Unarmed (1d2), Dagger (1d4)
• Str +2, Dex +1, Con +2, Int +1, Wis +2
• Proficiencies: +Healing x2, Lay on Hands, Chi Power (Inner Power), Endurance, Naturalism (Northern Plains), Survival
• Weapon Masteries: Basic (Common, Major, War Sabre)
• Chi Abilities: Iron Body (Cloak of Chi, Strong Defense), Inner Power (Invisible Armor)
• Languages: Chinese, Xiong Nu
• Equipment: Robes, healer's tools, prepared herbs, dagger, pudao 2/6 Stone
• Mount: Light Horse and cart.
• Retainers: Gong Shan (son)
• Followers: None
• Other: Doctors treat medicine as a Strategist's expertise. At level 1 that means +1 to all proficiency checks in Healing and Husbandry.

Zhang Lang, Odious Archer

Zhang Lang is a skilled archer with immense stamina and no social graces. He is crude and slovenly though once you get to know him he is quite friendly. He has a young, patient, wife and many children.

• General 3, Move 120’, AC 9, HD 3d8, hp 33, Att 9+/6+, Saves: Wood 10+, Fire 11+, Earth 16+, Metal 15+, Water 17+, Init +4
• Dmg: Bow (1d8+1), Sabre (1d10+1), Spear (1d12+1)
• Str +1, Dex +3, Con +3, Cha -2
• Proficiencies: Command, Riding, Manual of Arms (Cavalry, Archers), Intimidate, Ambush, Sniper, Skulking, Endurance
• Weapon Masteries: Skilled (Spear, Sabre, Horsebow, dagger), Basic (Major, Common, Military)
• Chi Abilities: Lightfoot (Sprint/Leap, Withdraw) Iron Body (Cloak of Chi, Iron Skin)
• Languages: Chinese
• Equipment: Good quality bow, sabre, spear, heavy armor 6/8 Stone
• Mount: Medium warhorse
• Retainers:

Jian Huo, Scandalous Artisan

Talented with chemicals with a fiery personality to match Jian Huo is not a meek woman. She laughs openly and conducts her affairs with no regard for common norms.

• Strategist 2, Move 120’, AC 2, HD 2d6, hp 12, Att 11+/8+, Saves: Wood 15+, Fire 9+, Earth 12+, Metal 11+, Water 11+, Init +4
• Dmg: Fire Wheel (1d6-1), Fire Bomb (as oil)
• Str -1, Dex +2, Int +2, Cha +2
• Proficiencies: Alchemy x3, Knowledge (Natural Philosophy) x2, Loremastery, Signalling, Soothsaying, Naturalism (Riverlands x2)
• Weapon Masteries: Basic (Major, Common, Fire Wheel, Bombs)
• Chi Abilities: Artisan's Hand (The Hand That Inspires, The Hand That Creates, The Hand That Acts, The Sharp Mind)
• Languages: Chinese, Di, Nanman
• Equipment:
• Mount:
• Retainers:

Followers

Jianzi, Former Rebel

Jianzi is a wiry, middle-aged, balding man with a hollow stare. He was once a farmer and joined the Yellow Turbans to fight corrupt officials.

He leads a small faction and when called upon can raise 1 company of light infantry or 2 companies of conscripts in a month.

• General 3, Move 120’, AC 5, HD 3d8, hp 33, Att 8+/9+, Saves: Wood 10+, Fire 14+, Earth 15+, Metal 15+, Water 15+, Init +0
• Dmg: Pudao (1d12+1)
• Str +1, Con +3, Wis +1
• Proficiencies: Command, Intimidate, Manual of Arms (Infantry), Alertness, Wakefulness, Labor (farming), Endurance
• Weapon Masteries: Skilled (Pudao, spear, throwing axe, unarmed), Basic (All Common, Major, Military)
• Chi Abilities
  • Iron Body (Feel No Pain, Cloak of Chi, Iron Skin x2)
• Languages: Chinese
• Equipment: Pudao, rebel armor 3/7 Stone
• Mount: None
• Retainers:
• Investments:
• Salary: 5 silver/month
• Lifestyle: 2.5 silver/month
• Other: Minor Scarring

Lieutenant Qi Ma, Battle Butler (Level 3 General)

A very minor noble at the onset of the war, Qi Ma (courtesy name Jiaoche) is soon becoming Suoyou Deren's replacement on the Ox General's staff. He's not a fan of political matters, but he knows about them, and he'll advise Niu about them to keep him out of harm's way.

Lieutenant Shao Ping, Little Miss Firecracker (Level 2 General)

A dark-skinned girl with surprising strength for her size, who fights and drinks like one of the lads, and she's also a dab hand with the catapults. Her small frame and general wriggliness means that she's the one who teaches raw recruits how to crawl into tunnels and scale ladders.

Lieutenant Hong Yu, the Crimson Lance (Level 2 General)

The leader of the Five Lances, Niu Pa's self-proclaimed bodyguards. A hot-blooded idealist, Hong Yu is a strong believer in honor and loyalty.

Lieutenant Lan Yu, the Azure Lance (Level 2 General)

Hong Yu's brother, Lan Yu is the voice of reason to his sibling's impulsiveness. However, he's not as different from his brother as he thinks he is.

Lieutenant Tao Shou, the Peach Lance (Level 2 General)

A plucky young woman who reminds the others of the things that are worth fighting for; namely, to protect the people and the land. Also serves as the team mom.

Lieutenant Hei Zhao, the Black Lance (Level 1 General)

Hei Zhao was a former thief who was awakened to justice by Niu Pa's magnanimity. He remains a playful trickster, though he's vowed never to do anything which would disgrace his lord.

Lieutenant Huang Pao, the Yellow Lance (Level 1 General)

A massive man, almost as large as the Ox General himself, Huang Pao is a gentle giant who attempts to subdue his foe as nonlethally as possible.

Lieutenant Shao Xia, Kid Hero (Level 1 General)

Shao Xia is barely of age to join the armies, but he's enlisted nonetheless to keep his family safe. Fortunately, he's come under Niu's tutelage, and it seems to be rubbing off.

Family

Parents:

• Niu Lang, Father, Age 38
  • A hardworking man who's used to shouldering heavy burdens by himself. Taught Niu to be self-sacrificing and care for others.
• Niu (Zhi) Nu, Mother, Age 34
  • A caring woman who wept when her son went to join the army. Somewhat overprotective. Best cook. Taught Niu the value of food.

Siblings:

• Niu Min, Biggest Sister, Age 16
  • A tomboy who wishes she were born a man. Competitive with her big brother but has a girly interior.
• Niu Jia, Bigger Sister #2, Age 13
  • Responsible and reserved, she secretly has a crush on her big brother.
• Niu Xin, Big Sister #3, Age 11
  • A delinquent daughter who crushes on Jia and dotes on her little sisters. Resents Niu (mildly) for "abandoning them".
• Niu Lan, Twin Sister 1, Age 8
  • Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.
• Niu Fan, Twin Sister 2, Age 8
  • Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.

Microfictions

Brotherhood

Niu Pa isn't normally the sort to stand on ceremony, but the rite of brotherhood is serious business, and he's spared no expense to get it right. For starters, there's the plates of chicken, pork and goat, freshly slaughtered and giving off a mouth-watering scent after their impromptu roasting. They're arranged on the table with the two tablets representing both their families and the whole ceremony is being conducted at the local temple to Shen Nong, the god of agriculture. It wasn't the most appropriate god, but it was the biggest shrine in the village, and Niu figures that as long as a god is watching, he can pass the message on to all of Heaven. There's jars of wine under the table too; some as an offering to the gods, a couple of dishes for the prospective brothers to drink, and most of the rest goes to the villagers and soldiers who're gathered round to observe. And of course, there's the joss sticks to be offered to Shen Nong when the rite is complete.

Suoyou's been amazingly helpful for this. The oath he wrote down looks like it's been planned for years and years, even though Niu came up to him about an hour ago with his request. The poor kid looked kind of disappointed, but he still came through, big-time. He's even coached Niu on how to pronounce some of the harder words. And there he is, at the head of the crowd, with Sun Wensi and his brother, Laughing Blade, and Niu and Jing Li's mingled followers, who are cracking jokes and getting to know each other.

Standing before them, the Ox General is suddenly aware of an unusual feeling. Is it fear? No, Niu's not the sort to be frightened by such a petty thing, or to let being scared bother him. But he's definitely nervous. Still, he manages to make his voice heard over that of a hundred other gossips, and the crowd soon comes to order.

"Ah... good afternoon, friends and brothers. Captain Jing Li and I have come together today to pledge brotherhood before the eyes of men and god. Let's see how this goes..."

He squeezes one eye shut as he tries to remember the words that Suoyou was trying to get him to memorize. It would be unsightly to have to read off a scrap of paper, Suoyou said.

"Though the surnames of Niu and Jing are different, though we be born of different parents and different families, yet today under the eyes of Heaven, Earth and Man, we stand together as brothers. From this day forth, we shall join forces and unite for a common purpose, to bring peace to the land, to drive out the rebels that plague its people, and to aid the endangered. We shall do justice on heaven's behalf and labor industriously for the nation. Though we were not born on the same year, the same month and the same day, ever will we hope to perish on the same year, same month and the same day. May the gods of Heaven and Earth and our fellow men bear witness to this vow, and attest to what is in our hearts. If we should ever do anything to betray our friendship, may heaven and the people of the earth both strike us dead."

With that, he reaches for the ceremonial knife and bares a wrist, then nicks a vein lightly before offering the blade to Jing Li. Once the Swift General is similarly wounded, they press the two bleeds together, so the blood from one may flow into the body of another. Thus, with the two of them sharing the same blood, are the two of them brothers in flesh as well as in word and deed. After a few moments, Niu reaches for a cup of wine and offers it to Jing Li, before taking one for himself.

"One bow to Heaven," Suoyou says from the side, and Niu bows to the tablet of Lei Gong, the Thunder God.

"One bow to Earth," and then he bows to the tablet of Shen Nong, god of the fields.

"One bow to Man," and then Niu turns to Jing Li, bowing to him.

"Big Brother, it is good to meet you," Niu says, offering a toast. "Please advise your Second Brother in the way he should go."

Morning Ride

It's been days since they left Yuan Shao's palatial estate, but Niu still recalls the splendor of the Duke's palace in his dreams. Everything is gold, and everything is silk, and when he wakes, sometimes he imagines that he's still dressed in the fine robes he was provided as a guest.

Duke Yuan had made Niu a gift of the set, saying that he should be "clothed in raiments befitting of his station". Niu spent half a day wondering what the man was saying before Lieutenant Qi, sensing the large man's distress, quietly whispered that it meant he should dress like a hero.

"But a hero wears armor," Niu said. "I wear armor. Lots of it!"

"Duke Yuan is a man of the courts, and believes the best armor is fine clothing, to improve others' impressions of you." He does not elaborate on the implied insult, that Yuan Shao considers Niu Pa unsophisticated and clumsy enough that he needs to be clothed and trained by his betters. He's not sure if Niu would mind anyway - the Ox General is keenly aware of his lack of intellect and gladly follows anyone with a better idea than himself. Granted, with his strength, he doesn't exactly need tactics... but it is possible to win most of the battles and still lose the war, so Qi Ma is eager to keep that from happening.

All that is several days in the past, however, and as Niu rises, the only thing on his mind is how cold it is, and if Blacky was cold. Xiaobai's home is around his neck - the kitten enjoys basking in the Ox General's body heat - but Blacky is far too large to fit in a guesthouse's room and it won't do for Niu to sleep in a stable.

However, those thoughts go out the window as soon as he hears a familiar whickering. Rouyuan lumbers toward Blacky's stall, just in time to see te stable door open, and a shape silhouetted in its frame. Honed instinct kicks in, and he evaluates the situation. Someone was approaching Blacky. Normally he wouldn't be worried, because Blacky is as stable as a mountain and as strong as a storm; a mere horse thief would be slaughtered before he could even lay a hand on the horse's hide. Yet, the horse seems to be receptive to the intruder's attentions.

Niu's not sure if his decision is driven by caution or jealousy, but he does adopt a fighting stance, shunning weapons and armor for his elephantine might and constitution provide a sword and hauberk in their own right.

"I am the Ox General, Niu Pa," he announces. "If you are a thief, begone immediately and you will not be pursued. Persist, and you will be rewarded in accordance to your wickedness!"

There is silence for a while, broken only by the wind rushing through the open stable door. Then, there is a laugh. A soft, tinkling laugh, one which makes all the strength flee his mighty body.

"And what if I was not a thief, dear General?" Zhang Jia replies. She turns, and even in silhouette and wearing a coat, she cuts a fetching figure, one slim hand stroking Blacky's face. Niu doesn't know how to respond, but he tries anyway.

"I... ah... well... I... good morning, Lady Zhang? Have you eaten yet?"

"Good morning, Colonel. No, I have not eaten; actually, I was thinking of a quick ride out in the country while the staff prepare breakfast."

"But... but it's dark out, and while there haven't been any bandits sighted, it would be dangerous to go alone..."

"Oh, I am well aware of that fact. But I won't be going alone... will I?"

Even in the pre-dawn darkness, Niu can tell Zhang Jia is looking right at him. Looking at him, and waiting for an answer.

"...I'd like nothing more than to escort you, Lady Zhang," Niu says. As the words hit the breeze, a tension he didn't know he had slowly seeps out of him.

"And I would gladly accept a bodyguard of the General of Iron Might," she replies. "Come with me, then. The sun will be up soon."

--

This is an unusual situation for Niu Pa, the General of Iron Might, who typically stands at the head of his forces and fearlessly leads them into the thick of the battle so that they might emerge triumphant. He's following behind Zhang Jia, a willowy young woman in surprisingly sensible riding clothes - this must be the outfit her mother doesn't let her wear normally - listening to the sound of gentle hoofbeats in the freshly fallen snow, drowned out by the sound of Ziyan humming a tune to herself.

She's pretty, he thinks. But I've seen prettier. She has a nice voice, but others can sing better. She can ride, but I know women who ride - and better than me too.

So why am I thinking about her so much?

"Colonel," she calls out in a sing-song voice. "We're here."

"Here? Um... where's here?" He barely needs to touch the reins before Blacky's halted himself.

"We'll need to leave the horses behind for this," she says. "The path's too narrow for them. Butterfly will do fine by herself; how about... Blacky, was it?"

The horse in question neighs in assent, and against the white of the snow Niu can see the stallion flicking his head toward the dismounted Ziyan, as though to say "go on, big guy, I've got you covered."

"Oh... ah, Blacky will be fine. Be good now, you hear?" the Ox General says as he lands on the ground with nary a sound. The wind picks up and he knows he should feel cold, but strangely, his face is hot and his skin is tingly.

Am I getting sick? he thinks, and then Zhang Jia speaks up again.

"Come on, this way!" she enthuses, and before he can reply, he feels a small hand (relative to his own monstrous paw) grabbing his and tugging him along. Niu allows himself to be led like a puppy, and snow crunches under his boots as they begin ascending a rocky trail that leads up the side of a hill.

"So tell me," Niu says as they're clambering up some rocks. "What's so special about this place?"

"That... is a secret~" Zhang Jia replies. "You'll find out when you get the-argh!"

Instantly, Niu is on his guard, and one hand slams into the sandstone like a piton while the other shoots down to grab Ziyan, who's sliding down the trail. She yelps in pain, but clings tightly to Niu's arm and chokes back her agony as she pulls herself up his muscled limb.

"Lady Zhang! Are you all right?!"

"I... I'm fine, Colonel. Thank you. My foot slipped, but I twisted it on the way down, so..."

Her voice trails off, but Niu doesn't have to look at her face to tell that she's in no state to climb.

"It's no good. I guess we'll just have to-"

"Lady Zhang, if you wish to go back, I will gladly bear you down," Niu replies. "But... I think that if you wanted to show me this place, it must be a very special one; and if you'll allow me, I can take you up. Compared to the walls of Bei Ye and Ping Yuan, this hill is nothing."

"That is... very kind of you, Colonel," she says softly. "Then, if you would help me..."

"Certainly," he says, lifting her up by one arm until she's positioned over his back. Zhang Jia doesn't need further prompting to drop down onto him, locking her arms around his shoulders the way he saw soldiers on the river clinging to driftwood. He can feel her warm breath against his ear and the side of his neck, smell the perfume she uses, hear her slightly labored breathing and the sound of the fabric of her clothes brushing against his as she adjusts herself so she can hang on as best as she can.

"You okay back there?" he asks.

"Mmhm," she nods, and electricity runs through his spine as he feels her chin against his shoulder.

"All right," he says. "Hang on tight..."

Perhaps the Ox General's hands are not hammers or axes, but with his strength, they might as well be. Iron-hard fingers sink into the hillside, gouging out solid bucket holds before mighty-thewed arms and legs propel him up against gravity, without any strain even with Zhang Jia hanging off his back. Indeed, he might be able to carry her horse as well on his journey up the side of the hill, but his strength is hardly so tested as he manages to reach the top in minutes, and as he scrambles to the top, Zhang Jia slides off his back, only to whimper in pain as she lands on her injured foot and sprawls onto the ground.

"Lady Zhang!" he exclaims, going to her side.

"I'm fine," she gasps, her hands going down to investigate her injured limb. She winces as she touches it. It's not broken, but it's pretty swollen. Niu will definitely need to carry her down again after this.

"You're hurt," he says forlornly. It might not have been his doing, but she was still in his care, and he was supposed to keep her safe.

"And it wasn't your fault, Colonel," she says, squeezing his wrist. "But now is not the time. Look!"

She points to the distance, and Niu suddenly realises that the silhouette of her hand appears clearer than before. That's because the sky is...

"...it's beautiful," he breathes, deflecting his gaze to avoid looking directly into the sun as it comes up. That brings his vision to rest on Zhang Jia, whose enraptured face is stunningly beautiful in the light of dawn, with the wind playing through her hair and cooling his burning face. Niu notices she's propping herself up on her elbows to watch the sunrise, and reaches his arm down to support her back. No words are exchanged, but he feels her lean in on his proffered appendage, and soon she's leaning against him. The feeling of her weight against his side is soothing; his heart soars and flutters like the flock of birds roused to wakeful flight by the morning and up here, alone with her, he wonders if this is the kind of moment the writers and artists want to capture with their books and paintings.

They sit like this for a while, Niu's supporting arm now gathering her close to him. He flinches as she speaks, and there's a beatific smile on her face as she looks up to him.

"So, how was it? Did you like it?"

"The sunrise? It was... nice, I guess," he mutters. "I'm sorry, I was looking at you, and..."

His voice trails off as he realises her cheeks have turned pink. Must be the cold... or was it?

"That won't do," she chides. "I brought you up here to watch the sun rise. You have to look at it too!"

"Ah... I'm sorry, Lady Zhang-"

"That's my mother's name," she scolds, before her stern expression changes to an impish grin. "Call me Ziyan," she says softly.

"Lady- sorry, Ziyan, my name is Rouyuan," he says, voice infused with quiet sincerity.

"That's a cute name," she giggles. "Well then, Rouyuan. Next time, you'll have to pay proper attention!"

"Yes, ma'am!" he replies.

Homecoming

The small village of Buluo is nestled in the mountains, amidst large fields walled off from the rest of the world by the ridges around them. Said fields have just been harvested, but the festival the villagers are hosting is not simply to celebrate bringing in the crops, but also to hail the return of sons once thought lost, but come back to rejoin their families. Indeed, the entire detail (with the exception of Lieutenant Qima and Gong Shan) he brought with him to his home is composed of the surviving veterans who were conscripted from the village to aid in the war effort; it is a testament to Niu's care and concern for his men that he managed to return with all but five of the two dozen men he left Buluo with.

Gong Shan has followed his father to the countryside on occasion and is somewhat used to their rustic ways, but Qima's still somewhat stiff among the smiling, happy villagers. He's not used to the owner of the house personally coming out to welcome him and offer him local snacks, though a keen sense for politeness compels him to swiftly consume it and keep it down, regardless of how exotic it seems to him. But Qima and Gong Shan are left behind in the center of the village, while the Ox General returns home at last.

"Big Brother!" Niu Jia breathes, touching her suddenly pink cheeks. "You came back..."

"Almost didn't recognize him," Niu Min grins, trying to reach up to his shoulder and not quite succeeding; he must have put on a growth spurt during the war because now he's much taller than she remembers, and when he walks face first into a doorframe that used to be a good foot over his head, the house trembles and threatens to collapse.

"Took him long enough," Niu Xin mutters. "Must have been fun killing and fighting and-"

"Now, A-Xin, is that any way to talk to your brother?" Niu Nu chides as she smiles up to her big son. Instinctively, Niu drops to one knee, so his mother can reach her arms around his neck. His little sisters take the chance to climb up Niu's coat of plates and fasten themselves to his pauldrons.

"Big bro, big bro, which of us is A-Fan?" the twins giggle. Of course Niu has no clue, given that he hasn't seen them in years, when they were still hanging on to Big Sister Xin's hands. Carefully, he reaches his hands up to lightly pat their heads with hands that are easily the size of their torsoes.

"It doesn't matter, I'll dote on you both just the same," he smiles.

"Awwww, that's not fair, you didn't answer us!" they reply in unison. Still, it seems to satisfy them, and they drop off his shoulder and run out the door. No doubt they'll be telling the stories of their gigantic brother to all the other kids in no time. Before that, however, they find the man Niu most wants to see; his father, Niu Lang,

"A-Pa, my boy! Heavens, you've grown! Guess it makes sense though, you go out into the big open world, and you expand to fill it. And I saw one of your boys by the big fire just now; he was telling us that he was your assistant. Imagine that, a farmboy with a nobby young man as a squire! Come, tell us all about it... no, better yet - the headman's going to have a big feast. We can have storytime there!"

--

Much like everything in Niu's life, when he feasts, he feasts - it's as though he's determined to make up for three years of missed dinners here - and when he's invited to tell his tales, he gives it his all. His fellow soldiers, all village natives at well, chip in to corroborate his accounts too; from his impressing and intimidation of the nasty sergeants at boot camp, to his staunch, unyielding strength and stamina that promoted him to an officer, Niu's glory is spread not by the man himself, but by the ones he carried along with him. Of course, it falls to him to narrate the great battles that established him as one of the San Jie; the taking of Huan Ford, the siege of Ping Yuan, the treacherous attack before and the great victory of Ping Yuan. The tale seems almost too unreal to believe, but the Ox General stands before them, and every man who came back with him swears upon their family altars that Niu Rouyuan speaks the truth.

Loud cheering echoes up from the villagers, and soon the festivities begin in earnest, with dancing, singing, and the like. It's also the time for young lovers to separate from the pack and confess their affection to each other - and Ni finds a familiar face pulling him away...