Death Wish

5.Switching roles

Bao looked at the letter in disbelief, her Father left her a death wish and she didn't know what to do.

"Read it aloud and we will know if it's actually a death wish", Said the Physician.

Bao took a deep breath before she began to read:

"My dear precious Gem, I'm sorry we didn't have our final goodbye together. You might have heard what had happened to your older brother Hong, I feel useless as a father to allow my son to die at war when I was the meant to be leader. Since there's no one to inherit my assests I'm leaving them to you my Gem, please lead the army during this harsh war,I know your a fighter and you will do me and the country proud. I have left Lee and and physician Jo to take care of you in my place and Hong's. For help with army strategies and plans look in my treasure box there should be scrolls with work that can help. Take care of Grandma and especially yourself, do me proud, father".

"He wants you to take over the army?" Lee asked in disbelief.

"But how?!I'm a woman!", Bao exclaimed the obvious.

"I think I might know an idea", Physcian Jo said stroking his chin.

"Speak", said both Lee and Bao in sync both staring at Jo.

"You can pretend to be Hong until the war is over", suggested the physician shrugging.

"That's a good idea! Plus Bao the two of you look alot alike!" Lee agreed.

"I still know nothing about war how I am supposed to lead a whole army?" She sighed.

"We will help you and we can read the generals notes he stored in the treasure box",
Lee said encouragingly.

"I'm not fufilling this death wish..curses are not real...all superstision!" Bao said picking up the food basket she dropped earlier, and began to nibble on her red bean buns.

"It's not about the curse that comes if you don't do the wish, but more what will happen to our country", Physician Jo said.

"What am I supposed to do? The troops obviously won't listen to a woman!" She said with her mouth full of buns.

"Who said it'll be a woman, Bao you'll have to pretend to be male", Lee told her.

Bao paused then thought of Lee's words, male she thought, how will she pull it of? She was already a tomboy, her fighting skills were decent, and lastly she did look alot like her brother.

"Fine, i'll do it", were her only words.

"Good! We need to get to work right away!" Lee said hugging Bao.

"How do I look?" Bao asked Lee and Physcian Jo.

She was wearing the black and brown chinese army uniform and had her brushed raven hair flew loosely down past her shoulders which made her pale skin glow and her ruby lips gave a vibrant shine.

"You look exactly like Hong except you look too soft, your too pretty to be a man", Lee said examining Bao's body.

"See this is never going to work the men will catch me out", Bao sighed.

"No no it will work, just keep it distance with all the soldiers so they won't study your feminine features,sure it's crime punishable by death if they find out, we wouldn't take that risk", Lee reassured.

"Fine, let's move Father's body out of here I've decided we cremate him", said Bao.

"We'll announce his death to the soldiers first then we hold a small ceremony for him during his cremation", Physician Jo said.

The three left the tent to immediately start to work, they all had to act fast as they had a war to win. They gathered all the soldiers for a meeting in front of the deceased General Wei's tent. They announced his death, and many soldiers faces were written with shock and sadness.
Those who looked up to the general were hurt the most.

Bao held a scroll written by General Wei that stated Hong was to become clan leader and inherit all his assets and titles general Wei had, the scroll was stamped by the Emperors Dragon Imperial Seal. The soldiers listened attentively when Lee read the Will, they agreed to accept Bao as their new leader and the new General.

"Our first task on camp will be cleaning it up, I want us to start of by cremating all the bodies of the soldiers who have passed, after that I recommend you all practice your archery,sword, and other self defense skills until we plan an attack on the Turks soon", Bao said proudly doing her best to sound like a proper leader.

The soldiers bowed and immediately reported to duty, leaving Bao and Physician Jo. Lee had gone to help the soldiers.

"You really did sound like a general, I'm sure Hong would have been proud", physician Jo said giving Bao a thumbs up.

Bao let out a sigh of relief and gave the physician a smile, which made his heart feel warm.

"I forgot, what should I call you? Are you my junior or senior?" She asked.

"Depends how old are you?" He replied.

"I'm nine-teen and you?"

"I'm twenty-one,and shouldn't you be married with kids at your age?"

"What about you? Your way past the age of marriage, while I'm still eligible".

"I'm a man you see I can be fifty and still be eligible for marriage, women well it's a lot harder, you need that youth and beauty".

His words were true and she hated the fact they were true,
Women had it a lot harder than men in her generation. She wished she lived in a time were woman weren't seen as baby making machines and more for their strength and intelligence.

Why is it that men can be seen as strong and women as weak?
She was going to prove them wrong she thought.