The Tiny Emperor's Great Wall (Revised)

Chapter Twenty

More than half a million Acciro and Alkebu-lan troops had gone to the Great Wall. Only a quarter of a thousand made it home. Most that didn't perish in General Fenghua's counterattack froze to death. Soaked clothing and little knowledge of the winter landscape destroyed entire regiments.

Climbing to the top of the Great Wall, the Tiny Emperor and Shi gathered the army before them. Wary soldiers marched before the ruler. Tears sprang to their eyes upon seeing Fenghua's still form. With an earthbender's help, they rested the general upon his back. Smiling to the world, he seemed so peaceful. Many clustered around the fallen hero, touching his skin as if to ensure he truly was gone.

Shi, beside the Emperor, bowed in respect to the general. "He truly gave everything to us," he noted. "Even when he didn't have to."

"I know," said the Emperor. Her hands looped behind her back as she examined their hard-earned award.

The thrill of the victory quickly wore off Shi as he shook his head. Though they had won this battle, Shi knew they couldn't take back all their lands. Not with the pitiful army before them.

"What now?" Shi asked. "Hideyoshi won't surrender what he gained."

"I know," said the Emperor. A deep sigh slipped from her. "But we won here, and everyone knows." Snapping her finger, the Emperor shouted, "Bring me a megaphone." A soldier, a red-scaled naga, slithered off to return with a megaphone. "Thank you." Bringing the megaphone to her lips, the Emperor coughed loudly into it.

"My fair soldiers," the Emperor shouted. "Why do you weep?"

Stunned faces turned toward them. "Before you, a miracle was crafted from that broken body. And upon that miracle, a new one will form." Slapping her chest, the Emperor held herself high. "This will be the start of a grand counterattack. From now on, the Acciro Empire will fear our cries for liberation. No matter if it takes us a thousand years, we will flood back south into our homelands, freeing our conquered families."

"Yeah," shouted a random soldier. Thrusting his hand into the air, he grinned. "If an old coot like Fenghua could create a miracle, then so shall we!"

"Like a flood!" shouted another soldier. "We are the start of a crimson flood."

"Crimson flood." The chant started slowly at first. Yet with each shout of the words, it grew louder and louder, until the earth itself shook. "Crimson flood, crimson flood, crimson flood, crimson flood!"

Shi smiled. While certainly ideal, he found the words enduring.

And so the Tiny Emperor and her loyal subjects planted the seeds of liberation. News of Hideyoshi's defeat spread far and wide. Though the Acciro Empire was not uprooted at once, much of the land closest to the Great Wall joined in the resistance. Those still under enemy control built up secret rebel forces and supplies. For hundreds of years, they would wait, but the Tiny Emperor and her people didn't mind. The more the rage of the Han built up, the more ferocious the humiliation of the oppressor would be.

* * *

Shinko nearly lost his soul to winter. Only through the goodwill of a farmer did he manage to survive.

When he finally made it back to friendly forces, Shinko was thrilled to hear that his lord made it home too. However, rebellions throughout the recently conquered empire held off celebrations. News of the Acciro defeat swept across the lands. Large numbers of Han and other ethnic groups rebelled against the invaders. Shinko, as loyal as always, accompanied his lord to crush the resistance.

Six long months of burying rebellions diverted the Acciro Empire from the Han Emperor's work. The entire northern section of the Han Empire was cut off from the south by the wall. Fleeing rebels and taking lands around the wall allowed the Han Empire to fortify. At first, Hideyoshi ignored them, planning on focusing on stabilizing his gains before launching another campaign.