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[Saibankan]

To Mirumoto Ume,

By the time this letter reaches you, the legion will have mustered at Mura Nishi Chushin and began the march towards the Wall. These are troubled times across the Empire, but I believe the legion will be best utilized bolstering the defenses of the Empire. The true nature of the threats here and abroad are often shrouded in mystery, but warriors are serving their best when faced with a foe that can readily be answered with steel. Those who would rather use them for political gain will simply have to find some other prop to entertain themselves with.

As always, I have prioritized having a command staff known for their skills rather than their political connections. Some, such as Osoroshii, have marched with me many times before over the years; others, such as our chief physician, I have only just met. By the time we reach the Wall, I expect that we will march as one, as if we have served together all along.

Accompanying this letter should be a list of all the shogi moves for my current games with the children. Nearly all of the games have settled into a fairly predictable endgame; they've all fought well, but their defeat is inevitable. Ureshino's game is perhaps less certain, but it does demonstrate that a good commander must be flexible when facing an unexpected tactic.

<Chop of>

Mirumoto Tekkan, Rikugunshokan of the 42nd Emerald Legion

[Fukurokujin]

Left at the gate of a noble house in the outer city, and unsigned

Dreadful, I remain the tree to your axe, the glisten of your bright curve still shining in my mind. I still feel the cut--oh, yes, it bit me deeply, tore me from roots that fed me despite the rocky soil--but in the moment, how sweet was the kiss of that curve! And if it could not be that I could remain, standing wooden among the bamboo thicket, to have been laid low by you is still a far better end than many find who afterwards float away.

The haft of a weapon, now, in a general's hand, I am pointed at the enemy most worth facing. Perhaps if I return, you might take me in your own hands again.

[Saibankan]

To Seppun Rin,

Late in the season though it may be, orders have come down and the general is on the march. While I cannot divulge our destination due to security concerns, our path will not be taking us to the vicinities of the Ikoma Archives as we had hoped. It would have been nice if our postings had aligned to see us through the Winter together, but Duty calls, and we must heed the call. If you would be so kind as to return the treatises I have borrowed from Ikoma Kimiko and express unto her my sincere thanks for their loan, it would be much appreciated.

It would not be prudent to share with Ikoma-san the nature of the dispute I borrowed the treatises for, suffice to say they were definitive in arguing that one should model their life after Leadership, not simply justify one's desires by saying 'It's what Ikoma would have done!' The argument was settled as well as one could settle an argument with the old crow. That is to say as soon as he found himself in a disfavorable position, he cast off the argument like last season's kimono and started with a fresh one. Now the argument is that 'One's position should be one's own, not merely recited from the works of long dead scholars.' Centuries of wisdom to be ignored with the simple dismissal 'But they're not here now to see things as they are. Who knows what they would say?' Ridiculous, and yet my charge would see these points rebutted as if the old crow were a great sage of old.

I have heard a certain Scorpion liken us to the general's anvil and hammer, forging strategies by bringing the two into contact with ringing blows. Perhaps he thinks it is a sly insult to compare me to an anvil, but I find the anvil's unyielding and uncompromising nature to be laudable traits indeed. The old crow's interpretation of himself as a hammer is, unsurprisingly, much more crass. Thus my concern, at the end of the day, it is the smith who is responsible for his tools. Should the hammer fly from his grip and injure another, it is not the tool who will be blamed. I protect him as best as I am able, but as long as the old crow is allowed to sing, believing himself a nightingale, I feel there will come trouble I cannot protect against.

Yours as always,

Fumin

[Fukurokujin]

Intended,

Too great, and growing greater, is the count of days since I last saw you, and how many remain until I can see you again, I cannot guess, though I know that number is also too large. New orders have arrived, and my lord Mirumoto-rikugunshokan says that we shall march soon. There is a threat looming, it seems, and we must be the answer to it.

I know that so much is the cost of days like what we last shared, when the flowers opened and the bees darted between them. Your hair flowed like water in the wind, writing in darkest ink on the paper of the clouded sky, and I long to read those words again no less than those your brush sent and to which I reply now.

Think not ill of me that I have had to say to your family and to mine that the date must be postponed again. I could not be as I am and not answer the duty to which I am called. But I know that you are no fragile flower, to wither with the passing of a season--nor yet does such a bloom compare to your beauty.

I know your heart is certain. I could only wish that my own did not misgive me--not about you, for it does not there, but there are some who have been assigned to the Legion I serve who seem less than they ought to be. My lord Mirumoto-rikugunshokan is, of course, beyond question, and so I accept those of his staff who have been with him long, but there have been others brought in whom I am certain he did not choose. Too often already is there a struggle surrounding appointments; some such as have joined us here for the coming march look as if they will reaffirm what too many say and what ought not to be true.

I can only hope that I am wrong in this, and that the roads will lead me back to you again, and swiftly, that I might see you wear white and red and you might join me under many moons.

Until then, I remain yours,

<chop of>
Miya Ugemi

[Fukurokujin]

TO BE RELAYED WITH THIRD-LEVEL HASTE
<seal of the Forty-Second Imperial Legion>
To: Hida Fuyutake, Twr Cdr
Fm: Hrma Akako, Int Chf, Em Leg 42
Subj: Reinforcement

Reinfs. being disp'd to Twr: Em Leg 42. Full Leg billeting req'd, urgent. Notables: Rkgnshkn Mmto Tekkan, Shrkn Osoroshii, Sppn Fumin

Rkgnshkn has rev'd rpts sent with me, others avail. to him, agrees with assmnt of Wall need. His peers less conv'd; his auth. allows him to direct Leg 42 autonomously abs. sup. ords. None such forthcoming.

Ass'bly of personnel, materiel in progress. Materiel to be suppl'd via requisition, foraging en route. Leg 42 self-suppl'g, will attmpt add'l supp for Twr.

Leg 42 transits via Museru Mura. Updtd int rpts req'd. Cipher updt req'd on arrival at Twr, pending Kuni rvw.

Addndm: Rpt status Hrma Goyo req'd, non-urgent.

[Saibankan]

To Shosuro Kunio,

May Lady Sun smile down upon you as it did upon the parting of Doji Akane and Doji Kohaku upon the Bridge of Compassion Ensured. They knew in their hearts it would be their final farewell, and yet the warmth of Lady Sun made their empty promises of a future reunion seem somehow more plausible. For, truly, if it was their final goodbye, would not Lady Sun hide her benevolent gaze behind storm clouds?

Your last letter was quite intriguing. We had, naturally, discounted Naomi as naught more than a distraction from the true culprit's identity. A pretty face to pin the crimes upon, one who would have no one to turn to to save her from a performative justice. How heartwarming were the words of Shiori and Katsumi's testimony as they swore to Naomi's innocence and resolved to find the true culprit! However, your suggestion that the spilled ink will be the thread that lead's to Naomi's ultimate exposure is, I think, not unreasonable.

Perhaps it was her lack of mask that made the idea that she could be attempting a double bluff seem infeasible. It is, after all, a daily occurrence in the lives of those who wear the red and black to have the veracity of their words called into question. Yet not all masks can be seen, so perhaps her truthful lies are, indeed, merely truths disguised as lies. Still, I hope that they will remember The Fool Who Thought Himself a Wiseman Playing the Fool. Fooling your friends to fool your enemies is one thing, but fooling only yourself is quite another.

I look forward to your next letter,

<Chop of>

Bayushi Najimi, Operations Chief of the 42nd Emerald Legion

[Saibankan]

Masa,

Clearly, Seppun Riko is trying to screw us over on the contract details while I am not in the capital. I know it's not in your nature, but put down the pruning sheers, muster up a little backbone, march over to that sty she calls a residence, and inform her quite sternly that we are not to be trifled with in such a fashion. Five hundred koku was the agreed upon price, and we'll not surrender a single zeni, not even a single fu more than that for her to waste on whatever latest fashion trend she's vacantly chasing.

I would rather be there in the capital dealing with all of the snakes than here trying to herd this band of alley cats that dreams itself an army. Actually, that is unfair to alley cats. At least alley cats are smart enough to find food. All of the oh-so honorable warriors of repute here would have their glorious saga end in inglorious starvation if it were not for me gifting them the benefit of all my hard-earned talents. And what appreciation do I get for keeping an entire Legion running as they march to fight the enemy? None whatsoever. Just disrespectful looks and undeservedly haughty attitudes. Even from that ronin, wherever he came from, and especially from that ditzy Scorpion.

Remember, not one zeni more to Seppun Riko than we agreed. I know you're a compassionate man, but if I come home and find you've given her more, I will be quite cross, indeed. And have the servants prepare for one of my intimate dinners upon our return. I will want to give the general a chance to at least thank me in private, even if he won't do so publicly.

Yours,

Otosanuchi no Karen, Logistics Chief of the 42nd Imperial Legion, Owner of the Golden Vine Winery

[Fukurokujin]

Detozi-sempai,

Thank you for the copy of the anatomical treatise Hazama-sensei and Kuni Tsukemono authored and illustrated. I recognize the work that went into making the copy--I've read enough of your handwriting to recognize it throughout--but I do have to ask: which of the marginalia are your comments, and which are those of others? Some of the phrasing in the annotations reads as distinct from either you or the main authorial voice, and it doesn't seem to line up with what I remember from Hazama-sensei's other monographs. It is a curious point.

I believe the opportunity to contribute annotations of my own to the text will present itself soon. According to Mirumoto-rikugunshokan, the Legion will be setting forth soon. Osoroshii-shireikan has been making a number of comments about ports of call along the way, although we will not be taking a coastal route. I suppose it is some kind of metaphor on the part of the shireikan, probably some crass thing picked up along the roads. I suppose, too, that I shall have to see about increasing my stores of milk thistle seeds.

I find myself uncertain of matters, however. I am included in the Legionary council, Mirumoto-rikugunshokan insistent that I participate in meetings with the unit commanders and other command staff. He does not seem as interested in what I have to say as he does the others, however, and I cannot help but wonder if there is some way in which I have offended him or if there is some unattested insult given by one of my ancestors to one of his. Nor yet has he had recourse to my professional services, either as physician or priest, even if he did have me comment on some discussion between his yoijimbo and Osoroshii-shireikan.

Many in the Legion have been to see me, however. Again, there are illnesses and hurts in plenty even without war, and while my predecessor in this position--may she find peace in the hereafter--left abundant materials behind, it is clear that she was not as able to remain abreast of ongoing research as might have been hoped. Some of her working texts--you may be assured, Detozi-sempai, that I purified them--were at least fifty years out of date. Hence my profound appreciation for the anatomical treatise, which will be going with me along the way.

I shall look forward to your reply.

Isawa Undomiei