Dustbender 009 (ATLA)

Following behind Old Man, Corvus left the Beifong estate, and after a short trek, came across a walled off 8 story tall tower. 

This was the administrative hub, and central castle of Gaoling's military. It served as a place of last defense, and was surrounded by barracks, smiths working on weapons, and all other camp activities that were necessary for running an army. 

Passing through a set of gates, during their walk towards the tower, Terrah ran his finger along the wall, and found that he could dig his finger into the material as if it were porous. That was with just the barest amount of bending. 

“Master, this structure wouldn't withstand a siege from more than a few hits from a catapult.” Terrah said in concern.

“Governor Lao is more concerned with a happy populace than spending the coin necessary to shore up his defenses.” Old Man explained. 

“Is that why Guan Yu was here? You mentioned something about him checking up on his younger sister?” Terrah questioned. 

“Yes and no. It is true that my counterpart is interested in the safety of Lady Beifong, but he is a vain, glory seeking man. His journey to Gaoling this time was to draw from the Provinces’ levies to bolster his own army.” Old Man said whilst stroking his beard. 

“Now that you mention it, this barracks complex is huge, but there's hardly anyone out and about. Isn't it dangerous to leave Gaoling with so few men?” Terrah said in worry. 

“Yes and no. Lao, for all his peculiarities, is no fool. Guan Yu wins more often than not, and by drawing galavanting in foreign lands, it keeps war off the Governor's doorstep. At the same time, this toughens up Gaoling's soldiers who will become veterans once Guan Yu's campaign is over. In the end, it is a win-win scenario despite the dangers that it poses.” 

“I see.” Terrah replied noncommittally. 

“The price for peace is bought upon the corpses of others. It is a heavy coin. Still want to take your ambitions in this direction? You have some talent as a chef, and could cook for the Earth King one day.” Old Man said, stroking his beard, and glancing at Terrah through the corner of his eye. 

“...it is certainly tempting, but I am ambitious. A fry cook can peddle influence through whispered words, swayed palettes. Yet violence remains the most potent currency of this world. Respectfully, Old Man, I won't give up on this path.” Terrah said with an intense tone. 

“Hrm, very well, come along now. It is time you met Colonel Po, my former right hand man.” Old Man dropped the matter, and changed the subject as he entered the tower. 

Terrah silently followed behind, and eventually came to an expansive office. Waiting outside were five men. Four of them were around level 40, and Terrah recognized one as the gate guard captain from the other night. The fifth man was at level 59, the highest leveled person he had ever seen. 

That level 59 man was round like a meatball, and had extremely chubby features, and fingers. He was also fairly tall, standing at a height similar to a basketball player. 

“General.” 

“Po, this is my disciple, Terrah.” Old Man gruffly introduced. 

“Colonel Po.” Terrah stepped forward and bowed. 

“Just call me Uncle Po. I have to thank you for getting Huang Zhong out of the house, and handing a casino over to me.” Po shallowly smiled. 

“Enough pleasantries. Gate Captains, you have seen myself, my right hand Po, and my adjutant Terrah. Follow their commands as if they have come from my lips.”

“Yes, General.” The men saluted. 

“This is my seal. All orders bearing this mark are to be followed to the letter, failure to comply is grounds for treason, understood?” 

“Yes, General!” The Captains saluted, but this time they were much more verbose in their replies, as sweat began to accumulate on their brows. 

“Hmm. I will be instituting reforms. The men are much too lax despite the strife in our neighboring province of Omashu. Every other day, we will hold a noon report. You will detail the goings on in your districts, make known people of note, and report upon every disturbance, or arrest. Failure to report, or purposely causing trouble to report on is grounds for punishment. Dismissed.” Old Man sternly looked them each in the eye and slowly said, then waved them off. 

The Captains hurried out of the room like a group of chastened school children. 

“The General is back.” Po happily patted his belly, and waddled out of the room. “Oh, and Terrah, stop by my office sometime, and I'll treat you to some good wine. I must hear the story of how you became General's disciple! Bwahaha!” Po said from the door, then disappeared. 

Terrah raised an eyebrow, and turned back to Old Man. 

“Po is ordinarily merciless, penny pinching, and difficult to please. A perfect lieutenant and Camp General during times of war. Do not get on his bad side.” Old Man recommended, and strode into the office. 

Terrah made a note of that, and decided he'd make time to visit Po. Of course, he'd bring snacks too. 

Following behind Old Man, Terrah saw a mountain of scrolls piled on top of a desk. There were easily three dozen of such reports. 

Old Man came across a boiling pot of water, served himself tea, seated himself, then took a big sip, smacked his lips, and made a loud sigh of satisfaction. .

“Well, Vagabond? Get to reading.” Old Man gestured towards the stack, and leaned back into his seat with closed eyes. 

Terrah's eyebrow twitched. Somehow, someway, Old Man's plan to teach him how to read had come to this. He almost believed Old Man had taken him to join the Beigong Family just to spite him with paperwork. Old Man was a bit of a petty shit, even if he acted like he was above it all. 

Sighing to himself, Terrah figured he could do the job just fine. After all, one of his ancestors was purportedly an adjutant to George Washington! He had civil administration running in his blood!...then again, he also learned via studying history that Washington went through half a dozen adjutants, because they were prissy fussy fops. 

He was doomed. 

Gritting his teeth, Terrah unfurled a scroll, and began to read it outloud. 

“Wolf-snakes have been increasingly sighted near the eastern mountains. Several farmers have complained about missing livestock, and a child has gone missing.” 

“A serious problem. How would you go about solving it?” Old Man asked between sips. 

“Organize a company of men, and hunt them down?” Terrah stated in a questioning tone. 

“You've never seen a wolf-snake, have you? Vicious creatures that burrow underground, and blend in with the surroundings so well that you can only see them when they move. Oh no, a company of soldiers would never find this pack.” Old Man shook his head, shooting that proposition down. 

‘So difficult they can't be seen, huh?’ Terrah thought to himself, and stroked his chin. 

“...what if I took Toph and used her skill to spot these wolf-snakes?” Terrah asked. 

“Now that, Vagabond, is an inspired response. However, how would you retrieve her for such a mission? Lao is rather protective of his daughter.” Old Man said in a somewhat praise worthy tone, but was quick to prod at his idea. Not out of spite or dismissal, but it was more like Old Man was pressuring him to be better. 

“I think there is a way, no, there is a way. The maple forest! Governor Beifong wanted the syrup, I could probably get their approval to bring Toph along. During that expedition, we could go out and deal with the pack of wolf-snakes!” Terrah said with growing excitement. 

Old Man mulled over this thought, then nodded his head. “Next week, after our strategy lessons, you will handle this.” 

Terrah smiled, put the scroll into a seperate space, and grabbed the next one. 

“The price of air-bison wool has gone up, and everything coming from the Airbender Quarter has doubled in price. The local merchants are requesting an audience, and have invited you to dinner…shouldn't this be something the Governor's office handles?” Terrah questioned. 

“Yes, it is. However, as the military commander of Gaoling Prefecture, I carry great influence. The merchants will send messages to Lao, and anyone else who could help with their cause.” 

“Will you accept their request?” 

“Merchants are greedy for coin, and eager for social mobility. They are a necessary component to any region's wealth, yet can become like leeches, sucking the blood from both rich and poor. I do not care for them, but they have their uses. One never knows when a sudden supply of weapons, food, or other resources can only be obtained thanks to the goodwill of traders. Pen a reply. We will meet with them.” Old Man said with a grimace. 

Terrah wordlessly nodded his head, and started to ink up a blank sheet of paper. 

“Why do you think the prices have increased?” Old Man asked.

Terrah-who was still writing the reply-paused to think. 

“Perhaps a disease has swept through the Eastern Air Temple?” Terrah mused. 

Nothing wrecked an economy more than mass death. 

“You passed through their camp the other day, did any of them appear ill?” Old Man pressed. 

“No.” 

“Guess again. What reason would they need so much money for?” 

“War.” Terrah said without further thought. 

“War.” Old Man hummed in agreement. 

“I thought the Air Nomads were pacifists?” Terrah said in confusion. 

“Haha, where'd you hear that, boy? Sure, the northern, southern & eastern temples followed this mantra, but they wound up dead!” Old Man gave Terrah a look as if Terrah were a bizarre creature. 

“Sorry, I don't know my history too well.” Terrah apologized. 

“No harm, no foul, just don't spread such fantasies around.” 

“So are they going to help Guan Yu at Omashu?” Terrah asked. 

“More likely they'll fight to reclaim the Southern Air Temple. It will be a mess, as that land has been colonized by both the Fire Nation, and the Southern Water Tribe. I fear a threeway war may soon develop between these powers.” Old Man stroked his beard, and genuinely looked distraught at the prospect. 

“Isn't everyone enemies with the Fire Nation?” Terrah rapidly blinked his eyes, and asked in a befuddled tone. 

“Haha, you truly are ignorant, aren't you, Vagabond? Yes, what a wonderful world it would be if we all stood united against a common foe! Alas, that is not so. In fact, I refer to the Earth King of Ba Sing Se as His Majesty, yet we are separated by a massive swamp, desert, and a lake just as big. The ‘Earth Kingdom’ is a loose coalition of city-states that pay lip service to an uncaring monarch. The Fire Nation may have started this war, but thanks to our divisions, it has lasted 100 years instead of 10.” Old Man pitilessly laughed, and angrily poured himself another cup of tea. 

Terrah held his tongue, as he had never seen Old Man so bitter before. This long war must've really fucked him up at some point. Finishing up his letter to the merchants of Gaoling, Terrah moved on to the next report. 

Eventually, he got through everything, and was done for the day. Thankfully, the rest of the information he read aloud to Old Man were typically banal in nature, and not as heavy a topic as war. In the end, he got to flex his mind, and Old Man expanded Terrah's knowledge base on history, local customs, and laws. It was tedious dreadful work, and his hand cramped, but with Old Man occasionally sassing him, it wasn't terrible. Thankfully, Old Man wasn't an asshole middle manager, and when Terrah fucked up, or had an ‘incorrect’ opinion on the matter, Old Man would patiently walk him through the process. 

Working from mid morning to sometime around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, Terrah was famished. 

Old Man was all out of tea, and looked like he was ready to take a nap. 

“Cook a big meal for the troops. Some good will, will go a long way. After that, I'll have you do some exercises within a formation so you can get an understanding of how battlefield warfare works.” Old Man yawned, and then leaned back into his chair for a nap. 

Hands cramping from writing, Terrah looked on in envy as Old Man slept. 

Sighing to himself, Terrah massaged his knuckles, then went to explore wherever the barracks mess hall was. Surely with his high level, cooking for so many guys wouldn't be that difficult, right?