empire's security. Nothing remained to him except the love of war, and the less secure the empire was, the more battles he would fight.
Ignoring Koja's presence, Batu stepped toward the Divine One and said, 'You mustn't make peace.'
'You have a plan?' inquired Ju-Hai, a note of hope creeping into his voice.
By the vacant look in the general's eyes, it was apparent that he did not. 'I will make one,' Batu said.
The emperor cast a reassuring glance at the Tuigan messenger, then shook his head. 'This war is over, General. I have every confidence in your ability to defeat the Tuigan, but Shou Lung is a nation that loves peace.'
Batu knew that the Divine One was lying. Though the emperor undoubtedly intended to end the war, he was doing so out of practicality and not a love of peace. What the Son of Heaven left unsaid was that Shou Lung could not bring to bear enough force to destroy the barbarians. Reinforcing Shou Kuan would require stripping several armies away from the southern border. Such a desperate measure would ensure an attack from T'u Lung, Shou Lung's greedy neighbor to the south.
The difference between Batu's viewpoint and that of the emperor was that the general did not care if the rapacious kingdom attacked. After destroying the Tuigan, he would be more than happy to crush T'u Lung.
'Let me have just one more army,' Batu pressed, 'and I will reface the walls of Shou Kuan with Tuigan skulls.'
Koja frowned, uneasy with Batu's sudden belligerence. 'Your promise is easier made than kept.'
'Have no fear,' the emperor said to Koja. 'General Batu will be too busy to make good on his threat. I have great need of him here.'
'Here?' Batu echoed.
The emperor nodded. 'I have three ministries without mandarins to lead them. As a reward for all you have done, you may have your choice of positions.'
Batu stared at the emperor in uncomprehending shock. Never would he have dared aspire to a seat in the Mandarinate. Now that such an esteemed position had been offered to him, he wanted nothing in the world less. 'I choose none of them.'
The emperor frowned. 'I don't understand.'
'Yes, you do,' Batu answered. 'I'm no mandarin. I'm a soldier.'
The emperor's mouth hung agape. 'That is not your choice,' he snapped indignantly. 'The barbarian invasion has cost Shou Lung much. Need I remind you of this?'
'It has cost me more,' Batu replied.
The Divine One's eyes softened. 'I am sorry about your family, but many others have also lost their loved ones,' he said. 'Now, you must set aside your pain. I call and it is your duty to answer.'
Batu shook his head. 'No longer.'
The emperor scowled at this defiance. Before the Son of Heaven could speak, Batu continued, 'For twenty years, I have performed my duty to you and the empire without failure. If you had done the same for me, my wife and children would be alive.'
'Watch what you say!' Ju-Hai cautioned, grasping Batu's wrist.
'Why?' Batu demanded, addressing the ex-minister. 'What will the Son of Heaven do? He has already allowed my family to be murdered while under his protection.' Batu jerked free of Ju-Hai's grasp, then turned to the emperor again. 'Execute me if you will!' the general spat. 'It will do no good. I am a soldier; I am already dead.'
Kwan Chan chuckled malevolently. 'Then you have no right to grieve. Dead men have no business with wives and children.'
The words struck Batu like a sword, and rage spread over him like a sheet of fire. Kwan's words contained enough truth to pain the general, and he vented his anger by hitting the old man with his closed fist.
Kwan collapsed in a heap. Batu dropped on him, reaching for the ex-minister's feeble throat.
'That's enough, General!' the emperor snapped.
Ignoring the Divine One, Batu crossed his wrists in front of Kwan's throat. He grabbed the inside of the mandarin's collar and pulled, locking his arms against the old man's neck in a deadly choke. Kwan's face turned red instantly.
Six guards grasped Batu by the arms. It did not matter to the general. He tightened his grip, trying to crush Kwan's windpipe before they pulled him free.
'Stop!' Koja said, also grabbing Batu and tugging feebly. 'The khahan won't accept a dead man as tribute!'
When Batu did not respond, Koja continued, 'Leave him to the Tuigan. He'll suffer more than you can imagine.'
These last words caught Batu's attention. Koja was right, he realized. Tuigan savagery was legendary, and falling into their hands alive was considered a fate worse than death. The general released Kwan and stood, saying, 'It's a pity I won't be there to watch you suffer.'
To Batu's amazement, the old man showed little sign of the abuse his throat had taken. At the least, most men would have been coughing and gasping for breath. Kwan, however, simply massaged his wrinkled neck and returned to his feet, staring spitefully at his attacker.
Several guards pressed the points of their chiang-chuns against Batu's body. The Divine One addressed him sternly. 'General Batu, I understand the strain you are under. In consideration of your feelings, I have allowed you many latitudes today. Still, I will not tolerate such displays in my court.'
Batu looked at the Divine One and snorted in contempt. 'You don't understand, do you?'
The emperor frowned. 'Understand what?'
'I am no longer your general,' Batu said angrily. 'You broke faith with me. I'm ronin now.' The term he used came from the islands of Wa, but he was sure the Divine One knew its meaning. He had declared himself a renegade soldier, a mercenary for hire.
The pronouncement caused Koja to raise an eyebrow, but the lama said nothing.
The Divine One studied Batu for several moments. For once, his expression was readable. His lips were quivering in anger, and his dark eyes were narrow and menacing. Batu returned the stare with an empty gaze.
It was Ju-Hai who brought the stand-off to an end. 'Divine One, General Batu has performed his duty well, but events have changed him. Even if you could make him stay, I doubt he would be the man we remember.'
The emperor nodded, then looked at Ju-Hai. 'Very well. Out of respect for your integrity and the service you once performed for the empire, I grant Batu Min Ho his life and liberty.'
'As if that right were yours to grant,' Batu scoffed.
'That's enough!' Ju-Hai snapped, turning to the rogue general. 'You have what you want. Leave the matter be.'
Pe stepped to his commander's side, then began to remove his uniform.
'What are you doing?' the emperor asked.
'Where my commander goes, I go,' Pe responded.
Batu laid a hand on his adjutant's shoulder. 'No. Your place is in the Army of Shou Lung.'
'My place is at your side!'
'I doubt a ronin will have need of an adjutant,' Batu responded. 'Besides, I once ordered you to abandon a suit of armor. I would like to repay that debt.'
'There is no debt,' Pe protested. 'I was wrong to question your order.'
'That is for me to decide,' Batu responded, speaking more loudly and stepping back so others could hear his words. 'As Tzu Hsuang's sole heir, I grant you the rights to his lands and mine.' He glanced at the emperor, then added, 'If it is agreeable to the Divine One.'
The emperor nodded.
Pe's eyes began to water. 'Your gift is too great-'
Batu shrugged. 'Who else can I give it to? Now take it-that is my last order, and it is your duty to obey it.'
Pe bowed deeply. 'If I have no other choice-'
'You don't,' the emperor said. 'I have granted Batu Min Ho permission to leave my service, not you.' He looked at the guards surrounding Batu. 'Take this man out of my sight. There is no place for a renegade within the
