The Calligrapher and the Widowed General novel · Chapter 22 of 24
Chapter 22: The Drum Tower
The Drum Tower stood at the centre of Beiguan, a great square of grey stone with a drum the size of a cart on its upper floor.
By the third watch of the morning, the square below was full.
Six thousand soldiers stood in ranks on the flagstones, with the townsfolk packed behind them at the edges, hushed and wide-eyed.
On a raised platform at the foot of the tower sat the court party, in blue and red, with a table and a gilt chair for the governor, who had not yet arrived.
Du Wenyuan stood beside the empty chair with the Ministry's roll in his hands.
The examiner stood at his elbow, small and dry, with the lacquered case at his feet.
Shuyi stood at the foot of the platform steps among the aides, with her brush case in her arms and her heart going.
Lanxin walked out alone.
She wore her full general's armour, polished, with the red cord at the shoulder, and she carried no sword.
She stopped at the centre of the platform and looked down at her army.
For a long moment, nobody breathed.
"Soldiers of the Northern Garrison," Lanxin said.
Her voice was not loud.
It went across the square like a stone dropped into still water.
"I will say something now that the Censor intended to say for me."
"I would rather you heard it from my mouth."
Du stepped forward, smiling.
"The governor has not yet arrived, General," he said.
"The proper order of the ceremony requires us to wait."
"Then you may wait for him," said Lanxin.
"I will not."
Du's smile held, and his hands tightened on the roll.
She turned back to the ranks.
"Three winters ago," she said, "the old marshal died at Frostgate in the twelfth day of the siege."
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