The Castle of the Marquis
Yet another story in the Shang Wars series.
The Aide-de-Camp had taken leave from the fierce fighting to return to his hometown. He was hesitant and reluctant to be away from the fighting, but news from his hometown had not been good, and he had to return to settle some matters. The General was very understanding, and allowed his return during this lull in the fighting (it was the season when the enemy troops were away for an important tribal holy day).
The Marquis of the town had offered his castle for lodging, as the Aide-de-Camp had no place to call his own home, in his own hometown. The Marquis was well-known as a very generous man when it came to offering the use of his things. He offered the use of his personal horse (well-stocked with provender and saddled with the best quality saddle available), a guest room in the castle, and even the attendance of his servants. The Aide-de-Camp was very grateful.
The Aide-de-Camp, however, knew another side of the Marquis, and sure enough it manifested during his stay in the castle. Two of his bodyguards had passed by the armoury, where the Marquis’ impressive display of spears and swords for his household use where placed. They had wielded the weapons, delighting in their good quality, the fine balance and the well-honed blades.
When he found out, he had to give both of them a good tongue-lashing. The Marquis did not like other troops to use his weapons. His bodyguards were puzzled – were not weapons meant to be used and enjoyed by all who knew how to use weapons? It was an unwritten code in the world of Generals, but the Aide-de-Camp knew the Marquis well. The bodyguards accepted his admonishments grudgingly but complied.
The next incident was over the pillars. The Marquis was a man of exquisite taste, and the pillars of the castle was overlaid with jewels quarried specially from far away. They were very beautiful, and the Aide-de-Camp was very careful with them. Unfortunately, he was wearing his armour once in preparation for an exercise, and scratched a pillar. The scratch was obvious only if someone inspected the pillar, but the Marquis had flown into a rage over it.
As the days to leave his hometown drew near, the Aide-de-Camp had many thoughts. While the Marquis was a generous man with his things, he was also a person who demanded a lot from those who used them. As long as one lived in another’s castle, he would be bound by the rules of that castle. As a man of war rather than a man of politics (the Marquis did not go to war but attended court), the rules he understood and embraced were very different.
The next time the Aide-de-Camp return to his hometown, he would stay in an inn. If he either could not afford or if the inns were full, he would rather not return. He would not stay in the Marquis’ castle again.
The Aide-de-Camp had taken leave from the fierce fighting to return to his hometown. He was hesitant and reluctant to be away from the fighting, but news from his hometown had not been good, and he had to return to settle some matters. The General was very understanding, and allowed his return during this lull in the fighting (it was the season when the enemy troops were away for an important tribal holy day).
The Marquis of the town had offered his castle for lodging, as the Aide-de-Camp had no place to call his own home, in his own hometown. The Marquis was well-known as a very generous man when it came to offering the use of his things. He offered the use of his personal horse (well-stocked with provender and saddled with the best quality saddle available), a guest room in the castle, and even the attendance of his servants. The Aide-de-Camp was very grateful.
The Aide-de-Camp, however, knew another side of the Marquis, and sure enough it manifested during his stay in the castle. Two of his bodyguards had passed by the armoury, where the Marquis’ impressive display of spears and swords for his household use where placed. They had wielded the weapons, delighting in their good quality, the fine balance and the well-honed blades.
When he found out, he had to give both of them a good tongue-lashing. The Marquis did not like other troops to use his weapons. His bodyguards were puzzled – were not weapons meant to be used and enjoyed by all who knew how to use weapons? It was an unwritten code in the world of Generals, but the Aide-de-Camp knew the Marquis well. The bodyguards accepted his admonishments grudgingly but complied.
The next incident was over the pillars. The Marquis was a man of exquisite taste, and the pillars of the castle was overlaid with jewels quarried specially from far away. They were very beautiful, and the Aide-de-Camp was very careful with them. Unfortunately, he was wearing his armour once in preparation for an exercise, and scratched a pillar. The scratch was obvious only if someone inspected the pillar, but the Marquis had flown into a rage over it.
As the days to leave his hometown drew near, the Aide-de-Camp had many thoughts. While the Marquis was a generous man with his things, he was also a person who demanded a lot from those who used them. As long as one lived in another’s castle, he would be bound by the rules of that castle. As a man of war rather than a man of politics (the Marquis did not go to war but attended court), the rules he understood and embraced were very different.
The next time the Aide-de-Camp return to his hometown, he would stay in an inn. If he either could not afford or if the inns were full, he would rather not return. He would not stay in the Marquis’ castle again.
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