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But the misery she felt now was a good misery. This misery she reveled in, because she had chosen it for herself.
She couldn’t reason through Hesperian, so she memorized it, the way she memorized everything she didn’t understand.
Rin craved his approval more than anything.
spent the second half of class lobbing hypothetical military situations at them, challenging them to think their way out of various quagmires.
This is how everything should be taught in schools, I hate that they teach based on specific things and don’t show kids how to apply it elsewhere and then apply it on their own
That makes it difficult for the enemy forces to see the river clearly. Their archers will mistake the scarecrows for soldiers, and shoot until they resemble pincushions. We will then send our men downstream and have them collect the arrows. We use our enemy’s arrows to kill our enemies.”
“Evacuate the children while they’re preoccupied with a small guerrilla force?”
Havd half the army attack from behind or A separete section and/or find a way to hold them someone hostage on their side or Even better light that building on fire, thatll smoke them out literally,itd have to be a fire arrow tho
Rin raised her hand. “Cut around the second army and get onto the dam. Break the dam. Flood the valley. Let everyone inside drown.”
“Sunzi said to always give the enemy a way out,” Irjah said.
Nikan does not like to speak of Speer, and for good reason.” “Yes, sir. It was just a theory.”
“You’ll find a way,” Irjah said. His eyes twinkled. “Sunzi would.”
different forms belonged to different families, similar techniques taught and improved upon by pupils who had shared the same master.
have taught her class the crushing sensation of disappointment and the even more important lesson that they do not matter as much as they think they do.”
“Sinegard likes to collect the Warlords’ broods as much as it can. Keeps them under the Empire’s careful watch.” “What for?” she asked. “Leverage. Indoctrination.
“Can we just do it like we rehearsed?” Jiang demanded. It was the first time Rin had seen anyone actually get to him. “You’re killing the mood.”
“There are five principal elements present in the universe—get
all things were made of fire, water, air, earth, and metal.
“This is where the statues to the Four Gods used to stand,” said Jiang, pointing up into the dark void. “Where are they now?” He shrugged. “The Red Emperor had most religious imagery stripped and looted when he took over Sinegard.
painting depicting a dark-skinned warrior and a group of pale men in robes. “That’s Bodhidharma there in the center.”
Rin recalled the myth of Mai’rinnen Tearza committing suicide for the sake of Speer’s unification with the mainland. Martial arts history seemed to be riddled with people making pointless sacrifices.
Martial arts used well would produce a wise commander, a man who could see clearly through fog and understand the will of the gods. The martial arts in their conception were not meant solely as military tools.”
This is the basis of what you are taught at Sinegard. This is the common core that is taught to the Imperial Militia. This is what your classmates are learning.” He grinned. “I am showing you how to beat it.”
You must be grounded in your center, able to see and control everything. Each of the five elements must be in balance. Too much fire, and you’ll lash out recklessly.

