Chapter 13: Vol. 1 Chapter 13 - ‘Hay-Foot’ ‘Straw-Foot’
A.D. 182 'Pei-State', 'Qiao-County', 'Cao-Estate'
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***After 'Cao-Ce' Slept for Two and An Half Hours.. And 'Woke'.. then ate some food with his grandmother and 'Jade-Phoenix'.. then walked out of the 'manor' and made his way to the clan 'training-square'..***
/povMC/
"I hope you all understand the importance of the 'morning-routine' you all just completed.. after you do this everyday you will feel the benefits.. you will all become stronger than other men and women.. you will run faster and run farther than ordinary warriors.. you will have more strength in your attacks and attack twice as fast ordinary warriors.. this is my promise to you.. now before we start teaching you how to perform your first 'formation' called a 'shield-wall'.. we have to make sure you understand your 'left' from your 'right'.. we will take a piece of wheat like here.. break it and stuff the stalk in one sandle and the hay on the other foot.. now you have your 'left-foot or your 'hay-foot'.. then you have on the other side.. your 'right-foot' or your 'straw-foot'..
I'll sing a song to help you understand which side is your 'left'.. and which side is your 'right'.." I tell all of the fifty recruits listening to me speak.. as I show the them the 'hay-foot.. 'straw-foot' demonstration.. then I 'plucked-at' the strings of the 'qin' I carried with me.. for this moment of singing one of my favorite 'David-Eugene-Edward's' songs.. then I opened my mouth.. as the noises 'trilled-off' the strings.. to sing "I guess you.. didn't hear me..
When I.. told you for.. the first time..
Well don't.. you worry..
It won't be.. the last..
All I need.. a floorboard..
An' a.. wooden shoe..
Step aside.. an' let.. my lady through..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Low we.. lay 'em down..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Up an'.. back around..
See the.. high priest..
He took.. my place..
When the.. judge looks.. to me..
He saw.. his son's face..
Not gonna.. join you in..
Your tower.. of babble.. boy..
Tired of.. that talkin'..
I'm sick.. of that noise..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Low we.. lay them down..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Covering ground..
I'm not alone..
An' looks.. can be.. deceiving..
When we get.. down to it..
You're talking.. when you..
Should be.. leaving..
I've been.. to.. Nebraska..
It reminded.. me.. of Spain..
All the.. questions loaded..
All my answers same
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Low we.. lay.. them down..
Hay foot.. straw foot..
Covering ground..
Let us.. not mince.. our words..
Let's say.. it true.. this time..
I need.. your forgiveness..
Just like.. you need.. mine..
Tell me.. how it.. is that..
You don't.. want what.. he's given..
It ain't.. no sin.. son..
To be.. forgiven..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
Low we.. lay.. them down..
Hey foot.. straw foot..
All over.. town.."
"Wow!.. Big Brother!.. That was awesome!.. so cool!.. that music was the best I've ever heard!.." my brother shouted as he jumped around in pure excitement..
"Yes!.. I am!.. now you all know your left from your right!.. so let me speak of the 'shield-wall' it will be our first 'formation.. our men line up in three rows.. 'front-row' kneels and their shields protect the feet and lower body!.. like so!.. then the 'next-row' sticks their shields above the 'front-row's' shields that are protecting our 'lower-bodies'.. this row of shields protects the torso and 'upper-bodies' of our men.. then the 'last-row' holds their shields above the other two!.. like this!.. the 'final-row's' shields will protect our heads.. then we always move as one!.. we defend as one!.. we attack as one!.. see!?.. simple!.. alright!.. everyone break for something to eat and water to drink!.. every rest for an hour after that!.. good job everyone!.." I tell everyone.. then I turned and left to go find 'house-keeper' Lin and see how goes then progress of my plans for the 'farm'..
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***After Finding 'House-Keeper' Lin***
/povMC/
"I want you get the 'wood-cutters' expanding the 'farming-land' by clearing these 'tree-lines'.. we can 'split' the wood ourselves.. we will have any of the 'peasants' we recruited who can work as a 'smith' making arrow-heads and spear-heads.. maybe we can make an order for some 'leather' 'light-armor' from 'Qiao-County'.. Any 'carpenters' you can find will be put to building 'shelters'.. for our new 'servants' I want them completed before winter!.. make sure we get to digging the 'canals' I drew on this 'sketched-map' I made.. we need to 'dredge' all the current ditches as well.. much to do ol' Lin.. let's get to work.. I must go speak with my Grandmother.. good day to you my friend.." I order 'house-keeper' Lin my demands of him for today..
"Yes!.. 'Eldest-Grandson'!.." He responded like the perfect 'butler' that he is..
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***After finding 'Mother-Ding' in the 'main-hall' of the 'Cao-Mansion'***
/povMC/
"Grandma!.. gods your so beautiful every time I lay eyes on you!.. any news from grandpa and father?.." I say as I let my grandmother know she is smokin' sexy.. then I asked if there has been any news from 'Cao-Cao' and 'Cao-Song'..
"O my sweet angel!.. no but your eldest-uncle Bin should have reached the 'capital' today.. it should only take him three more days to return.." She said informing me of what I wanted to know..
"There was news that your father beat the relative of an favored 'high-official' Eunuch.. he might have to resign and return to 'Qiao-County'.. your grandfather is already the 'Minister-of-Finance' your father should just resign and come run the 'clan-estate'.. there is no need for both of them to be in the capital.. thats why I sent a 'letter' for our 'clans-men' 'Xiahou-Dun' and 'Xiahou-Yuan' to come to take you to Luoyang.. I want you to go ask your father to resign from his position of 'District-Captain' and return home.. they are both well-known 'martial-artists' of our 'Cao-Xiahou' 'Family'.." My grandma informed me of very important news.. that brought me much excitement.. and many new questions I must find answers to.. and decide what I wish to 'accomplish' on this trip to the 'capital-city' of the 'Han-Empire'.. Luoyang..