[h1]China[/h1] [h2]Northern Mohe County[/h2] The Amur River, its waters dark and cold ran through the hilly valley. The sharp rises and valleys of the river way a carpet of untouched wilderness and primal forest on both sides. At the river bank, seated on an empty crate Aiwen Wu sat leaning against a larger water-rounded boulder sipping tea from small tin cups. The kettle sat askew on the boulder next to him, the freshly boiled brew letting up tendrils of milky white steam. He sat watching the progress across the bridge set up across the river, a simple pontoon based construction. The currents of the water jostled it and he could watch it rock and yawn in the slow gentle flow of the coal-black waters. For all the preceding days to this moment the engineers had worked diligently to lay a crossing into the Russian far-east, into the dense fortress of its primal unsettled wilderness. It was hard for any man to imagine the density and the surreal emptiness of Russia from a map, one could not see the trees, the boulders on the banks of the rivers, the impressive hills and th majesty of its forests. Even in the heart of summer there was too the air a surreal coolness, a dampness let on by the medieval woodlands. But now Commander Wu was there, overseeing the first steps into Russia itself and he was beginning to feel that poisonous sense of doubt. He could see Russia now, he put himself on the coat tails of a massive sprawled imperial beast. Standing at the top of hills, at the top of watch towers he could see across the immense wooded desert of the Russian Far East and the majestic terror it represented to a tactician. And for it, he had begun to doubt the initial plan of action. At least here in this position. From up the bank an engineering officer slid down loose sand and gravel to where Aiwen Wu sat drinking his tea. His dirty face and stained uniform heralding he had not been idle in his work. “Comrade.” he said in a tentative tone. “Sit.” Aiwen Wu offered, gesturing to a spot next to the boulder, “You want some tea?” he offered, raising his now empty cup to the approaching officer. “I'll be fine, thank you.” the engineering captain remarked, squatting next to the rock and unfurling the map, “But I wanted to talk to you about some important affairs.” “You have my ear.” Aiwen Wu invited. “You realize how far away our objective is?” the officer asked. Wu nodded his acknowledgment and the officer continued, “You're asking to effectively build a road through dense, untouched forest in order to capture the closest settlement on the Trans Siberian. That's a fifty or sixty kilometer project. This will take up the entire span of our combat season, that is if we're able to stay on schedule. I am merely concerned for the logistics of this endeavor.” “I'm aware it's difficult.” Aiwen Wu said, raising a freshly raised cup to the distant forested bank. It looked empty, it felt empty. There was nothing but the sounds of birds, of crows, and the not-to-distant sounds of boots crossing the pontoon bridge into Russia, “But when I was given this mission, I did so knowing it would not be easy to take all of Russia. And we must make the first steps somewhere.” “Yes, commander. But are you truly aware of the sort of scale this project is? How well secured will this assignment be?” Wu raised his hands to the men crossing now, “Those are the men guarding the path for your engineers.” he said, “This is one of crossing sites, as unfavorable as it is. I ask only for your men to set it up and establish ourselves here. It is a lot better than forcing our armies to march through two access points, areas I am sure they'll be watching. I want the element of surprise.” “And this is your option, have you considered any alternate paths? I do not wish to second guess you, comrade, but the intensity of this labor will take a lot of time and resources from this invasion. While we were setting up your crossing here, I ordered some scouting up river, and there is a tributary feeding into the Amur some sixty-kilometers up water. If would better deliver our men in-land if need be. I do not know where it leads, but it would be a more effective way to access the Russian interior that to march through its forests.” “Is there?” Aiwen Wu asked. The engineer nodded, “If I had anything to say about it, I would recommend a mapping of, or identification of that river. Wouldn't there by anything in the military geographical survey? I'm sure they would have such maps as Russia.” Aiwen Wu nodded. “Perhaps.” he said, “But for now I want the road cut through to Yerofey Khabarov. Our ability to take all of this land will depend on how much land we'll be able to exercise control of, and for our allies. Actively if there is to be a Japanese reproach to counter our liberation, we will have to meet it. Control of the rail way will not only let us re-mobilize men across the breadth of this country, or for our allies, but to also curtail and prevent our enemies. The Trans Siberian is one of our primary objectives. This mystery tributary is not.” “It would be easier for me and my men to establish this position as a river port to launch incursions up river.” the engineer continued to argue. “I'm aware.” Aiwen Wu said dismissively, “But that is not now the point. I may consider the possibility, but right now we are in commitment. I will see to investigating this river, but until then I want the current course to remain as is.” “Very well comrade. Forgive me if I came off as a little abrasive.” apologized the officer. “You didn't, so don't worry. If you're worried going ahead about security then the route there will be secured.” he rose his hand to point at the soldiers crossing the bridge, “They may be out of their armor, vehicles. But I trust in them to keep the road move ahead secure. If there is any enemy to meet we will fight them. “Thank you for your confidence.” the engineer said, rising. He bowed, and headed back up the bank. Aiwen Wu continued to watch the crossing of the troops. [hr] Wu Hong stepped onto Russian soil. He wasn't sure how he should feel. Like the rest of the soldiers cross over, he wandered off to the side, his rifle slung out as he tentatively scanned the trees, and the high hillocks and peaks that surrounded him and stretched out into the distance. He felt his breath in his chest, tense and uneasy under the current situation. What should he expect? What was there to expect. Looking around, he saw that many also did not know what they should be expecting. Some had their weapons drawn, but they were not at the ready. Others poked and prodded into the bushes, weapons shouldered and scanning around. Was there supposed to be resistance? Shouldn't they have known? Wu Hong's image of war drifted to the fairy tale, the legend and the story. The ones where the invader was met at the border by the brave defender. That on deceleration of the threat the defenders would come rushing and assemble. That at the very doorstep of crossing over the two armies would begin contesting the country from the very first step. And that from there out the struggle would be constant and brutish. He had drawn to mind the Great War in Europe. Of the vast desolation of artillery and the snaking maze of trenches and barbed wire. A vast swathe of France and Belgium obliterated as two armies met to fight. But here in Russia, where was that great army to meet them? It felt less like war, but more like home invasion. This felt scarier than the thought of war in general. This felt more unnerving than the inglorious act of killing. What could be visualized as the objective, the enemy? Could they fight trees? Were the trees the enemy? “Wu Hong!” someone shouted from behind. The pensive private turned, seeing a broad shouldered, older soldier approach him, “We need you.” the man said, waving the young man to him. Shifting uneasily in his boots he turned to look back through the tree line, and followed after the older sergeant as he headed up into the trees and the bush line. Stepping away from the river the underbrush grew thick and soon he was walking through grass up to his knees and passed broad flowering bushes. The under brush was coursing with Chinese soldiers, trying to find their way through the forest and shouting out to one another. The forest was alive, the bird songs chased out by the shouts of men as they sought out one another and orders were issued out and direction given. The sergeant Wu Hong followed walked with a heavy stomping gaite. His shoulders swaying side to side like some great ape, and he was as tall as one too. His giant pack swayed side to side on his back. He was Ju Gan, his immediate commander. He looked every bit of the soldier Hong was not, broad strong face, bullish nose, and a rock hard chin. His eyes shone with a collective coolness like stars, but sharp and like steel. He lead him up into a clearing where five other soldiers stood or sat about. A moss covered log had fallen and come to rest on an exposed face of stone in the hillside. On it waited two men, one with a large bulky radio on his back and a pair of large wide-lensed glasses that magnified his eyes. The other sat chewing on a blade of grass, going over and over his rifle in his hands as he worked dexterously with his fingers. Two others stood off to the side as one leaned against a tree, a bandoleer of bullets wrapped across his torso from his shoulders down. A third sat at their feet, rubbing a cloth across his rifle. “Are we all here now?” Sergeant Gan said as he entered the clearing. The others looked up and around, and at Wu Hong. “Yeah, looks like it.” said the radio man with the wide glasses. He was pudgy, even under his uniform and the definition of an unbeatable gut shown under his coat. He scratched at his pale nose and looked about at his comrades. “We're at a good start then.” said Ju Gan, “Well, it's best we begin this hike then. The major wants the company to fan out at seventy meters each between each squad. We're going to be heading north. Yu Huan, you're to check in with the rest of the company every hour.” “How are we going to know where we are?” the radio man, Yu Huan asked, “It's not like we're going to have very good maps. Have you seen them? It's emptiness for miles.” “As best we can.” the sergeant said, and the squad laughed. Sergeant Ju Gan continued, “I'm going to take point.” “Excuse me, comrade. But I've lived in woods like these for years. Are you sure someone else should take point?” the man seated in the grass said, speaking up, “It's not like I'm from too far south. We wouldn't want anyone to sprain an ankle while we're marching.” “No, Cheng Bao, I'll take lead. I need someone on the wind to keep an eye out on things. If you can keep some kind of visual contact with the others on the left side that would fine.” “As you say so, comrade.” Cheng Bao said, standing up. He was tall, like his commander. But not nearly as broad. He reached down and picked up his hat and placed it atop his broad head, capping his wild unbrushed hair.” “Keung, Lei, do you think you can stay in the center and carry anything extra? I know you two got strong backs. It'd help to life some weight off of us, hiking through these forests.” the two standing next to the tree over Bao nodded solemnly. “And Wen Qi, I'll need you opposite of Bao, try to maintain what little bit of contact as you can with the others so we know where we are. If we need to run a message, you're on point there.” “Yes, sir.” the man seated on the log said. There was a general complacency of their positions settled that fell on the squad and they readied to move out, heaving their heavy bags off the ground. “A final question before we head out,” Wen Qi said, walking over to the sergeant. His features were sharp, and his brows fell low into his eyes. In the faint light of the forest they looked empty, filled only with shadow, “How are most of the supplies going to move with us? I take it we're not going to try heading back to the river?” he asked. “Long Company is on that.” Ju Gan told him, “They're going to be moving the food and supplies behind us. I got orders that they want us to cover eight kilometers today. The days after that we're supposed to be covering ten. The goal is to get to our objective in ten to eleven. If Long can keep up, we'll have the supplies to last us the next couple of weeks until something more permanent can be worked out.” “And if we run out?” Qi asked. “We're on our own.” Gan answered, solemnly, “Hopefully we won't come to that point.” “Well, I guess we should start hiking then.” Wen Qi said, with a wide over enthusiastic, satirical smile.