Drill The Troops

[Shikamaru]

Day 1
... Time to Build Our Strength..
Theme Song: The Enemy Is Near

A few days had passed, while the German refugees began to integrate into the society of Ye. It wasn't the greatest, with the diverse languages, translators few in number, Shika making sure he kept Hung Dat close by to him, for such purposes. The entire Germany refugee army had taken into the safe haven of the barracks, where they mostly loitered about, telling tales in their tongues, sometimes a translator going in and about, to any of the Chinese who took interest, as often as not, the storys seemed to constantly instill a sort of spirit of bravado and willingness. In fact, with most of the Germanic people in the barracks, so did the rest of the non-military refugees. But, they knew it wouldn't last for long. For the past two days, Shika had been holed up in his study, with Hung.. occassional loud, but unrecognizable words being screamed out at the top of his lungs, heard several dormitories away. And in truth, the Germans were getting anxious... this was going to be their new homeland? With these people? Shika had already gone and announced his promises and oaths of what befell there, with strange excitement in his eyes, some of the men rallying with him, others, more suspcious. ..Until early one morning...

"IF YOU ARE NO' PAR' OF ZE MILITARY, CLEAR OUT OF ZE BARRACKS NOW.." boomed out General Tang's voice.. "TODAY IS ZE DAY ZAT VE GET STARTED, WIT' ZE HELL WEEK.."

From behind the mass of people, there trotted Shika Tang, his sword uplifted high into the air, at his side, struggling to keep up, with the fast-paced trot was Hung Dat. From the looks of it.. General Tang had not only been working on his tactics, but his Chinese as well.. though, it still held a huge accent. However, from the obviuos grin on Hung Dat's face, it was obvious that he was pleased with the progress made with their leader. Quietly, stabbing his sword towards the group of refugees.. Shika Tang nodded gravely, as Hung Dat began translating his Chinese into English. "Zis is ze day... zat I must be hard wi' you, m' people. Ze day where you will must look to y'selves mor' as a soldier, zen a brudda. Zo, ve shall begin easy.. ve shall go run around the city of Ye with all yourz gear on.. three times. And anyone I managed to catch up to... shall receive a scar for be..being slowa. O-Our running sp-speed is zat of an attrocious snail, in comparison with ze Goddamned Romans."

As if in response.. A few thousand stomps into the ground, almost all simeltaneous, one after another, echoing through the fields, with dulled thuds against the dirt slowly became louder and louder, as what was left of a rather massive remainder of Gongsun's army slowly came into view. "Och... here zey are... our bretheren." This was Gongsun Ren's personal army... and truly, to these barbaric people, though they did not bear the caliber of fear that the Romans brought, simply by waving their banners around... it was a mighty force, walking in rows, with men behind them, marching order. Something that the Germans had not achieved.. yet. Shika smiled slightly, under his face mask, but nodded, albeit grimly as a smaller unit of what appeared to be superior troops marched ahead, directly over, behind him, as he faced his own people. One of them, appearing to bear some sort of commanding rank over the others, trotted up next to him, Shika glowering over his superior horse, a Titan Horse.. compared to his own personal farmer's horse. "Sir!" the man saluted, his face with no expression, "All 600 imperial guard lancers, 1220 militia skirmishers, and 300 storm troop raiders are all present and accounted for, sir!" "At ease... g..get your men to run at top speed, around this city, before the sun hits... noon, baring all your equipment. Do it now! All units, charge!" The Imperial Guard appeared stunned at such an order. Around the city? Three times?! But he shook his head. Orders were orders.. and all of the troops that were free were ordered to participate in General Tang's 'Hell Week', anyways.. with a hustle and scream of orders, as they began to relay throughout one another, the mass of men, each at their own pace, some travelling in units, others, running by themselves individually, as the gates creaked open, Tang and Hung Dat walking slowly, giving them time. But, with a strange glance, Tang then looked over to Hung Dat.

"..Vell, vhat are you vaiting for? Your still in my army... GET A MOVE ON, BOY!" His eyes wide with shock, the young boy began running, attempting to catch up with the others, as General Tang slowly made his way to the front of the gates. Minutes passed. Finally, with a smack of his sheath to Tuan, he bolted forth, after his men. He would not exempt himself from participating in the first exercise of the week, after all..

Running.

Running was a fundamental training, capable of building up leg strength, and therefore speed, endurance, but also, self-stamina. The basic of the basic.. even as some of his own men began to lag behind, some stopping for a moment, unleashing their breakfast onto the morning grass, Tang charged into him, knocking him down, with a crash, as Tuan whinnied. The rest of the men around him began running. Slowly, the spearmen stood himself up, using the spear with leverage, to which Tang strode up, next to him, giving his back a light slash, making the man wince. "GET UP VASTER, YOU'RE LAGGING." With a yelp, the man got up, running, throwing up, almost falling down, but using his spear as a bit of a third leg, supporting himself, whenever he was about to fall.. and with it, at certain speed, increasing, General Tang whipped Tuan again and again, as he slowly made his way up through the ranks, attacking his own men, and any of Gongsun, who lagged behind, thinking they could skip out on it. Indeed, so many soldiers began receiving cuts, that the desired effect began happening. Men, cursing the sight of their former beloved leader, began running faster, at the sound of his trot, even as he pushed Tuan rather hard, for a horse who could only go 7/8 the speed of a Titan Horse.. neccesary evils. Raising up his sword, letting the morning sun reflect off it, blinding those around him, he spat to his left, which fell into a German swordsmen's eye.. "BY NOW, ZE ENEMIES WOULD HAVE ALREADY OVERTAKEN AND SLAUGHTERED YOU ALL LIKE LAMBS! YOU ALL RUN AZ VELL AZ OLD PEOPLE FUCKING... GET A MOVE ON, LAGGERS!"

Of course, even as the men strived to run faster, they could never overtake a horse. But, that was the point. Make them run like horses, 'til their legs would get stronger.. even now, so many fell, crawling, bursting from their knees into a small dash before running, even as Tang would circle around to pepper his men with more insults and slashes..and after an hour and a half, Tang finally saw front gate again.. their first lap. Even some of the Chinese horsemen were beginning to slow down. But with shouts, as he began siding into one unit, attacking all of them, screaming things in foreign tongues, scaring them, as he slashed at their armor, sometimes watching it bounce, sometimes knocking over a horsemen, the speed began to increase. Tuan was getting tired, and was slowing down, Tang's ass getting rather soar from riding for so long, but, he showed no discomfort. He would show no weakness. One of the reasons, in particular, why he wore his face mask, actually..

* * * * * * *

Several hours passed, with all the running continuing on..

"IT'S ALREADY NOON! YOU ALL FAILED ALREADY! DINNER WILL BE CUT IN HALF TONIGHT FOR ALL OF YOU!"

This was true. By the third lap, as many of them, carrying themselves pathetically, even the Imperial Guard, pushed beyond their limits, some barely able to stand, some crawling, as Tang continued to bark at them. They'd failed to make it by afternoon. But then, he didn't expect them all to suceed. But as some of the men with scars, with cuts, with sword slashes from him approached, most of them, his own men.. even Hung Dat, apparently left with a lightly bleeding cut on his left shoulder, staring at his leader, as if to spit at him, but shaking his head and carrying on, he halted them, everyone he'd hurt, blocking their way from getting into the city. His eyes glowered.

"..Three more laps."

Complaints instantly burst out, but he forced the exhausted Tuan to charge at them, even as they attempted to protest, surrounding him. "YOU MUST GET FASTER, YOU MUST GET STRONGER, IF YOU WANT TO AVOID GETTING HURT LIKE ZIS.. THREE MORE LAPS. NO ZUPPER UNTIL YOU COMPLETE THEM ALL! EVERYONE WHO HAS A CuT, START RUNNING!"

Majority of the Imperial Guard had already made their way unscathed.. the raiders had managed to avoid him successfully, something that Tang noted thoughtfully, as he slowly trotted after them, every bone in his body aching. He felt tired. He wanted to fall off his horse and sleep and die. But he had to keep strong.. pain was passing thing.. thoughts that he could only think to himself, as he tried to force more speed out of Tuan.

* * * * * * *

As everyone sat outside, all their tents pitched, unable to even sleep inside, sleeping just outside of the barracks, Tang held up his bowl of soup, which was half-empty, and drained it down, in a matter of minutes, as he stood up, though he felt, as his body struggled, forcing it not to show, forcing himself not to tremble.. this was.. "You have... all completed ze first step. Tommorow morning again, we run again." To his slight sick enjoyment, and yet, dismay, he heard the expected groans and complaints. "Zis is ze first step. The day after... we shall begin practice charging, we shall begin practicing resisting to run, during a charge, running three laps while in tight formation.. and skirmishing, and running, and running, and more running, till 've can zoom past ze enemy, ya? I expect... vetter results then today. Zat is all. Put out ze fire and sleep!" Several voices, echoing, doused the many flames in the encampment with dirt and water.. as they all soon after crawled wearily into their tents. Even Tang would not give himself the pleasure... but, as he strode in, taking his time, shaking out his legs, winding up his arms, he heard the flaps of his tent open again. It was Hung Dat.

"..That was... COMPLETELY UNECCESARY." he cried out, baring his left shoulder. The cut was covered, but it was still bleeding through. Tang smiled behind his mask. "No... it vas very important, vital... to steps to our survival on ze battlefield." Clicking his tongue, as he threw off his sweaty-drenched shirt to the side, as he made his way to his little blanket on the ground.. Hung Dat charged at him, throwing punch after punch, Tang bearing it without complaint. "THE MEN HATE YOU, YOU'VE HURT US ALL, THIS FEELS LIKE YOU'VE BETRAYED US, EVEN THE CHINESE ARE DOUBTFUL OF YOUR SKILLS, DRAWING OUR OWN BLO-" With a backhand slap, the boy fell to the floor. There was anger, and strength still, even as the lights were blown out by a little wind that passed through the tent. Dat didn't move. "..Why... why did you.. do.." "You shall all zank me later, when zis week is over. You are getting stronger, boy... do not forget that. Ve are all getting stronger... strong so zat ve may kill Romans. Never forget. Ve vere enslaved because we didn't vush ourselves hard enough, because ve vere veak... now, get some sleep."

Throwing himself on the ground, as his body ached, stretching out, he could feel so many bones pop. He was so soar.. he yawned, contently, though he felt like shit. In truth.. he believed what he was doing was right, but, was he pushing them too hard? He'd given himself only a week to work with all of them, though... closing his eyes, having forgiven himself slightly, even as Hung Dat went out, to share a tent with another comrade, as curses were thrown at Tang in the night.. tommorow would just be another day.

~ END OF DAY 1 ~

[Shikamaru]

Day 2
Strengthening Formation

~Demons were flying overhead, up in the drafts of the dark clouds and twisted winds that blew through the fields, darkening the lands below, the grasses wilting, swarms of carrion bird and other bugs sent forth at the battlefield. A young boy could be seen, watching it, his face emotionless, even as he stared at the oncoming Roman armies, as they marched along, with superiority.

..Oh, how easily they had laid waste to them. Scenes flashed, where ghostly figures of bare-chested men, charging across the battlefield in dissary, as the Roman armies, though smaller in number were so much superior in skill and technology. Javelins were thrown at the oncoming wave, even as the barbaric Germans roared their mighty battle cries, their axes charging, only to be pushed back by Roman shields, and stabbed in their sudden daze, with the short swords the Romans seemed so handy with. And before the barbarians could get a clean sweep at the neck of the tiring front line, they retreated, backing up, the next line stepping up, bashing the Germans back with their shields and stabbing them back. It was a slaughter, the Germans, unable to cope with such superior training, frustration growing as so little Romans died, while his kin died, falling like leaves from a tree. Demons laughed, as fires grew around him, in his village, watching as his mother died before him..

His vision raced forth, as he stood, defiant, among the last of his survivors, of only a few hundred boys and men. Defiantly raising up his sword, as the armies grew closer and closer, he charged, falling forward, the sword crashing behind him, but not before giving him a deep gash on his right shoulder. And there on the floor, he wept. They were so weak. Pride, honor, all crushed, before these invading armies. Had he his way, he would've just laid still there and died. But the Romans couldn't even then let him rest in despair.. quickly, he was brought onto his knees, screamed at, all around, people around him, brought forth in similar ways, as his arms were chained behind his back, and he was whipped in with the rest of his people, like cattle to the slaughter. No respite... there was to be no rest for them, on their way back to Rome itself..

..And the demons laughed.~

* * * * * * *

"NEIN!"

Waking with a start, sitting upright, his whole body shaking and sweaty, he shivered. It was time again. Getting up, brushing the dust that had accumulated on him, he pulled on his rather dirty shirt, pulling on his hat, unceremoniously, and again, put on his face mask. It made breathing slightly harder, great for building up stamina, and, yesterday, he was way out of breath, despite how much he tried to hide it. He felt like shit.. obviously, this was a sign that by the end of this week, he was going to be stronger.. right? In the back of his mind, he braced himself. He'd shed a lot of blood yesterday.. his men's blood--- and such fresh wounds wouldn't heal in a day. Sighing explosively, he braced himself mentally, as he made his way out of his tent, and out into the seemingly endless rows of tents...

"ALRIGHT, RISE.. AND SHINE, BOYS AND GIRLS.."

Groans could be heard, breaking through the early morning dew. Some of those that didn't understand his Chinese certainly knew, however, when they were being called out. Standing around, he walked over to Tuan, who, seemingly was still chewing on its morning oats, through its oat bag. "FIVE MINU..MINUTES, GET UP, LAGGERS.." His throat felt sore. He'd been yelling a lot. And, for that time, he waited, just waited a top his horse. For him, this was the most peaceful time of the day. "I WILL... SHOVE MY SWORD UP... ...THE BUTT HOLE OF ANYONE WHO IS EVEN A MINUTE LATE. REPORT TO YOUR UNITS IMMEDIATLY!"

* * * * * * *

Breakfast was doled out, with just a loaf of bread, and a sack of water, for each soldier. A lot of supplies, to say the least, but not enough to satisfy anyone.. perhaps only make them hungrier. Rufely, Shika tore at his bread, eating it with gusto. Saying he was famished was only a polite way of putting it. And from the rather loud moans that could be heard throughout the encampment.. so were they. Even the hardened Imperial Guards had something to complain about. But, it was lesson number two.. when supplies were short, make do. In fact, this was a vast amount of food, considering how many of them there were.This would be all they would get for breakfast as well.. Shika swallowing down his last piece of bread, and General Tang standing up, mounting his horse. With a sudden pull from his hilt, his sword came shining out, cutting against the air, although, perhaps a little more weakly.. thank goodness his face was hidden.. his stomach wanted to tear itself apart.. the craving for food was so intense. "Everyone, get.. into your units.." boomed his voice, rather calmly for once. It went rather quickly, the comrades in arms forming around one another.. the Chinese forces were more evenly organized, but the Germans.. his people... "GET INTO FORMATION. I WANT SEVEN MEN ON THE SIDE, AND TEN IN THE FRONT AND BACK.. MOVE MOVE MOVE.. SQUEEZE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BE LEG'S WIDTH APART.."

It took a while for them to get it, but finally, after the persistent barks from Tang, they managed to form a rather loose rectangle. Shika sighed... "TIGHTER, I DIDN'T ASK FOR A DAMNED LOOSE FORMATION. THAT'S TWO BODIES APART FROM EVERYONE AROUND YOU... THIS IS ONLY ONE BODY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, STRAIGHTEN UP, OR WE WON'T MAKE IT IN TIME FOR THE AFTERNOON.." And thus it continued, with finally, the desired effects beginning to be achieved, as they growled at those who were being lazy, wanting to get the damned run over with. A smile slowly grew on his face. It was small, it was only a budding, but it was there. "YOU WILL BE RUNNING FOUR LAPS AROUND THE CITY IN FOR...MATION. ANY UNIT WHO BREAKS FORMATION, EVEN ONE MAN, WILL BE PUNISHED WITH.... HALF RATIONS... SO, IF WE DON'T GET.... HERE BY NOON, YOU'LL ONLY HAVE ONE-FOURTH... OF YOUR SLOP TO LOOK FORWARD TO.." And immediatly, everyone perked up. No one wanted to be the pour sap who let their entire unit down. Bingo. Teamwork, team pressure. "GET A MOVE ON, GET STARTED, CHARGE!"

And so began their running... the speed seemed maybe even a little slower, but, the last in line were his spearmen unit.. however, for as hard and how fast as General Tang rode, striving to keep to reach the front of the armies, to ride beside the Imperial Guards.. he just couldn't keep up.. but, the muscle on Tuan seemed to have increased. It was another tiring day, and, only for a moment, suprisingly enough, two of the Chinese began to develop laggers.. which Tang began riding as close as he could to, giving a slash in the air, urging them back into position.. and as expected, less grumbling had actually occured, though all of the spiteful remarks being thrown around in the air usually was directed towards Tang anyways..

* * * * * *

By the morning's end.. they still had not made it on time for noon. "YOU SORRY PACK OF SLOW....-ASS MONKEYS, WHAT THE HEL..L WAS THAT!? IT WAS THE EXACT SAME THING AS LAST... TIME! FOR EVERY DROP OF SWEA...T THAT YOU BREAK, IS J...UST ANOTHER SECOND OF... MY DAMNED PRECIOUS TIME.." and other usual banter. The night's dinner was still pretty light, and those who broke formation pestered those who let them down to no end.. Even as he dismounted from Tuan, walking somewhat shakily into his tent, where at least a little bit of dinner was waiting for him..

"..So." "So what?" Tang said dismissively, as he slowly threw his garments onto the ground, picking at his chicken leg, gnawing on it.. Hung Dat just glanced at him, before running out. But, it wasn't a hateful stare. Just.. one of suddenly realizing what was happening.

That night, Shika Tang would have nightmares again, but, they would end short, before anything terrible would happen..