"AJiaKeSi i am offering to hire you as an experience solider on a battle field. Do you agree?"
"Your highness! Why... i mean you have plenty of men on your command..."
"I do have plenty but i need more. As the country expand its territory, i need more men. These men don't grow on trees. We need to recruit and train them. It takes years and with experience to know what to do. While you and your friends have all the experience. Knowing when to retreat and when to attack is crucial."
"I..."
"AJiaKeSi, i will let you think about this. Talk to your friends and discuss about this. I will pay you each twenty silver taels and a few sacks of rice. A standard salary of all uniform men. However you all will be listed as mercenaries. After five years, a status of Tang citizen ship will be given to each and everyone who join in the army. I will let you know more of the benefits after you and your friends make the decision."
"A Tang citizenship means that i have a home here?"
"Yes forever home. You don't need to keep travelling anymore but live anywhere in Tang. Our land is big and will get bigger and better. As you can see more and more foreigners are coming to Tang to work, trade and build a a forever home. Think about it."
"Where and when do i reply you, your highness?"
"I give you eight days. As you know Chinese love the number eight. However if you make up your mind by tomorrow, come by my mansion. I will be at home. You can see Li Xin too, she is at home these days."
The prince takes out a few silver pieces and put it on the table. The two men parted that evening.
The night, Li Cheng told Banou about the conversation that he had with Ajax. She smile as she listen. Her husband is offering a stable job and a citizenship is entrancing to someone like deserter who may want a place to call home. Also if Ajax becomes a solider under Tang's banner, Li Xin chances of marrying and living in Tang is higher.
The next morning, the servants open the main door to find some foreigners standing in the cold. They immediately goes in to inform the Prince. Li Cheng who was exercising despite the cold ask the guest to enter the mansion and hot tea and food to serve them all. Banou hearing this hurry to Li Xin's bedroom to wake her up. Li Xin is in a hurry as she never wake up so early before. She put on her best and walk out with her mother in hand. As they walk near, they hear sounds of laughter. The maids open the door as they see the consort princess and Li Xin approaching. Inside the room, is fill with men with yellow and light brown hair. Li Cheng is having a good time to talk to them.
"Come this is my wife! And my daughter, i am sure all of you know her."
Everyone is smiling and greeting. Banou look at Li Cheng and she is sure that Ajax is accepting the job opening. The servants in the mansion are informed to cook more for the guest they have. Thus the table is fill with food that the guest never have before. Li Xin is delighted to have Ajax and his friends. Li Xing carry his son out to the dining hall and suprise to see so many men there. Other children soon follow out into the hall. Li Nan is upset that his sister is dating a man without his knowledge. Banou try to make him less sulky looking by giving him all his favourite food. However her son cannot smile and eat in silence.
Ajax and his friends left after breakfast. They have to go back to the blacksmith to work. While Li Cheng will draft the contracts and inform the emperor of this piece of good news. Ajax speak to Li Xin briefly before leaving. Li Xin soak in happiness and she run to Li Cheng. She bow to him and thank his kindness. He smile and tell her that he did is for the country too. Li Xin is too happy to listen but when she see her brother Li Nan is still at the breakfast table with Banou, she realised that the brother she grows up with is upset. He is the last one still at the table. She walks up to him and sit next to LI Nan. He look at her with his piercing green eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I ... did not know how to say to you."
"It's rude you know."
She keep her head down. He put down his chop sticks and sigh. He look at his mother who is still sitting with him and look at his sister.
"This is the first and last time. No more secrets! I don't know who did you pick up this bad habit from! No one in this household holds a secret that long! Everything must say out in this family! Understand!"
She look up and nod her head. She hurry to pick up the chop sticks and put food on his bowl which is still fill with food. Banou watch the two children squabble in her presence. She smile that even Li Xin is older, she is always the one listening to Li Nan. Li Nan who always acts like an older brother who shield his sister from danger now he have to give up to Ajax the new man in her life.