The seventh moon of the twenty-second year of Da-ye gave way to the eighth. The eighth gave way to the ninth.
By the small specific accumulating reading at the past two months at the cold-spring camp's accumulating *recovery* shape — the brigade laid in the small accumulating *small-specific seasoned-and-strained* recovery. The twenty-two non-fatal wounded of the *second wave* were — by the small specific accumulating reading at Ah Chou's accumulating salve-and-recovery — at the small accumulating *eight-week return* shape for fifteen of them; the remaining seven were — by the small specific reading at Ah Chou's eye on them — at the small accumulating *twelve-week return*.
By the small specific accumulating reading at the dusk of the third week of the ninth moon — the brigade was at the small accumulating *eighty-nine combat-shape* (with the small accumulating *seven longer-returning wounded* expected at the small accumulating *late tenth moon's accumulating return*).
By the small specific accumulating reading at the past peddler at the dusk of the third week of the ninth moon — Pang Yu had, at the past two months, been at the small accumulating *post-second-wave-political-cost* shape. He had — by the small specific reading at the past peddler — laid the small accumulating *real reading* at his accumulating campaign-table: the *second wave's* accumulating *cost-of-two-hundred-and-eighty-of-six-hundred* was, by the small specific accumulating reading at his accumulating *senior-Yang-Tong-loyalist's accumulating real reading*, at the small accumulating *real political shape* of an accumulating *senior-officer's accumulating second campaign-defeat at the regional command*.
By the small specific reading at the past peddler — Pang Yu had been at the small accumulating *real censure-risk* shape from the Yang-Tong-court at Luoyang. By the small specific accumulating reading at the past peddler — the Yang-Tong-court was — at the past two months — at the small accumulating *real-internal-disorder* shape of an accumulating *Sui-court whose accumulating real Mandate is at the small accumulating *single year or less* shape*. The Yang-Tong-court would, by the small specific reading at the past peddler, perhaps not have the small accumulating *real political-strength* to censure Pang Yu. By the small specific reading at the past peddler — Pang Yu had taken the small accumulating *no-censure* shape and was, at this dusk, at the small accumulating *real* preparation of the *third wave* at the small accumulating *eight-hundred-or-nine-hundred-strong* shape Lao Wen had named.
The *third wave* would — by the small specific accumulating reading at the past peddler — lay in at perhaps the *eleventh moon* of this year, perhaps the early winter, with three senior sub-officers (Lu Mengtai of the past two waves plus Wei Tongzhi of the past second wave plus a further man not yet named at the past peddler).
By the small specific accumulating reading at the past peddler — Pang Yu's accumulating *third wave* would be at the small accumulating *real campaign-weight* shape. The Yang-Tong-court at Luoyang would, by the small specific reading at the past peddler, lay in further the small accumulating *regional Sui-loyalist supplements* at perhaps two hundred further troops at the small accumulating *real campaign-shape* if Pang Yu requested them. By the small specific reading at the past peddler — the *third wave* might, at the small accumulating *real shape*, be at perhaps the *one thousand* shape rather than the *eight hundred or nine hundred* of Pang Yu's accumulating original arithmetic.
Heizi at the small clear ground at the dusk of the third week of the ninth moon laid the peddler's saying at the cot's-side at the dusk.
He said in the small low voice: *master. Pang Yu's third wave — perhaps eight hundred at the small accumulating original arithmetic, perhaps one thousand at the regional Sui-loyalist supplement. Eleventh moon, perhaps early winter.*
Lao Wen at the cot looked up from the *Zhongyong's* fourth round.
He said in the small low voice: *yes, lad.*
He paused.
"By the small specific reading I am giving at this dusk — the *one thousand* shape would, by the small specific accumulating reading at the past two waves' arithmetic, break the brigade at the small accumulating *real cost-of-perhaps-ninety-of-ninety-six* shape. The brigade would not — by the small specific reading at this dusk — hold the *first cut* for more than perhaps three hours; the *second cut* for perhaps another two; the *third cut* would, by the small specific reading I am giving, fall.*
He paused.
"By the small specific reading I am giving — the *third wave* at *one thousand* would, at the *third cut's accumulating fall*, advance up the path toward the master's hut at perhaps the small accumulating *one day's-march* shape. The *nineteen-and-master* at the master's hut would not, at the small accumulating *one-thousand at the small accumulating real engagement-veterans-and-supplements* shape, hold against them at the small accumulating *upper-bend's accumulating bottlenecking* for more than perhaps the small accumulating *three or four hours*.*
He paused once more.
"By the small specific reading I am giving — the small accumulating *real moment* will, at the small specific accumulating *third wave's accumulating advance*, come at the small accumulating *one-day-and-three-or-four-hours's accumulating shape* after the *third cut's accumulating fall*. The master will, at that small accumulating *real moment*, walk down the path with the old militia officer's spear."
He looked at Heizi.
"By the small specific reading I am giving at this dusk — the *Royal Regulations* is, at the past summer, at the small accumulating *complete-enough-for-the-lad* shape. The *Zhongyong's* fourth round will, by the small specific reading I am giving, be at the small accumulating *complete* by the small accumulating *late tenth moon* or the *early eleventh moon*. The small accumulating *expanded memorial* will, by the small specific reading I am giving, be at the small accumulating *complete* by the small accumulating *late eleventh moon*. By the small specific reading I am giving — the lad will, at the small accumulating *real moment*, be at the small accumulating *complete apprenticeship* shape."
Heizi nodded.
He filed it.
He could not — at the small wooden stool — say more.
He laid one hand briefly at the master's accumulating hand at the cot.
By the small specific accumulating reading at the past three years' cot's-side — this was the fifth time the lad had laid the gesture.
He held it for one beat.
He let go.
That night Heizi at his watch sat at the small banked fire.
He listened.
The shape of the silence on this watch was — by the small specific reading at this evening — the shape of a small specific *senior sub-officer-and-apprentice* whose accumulating master had, at the dusk, named the small accumulating *real moment* at the small accumulating *third wave's accumulating advance after the third cut's accumulating fall*, and whose accumulating apprenticeship would — by the small specific reading at this evening — be at the small accumulating *complete* shape at the small accumulating *late eleventh moon*.
He filed.
He sat his watch through.
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