On the walls of "Stone City," the Ninth Small Banner of the Wanjin army was taking turns on night watch.
This ten-man squad mostly sat under the No. 3 Arrow-Shield Bamboo Canopy waiting for orders. Only Taichiro, the Small Banner, and Stone Bodhisattva, the Deputy Small Banner, occasionally leaned against the battlements for cover, observing the pitch-black surroundings outside the city. The former Small Banner had been promoted, making Taichiro the new Small Banner while Stone Bodhisattva, a sergeant, temporarily acted as the Deputy Small Banner, and as long as he was literate enough, he could assume the position formally.
Taichiro glanced outside the city a few times, found nothing unusual, and, estimating that the interval was about right, said to Stone Bodhisattva, "Shoot an arrow and see!"
