The Poppy War, #2
The Dragon Republic
by R. F. Kuang
Contents
Chapter 15
Overview
Rin and Kitay track the Murui poisoning to a Hare Province mission using pig bladders to disperse converted Federation gas. They confront former classmate Niang; Kitay kills her before a canister ruptures. The team burns the site and returns to the fleet, where Jinzha publicly tortures prisoners to project strength.
Kitay’s trauma resurfaces, deepening moral fractures as the Republic weighs Federation involvement and war against former peers.
Summary
The Swallow searches Murui tributaries disguised as a merchant. Kitay nets a pig bladder pod leaking acid, confirming a delivery method that preserves potency downstream. Captain Salkhi splits forces ashore; the Cike locate a lightly guarded mission with a pipe regularly releasing poison pods into the river.
Rin and Kitay breach the mission, passing makeshift defenses. Inside, they find a slaughterhouse of pigs harvested for bladders and barrels of yellow liquid converted from Federation gas, alongside shelves of canisters reminiscent of Golyn Niis.
Niang, a former Sinegard classmate, reveals she designed the delivery for the Hare Warlord, blaming the Republic’s embargo and Rin’s island massacre. As Niang threatens with a canister, Kitay shoots her. The canister pops, gas billows, and they flee while Niang dies in the fumes.
They torch the mission on Ramsa’s suggestion to prevent reuse and sail back through rain to the armada. On deck, Kitay’s composure collapses; he confesses he is trapped in memories of Golyn Niis and doubts moral certainties. Rin admits she only wanted the killing to end on the island.
Rejoining the fleet, they brief Jinzha: the site was a distribution point, likely supplied from Snake Province. Fearing potential Federation involvement, Jinzha rejects formal interrogation and stages a public spectacle, flaying and scalding two captured guardsmen with diluted poison. Nezha objects; Kitay argues fear and vengeance now serve the Republic’s needs, even against former friends.
Who Appears
- Rin (Fang Runin)Co-leads the search, discovers the mission, confronts Niang, escapes the gas, and supports Kitay during his breakdown.
- Kitay (Chen Kitay)Identifies pig bladder pods, drives the breach, kills Niang to prevent release, then grapples with trauma and moral doubt.
- Captain SalkhiCommands the Swallow, organizes ground squads, returns to fleet and reports findings to Jinzha.
- RamsaProposes burning the mission to secure remaining canisters and prevent further contamination.
- NiangFormer classmate now aiding the Empire; designed the pig bladder delivery system; dies after Kitay shoots her.
- JinzhaRepublican commander who orders public torture of prisoners to project strength and deterrence.
- NezhaObjects to Jinzha’s cruelty; reflects on fighting former classmates and the war’s moral costs.
- BajiHelps hold off mission guards so Rin and Kitay can infiltrate.
- SuniAssists Baji in keeping defenders away during the breach.