The Poppy War, #2
The Dragon Republic
by R. F. Kuang
Contents
Chapter 26
Overview
Refugees from the southern provinces overwhelm Arlong, exposing neglect and prejudice. Rin, disguising her rank, reunites with Kesegi and clashes with Auntie Fang, then saves an abandoned infant.
Daji’s messenger delivers a gruesome taunt implying Jinzha’s death and a threat to Arlong. Scouts confirm the Imperial Fleet’s approach. Vaisra concentrates all forces on defending Arlong, sparking a strategic rift with Nezha; Rin sides with Vaisra.
Summary
Rin surveys the massive refugee district outside Arlong, learning many arrivals are southern villagers fleeing remaining Federation units. Disturbed, she seeks fellow Roosters and, after changing out of her uniform, searches for Tutor Feyrik. Instead she finds her foster brother, Kesegi, and learns Uncle Fang is dead from opium. At their tent, Auntie Fang berates Rin and demands aid, exposing the camps’ starvation and neglect. Rin retreats, promising Kesegi a blanket.
As refugees continue to pour in, Rin and Venka clear debris from the river and find a barely living infant among the refuse. Venka, hardened by loss, nearly discards it; Rin intervenes and sends the baby to care, shaken by the city’s callousness.
Daji’s messenger arrives at court bearing a basket of lotus-marked dumplings and a seal. Before the assembled leadership, he reveals the dumplings as a taunt—“The Dragon devours his sons”—implying Jinzha has been killed and cooked. At Vaisra’s signal, Rin kills the messenger. A brief letter declares Daji is coming to Arlong.
Scouts soon confirm a vast Imperial Fleet moving down the Murui to end the war at Arlong. In strategy council, Vaisra orders all defenses concentrated at the capital, recalling scattered forces despite Warlords’ protests that southern villages will be left to the Federation. The alliance wavers but concedes they cannot hold their provinces alone.
Nezha openly challenges Vaisra’s decision, arguing they cannot ignore the south. The confrontation turns personal over Jinzha’s death. Pressed to choose, Rin supports Vaisra’s strategy, arguing splitting forces would hand Arlong to Daji. The Republic braces for siege as moral and strategic divides sharpen.
Who Appears
- Rin (Fang Runin)Navigates refugee crisis, reunites with Kesegi and Auntie Fang, saves an infant, kills Daji’s messenger, supports defending Arlong.
- Vaisra (Dragon Warlord)Receives Daji’s taunt, confirms Imperial advance, orders all forces to defend Arlong despite southern losses.
- NezhaGrieves Jinzha, clashes with Vaisra over abandoning the south; challenges strategy, rebuked as Rin sides with his father.
- VenkaWorks river duty with Rin; nearly discards a found infant, revealing hardened trauma.
- KesegiRin’s foster brother; found in the camps, father dead, asks Rin for help and blankets.
- Auntie FangBitter and aged; accuses Rin, begs for aid, exemplifies camp desperation and resentment.
- Empress Su DajiSends a messenger with a cruel proclamation implying Jinzha’s death and vows to take Arlong.
- Lady SaikharaHears the taunt about Jinzha; collapses in grief during the audience.
- General HuReads Daji’s threatening letter; helps assess the approaching Imperial Fleet.
- Captain EridenAdvises on river chokepoints and fleet movement; supports focusing defenses on Arlong.
- Messenger from the MilitiaDelivers Daji’s taunt with dumplings; is killed by Rin after provoking the court.
- KitayCounsels Rin on the leadership’s cold calculus toward refugees; observes mounting tensions.
- RamsaGuides Rin through the camps; explains Federation-backed threats in the south.
- BajiExplains refugees’ origins and the Federation’s alignment with Daji’s forces.
- GurubaiProtests abandoning the south; briefly threatens to withdraw but relents.
- CharoukChallenges promises about fighting the Mugenese; doubts Hesperian support.
- TakhaObjects to leaving villages undefended as Vaisra consolidates forces.