“The rules are very simple,” Corporal Chen told the gathered soldiers. “No biting. No gouging. No attacks to the groin. China needs her soldiers to produce more little soldiers.” He smiled, but no one shared his grim humor. “You can punch, kick, and wrestle. You win when your opponent is knocked out or submits. You stop only when I say. There are no other rules.” He scanned the pale faces waiting around the makeshift square. “Wan and Lei, you are first.”
The two fighters stepped into the square and circled each other warily.
“Hurry up!” he bellowed.
They charged at one another, flailing wildly, neither in control, until a wild punch from Wan connected with Lei’s chin. Lei’s legs buckled and his punches grew weaker. Wan sensed victory and landed another hard punch on his opponent’s nose. Bright streaks of red splashed Lei’s chest. He doubled over, shielding his face with his arms.
Wan looked to Corporal Chen, hoping he had done enough to win, but the corporal stared at him impassively. Wan shrugged and drove his knee toward Lei’s head to finish him. Lei moved his arm at the last moment and Wan’s knee connected with an elbow instead. He gasped in pain and held his knee tightly. Still dazed, Lei rose from his crouch to see what was happening. Wan could not afford to let Lei recover. Ignoring the agony in his knee, he rushed forward, grabbed Lei behind the head, and pulled him onto his left knee. This time the blow connected hard and Lei crumpled to the ground with no more than a sigh.
Kuang had been watching from the top of the hill. He had done a little wrestling at the training camp in his hometown, but this was far more serious, and he was already exhausted. Whatever happened, he knew he was going to get hurt. He made his way around the course slowly, hoping to regain a little energy before having to fight. Corporal Chen’s voice could be heard barking orders at the soldiers, and the dull thudding blows of the fights echoed around the stony training ground.
By the time he rejoined the rest, the other soldiers had recovered their energy. Some were limbering up and stretching in preparation for their turn in Corporal Chen’s brutal matches, while others stood nervously waiting their turn. He collapsed beside them, hoping to rest. His hopes were quickly dashed when the corporal ordered him into the square, scanning the others for a suitable opponent. Even before the name was called out, Kuang knew who it would be.
“Lung!”
Lung was easily the biggest soldier in the garrison, a farm laborer from Hunan, and hugely powerful. Though not vicious by nature, Lung had the look of a seasoned brawler, and Kuang prepared for the worst.
They stepped into the square and Kuang’s eyes locked onto Lung’s for the first time. The small, round eyes were impossible to read, but he knew he could expect no mercy. He stayed at the edge of the square and fiddled with his hand-wrapping, waiting for a little freshness to return to his limbs. Lung figured out what he was doing and crossed the square with a roar, launching a barrage of punches at his head. He slipped to the side and struck at Lung, but the bigger man’s power drove him back. He stumbled and covered his head with his hands. Heavy punches smashed his arms and shoulders. He threw two more punches of his own and felt his fists make contact with Lung’s face, but Lung was unstoppable.
He skirted the edge of the square, hoping for a moment’s respite, but Lung was on him, catching him with a hard punch in the stomach that doubled him over. Lung smashed a knee into his body. Ignoring the pain, Kuang threw his arms around Lung’s legs to tackle him. Lung sprawled, throwing his legs behind and out of reach. His great weight bore down on Kuang’s back and he pounded vicious punches into his sides. Kuang drove forward to get a better grip on Lung’s legs, but Lung was too strong. Something had to change.
He dropped to his knees and twisted suddenly. Lung lost his grip for a moment, but regained control by falling on top of him. Now he was trapped beneath Lung’s bulk. He pushed and struck out with his elbow, catching Lung in the face, stunning him for a second. It was the chance he needed to squirm out. He stood and aimed a kick at Lung’s head, but tiredness had made him slow. Lung caught his leg and threw him to the ground, landing squarely on top of him and driving the air from his body. Now he was pinned securely, and Lung began to strike at his head with the base of his fist.
He turned away in desperation. It was a mistake. He had given Lung his back. Lung’s massive arms wrapped around his neck and drew a strangle hold in tight. He heard a roaring in his ears, felt the prickling redness behind his eyes. The world was closing to a small dot. With the last of his strength, he stood up with Lung on his back before blacking out.
When he woke, the pressure was gone. For a moment, he thought the fight was over and he had been carried to the side. But then he saw the eyes of the other soldiers on him and saw he was still in the square. Lung was beneath him. The throbbing on the back of his skull told him what had happened. His head had flown back when they had fallen and struck Lung hard in the face.
He spun and found himself on top for the first time. Lung’s nose was broken. Blood was running into his eyes from a deep gash and his hands were rubbing frantically at his eyes. Kuang felt a stab of pity for the big man. It lasted for just a moment—the fight was not over yet—Lung was a formidable opponent and could recover in an instant. He stood over him and raised his foot to stamp on Lung’s head. Corporal Chen stepped forward but Kuang was beyond waiting for the order to stop. He dropped to one knee and began punching steadily, until he felt two soldiers dragging him off his beaten opponent.
He stood with his hands on his knees, gulping in deep lungfuls of the thin mountain air, grateful for the respite, but his ordeal was not over. Corporal Chen nodded to Tsun, who was ready and waiting with his hands wrapped. Tsun rushed at him. Kuang raised his hands in futile defense. A huge punch found its way past his guard and caught him on the temple. He crashed to the ground. Then Tsun was standing over him, kicking at his head and ribs. He curled into a ball to protect himself and rolled away, scrambling to get to his feet. Tsun followed and kicked at his head, clipping him on the jaw. He fell again, badly dazed. Tsun pinned him on his back and straddled his chest. There was no escape. Vicious punches began to fall. He fought to push Tsun off, but Tsun’s weight was planted firmly on his chest. He parried Tsun’s punches and moved to prevent them from connecting hard. He struck back, but from his position on his back his punches had no effect. Tsun gripped his wrists and pinned his hands to his chest, then moved forward to sit on them and finish him off. As Tsun shifted his weight, Kuang bucked hard with one huge final effort. It was enough to lift Tsun a fraction and he slipped out between Tsun’s legs.
Tsun spun and seized him. Kuang felt a knee smash his ribs. The stunning pain made him feel faint. He threw his arms desperately around one of Tsun’s legs, but was too weak to take him down. Tsun resisted easily and struck at his head with hard punches. Too dazed to think any more, Kuang clung on grimly as Tsun punched him. All sense of time left him. After what seemed like an age, the blows became lighter. Tsun was still striking him—now he was using his palms instead of his fists. The blows registered faintly, somewhere in the distance. He guessed Tsun’s hands were too damaged to hit hard and he clung to Tsun’s thigh with a satisfied grin.
At last Corporal Chen sent two soldiers to pry him off. They dragged him from the square and laid him on his back, staring up at the empty sky. He did not move. His eyes closed and he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Some time later, he did not know how long, he was dimly aware of more matches going on nearby. Then the sounds faded and he heard nothing. When he woke again, the sky was grey and the air cold. He began to shiver uncontrollably. Each new breath sent a stab of pain through his side. His head was pounding. His lips were swollen and there was a metallic taste on his tongue. He tried to stand but a searing pain ripped through his body and he fell back, groaning.
He considered calling for help, but his pride prevented
