Read Chapter 23: — A NAME ON THE ROLL

The North Suppression Office examined Tang Zheng with great suspicion.

He was tested in riding, archery, sword work, memory, codes, observation and languages.

His sword work was mediocre.

His observation was excellent.

His memory was irritatingly good when the information interested him and almost criminally selective when it did not.

He spoke enough Japanese, learned from fragments his father had once taught and improved by Lin, to surprise the examiners.

His talent for disguise caused a debate.

One examiner had seen the report from Zhenjiang.

“Is it true you infiltrated an inn dressed as a woman?”

Tang straightened.

“For the empire.”

Lin coughed into his sleeve.

Tang was not made a commander.

He was not even made an officer.

He entered as a probationary operative attached to Lin’s unit.

When his name was written on the roll, he stared at it.

Tang Zheng.

No false title.

No borrowed rank.

His own name was enough.

Lin placed a small bronze badge in his hand.

“This one is real.”

Tang bit it.

Lin slapped the back of his head.

“What?”

“That is not an approved verification method.”