| "Rangi nodded at the two watchmen, grizzeld veterans of the Earth King's army who stiffened their necks and bowed back to her in deference. Lured by better pay into Jianzhu's service, they'd kept their dished, wide-brimmed helmets but painted them over with the sage's personal shades of green." |
| — Kyoshi musing about the guardsmen as she and Rangi pass by two of them.[1] |
Jianzhu's guardsmen were veterans of the Earth Kingdom army who were lured into Jianzhu's service by better payment from the sage than they received from the Earth King.[1]
History[]
Jianzhu established his guardsmen sometime before 296 BG in order to provide security for him, Yun, the boy whom he falsely identified as the Avatar, and his mansion.
In the same year, a contingent of twenty guards accompanied Kyoshi, Rangi, Hei-Ran, Yun, Kelsang, Amak, and Jianzhu during negotiations with the pirate queen Tagaka on an iceberg. They traveled by boats along with Hei-Ran, Amak, and Jianzhu, while Kyoshi, Rangi, Yun, and Kelsang rode on Pengpeng's back. Upon arrival, they lined up to the left and right in the area where they docked, with their spears ready in an attempt to appear strong and organized in front of the pirate leader.
During dinner before the treaty signing the next day, Tagaka frankly stated that she was sure Yun was going to kill her. The earthbender assured her that he did not bring the guardsmen to insult or harm her, but that they were acting as an honor guard and that, despite his wishes to not bring them along, the soldiers were excited to witness the two of them make history. The pirate answered that she was not concerned about "a bunch of flunkies with spears". In that night, Amak and the most experienced guardsmen patrolled the area of the camp where Yun and the others were staying.
The next day, in the middle of the negotiations, Tagaka killed Amak before springing the trap she had in place for the false Avatar and his companions. They and the guardsmen were ambushed by waterbenders who dropped an avalanche on the warriors. Rangi and Hei-Ran managed to save a few, but most of them were killed during the fight.[2]
The subsequent lack of guards at Jianzhu's mansion allowed Kyoshi and Rangi to easily leave after Kelsang's death and, upon replenishing their ranks, the sage began a hunt for them.[3][4] Unbeknownst to Jianzhu, however, spies working for his political enemy chamberlain Hui pretended to act as guards, while relaying information about him to the chamberlain. Saiful, one of the two soldiers that rode with the sage on eel hounds to the Taihua Mountains in the mission to capture Kyoshi and Rangi, was one such double agent. Jianzhu, Saiful, and the other guard were attacked by daofei when they reached the mountains. Saiful and the sage defeated the outlaws, but the second soldier was killed.
The two of them found the hidden daofei settlement of Hujiang, where Jianzhu discovered Saiful's treachery when the young swordsman sent a messenger hawk to Hui. The Earth Sage mused that he and a handful of other guards answered his call for more fighters too quickly and conveniently, before he dueled and killed Saiful.[4]
After Rangi had been captured by mercenaries employed by Jianzhu and taken to his mansion, Kyoshi asked Kirima, Lao Ge, and Wong to help her escape. They successfully infiltrated the household and left with the firebender, defeating all of the guardsmen. Wong subsequently interrogated the spies working for Hui, still dressed as guards, and proceeded to take some valuables from the building.[5]
Equipment[]
Jianzhu's guardsmen wore Earth Kingdom military armor with dished, wide-brimmed helmets, which they painted over with the sage's personal shades of green. Most of the soldiers used spears in combat, but Saiful employed a dao.[1][4]
Appearances[]
The Rise of Kyoshi[]
- 104. "Honest Work"
- 107. "The Iceberg"
- 122. "Conclusions"
Avatar games[]
Trivia[]
- Kyoshi considered there was a possibility that the guardsmen painting Jianzhu's personal shades of green over their helmets was illegal.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter Four, "Honest Work". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter Seven, "The Iceberg". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter Eleven, "The Inheritance". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter Twenty-Two, "Conclusions". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter Thirty-One, "The Return". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.