The Poppy War

by

R. F. Kuang

The Poppy War: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Altan and Rin are sparring. He notes that she’s resisting the Phoenix, but Rin can’t consciously get to the state she was in during the Trial or during battle. Still, she finds Altan to be a better teacher than Jiang because he answers her questions. He almost feels like an older brother, and he makes Rin feel like it’s good to be a Speerly. Still, she doesn’t feel like she fits in, but Altan says that he trained on Speer. Later, Rin asks if they can use drugs. Altan deems this “lazy.” Rin must become disciplined so she can channel the Phoenix’s power; otherwise, the gods will ignore her. Jiang taught Rin to respect the gods and simply learn her place in the world, not to call them. Altan is derisive and deems that useless. He acknowledges that the gods are dangerous, but it’s essential to borrow their power.
Altan situates himself in opposition to Jiang. Like Rin, he finds (or found) Jiang annoyingly opaque, and he took issue with Jiang’s unwillingness to militarize what he taught his students. However, he does acknowledge that what they’re doing is dangerous, adding some credence to Jiang’s position that borrowing the gods’ power is a bad idea.
Themes
Dehumanization and the Horrors of War Theme Icon
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
Quotes
The Fifth Division reaches Khurdalain after three weeks of travel. Rin has never seen the ocean before, and Altan gestures to where Mugen and Speer are. When Rin asks, Altan describes Speer’s beauty, and he explains how they navigated using the stars. She asks why he left the island, but he doesn’t answer. At the city gates, a young woman shows the soldiers, Rin, and Altan inside. After sending the officer and his soldiers away, the girl, Qara, sizes Rin up. She tells Altan that her brother isn’t back yet and then leads Rin and Altan up some stairs to travel the city by rooftop.
Altan clearly has fond memories of Speer and is relatively willing to talk about them, but his unwillingness to answer why he left suggests it was not a happy departure.
Themes
Dehumanization and the Horrors of War Theme Icon
Identity, Cultural Trauma, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
History Theme Icon
Though Khurdalain was certainly bustling before the siege, it’s eerily silent now. It’s also a labyrinth, so the Federation will have a hard time invading it. Currently, the Federation holds a strip of beach and a small part of the city, but the Fifth Division—currently led by Jun—won’t cooperate with the Cike to take back the city. The issue, Qara explains, is that nobody can come up with a plan that doesn’t jeopardize civilians, who refuse to leave the city. Just then, Jun appears in the alley, dragging a boy by his ear. Jun is shocked to learn that Altan is in charge of the Cike, and he explains that the boy—Ramsa—was stealing munitions for the third time. Altan gets Jun to hand over Ramsa, though Ramsa does insist that the Cike are doing their jobs while the other units are “hiding” “like cowards.”
Rin and readers see firsthand how the Nikara military is fractured and distrustful—it’s nothing like the efficient, uniform fighting force Sinegard dreamed of creating. It's possible to conclude that some of this has to do with how much stock Sinegard put in Sunzi’s work about military theory—which, recall, the Federation already went against once. Put another way, Sinegardian graduates have perhaps learned a way of strategizing that doesn’t actually work all that well in the real world. Perhaps Ramsa (and Rin, a poor orphan) will have better ideas, though it remains to be seen if anyone will listen to them.
Themes
Dehumanization and the Horrors of War Theme Icon
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
History Theme Icon
Qara and Ramsa explain to Altan where the Cike are headquartered and that after Ramsa blew up a building and killed two men from the Fifth, the Cike are no longer allowed near the frontlines to do their work. Altan instructs Qara to get Rin settled. The two women hurry off to the women’s barracks—they’re the only ones. Rin changes into her uniform, though she argues about giving up her Lore armband. Qara sharply lectures that nobody is going to like or respect Rin anyway, since she’s Cike. Then, they visit Enki, who provides hallucinogens for the Cike—he’s arguing with a soldier from the Fifth, refusing to give the man opium. He offers Rin a variety of drugs, and Rin selects poppy seeds. Enki measures out doses; this way, he can hopefully help her avoid becoming addicted, which happens often in the Cike.
In some ways, the Cike seems just as disorganized as the rest of the Nikara military—there’s no real reason given for Ramsa blowing up a building, and killing two Nikara soldiers isn’t a good look. Rin is struggling with the transition to adulthood here. Giving up her armband means fully stepping away from student life into that of a soldier, and her emotional difficulty in doing this suggests she isn’t ready. Enki’s role in the Cike, meanwhile, further develops Jiang’s ideas of how to properly use drugs. But though Enki strives to steer the Cike away from addiction, there’s something about this job that leads people there anyway. Drugs might give Cike a leg up in their work, but ultimately, drug use seems to condemn them.
Themes
Identity, Cultural Trauma, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
Addiction, Drugs, and Control Theme Icon
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Next, Rin and Qara join the rest of the Cike in the canteen for a meal. They’re all young; Enki is the oldest and is maybe in his 40s, while Ramsa is barely 15. Baji introduces himself first. He fights with a nine-pronged rake and calls the “spirit of a very angry boar.” Then, Rin meets Aratsha, who lives in a barrel of water. Timid Unegen can transform into a fox. He and Baji pester Qara, who’s Chaghan’s “anchor twin,” about when Chaghan will be back. Altan arrives and tells them to leave her alone. Just then, the door to the canteen opens to reveal Suni, another Cike who’s massive and looks unwell. Unegen explains that Suni channels the Monkey God as Suni sits and growls that “It’s so loud,” and “They keep shouting.” He suddenly leaps over the table and chokes Unegen.
The Cike are a ragtag bunch. This makes them seem more human, in a way: where the other divisions of the Nikara military are comprised of soldiers who all look the same, the Cike are certainly individuals with their own quirks and difficulties. Suni exemplifies the difficulties the Cike face, as shamans. He seems to be somewhat overcome by his god, and this affects his stability. This is another indicator that perhaps Jiang was right—and it’s better to understand the gods rather than try to channel them.
Themes
Identity, Cultural Trauma, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Addiction, Drugs, and Control Theme Icon
Altan leaps at Suni as Unegen turn into a fox and slips away to safety. Altan and Suni fight, and Suni continues to whimper that “they” are being loud and speaking unintelligibly. Altan speaks gently to Suni, and Suni finally takes his hand. After Altan assures Suni that he’s safe, Suni suddenly smiles and greets his commander.
Here, Rin and readers begin to understand what makes Altan such a compelling leader. He clearly cares for the men and women under his command, and he does everything he can—including putting himself in danger—to keep them present and tethered to the mortal world.
Themes
Addiction, Drugs, and Control Theme Icon