A familiar sense of isolation settled over Chinua as she entered the meeting room, the weight of her new command already pressing down. Her eyes, sharper now, quickly scanned the faces. Her own loyal few on one side, and the unfamiliar, almost guarded expressions of Batzorig's captains on the other. Dawa was the only face she truly recognized. A wave of unease washed over her. Nine captains, she'd been told. So where were the other five? The empty seats across the table felt like a challenge, a void filled with unspoken questions and a growing sense of being outnumbered.
Batzorig, a flicker of relief in his eyes, addressed her. "Your Highness, these are the four captains stationed here with me."
Chinua, her heart heavy with unspoken questions about the missing five, responded, "General, in this military camp, royal titles are unnecessary. You may address me as Chinua; our positions are equal, and out of respect for your seniority, I'll address you as General." Her eyes once more traversed the five men. "Where are the other captains?"
"As I mentioned earlier," Batzorig reiterated, indicating the men to his right, "these are the four captains stationed with me: Captain Dawa, Captain Chenghiz, Captain Jochi, and Captain Arban. The remaining captains are aiding Prince Dzhambul in patrolling the Northern Camp."
"How utterly absurd," Hye scoffed, a cynical curve to his mouth, his voice laced with biting mockery and amusement. "What pathetic strategy dictates fewer soldiers for the imminent war zone, while the vast majority patrol an area hundreds of miles from any conflict? Even a child grasps such basic military sense!" His eyes, sharp and accusatory, fixed on the men opposite him, particularly Jochi.
Arban, his distress boiling over, could no longer tolerate Hye's ceaseless taunts aimed at Jochi since his arrival. He met Hye's gaze, a thunderous roar erupting from him. "I don't care who you are or how important you believe yourself to be within your team! I've had enough of your insults!" He rose abruptly, taking a few steps towards the center of the conference room. "Let's settle this on the training ground!"
Jochi swiftly intervened, seizing Arban's arm and pulling him back. "Enough," he commanded, his voice strained as he sought to diffuse the escalating tension.
Observing Jochi's protective stance, Hye rose, a slow, malevolent smirk spreading across his face. He leaned close to Jochi, a venomous whisper escaping his lips. "You have no idea what I'm capable of." He took two deliberate steps, then leaned in closer still. "It was because of me that your pathetic northern soldiers died before ever reaching the front of Nue-Li City." He pulled back, his heart swelling with perverse satisfaction at the stunned expressions on Jochi and Arban's faces. "So, tell me, which of us is truly more capable?" He clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely returned to his seat beside Chinua.
"Ginmiao..." The word was a guttural whisper from Arban's gritted teeth. He lunged, his fist a blur, aiming directly for the back of Hye's head.
Zhi, seated next to Haitao, reacted with lightning speed. He snagged Arban's fist in one hand, while his left hand shot out, landing a jarring blow to Arban's right chest, sending him staggering backward, several steps towards Batzorig and his men.
A searing ache bloomed in his right chest. Arban glared up at Zhi. "This is between him and me!" he growled, pointing a furious finger at Hye. "Stay out of this, soldier!"
Zhi's voice was firm. "If you seek a duel, you'll duel me."
"Zhi, there's no need to test our strength when we're on the same team," Chinua interjected, and Zhi, without another word, returned to his seat beside Haitao.
Arban looked at Chinua, his anger evident. "General, don't you know he..." Arban jabbed a finger at Hye. "He's a Ginmiao..." his fury rising.
"I know," Chinua stated, her voice even.
Batzorig and his captains gasped, clearly taken aback.
"So, what if he's a Ginmiao or a Tanggolian?" Chinua asked, her voice carrying a challenging edge.
"Ginmiao are our enemies!" Arban declared.
Chinua's gaze bore into Arban. "The Ginmiao may be your enemy, but they are not mine. The Ginmiao I consider my enemies are those in armor, not ordinary civilians."
Jochi interjected, his voice laced with disbelief, "General, do you understand what he just confessed? He said he's the reason our northern soldiers couldn't reach the front gate of Nue-Li City!"
Chinua's eyes narrowed, her voice now a low, fierce growl. "I am aware of that, too. And while the northern soldiers may not have reached Nue-Li City's front gate, that doesn't mean the eastern soldiers won't." She turned to Haitao. "Captain, I trust you've already conveyed my instructions to General Batzorig and his soldiers."
"I have, Chinua," Haitao confirmed.
Chinua's focus returned to Arban. "If my captain has already delivered my clear instructions, then you should know I will not tolerate anyone attempting to create rumors within the army I command." She then turned her gaze to Hye. "That includes you as well. Let me make myself unequivocally clear so there is no misunderstanding of the orders I am giving. Since I am replacing General Batzorig and you four are now under my command, I want to ensure you fully comprehend my instructions. First, we will not harm any civilians. Second, we will not commit war crimes such as rape or theft. Third, we will not harm surrendered soldiers." Her gaze swept over the men opposite her. "If you or any of your soldiers fail to adhere to these three rules, the punishment is death. Therefore, ensure every soldier under your command understands these rules implicitly."
"Captain Haitao already conveyed this to us, and these rules have been passed down to all soldiers," Batzorig affirmed.
Chinua nodded slowly. "We are all soldiers of the Hmagol Kingdom. Our origins, wherever they may lie, are irrelevant now. As of this moment, we are in Hmagol, and we share one singular purpose: to protect all its citizens and the peace of our people." Chinua rose, her presence commanding, and her gaze swept deliberately from Batzorig to his seasoned soldiers, then to her own eight men. "If animosity lingers between any of you," she declared, her voice resonating with quiet authority, "I urge you to resolve these differences before we step onto the battlefield. That sacred ground is no place for personal grievances. Once we engage the enemy, we are bound by a single, unwavering purpose: to vanquish our foes and shield our brothers and sisters in arms."
Batzorig, addressing Hye and Jochi, stated, "I agreed with Chinua. I'm not sure what's between the two of you, but from today forward, we'll let bygones be bygones. We don't know how long we'll be here together. In the future, when we enter the battleground, we'll entrust our lives to each other. Am I making myself clear?"
Jochi acknowledged Batzorig's statement, sighing, "Yes, General."
Chinua then turned to Hye, emphasizing, "The same goes for you." Despite understanding Hye's animosity toward Jochi and the northern army, Chinua knew it wasn't the time for personal disputes. "General," she continued, "did you catch the assassins?"
Batzorig replied, "The assassins were killed."
"Who are the assassins?" Hye inquired.
Dawa answered, "An old man and a pregnant woman."
Chenghiz elaborated, "After the two assassins were killed, we went to their house and found two dead children inside. We pieced together the grim truth: the Ginmiao must have threatened the children's lives, leaving the pregnant woman and the old man with a horrifying choice: assassinate General Batzorig or watch their loved ones perish."
Hye looked at Chenghiz, questioning his certainty. "Why are you so sure this is the Ginmiao's doing? Perhaps General Batzorig has more than one enemy. For example, your beloved Prince Dzhambul? Or any Tanggolian? Or perhaps even those closer, such as the Kosian."
"Because Prince Dzhambul is Hmagol!" Arban shot back, jaw tight. "Why would His Highness possibly betray his own people?"
Hye let out a dismissive scoff. "You're naive. People abandon loyalty for personal gain faster than you can blink."
Arban pointed a trembling, angry finger at Hye. His voice, rough with suppressed fury, cut through the air: "You need to learn how to speak, or you might find yourself silenced permanently if you continue with this baseless nonsense, accusing His Highness without a shred of proof. And let's not forget: the Tanggolian are incapable of crossing Da-Lao Pass. The Kosian haven't engaged in war for years. The sole faction consistently warring with us, the only ones with eyes on General Batzorig's life, are the Ginmiao, especially that contemptible General Chong."
Hye chuckled, declaring, "It's pointless for me to be in this meeting." He then stood up, began walking out, and murmured, "Idiots are still idiots even after reading a thousand books."
Seeing Hye's unauthorized departure, Dawa shook his head, turning to Chinua. "General," Dawa said, "why do you keep such a man so close, especially knowing he is a Ginmiao? Someone who refuses to follow our military rule. Also, by letting him speak and leave freely as he wishes, other soldiers will lose respect for you. His actions are a great disrespect to you."
Chinua sighed, then turned back to the others sitting opposite her. "Because such a man is the reason you are unable to reach the gate of Nue-Li City," she explained. "Also, because such a man is the reason why Hosha City is still standing." She looked at Dawa. "Those soldiers who had fought alongside such a man, will hold the greatest respect towards him regardless of his stubbornness."