Emerging from the close confines of the meeting room, Hye found himself in the expansive field. He drifted past the rhythmic thud of stakes being driven for new tents and the tired, measured steps of soldiers returning from afternoon drills. From his vantage point, the formidable walls of Nue-Li City shimmered faintly on the distant horizon.
The calm, setting sun served as a stark, chilling reminder: their peaceful days were fading, their numbers dwindling. He wondered how many more innocent lives would be devoured, sacrificed to sate the hungry hearts of men perched on golden thrones, safely nestled behind protected walls, hundreds of miles from the bloody conflicts they dared to ignite but were too cowardly to face.
Tilting his head to the late afternoon sky, Hye closed his eyes. He took a deep, deliberate breath, then slowly released it. His eyes opened to the sight of a flag rising, its fabric dancing in the wind. He inhaled again, a flood of the past surging forward, but with each subsequent flap of the flag, those memories drifted away. He lowered his head, his stare fixed on the distant horizon. He saw the dust kicked up by the distant drills, a grim veil settling over the harsh reality of their future.
He turned, taking in the soldiers absorbed in their daily routines. His eyes swept across the camp until they landed on the Northeast soldiers, somewhat hidden in a distant corner of the training grounds. A small smile formed; he recognized the quiet strength in their movements, the same resilience he found in himself. As he approached, he found them already settled and resting. He joined their small campfire, easily falling into conversation.
Inside the meeting room, everyone had left, leaving only Chinua and Batzorig behind to finalize the details of Nue-Li City.
Chinua was engrossed in the map when Batzorig spoke her name. He watched her for a moment, a sigh escaping him as she slowly raised her head to face him. "I appreciate your complete trust in your subordinates," he stated, his voice softening with a touch of doubt. "But can you honestly say their loyalty is unwavering, both to you and to the Hmagol Kingdom and its people?"
The map disappeared into Chinua's robe with a crisp fold. A faint, knowing smile curved her mouth as she met Batzorig's gaze. "General Batzorig," she stated calmly, "your concern is noted, and you're hardly the first to doubt my subordinates' allegiance. My response is simple, and unwavering: their loyalty is to me, and to me alone. Not to the crown, not to the council, and certainly not to the Hmagol kingdom."
Chinua's words struck Batzorig speechless. "You mean," he finally managed, his voice trembling as the implications crashed over him, "your subordinates take direct orders only from you, and no one else?"
Chinua's gaze was steady, her tone unruffled. "Yes, General," she stated plainly, "every order I issue to my subordinates and soldiers is final. They will uphold it, without question or deviation, until their very last breath, unless I revoke it myself."
Batzorig let out a slow sigh, his heart settling. He nodded, a deep sense of pride in his eyes. "My dear princess," he affirmed, "you have truly come into your own. I remember the determined teenager; now, I see a formidable warrior, a beacon for all who seek to emulate greatness. You've silenced every whisper of doubt about your capabilities and leadership." He gently patted Chinua's right shoulder. "As I've always said and will always maintain: if Chinua were a prince, the throne would be hers."
"This wasn't my doing alone," Chinua said, a genuine smile gracing her face. "Every step forward, every success, belongs to the brothers and sisters who walked with me." Her gaze twinkled. "And, perhaps most surprisingly, it's thanks to the Ginmiao, the very one whose loyalty everyone doubts." She locked eyes with Batzorig. "General, my time in the south taught me the profound meaning of rice. I remember your punishment then," she let out a soft laugh, "and while I understood its value intellectually, I secretly criticized your methods. It took facing the stark reality to truly grasp that soldiers literally march on full stomachs. So, the warrior I've become today is a result of every lesson each of you has taught me."
Batzorig let out a hearty laugh. "It takes immense courage to admit one isn't superior. You have done exceptionally well, Chinua." He looked at her, his expression turning serious. "Tell me your secret. Why are your subordinates so fiercely loyal to you, taking orders from no one else? I fear even another twenty years of my leadership wouldn't achieve such success."
Chinua offered a small, profound smile. "You simply have to cross paths with those who have nothing left to lose," she said, her voice soft but firm, "and are willing to sell you their very lives."
Batzorig's laughter quickly dissolved into a cough. Once it subsided, he let out a heavy sigh. "I guess our days of laughter are numbered, Chinua," he said, his gaze drifting towards the open doorway before he started walking towards it.
Chinua followed slowly, keenly aware of the immense weight they were about to carry together. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Batzorig, her gaze swept over the soldiers on the military ground. "Yes, General," she murmured, her voice laced with sorrow. "Soon, laughter will yield to the brutal symphony of battle and the raw agony of mourning families."
Batzorig sighed, his question tinged with skepticism: "How much confidence do you truly have in that Ginmiao?"
"I trust in his ability absolutely," Chinua declared, her voice resonating with pride. "He will be the pivot point of our victory." She took three steps, then turned, her eyes locking onto Batzorig's. "And General, while we're on the subject," she said, her voice dropping slightly, "my strategist is named Hye. Keep that in mind."
Batzorig simply smiled and said, "I see."
Chinua turned and walked away, heading toward the designated area for the Northeast soldiers.
The night was deep in Chinua's tent. She was engrossed in the Nue-Li City map, while Khenbish methodically dusted.
"General Batzorig had us set up in this corner," Khenbish said, laying down a straw mattress with a fur. He then walked to Chinua's bed, adding another blanket. "For the female soldiers' convenience, he said."
"Don't bother with neatness," Chinua murmured, eyes still on the map. "We won't be sleeping much. Naksh and Jeet's food supply is dwindling, so..." She lifted her head, hearing approaching footsteps. "Within two days, we face a choice: attack or remain on guard, waiting for an opening opportunity."
"Then that means Naksh and his men crossed over for nothing," Hye's voice cut in, sounding from the doorway.
Khunbish entered, a tray laden with food, the others following. "Dinner's ready," he stated, setting it beside Chinua's unfolded map.
Chinua picked up a piece of beef, chewing thoughtfully. "After much deliberation, disabling their arrow machines is still the only viable path to the Nue-Li City gate. We can't simply hold out until they exhaust their arrows; we have no idea of their reserves."
Zhi's voice was grim. "But reaching that range will be exceedingly difficult. It's a foregone conclusion that the first wave will be a death march."
"That is a sacrifice we must make," Haitao stated, his voice firm.
Hye's gaze drifted from the map to the faces of the men surrounding him. He'd known from the outset that reaching Nue-Li City gate would be a death march. He had, after all, designed such defenses for precisely that reason. And now, here he sat, compelled to devise a plan to dismantle his very own, lethal creation.
Hye affirmed, "Like Captain Haitao said, it's a sacrifice if we're to take the Nue-Li City gate." His eyes found Chinua's, the weight of his impending revelation heavy in his chest, knowing it would be met with fierce disagreement, particularly from Batzorig's ranks.
When their gazes locked, Chinua instantly grasped it: Hye had his solution, and he sought her approval. "Your plan?" she prompted.
Hye's gaze encompassed everyone at the table. "Our archers will require a dedicated screening force," he stated. "The arrow machines will unleash volleys every ten counts, pausing to reload. It's during those brief reload windows that the enemy's city archers will target us. We'll exploit that precise moment—not to retaliate—but to push forward, directly towards the hundred arrow machines positioned before Nue-Li City." A heavy sigh escaped him as he met their eyes. "This first wave, as you're well aware, will serve as nothing more than living shields."
"Once those arrow machines are destroyed," Chinua declared, "we'll advance with our siege towers and our own arrow machines."
Hye added, his voice grim, "The city wall is exceptionally well-built, perhaps even indestructible. Your only way in is through the front gate or over the top. Trying to knock that wall down would be useless."
Chinua pressed, "Why are you so certain we can't bring that wall down?"
Hye chuckled dryly. "Like I told you back in Hosha City, it's near impossible to make an iron-strong wall bend her knee."