"Soldiers!" Zhi's voice sounded, ringing with finality as his eyes stared down at the Northern soldiers standing below the city wall of Nue-Li City. "The first arrow must be theirs, and aimed at the arms and legs."
He knew in his heart there was nothing in his power he could do to prevent a civil war from happening, as the person standing before the gate he was entrusted to guard was the Second Prince of Hmagol and one of the most respected royals in the Hmagol royal court. He knew the outcome if he and his soldiers were to engage in a fight with Dzhambul and his forces: the punishment was death for treason.
But he had already accepted this scenario since the day Chinua unshackled the chains on his wrists, and the day Chinua had brought his family back to him. His loyalty was no longer to the blind authority of the crown, but to the General who had shown him honor.
For him, death is as light as a feather, but the trust Chinua had for him is as heavy as a boulder. Therefore, if he were to die to defend Chinua's order, he was willing to lay down his life for such.
Down the street, Khunbish's horse came to a halt in front of Dae's home. He quickly dismounted and left his horse to the housekeeper to care for. He rushed into Dae's home and found that Dae's family were still having breakfast in the main guest hall.
Because of his armor and the way he suddenly barged into the room uninvited, Dae's family dropped their spoons and looked at Khunbish frightfully.
"Sir Khunbish," Dae greeted with a forced smile, gently nodding to his family to reassure them. "What brings you here this hour of the morning?"
Khunbish sighed and said blankly, "I need your help." He looked at the frightened people sitting at the table and then corrected himself, his tone urgent: "Your city, need your help."
"What do you mean?" Dae asked, still confused, trying to understand the situation.
"Prince Dzhambul and his Northern soldiers are currently at the front gate of Nue-Li's southern gate. Whether your city will stand until Chinua is back is dependent on you," Khunbish said.
"But General Chinua had promised that this city will be a neutral city," Dae said in confusion, clinging to the promise of peace.
"Now is not the time to explain in detail," Khunbish said urgently. "Most of our soldiers are outside of Nue-Li City, and with Zhi's soldiers, Jeet's, and Naksh's, we will not be able to hold the city until Chinua returns. I am sure you have witnessed it yourself before when the Northern soldiers had taken back the city back then. If the city falls, anyone who refuses to follow the law of Hmagol will be beheaded, and with Prince Dzhambul, he will not leave the surrendered soldiers alive."
Dae's expression paled. He knew what Khunbish was telling him was true, as he himself had witnessed such scenes of brutality during the city's initial conquest.
"Sir Khunbish," Dae said with a low, worried tone. "What do you need me to do?"
Khunbish's eyes locked on Dae's. His voice was firm. "I need you to convince the surrendered Ginmiao soldiers to defend the city until Chinua returns."
"I will do my best, and I am positive that they will stand up and help you and General Chinua's soldiers defend this city, because this city is their home," Dae said, finding resolve.
"Also," Khunbish added. "Remove all citizens to the northern gate for now. As we don't know what Prince Dzhambul is going to use to take control of the city."
"I understand," Dae said as he watched Khunbish rushing out of the room toward the front door.
Rushing out of the front door of Dae's home, Khunbish mounted his horse. As he was about to pull away, he saw that Jeet and Naksh were already heading towards the southern gate with their soldiers, moving quickly but with purpose.
"Captain Naksh. Captain Jeet," Khunbish greeted.
Jeet reached into his robe and threw a steamed bun at Khunbish, knowing that Khunbish, who had been on night watch, might not have had breakfast yet.
"How is the situation at the southern gate?" Naksh asked.
"In a stalemate," Khunbish said, pulling his horse into the street to join Naksh and Jeet, while quickly eating the bun. "Prince Dzhambul gave us one hour."
"So," Jeet said with gritted teeth. "He actually accused Chinua of treason?"
"Yes," Khunbish confirmed.
"With what evidence?" Naksh asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
"I don't know yet," Khunbish said. "But any evidence coming from him and not directly from His Majesty himself is most likely fabricated."
The brothers scoffed, agreeing with Khunbish's remarks. Their combined forces were now fully mobilized and rushing to the wall.
Meanwhile, outside of the southern gate of Nue-Li City, Dzhambul looked up at the defiant soldiers standing on the city wall and placed the empty bowl of mare milk down on the small stand beside him. He wiped the corner of his mouth and smirked.
"Time's up," he said with a smile and stood up from his simple carved chair. "Captains! Heed my order! Do not shoot at the soldiers on the wall! The first arrow must be theirs! Take the battering ram straight towards the city gate!"
The Northern soldiers quickly got into position. The large battering ram was slowly moved towards the gate of Nue-Li City, as the infantry walked towards the city wall, shields raised.
Dzhambul watched with a smug smile on his face. He understood that if he drew the first arrow, Chinua could claim it as an excuse for her defense. But if Chinua's soldiers shot the first arrow, Chinua would have no defense, and the charge of treason would be solidified.
At the same time, inside the captive tent, Haitao, Batzorig, and the others were still held captive. The sounds of footsteps advancing towards the city rumbled under their feet, and they knew that the unpreventable civil war between the two royals had begun.
Haitao quickly got up, but his action was immediately stopped by Batzorig.
"Captain," Batzorig said worriedly, grabbing onto Haitao's right arm. "What do you think you are doing?"
Haitao turned to look at Batzorig and said, "General, I cannot stand and watch Prince Dzhambul's action towards the Ginmiaos." He closed his eyes for a moment, then open them, and sighed. "I did once in the past, and those images have never left me. I have carried that guilt inside me for half of my life. Today, no matter what the outcome is, I will not let myself bear that guilty feeling again."
"You do understand that the moment you walk out of this tent you are insubordinating against a direct order?" Dawan said.
Although he had not taken much liking to Haitao in the past, they had been through many battles together and had saved each other's lives more than once, so there was genuine concern for the Captain.
"I understand your concern, and I will not walk into the battlefield with any soldiers but myself," Haitao said, his decision firm.
"You're wrong," Timicin said, standing up and looking at the others. "You are our captain, therefore, where you go, we will go with you. Besides, Chinua is our general, and to save her is our top priority."
Erdern said with a smile, "I am sure every single Eastern soldier would say the same."
Chaghatai said, "We have been through a lot with Chinua and you, and when the two of you need us the most, we will not leave you."
Terbish said, "Besides, dying alone is so lonely, and dying with your brothers makes the journey more fun and more lively."
"So, Captain," Och said, nodding at Haitao. "Let's go save our general, and if we are to be beheaded for treason, so be it."
Haitao nodded at his subordinates. The decision had been made. They walked out of the tent together.
Batzorig looked at Khenbish and asked, "What about you? Are you going to refuse a royal order and march with the Eastern soldiers?"
Khenbish didn't answer Batzorig. Instead, he asked, "What about you? Are you going to stop us?"
Batzorig replied, "I promised Chinua that my soldiers will not stop her."
"Good," Khenbish said, and walked out of the tent, joining Haitao and his men.
Batzorig and his captains watched as Haitao and the others left. Their willing sacrifice to defend Chinua's order was outstanding, sending questions and doubts into their hearts. They stood in silence, wondering to themselves, to what degree must a general be trusted for her soldiers to be willing to defend her orders with their lives.
On the city wall, the Eastern soldiers stood with their bows and arrows drawn, but since the Northern soldiers refused to shoot first, instead standing in formation with their arrows drawn while watching the battering ram reach the gate, the Hmagol soldiers were not able to shoot.
Zhi stood and watched as the massive battering ram reached the gate. He quickly ran to the other side of the city wall and looked down at the soldiers standing beneath.
"Fortifying the wall with everything you have," Zhi shouted.
"Father," Siqi said. "They are not firing, therefore we can't fire the first shot."
"He wants us to do that," Zhi said, understanding Dzhambul's tactical ploy to solidify the treason charge.
Just then, the structure where Zhi and Siqi stood rumbled and shook. The loud, screeching sounds of iron began to creak as the massive ram slammed into the city gate. They understood that if they did not act, the gate would be breached within minutes.
"Father!" Siqi shouted. "The gate will be breached!"
Then, someone grabbed the bow in Siqi's hand. "Not today," Dae said, rushing to the edge of the city wall rampart. He looked at the Northern soldiers holding the ram by the gate, drew the bowstring fully, and fired a single arrow, cleanly piercing one Northern soldier's head, dropping him dead on the ground.
Zhi was stunned, looking at Dae. The Ginmiao Mayor had fired the first lethal shot of the civil war. Just then, hundreds of Ginmiao soldiers rushed up the stairwell, taking the bows from the Eastern soldiers' hands.
"Sons of Nue-Li!" Dae's voice roared, echoing across the rampart. "These enemy soldiers want to take our city, kill our mothers, fathers, sisters, and children! Are you going to allow that?"
"No!" The Ginmiao soldiers shouted in unison, their fierce battle cry drowning out the groans of the battered gate.