"Stone's Edge." The spy's report read. They were on their way.
"Good." I said to myself and nobody else, alone in my face, desk and office alike cluttered in maps, reports, and briefings. And sign of this situation's decay one day at a time.
But now. But now there was nobody left to stand in my way. How was on his suicidal crusade. The Dai Li was mine, the riots were timed to fail the minute How's forces fell and Iroh's morale was crushed. Then, it would just be me, and a city with nobody to owe their lives to save me. Oh. Everything was coming together.
But there were last matters to attend to. "Stone's Edge" I said aloud once more, lest I forget its name. The Dai Li were untrusted. It'd be difficult relaying my attention to that shithole of a town, much less getting them to go through with what I had in mind. No. This would need to be a lot more. Subtle. "But how?"
Then I chuckled. That was the general's wrong move. Poor Iroh sought the love of all outside the walls, but men were sheep. Peasants especially. If you can't become the shepherd, you buy the Shepherd. I didn't need the town. I needed its leader. And I needed gold. Enough gold, and a man will forget any past grievance.
I drafted the letter and readied myself for another trip to the treasury. A perk of having your kingdom's entire army either dead or deployed, the police become the military. My Dai Li now defended the King's treasury lest any half-intelligent nobles and members of the court decide to cut their losses and run.
So that was in place. He'd agree to welcome the soldiers with open arms and keep them there. And when the time came. When the Fire Nation launched their attack, I would launch mine own. How's defense may fall. He me fall as well. If he does, all the better. With the loss of a single man, Iroh's will fall. And being the only thing holding his army upright, they would fall as well, a nice pile of dominoes with ramifications I can only dream of. They didn't concern me however. The Fire Nation would have a field day of the mess I left, but Ba Sing Se would be safe. And with me at its head, the hands controlling those of the King, it would finally be safe. Forever.
And now for one final matter. The report I had kept until the end of my evening. Good old Kaizar. Always there to keep an eye on things.
I read the report:
"Lake Laogai Report:
5-month check-up. All recruits still under influence. No apparent signs of decay. 2nd Batch total success. All systems functional.
Lake Laogai is fully operational."
I smiled. It was ready. I was ready.