-How many?-
-2-
-That's... Not good...- comments the General as I approach the table
-One of them is the delegate...- keeps talking the soldier in front of us, making Tian XuWen close his eyes worried
-Sir...-
-Don't say that-
-But...!-
-No! I cannot send you!- he stands up
-Then what? You will send more men to die?!-
-That's the reality of war!-
-Not when you have another option, more efficient and less bloody- I growl, holding tight on my weapon still laying on my hip
-I cannot always send you out, we need you here- he sighs, falling back on his chair having lost his will
-Then I'm forced to disobey your orders, Sir-
He stares at me for a few seconds, he know quite well that there is no other option -Go then, go and do whatever you want... Please take us out of this mess-
-Yes My Lord- I bow down and rush out of the tend
As I am running through the camp I pass over Qin Luo, who moves away just in time to not hit against me -Whoa! Lai'Er?! Where are you going?-
-I'll explain later!-
I get to the stables and take the first horse I can find, departing in quite the rush as a few men barley opens the doors for my horse to not smash those
-Miss what the...?!-
And off I go, in the vast cold plains...
I've been cooperating with General Tian for quite some time now, everything was going smoothly and we won all the battles we had until now...
There have been just 3 actually, since the Enemy around here got weaker. We burned all their camps to ashes and stole everything we could, so the last two battles had quite the time gap between them...
But unfortunately now, as the demage of winter is beginning to show, the two Head Generals planned on stealing from a nearby Enemy base without taking count of my warning
"~
-Yes, that should be the location- nodded Li Yao -So if our men sneak from there, they should be covered by the Shadow of the mountain and the low clouds of this bad wheatear-
-Are we sure they can make it alone?- asked General Tian
-Absolutely! We just need to send enough! Don't you remember what happened around a month or two ago? If one soldier alone was able to kill those left in an actual camp, even more will a trained squadron sneak in a base where there's only servants and food!-
-Well... She surely did cleaned up the camp alone at that time but... She's very strong, more than what we can even imagine-
-Are you seriously thinking a woman is better than our men? Tian XuWen, I think you might be losing your focus-
-I'm not saying our men are not good, obviously, but...-
-Listen...- Li Yao crossed his finger in front of his face, seated down at the table, before locking eyes with the younger General
-Forget about the plan for a moment, let's talk as firends...
I'm honestly concerned XuWen.
Your attachment to that woman is worrying not only me, but a lot of our men too! Having her as your private consultant? This is crazy!-
General Tian widened his eyes
-Yes I found out, don't give me that stare... I know you are favoured by The Emperor, but don't force me to do what I don't want to do-
-It is how you think-
-My friend, I do not care how you let go of the tension... But hiring a prostitute would have been better.
That woman is completely blinding you and playing with your brain... She only wants to climb high to earn money and fame easly, if she really was a dedicated soldier she wouldn't be acting so strangely all the time...
One who wants to fight for their nation does it for real, she only ever disobeyed or found a way to escape from the real war! And you shouldn't put her in a favourite position over good men only because she's been your toy-
-You got it all wrong, General Li-
-Then why can't she speak her mind out loud, but only ever comes in your tend in private? First that poor Liutenant and now you, next will be the Emperor if we don't stop her! Hopefully it's not too late already...
Women are poisonous snakes after all, moving silently and once you notice them it's already too late...
You surely don't want to risk all these lives for her, nor your status I suppose?- smirked Li Yao
General Tian was conflicted indeed, put it like that it wasn't an easy position to escape.
Admitting of meeting her in private for the pride of the other General would have only caused Li Yao to report him straight away. But listening only to his strategies wasn't an option either, since the woman is indeed more capable.
In every situation he was getting reported and for how much he was a good man... Losing his face was something he couldn't endure, even less after a life spent getting called favoured by "The Emperor" , working twice was hard to get recognized for his own merits?
-For this time only we will follow your plan... But stop discriminating on a valid soldier of ours, we need all our men's opinion while planning a war... No matter the gender- he stood up and left the tend after a quick bow
...
-What? Why not? Let me enter-
-I'm sorry Miss but the Generals do not allow anyone in-
-Nonsense, if they are planning war then every ranked soldier has to enter! And if it's a private talk they wouldn't use this tend which is meant only for war related matters-
-Miss...!- the soldier kept trying to push me back
-Oh Miss Ying?- Tian General came out of the tend right as I was trying to sneak in -What brings you here?-
-What brings my Lord here I want to ask, has an unplanned meeting got called?-
-Just a quick chat between friends that's all- he smiled and passed over me so I turned around to follow him
-A new battle is coming? A new battle ground maybe?-
-No why?-
-That's the tend for the war meetings, does My Lord think I'm an idiot?-
He stopped walking and sighed with crossed arms -I suppose none can fool you-
-Every soldier would have known since you went in there, Sir...-
-But every soldier would have stopped asking even if he knew to be getting lied to-
-I'm not every soldier-
-Oh definitely not! I know that too well... Ah...
To make it simple I got pushed in a situation where my hands are tied behind my back-
-So?- I rose and eyebrow
-Since the winter is affecting our men, and the reports of the enemy bases and camps aren't that bad, we will send some men to steal food and clothes from them-
My jaw dropped -This is pure foolishness-
-Miss Ying!- he yelled at my improper speech toward him
-I apologise Sir but you cannot do it!-
He started walking away -It has already been decided-
-No! You have to stop it! A provisory camp is already something, not to mention their bases! These men will all die in vain!- a few men looked at me worried, as I was openly yelling behind the General
The man came rushing to me -Shut your mouth! Don't let them hear you talk this nonsense or they will get scared to death!-
-They won't even have time to be scared before diying... There are monstrous things in there, things that could annihilate one whole squadron-
-Listen... I cannot do anything about it anymore-
-Just say no...?! My Lord is the Head General, none can go against him here!-
-It's not that easy...-
-Is playing with other's lives easier then?-
He looked away with pressed lips and finally I realized
-For you yes, it is... Now I see-
-It's not... Don't get me wrong, it's not selfishness or anything.
I only got pushed in a situation where no matter the direction I take, there will be bad consequences-
-Like what? Losing your rank? Then lose it, My Lord! This is not a mahjong match where you just move objects for the victory of one person alone-
-I do not care about it of course! But if you get sent back or anything, that would be a loss for the Armada!-
I looked in the sky mad as never, flicking my tongue -Tz!... My Lord, you're liying to yourself-
I pushed my shoulder over his while passing over him
"~