Xu Anping stood in front of the 50 recruits now under his command, feeling the weight of responsibility in every gaze directed his way. Even though he had defeated Wei Heng and his group in a fair fight, he couldn't ignore the lingering resentment in the air. Many of the men who had aspired to leadership saw his rise as unjust, a decision imposed from above by Li Heng, a leader they respected but didn't all consider infallible. However, Xu Anping knew that gaining their respect was crucial if he wanted his mission to succeed. Strength alone wasn't enough; he had to show cunning and offer them something they wanted more than revenge.
The rebel camp was as disorganized as ever. Improvised tents and scattered campfires contributed to the general chaos, reflecting the state of the rebellion itself. Xu Anping walked among the lines of recruits, evaluating each one as he sought those who showed neither hatred nor admiration, just mere neutrality. He knew that if he wanted to consolidate his position as leader, he had to start with these men. In an army where loyalty was fragile and disarray reigned, the neutral ones could tip the balance.
Liang, his closest companion since they had both been recruited, always remained at his side, watchful. Liang had been a key player in Xu's rise to leadership, supporting him without hesitation in the fight against Wei Heng. But unlike Xu, Liang didn't seek diplomacy. The violence he had witnessed during the years when the barbarians destroyed their village had left him with an unrelenting thirst for revenge. Where Xu sought unity, Liang sought destruction.
"You shouldn't trust them," Liang whispered as they walked toward Xu's next meeting with the neutral recruits. "Many of these men would betray you at the first opportunity. What they need is a firm hand, not empty promises."
Xu glanced at him. Liang had always been blunt, incapable of hiding his disdain for the weak. While his brutality could be useful in battle, Xu knew he had to control that side if he wanted to keep the group cohesive.
"Not everyone is like you, Liang," Xu responded calmly. "Not everyone understands the need for strength to survive. Most of these men just want a chance to live another day. Giving them hope is as important as giving them orders."
Liang snorted but said nothing more. Xu Anping trusted him, despite his ruthless methods. He knew that, when the time came, Liang would be willing to sacrifice everything in the name of vengeance. However, that same intensity was his greatest danger. Liang was unpredictable, and Xu would have to ensure he didn't destabilize the fragile balance he had begun to build among the recruits.
The first step to winning over the neutrals was simple but important: he organized a meeting. It wasn't a public gathering, but rather a series of small private encounters with the informal leaders of the various groups within his troop. In each group, Xu Anping identified those who, while not looking at him with admiration, didn't oppose his command directly either. These were the men who didn't want to join a pointless fight but also weren't willing to follow a leader blindly.
At his first meeting, Xu Anping sat in front of five recruits who stood out for their calm and pragmatic attitudes. These men had actively avoided taking sides in the internal struggle for leadership and were therefore essential to Xu's plan.
"I don't intend to impose myself as someone superior to you," Xu said in a calm but firm tone. "I know some of you may be unhappy, and I understand your reasons. But what I propose isn't blind loyalty, it's an agreement. If this mission goes well, not only will we secure a strategic position for the rebels, but we, the common soldiers, will have the chance to rise in rank. I'm not the only one who can win here."
The recruits exchanged glances, some with skepticism, others with curiosity. Xu Anping seized that moment of doubt to continue.
"Li Heng wants competent officers, and I'm not the only one with the potential to be one. If we take that Imperial base to the north, not only will I get a promotion, but there will be opportunities for anyone who proves their worth in battle. What I'm offering is simple: work together, lead this mission to success, and each of you will have your chance to stand out."
One of the recruits, a tall, burly man named Chen, eyed him with suspicion.
"And how do we know you won't take all the credit?" he asked, crossing his arms. "You've already been given the leader position without many of us agreeing."
Xu Anping didn't flinch at the question. He knew this was the kind of challenge he would face more than once, and he had prepared his response.
"Because I'm not a fool," he replied. "An intelligent leader knows he can't do everything alone. I need men who are willing to fight with me, not against me. And I don't plan to take anything I haven't earned. Everything we capture in this mission will be divided among those who fight. Whatever you capture will be yours."
That last promise caught the men's attention. Morale in the rebel camp was low, and the soldiers knew their superior officers often kept most of the spoils of war. Xu Anping was offering a unique opportunity: not only a promise of promotion but also immediate rewards.
Chen stared at him for a few more seconds, assessing him, before finally nodding. The others followed his lead. With the neutrals on his side, Xu Anping now had a solid foundation to build upon.
Liang, who had been watching silently from a corner of the tent, finally spoke up once the men had left.
"Don't trust promises and words," he said coldly. "These men may seem loyal now, but when the time comes, you'll see them scatter like rats if things get ugly. The only way to make sure they fight is to make them fear you more than the enemy."
Xu knew Liang was partly right. Loyalty was fragile in times of war, but he also knew that fear couldn't be a leader's only tool. Liang represented strength and intimidation, something necessary on the battlefield. However, Xu Anping wanted to be more than a feared leader; he wanted to be someone respected and followed by conviction.
The next day, Xu summoned the leaders of the small groups that existed among the 50 recruits. These men, who had until now formed factions to dispute leadership, arrived with some reluctance but obeyed, aware that Li Heng backed Xu Anping. The meeting was brief and to the point. Xu told them about the mission, explained the plan to attack the Imperial base, and, above all, offered them the same promise he had made to the neutrals: if they won the battle, there would be promotions for everyone.
"I'm not your enemy," he said. "We're here for the same reason: to survive and defeat the Empire. I'm not interested in fighting over who's the strongest among us. If we win this mission, we'll all benefit. If we fail, we'll all die or go back to being grunts. I'm offering you a chance to rise, but only if we work together."
One of the leaders, Wei Jun, a man with a scar running across his cheek, looked at him with disdain.
"Why should we trust you?" he asked. "Not long ago, you were one of us. What makes you different now?"
Xu Anping stepped forward and approached Wei Jun, looking him directly in the eyes.
"Nothing makes me different from you, except now I have a chance to lead. But I'm not a leader because they gave it to me. I'm here because I fought for it and because I have a plan for us all to win. If you think you can do better, tell me now, and we'll settle it. But I warn you: the only thing we'll achieve by fighting each other is weakening this army even more."
The tension in the air was palpable, but Wei Jun didn't respond. He knew Xu Anping was right. With a silent glance, he slowly nodded, and the rest of the leaders followed suit.
In the following days, Xu Anping continued to solidify his leadership. He held regular meetings with the leaders of the small groups, listened to their concerns, and kept them informed about the plan to attack the Imperial base. The promise of promotions and spoils had boosted the group's morale, and although some remained hesitant, most of the men were starting to respect Xu Anping not just as their commander but as someone offering them a real chance to improve their lives.
However, Liang never stopped reminding Xu that loyalty was fleeting and that the men who now followed him could turn against him at any moment. While Xu understood his warnings, he also knew that fear couldn't be his only tool for leadership. If he wanted to survive both the war and the betrayals, he would have to find a balance between Liang's force and his own vision of leadership.
But the time for politics was running out. The mission to attack the Imperial base was only days away, and Xu Anping knew the real challenge wouldn't be the battle itself but keeping his troops united when the chaos of war engulfed them.