Xu Anping, however, didn't let the stares or whispers affect him. He knew that respect on the battlefield wasn't earned through titles or numbers, but through results. He had come this far not by anyone's favor but by his ability to survive and adapt. The commanders who now looked at him with disdain would soon discover that he was not someone to underestimate.
One of the commanders, a man with a thick beard and scars across his face, leaned toward the leader beside him and murmured softly.
"Five hundred men... That's nothing but a handful. Barely enough for a decent vanguard," he said with a dry laugh, loud enough for others to hear.
The comment reached Xu Anping's ears, but he chose to ignore it. He knew that provocations were part of the game, and that true respect was earned in silence, letting actions speak for themselves. Still, the mockery echoed in his mind, igniting a spark of determination.
Xu Anping quietly resolved that one day, that very commander, and all those who now underestimated him, would have to swallow their words.
Li Heng, paying no mind to his subordinates' whispers, continued with the meeting.
"The second reason, and the most important of all, is the visit of a key ally to our cause. Allow me to introduce Miss Qin Mingwen, noble of the Qin family."
The silence in the tent became palpable. Everyone knew who the Qin family was—the most powerful noble house in the Empire, which until now had stayed out of the rebellions. Xu Anping noticed how the air in the tent seemed to thicken as the commanders processed this new information. A noble from the Qin family, here, in the heart of the rebel camp, was not something to be taken lightly.
One of the commanders, a middle-aged man with a scar running across his face from left to right, was the first to speak, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"Why would the most powerful noble family in the Empire want to support us?" he asked, his voice filled with skepticism. "What interest do they have in a cause that, in the Emperor's eyes, is treason?"
Murmurs quickly spread among the leaders as their eyes moved from the young noblewoman to Li Heng, seeking answers.
Qin Mingwen rose gracefully, and when she spoke, her voice was clear but cold, like steel beneath a layer of velvet.
"My family does not support senseless treason," she responded with a restrained smile. "What is happening here is not merely a rebellion. It is an opportunity to destroy a corrupt Empire and bring about a new era. And yes, in that new order, the Qin family will also seek its place."
Her response was direct, but the words didn't hide the truth that everyone knew: the Qin family was not interested in the rebels' freedom or overthrowing the emperor out of altruism. They sought to gain more power, and if supporting the rebels gave them an advantage in the eventual redistribution of power, they wouldn't hesitate to do so.
"We know nobles never do anything without a price," another leader interjected, his tone defiant. "What do you really want?"
Qin Mingwen didn't flinch. She seemed to have anticipated the question.
"Freedom and independence are good reasons for you to fight, but, as you said, there is always a price. My family is willing to support you with whatever you need: weapons, armor, provisions..." Her gaze swept across the room, calculating. "But we also want to ensure that when the Emperor falls, our lands and our power remain intact, even grow. This is not just a rebellion to change leaders, but to ensure that those who ally with us can share in the future we will build."
The atmosphere grew tense. No one could deny the usefulness of what she offered, but the implications were clear. If the rebels accepted this help, they would be bound to the Qin family in ways that could prove dangerous. It would be an alliance with a high price, but perhaps necessary for survival.
Li Heng spoke, his tone calm but decisive.
"We know what we are risking here," he said, looking at the other leaders gravely. "But our cause has no hope without powerful allies. We need the weapons and resources that the Qin family can provide, and also their support in the shadows."
The scarred commander spoke again.
"And if the Emperor discovers that your family has allied with us, what will your family do?"
Qin Mingwen met his eyes directly.
"The Emperor will not know of this alliance," she replied firmly. "My presence here will not be public, nor will our support. My family has enough influence to maintain its position until the moment is right. And when that moment comes, our alliance will be evident to all, but by then, it will already be too late for the Emperor."
Another leader, a bald man with a shrewd look, spoke up.
"We know what you offer, but what guarantees do we have that you won't betray us the moment your family decides it's more convenient to side with the Emperor?"
Qin Mingwen smiled slightly, a gesture that seemed calculated.
"The fact that I, the eldest daughter of the Qin family, am here, sitting among you, should be guarantee enough. If my family were not committed to this cause, they would not have sent me." She paused before adding, "Besides, our victory is assured if we work together. If we fail, both your cause and ours will be doomed."
Silence filled the tent as the leaders reflected on her words. They knew they were entering a dangerous alliance, but they also understood they needed all the help they could get if they wanted a chance to defeat the Emperor.
Finally, Li Heng broke the silence.
"Then it's a deal," he said, looking at the other commanders before turning to Qin Mingwen. "We accept your help, but know this: if you ever betray us, there will be no place in the Empire where you can hide."
Qin Mingwen nodded without flinching.
"I trust that moment will never come," she replied, and for a brief moment, her gaze met Xu Anping's, who hadn't said a word throughout the meeting but had been closely observing every detail.
The rookie commander knew that this alliance would surely change the course of the rebellion, but he also sensed that the challenges ahead would not only be on the battlefield, but in the intricate games of power and politics unfolding before him.