The torches flickered on the stone walls of the castle, casting shadows over the faces of the gathered nobles. They had heard the news: the rebel offensive was spreading rapidly, and chaos loomed over the region. It wasn't a single leader, but rather a network of small warlords attacking villages and small towns with no clear pattern, as if each one was claiming their own piece of land in the confusion. However, the larger threats were yet to come.
Yan Kai, the lord of the castle, watched the local nobles from his seat at the end of the table. He knew the situation well: the march of Li Heng and Zhang Bing's armies toward Kastov was the primary concern. The smaller rebel leaders, though annoying, were not yet a serious threat. Liang and Xu Anping, among others, had barely expanded compared to other warlords now fiercely fighting for control of the territory, taking cities and villages on their way south.
The hall was silent, except for the occasional murmur and the creak of armor as the nobles shifted in their seats. Yan Kai finally rose and slammed his hand on the table, drawing everyone's attention.
"Noble brothers, we cannot keep ignoring what is happening," he began, his voice echoing through the room. "We know that Li Heng and Zhang Bing's armies are advancing towards Kastov, and while their arrival is not imminent, their goal is clear: they will crush everything in their path."
A young noble raised his hand. His face showed more fear than bravery.
"And what about the rebels?" he asked, his voice trembling. "I've heard that the smaller leaders are attacking villages, towns, everything they come across. It seems like they've gone mad. If we keep this up, there will be nothing left by the time the imperials arrive."
The comment sparked murmurs among the nobles, and some began exchanging worried looks. They knew that the rebel threat couldn't be ignored, but so far, there had been no clear action to face them.
Yan Kai raised his hand to silence the room.
"The small rebel leaders, yes, they're attacking villages and smaller towns like hungry wolves, each claiming territories for themselves. Why? Because they believe that once the chaos ends, those territories will belong to them. However, these attacks are not the real problem. They are not the ones we should fear."
At the casual mention of the rebel leaders, the nobles seemed to relax slightly. They knew that, while some of those rebel leaders were competent, their influence did not yet pose a significant threat in the bigger picture.
Lord Feng, a veteran seasoned in war, stood up with a concerned expression on his face.
"Yan Kai, you may be right about the immediate threat from the smaller rebels, but we cannot ignore the fact that these attacks are weakening our forces. The villages that have fallen are a vital source of resources. And if we keep losing territory, soon we won't have supply lines to protect when the imperial armies arrive."
Yan Kai nodded, acknowledging the validity of the argument.
"You're right, Feng. But we must be cunning. We cannot allow these small rebel leaders to continue attacking at will. My proposal is simple: we withdraw all our troops to our fortified cities and castles. These positions are easier to defend, and their fall will not be immediate. At the same time, we begin to organize our forces to cut off the imperial armies' supply lines. If we slow their advance, we will buy ourselves time."
A murmur of approval swept through the room, but some nobles remained uneasy. Lord Zhang, a middle-aged man with a face hardened by battles and politics, leaned forward.
"And what do we do with the villages?" he asked with a mix of skepticism and concern. "If we abandon them, the rebels will take control. The imperials won't be the only ones looting our lands."
Yan Kai smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated that objection.
"That brings us to the second part of my plan. Landowners, like all of us, possess great wealth, and with it, a considerable number of servants and slaves. We must organize them and turn them into an improvised fighting force. They won't be professional soldiers, but they can slow the advance of these smaller rebel leaders. We don't need to win decisive battles; we just need to buy time and contain the threat."
Upon hearing this, several nobles exchanged nervous glances. The idea of arming their servants was not something that excited them. They knew that many of them had sympathies with the rebels, and giving them weapons could be a risk.
"And how do we prevent them from betraying us?" Lord Feng asked bluntly. "We know that some servants sympathize with the rebels, and if Liang or Xu Anping promise them freedom and land, they won't hesitate to switch sides."
Yan Kai nodded slowly, as if he had anticipated that doubt as well.
"Their loyalty is guaranteed by two things: necessity and fear. Under our command, the servants have food, shelter, and security. If they betray us, they will be alone in a world that will not give them any of those things. Moreover, we must ensure that the leaders of these militias are men we fully trust. They won't fight without supervision; they will be under our control at all times."
Murmurs once again filled the room, this time more favorable. Most of the nobles were beginning to see the logic of the plan. They couldn't fight on all fronts at the same time, but if they managed to contain the rebels and slow down the imperials, they would have a chance.
"Very well," Lord Feng said, finally yielding. "We will organize our servants and fortify our positions. If we manage to slow down the advance of the smaller leaders and delay the imperial armies, we may last long enough for reinforcements to arrive."
Yan Kai nodded, pleased with the acceptance of his plan.
"Then, let us not waste any more time," he said firmly. "Each of you must return to your lands and begin preparations. Li Heng and Zhang Bing's armies will not stop, and neither will those small rebel leaders. But if we are swift, we can contain the chaos surrounding us."
The nobles rose from their seats, determined to move forward. As they left the hall, Yan Kai remained silent, gazing at the map of the region on the table. He knew the real challenge was just beginning, and that the war would not be decided in one battle, but in every strategic decision they made.