The night air was crisp
and biting as Zhao Wei rode swiftly through the narrow forest path leading to
the secluded barracks. The rhythmic pounding of his horse's hooves was muffled
by the dense canopy overhead, the shadows stretching long and dark across the
trail. The urgency of the night weighed heavily on him, but his expression
remained calm and controlled, his black eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Zhao Wei had summoned
only his most trusted generals and lieutenants for this emergency meeting.
Trust was a rare commodity, and tonight, he could not afford even the smallest
breach.
The barracks were hidden
deep within the forest, a fortress in all but name. Constructed as a fallback
for his campaigns, it had served as a gathering point for his elite forces
during emergencies. Tonight, it would host a discussion that could determine
the survival of his men—and himself.
As he approached, the
gates swung open, the guards saluting silently as he passed. Zhao Wei
dismounted, his tall frame straightening as his long black hair caught the
faint moonlight. His tanned skin, honed body, and commanding presence exuded an
aura of unshakable authority. He handed the reins to a waiting soldier before
striding toward the central hall..
Inside, a small group of
trusted generals and lieutenants awaited him. The men rose to their feet as he
entered, saluting with precision. They were his finest—a group of seasoned
warriors and strategists who had fought alongside him in countless battles.
"Sit," Zhao Wei
commanded, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
The men obeyed, though
their postures remained rigid, their expressions reflecting the gravity of the
situation. Zhao Wei took his place at the head of the table, his sharp gaze
sweeping the room.
"We have little time,"
he began, his tone calm but firm. "The Imperial Guards will arrive within
hours. The Emperor has made his intentions clear—whether by exile,
imprisonment, or execution, I will be removed from my position. This meeting is
to ensure that my absence does not dismantle what we have built."
Murmurs rippled through
the room, but a single glance from Zhao Wei silenced them. He continued, his
voice steady:
"Should the palace be
raided, the Emperor will seek to discredit not only me but all those loyal to
me. To protect our forces, I am ordering the temporary disbandment of all
advisory councils and visible chains of command. Return to your homes, scatter
if you must, but remain ready to regroup when the time comes."
One of the generals, a
burly man with a scar running down his cheek, spoke up. "Your Highness, with
respect, disbanding leaves us vulnerable. If the Emperor declares us traitors,
who will speak for us?"
Zhao Wei's gaze locked
onto the man, his expression unyielding. "You will speak with your silence. Any
show of resistance now will only confirm their lies. Let the dust settle before
we make our move."
The general nodded
reluctantly, his loyalty overriding his doubts.
Zhao Wei shifted his
attention to Chen Hao, who stood at his right. "Dispatch scouts to all
potential routes leading from the capital. I expect assassination attempts once
I am exiled. Have the scouts monitor for unusual movements and set traps where
necessary."
"Yes, Your Highness,"
Chen Hao replied, his voice steady.
Zhao Wei turned to
another lieutenant. "Ensure provisions are prepared for all soldiers still
loyal to me. Food, weapons, and medical supplies. The likelihood of exile is
high, but I will not leave unprepared. Make it happen discreetly. No one
outside this room is to know."
The lieutenant saluted
sharply. "It will be done."
The meeting continued
with the same efficiency, each man receiving precise orders tailored to their
strengths. Zhao Wei's mind worked like a blade, cutting through the chaos to
form a cohesive plan. Every contingency was considered, every risk mitigated.
As the final orders were
issued, one of the youngest captains in the room, a wiry man with sharp eyes,
stood abruptly. "Your Highness," he said, his voice firm despite his youth.
"With respect, I will not leave."
Zhao Wei's black eyes
fixed on him, unreadable. "Explain yourself."
The captain
straightened, his voice unwavering. "You raised me from nothing. You taught me
how to fight, how to lead. If you are exiled, I will follow. If you are hunted,
I will stand by your side. My life is yours, Your Highness. Command me as you
see fit, but I will not abandon you."
A murmur of agreement
spread through the room as other soldiers and officers echoed the captain's
sentiment. Zhao Wei's sharp gaze swept across their faces, reading the loyalty
etched into every line.
"Fools," he said softly,
though his voice carried no malice. "Your loyalty will be your undoing."
He stood, his tall frame
casting a long shadow over the room. "Very well. Those of you who choose to
stay will act as my shadow guards. You will have no official title, no records
tying you to me. You will operate in the dark, unseen but ever present. Do you
accept this?"
"Yes, Your Highness,"
the men replied in unison, their voices steady.
Zhao Wei nodded. "Then
prepare yourselves. When the storm comes, we will endure it. When the time is
right, we will strike back. Dismissed."
The men saluted and
filed out of the room, their movements disciplined and silent. Zhao Wei
remained behind, his sharp eyes fixed on the map spread across the table. The
hours ahead would determine everything—his survival, his men's future, and perhaps
the fate of the empire itself.
The night air was crisp
and biting as Zhao Wei rode swiftly through the narrow forest path leading to
the secluded barracks. The rhythmic pounding of his horse's hooves was muffled
by the dense canopy overhead, the shadows stretching long and dark across the
trail. The urgency of the night weighed heavily on him, but his expression
remained calm and controlled, his black eyes fixed on the road ahead.
The barracks were hidden
deep within the forest, a fortress in all but name. Constructed as a fallback
for his campaigns, it had served as a gathering point for his elite forces
during emergencies. Tonight, it would host a discussion that could determine
the survival of his men—and himself.
As he approached, the
gates swung open, the guards saluting silently as he passed. Zhao Wei
dismounted, his tall frame straightening as his long black hair caught the
faint moonlight. His tanned skin, honed body, and commanding presence exuded an
aura of unshakable authority. He handed the reins to a waiting soldier before
striding toward the central hall, his black robes trailing behind him like a
shadow.
Inside, a small group of
trusted generals and lieutenants awaited him. The men rose to their feet as he
entered, saluting with precision. They were his finest—a group of seasoned
warriors and strategists who had fought alongside him in countless battles.
"Sit," Zhao Wei
commanded, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
The men obeyed, though
their postures remained rigid, their expressions reflecting the gravity of the
situation. Zhao Wei took his place at the head of the table, his sharp gaze
sweeping the room.
"We have little time,"
he began, his tone calm but firm. "The Imperial Guards will arrive within
hours. The Emperor has made his intentions clear—whether by exile,
imprisonment, or execution, I will be removed from my position. This meeting is
to ensure that my absence does not dismantle what we have built."
Murmurs rippled through
the room, but a single glance from Zhao Wei silenced them. He continued, his
voice steady:
"Should the palace be
raided, the Emperor will seek to discredit not only me but all those loyal to
me. To protect our forces, I am ordering the temporary disbandment of all
advisory councils and visible chains of command. Return to your homes, scatter
if you must, but remain ready to regroup when the time comes."
One of the generals, a
burly man with a scar running down his cheek, spoke up. "Your Highness, with
respect, disbanding the council leaves us vulnerable. If the Emperor declares
us traitors, who will speak for us?"
Zhao Wei's gaze locked
onto the man, his expression unyielding. "You will speak with your silence. Any
show of resistance now will only confirm their lies. Let the dust settle before
we make our move."
The general nodded
reluctantly, his loyalty overriding his doubts.
Zhao Wei shifted his
attention to Chen Hao, who stood at his right. "Dispatch scouts to all
potential routes leading from the capital. I expect assassination attempts once
I am exiled. Have the scouts monitor for unusual movements and set traps where
necessary."
"Yes, Your Highness,"
Chen Hao replied, his voice steady.
Zhao Wei turned to
another lieutenant. "Ensure provisions are prepared for all soldiers still
loyal to me. Food, weapons, and medical supplies. The likelihood of exile is
high, but I will not leave unprepared. Make it happen discreetly. No one
outside this room is to know."
The lieutenant saluted
sharply. "It will be done."
The meeting continued
with the same efficiency, each man receiving precise orders tailored to their
strengths. Zhao Wei's mind worked like a blade, cutting through the chaos to
form a cohesive plan. Every contingency was considered, every risk mitigated.
As the final orders were
issued, one of the youngest captains in the room, a wiry man with sharp eyes,
stood abruptly. "Your Highness," he said, his voice firm despite his youth.
"With respect, I will not leave."
Zhao Wei's black eyes
fixed on him, unreadable. "Explain yourself."
The captain
straightened, his voice unwavering. "You raised me from nothing. You taught me
how to fight, how to lead. If you are exiled, I will follow. If you are hunted,
I will stand by your side. My life is yours, Your Highness. Command me as you
see fit, but I will not abandon you."
A murmur of agreement
spread through the room as other soldiers and officers echoed the captain's
sentiment. Zhao Wei's sharp gaze swept across their faces, reading the loyalty
etched into every line.
"Fools," he said softly,
though his voice carried no malice. "Your loyalty will be your undoing."
He stood, his tall frame
casting a long shadow over the room. "Very well. Those of you who choose to
stay will act as my shadow guards. You will have no official title, no records
tying you to me. You will operate in the dark, unseen but ever present. Do you
accept this?"
"Yes, Your Highness,"
the men replied in unison, their voices steady.
Zhao Wei nodded. "Then
prepare yourselves. When the storm comes, we will endure it. When the time is
right, we will strike back. Dismissed."
The men saluted and
began filing out of the room, their movements disciplined and silent. Zhao Wei
remained behind, his sharp eyes fixed on the map spread across the table. The
hours ahead would determine everything—his survival, his men's future, and the
fate of the empire itself.
When the last soldier
left, Chen Hao returned to his side. "Your Highness, all preparations are
underway. The palace awaits your return."
Zhao Wei nodded once,
his expression cold but resolute. "Then we move."
He mounted his horse and
rode back toward the palace under the cover of night, his thoughts sharp and
focused. The path ahead was perilous, but Zhao Wei's mind was already several
moves ahead.
By the time he arrived
at the palace gates, the first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon.
Zhao Wei dismounted, his tall silhouette framed by the rising sun. He entered
the palace grounds with the air of a man who refused to be conquered, ready to
face the next phase of the Emperor's challenge.