The camp of the Four Families, which only days ago had stood as a symbol of power and unshakable dominance, was now teetering on the brink of internal collapse. The war had yet to officially begin, but the defeats suffered in the nocturnal skirmishes had sown the seeds of mistrust and paranoia.
Inside the grand command tent, the air was thick with tension. The central table, once a place of strategy and meticulous planning, had now become a battleground for wounded egos and veiled accusations.
An Lu, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, slammed the table with force, his forehead veined with rage.
—"This is an absolute disaster!"— he roared, his voice reverberating through the tent. —"Every patrol we send out is slaughtered! Our supply convoys have been reduced to ashes! And the soldiers… the soldiers whisper like frightened rats!"
Across from him, the representatives of the Four Families barely concealed their contempt. Zhao Heng, the aged patriarch of one of the most influential families, narrowed his eyes coldly.
—"Perhaps, if the army were under a more capable leadership, we wouldn't be in this predicament."
The tension in the room became unbearable. Gao Shi, the delegate of another noble house, leaned forward over the table with a mocking smile.
—"Our soldiers are brave, but what can they do when they are led by someone who only knows how to shout orders instead of devising a real strategy?"
An Lu turned on him sharply, his face flushed with fury.
—"You dare blame me? You are the ones who have fractured this army! Your troops follow their own rules, your officers ignore my commands, and when decisive action is needed, you're too busy squabbling over who gets the most glory!"
Murmurs spread through the assembly like wildfire.
From the far end of the table, a deep and composed voice cut through the noise.
—"This entire argument is pointless."
Yuan Guo, his expression as calm as ever, regarded them with a mix of patience and disdain. At his side, Luo Wen stood silent, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning the room.
—"Pointless?"— Zhao Heng sneered. —"You dare say that worrying about our continuous losses is pointless?"
Yuan Guo placed a firm hand on the table, his eyes locking onto the elder noble's with unwavering resolve.
—"I am not referring to the losses themselves, but to the way you all are responding to them."
Silence blanketed the room.
—"While we bicker amongst ourselves, Luo Wen continues his attacks. Every patrol wiped out, every supply line reduced to cinders, every casualty we suffer strengthens him. And what are we doing?"— Yuan Guo let the question linger, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him. —"We sit here like spoiled children, pointing fingers instead of solving the actual problem."
The quiet was broken by a dry chuckle.
—"A fine speech,"— Gao Shi remarked with an amused smirk, —"but it doesn't change the fact that someone here is leaking information."
Several officers stiffened, their expressions darkening.
—"Are you suggesting there is a traitor among us?"— Luo Wen asked, his voice as composed as ever, though there was a keen glint in his eyes, assessing every reaction.
—"I am not suggesting. I am stating it as fact,"— Gao Shi replied without hesitation. —"And I suspect that the traitor is from your camp, Yuan Guo."
A chill spread through the tent.
Yuan Guo did not respond immediately. He merely narrowed his eyes.
—"You sound very sure of yourself."
—"Too sure,"— Luo Wen added with a smirk, tilting his head slightly. —"If you're so confident that we have a spy in our midst, then prove it. Bring forth evidence, not empty accusations."
Gao Shi's expression darkened, but before he could retort, Zhao Heng interjected, his voice grave.
—"The issue remains: every time we make a move, the enemy anticipates it. How do you explain that, Yuan Guo?"
—"Because Luo Wen is a real strategist, while you lot believe yourselves invincible simply by virtue of your titles,"— Yuan Guo answered without hesitation. —"He didn't need a spy. He simply had to watch our incompetence unfold."
His words landed like a thunderclap. Some nobles shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but An Lu, far from being pacified, slammed his fist against the table once more.
—"Enough of this pointless bickering! If we continue like this, we won't even need Luo Wen to defeat us—we will collapse from within before the battle even begins. If we have any hope of salvaging what remains of this army, we must stand united."
—"Unity which you have utterly failed to ensure,"— Gao Shi countered, his voice dripping with venom.
An Lu gritted his teeth, but before he could retaliate, Luo Wen finally moved. Rising from his seat with deliberate calm, he cast his gaze across the room.
—"If An Lu's leadership is deemed insufficient, then tell me—what do you propose instead?"— he asked, his voice eerily serene, a sharp contrast to the palpable tension in the air.
The nobles hesitated. They had relished the chance to criticize, but the prospect of taking responsibility was another matter entirely.
Yuan Guo allowed a small, knowing smile to form at the corners of his lips.
—"There is no alternative but to continue under his command. However, from this moment forward, every decision will be subject to our supervision."
An Lu's expression darkened.
—"Supervision?"
—"Precisely,"— Zhao Heng confirmed. —"We cannot afford any more mistakes."
An Lu understood exactly what they meant. His authority was being reduced to a mere formality.
But he had no choice.
—"Very well,"— he ground out through clenched teeth. —"But if we fail again, then the blame will be yours."
The nobles exchanged satisfied glances, believing they had gained the upper hand.
Yet in truth, it was Luo Wen who had orchestrated everything to perfection. He had succeeded in deepening their divisions, in making them turn against one another, in ensuring that by the time the real battle began—
Their downfall would already be inevitable.