Escalating Conflict · Internal Division Among Alien Races

Chen Wuya kept his grip on the map, his fingertip pausing over the signal post on the northern slope of Western Ridge before sliding toward a dried riverbed to the south. He looked up at the intelligence chief. "Abandon the original route. Have them go through here."

The intelligence chief lowered his head to compare the terrain map, frowning. "The temperature difference in this stretch of sand is severe at night. Footprints will be easy to track."

"That's precisely why it's safe." Chen Wuya said, "Their patrols hate going through places like this—one step sinks half a foot, and every movement makes too much noise. The men you sent out, do they know the terrain well?"

"The horse trader is called Baldy. He's been doing business across the Southern Desert since he was young. The other is a border civilian surnamed Li who was abducted ten years ago; ever since he returned, he's helped us keep track of changes in their passphrases." The intelligence chief paused. "The two of them will set out tonight."

"Tell them not to touch the officers' tents. Only the kitchens and stables." Chen Wuya handed over a tattered scrap of paper. "Take this inside and say it was found on a personal guard who died in battle—a 'secret royal court order.' They may mention only one line of its contents—the Third Prince intends to purge the ruler's side."

Bai Zhi stood nearby, looking at the crooked foreign script on that forged fragment. "What if someone sees through it?"

"Then it means they really do have an insider." The corner of Chen Wuya's mouth shifted. "Even if they see through it, they still have to spread it. Better yet if they don't. Right now, we're not afraid of being exposed. We're afraid no one will believe