The Army's Morale

"I've decided to go to war with the Imperial Guard."

Early that morning, Gu Shenwei summoned his generals to discuss military affairs. His words left the three men who had only just taken their seats astonished.

Fang Wenshi looked at the Dragon King in confusion and shook his head. With outsiders present, he didn't immediately voice his doubts. A Zheba remained silent too. He knew perfectly well that he was better at drawing a bow than devising strategies.

Shulitu had managed to get rid of his two personal guards, but seemed a little ill at ease without them. He shifted nervously in his chair. "Enemies surround us on all sides, and the Dragon King has chosen to go to war with the strongest of them, the Imperial Guard. I assume there's a special reason."

Gu Shenwei had spent half the night thinking it over. Though his plan still had plenty of flaws, he believed his reasoning was sound. "The Imperial Guard is the strongest. Defeating them will earn us the greatest prestige. It will not only cow our enemies but also unite our troops."

"But... how are we going to defeat them?" Fang Wenshi couldn't hold back any longer and voiced his doubts. "Our forces number no more than thirty thousand, while the Imperial Guard has a hundred thousand. The Dragon King can take on a larger force, but the army... doesn't seem up to it."

"And a hundred thousand of the finest cavalry," A Zheba added. Though he had fled the camp under pressure from the mutiny, he still felt proud of the Imperial Guard.

Shulitu thought it through a little further and offered an explanation on the Dragon King's behalf. "A hundred thousand cavalrymen without officers would be far less formidable."

"When they came yesterday, they looked disciplined