A Dispute in the Command Tent

Western Chu's frontier, Yan Pass.

Yan Pass lay on the border between Western Chu and Northern Liang and had always been guarded by a large force.

Chen Lin was the commander of the Yan Pass garrison.

At that moment, he sat upright in the command tent, intently examining the reports his soldiers had gathered on Northern Liang's latest movements.

He had a residence reserved for him within Yan Pass, but he never stayed there, preferring to handle his daily duties in the army tent.

He was absorbed in his reading when a faint clamor rose outside.

Chen Lin lifted his gaze from the reports. Before he could speak, someone pulled aside the tent flap and strode inside.

"General, good news! Wonderful news!"

Chen Lin frowned. "What good news?"

"General, the bandit scourge that has plagued Yan Prefecture City for years has finally reached the end of its road! Isn't that wonderful news?"

The soldier who had come to report it was filled with delight at the mere thought of the news from Yan Prefecture City.

He was from Yan Prefecture himself and naturally loathed the bandit scourge that had remained unchecked for so long. How could he not rejoice at such unexpected, splendid news?

"Oh? Is that true?"

A flash of joy crossed Chen Lin's face as he heard the soldier's report.

As the commander guarding Yan Pass, he naturally knew all about the circumstances behind Yan Prefecture City's bandit problem.

But the court had decreed that the officers and soldiers of Yan Pass were not to become involved unless there was absolutely no other choice.

Thus, however anxious Chen Lin grew, he could not openly bring the matter of suppressing the bandits to the table.

Yet the bandit scourge remained a dark cloud hanging over Yan Prefecture City. Chen Lin had dearly hoped that Dai Sheng, the magistrate of Yan Prefecture, would find an opportunity to give the Yan Pass troops a legitimate reason to intervene.

That would undoubtedly have been a great blessing for Yan Prefecture City.

Who could have imagined that Dai Sheng would be as timid as a mouse, devising a scheme with the city's wealthy households to pay tribute to the bandits every year?

Furious at his spinelessness, Chen Lin had gradually abandoned his own hopes of wiping out those bandits.

Now that he had heard Yan Prefecture City was moving against them, how could Chen Lin not be excited?

"Tell me, then. How exactly has this campaign against the bandits unfolded?"

The soldier began with the day Yang Qing had taken office as Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner and continued through his destruction of the Li Household and capture of a Northern Liang sleeper agent.

Chen Lin nodded repeatedly as he listened. "Military Commissioner Yang is a man of both courage and strategy. If he ever comes to Yan Pass, I must make his acquaintance."

But when Chen Lin heard the words "Northern Liang sleeper agent," his brows drew tightly together again.

"What is this about a Northern Liang sleeper agent?"

"General, that Northern Liang sleeper agent had lived in Yan Prefecture City for nearly ten years, posing as someone else. The military commissioner uncovered him while purging the forces within the city that were secretly colluding with the bandits."

"Northern Liang has gone too far!"

Chen Lin slammed a fist onto the table before him and sprang from his stool, his eyes wide with anger.

The soldier hurriedly said, "His Highness Prince Duan already knows everything. He had the Northern Liang sleeper agent's corpse sent here to Yan Pass and ordered it hung outside the pass for three days as a warning to others!"

Chen Lin brought his fists together with a bang.

"Good. We'll do as His Highness commands! Those Northern Liang dogs dare to covet Western Chu's territory? Then let them open their eyes wide and take a good look at the fate awaiting them!"

"Not only will we display his corpse, we'll hang a list of his crimes on him too. Send a few sharp-witted men to the front lines. Make certain Northern Liang learns how we deal with this!"

"Yes, General!"

The soldier accepted the order and was about to leave when he collided headlong with someone entering the tent.

"What kind of conduct is this, rushing about in such a panic?"

Dazed by the collision, the soldier dropped to his knees the instant he heard the newcomer's voice. "It was my fault for bumping into you, Deputy General Wei. Please punish me!"

Wei Li did not even glance at the soldier kneeling below him, trembling like chaff in a sieve. Instead, he addressed Chen Lin directly. "I hear you intend to follow Prince Duan's instructions and hang that Northern Liang sleeper agent outside?"

Wei Li and Chen Lin had never gotten along. With an uncle serving as the court's chancellor, Wei Li had never shown any regard for Chen Lin as his commanding general, despite being merely his deputy.

Even in everyday conversation, he spoke as an equal rather than referring to himself as Chen Lin's subordinate.

Chen Lin glanced at him. "What, Deputy General Wei? Do you object?"

"Of course I do!"

Wei Li walked over and sat down in a chair in the command tent before continuing. "His Highness Prince Duan is young and hot-blooded. We can both understand that. But he knows nothing of the situation here at Yan Pass."

"Our soldiers have worked for years to finally secure this peace, with neither side encroaching upon the other. If we expose this Northern Liang sleeper agent and anger the people of Northern Liang..."

"General Chen, have you considered the consequences?"

Wei Li stared at Chen Lin with ill intent written all over his face. "General Chen, if this matter is reported to the court, are you prepared to face His Majesty's wrath?"

Chen Lin's hands abruptly clenched, and a chill began to seep from him. "Then what would you suggest, Deputy General Wei?"

"Prince Duan's inspection tour on the emperor's behalf extends only as far as Yan Prefecture City. He has no authority to come to Yan Pass. Now that this sleeper agent is in our hands, isn't his disposal simply a matter of your word, General?"

Chen Lin snorted. "You mean to have me openly defy an order?"

Wei Li shook his head. "General Chen, that is far too grave an accusation. I mean nothing of the sort. We have served together, and I am only thinking of the reputation you will leave behind."

Chen Lin fell silent for a moment.

Wei Li was right. Given the current situation at Yan Pass, war was unlikely to break out anytime soon.

Besides, considering his health, he could lay down his armor and return to his fields in less than two years, enjoying the happiness of family life.

Yet for more than a decade, Northern Liang had kept Yan Pass cowed beneath its might. Now matters had reached the point where Northern Liang's covert hands were reaching inside the pass itself.

If he allowed this pernicious trend to grow unchecked, he might see Northern Liang's armored cavalry brazenly trampling Western Chu's soil before he had even stepped down from his post!

At that thought, Chen Lin gritted his teeth. "But Northern Liang's wolfish ambitions are real. If we simply let this matter drop, I fear that when the time comes, even if we wish to stop them, neither of us will be able to prevent them from breaking through Yan Pass!"

Wei Li looked at Chen Lin again. "General Chen, why won't you listen to reason? Since you insist on having your own way, don't expect me to shoulder the blame with you if something goes wrong!"

With that, Wei Li clasped his hands behind his back and stalked out in a huff.

"General, what should we do with the sleeper agent?"

The soldier who had been kneeling on the ground had heard the entire argument between Chen Lin and Wei Li. After considerable hesitation, he decided to ask.

Chen Lin came back to himself and swept out a hand. "Do exactly as I ordered before!"

Then he added, "Starting today, all officers and soldiers are to have their leave canceled. Keep a close watch on Northern Liang's movements. Report any unusual activity immediately!"