"It has to be done." Dai Hao's eyes darkened.
He had to seize the initiative before Xu Jiawei reacted. When the time came... surely the Heaven Dou Empire would be delighted to see its powerful neighbor split apart.
"Do this, then this... and then this. Understood?" He whispered a few instructions to Du Leisi.
"Yes!" Du Leisi drew a deep breath, his expression grave.
"Report!"
An orderly suddenly burst into the tent.
"What is it? Speak!" Dai Hao was about to lose his temper, but when he saw the letter bearing three chicken feathers in the orderly's hand, his anger slowly subsided.
"A letter from the imperial capital!"
"Bring it here," Dai Hao said evenly.
He took the letter, opened it, and skimmed ten lines at a glance.
Yet Dai Hao's expression shifted.
"Understood. You may leave." He waved the orderly away.
"Yes!"
Once only he and Du Leisi remained in the command tent, he could no longer conceal the panic on his face. "It looks like we've been exposed."
"How is that possible?" Du Leisi was startled. Only he and Dai Hao knew about this, so whoever had leaked it...
"Take a look!" Dai Hao handed him the letter, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth.
Du Leisi hurriedly took the letter and carefully read it line by line. After pondering for a moment, he instead broke into a relieved smile. "There's no need to panic, Marshal. I believe Xu Jiawei still knows nothing about this."
"What makes you say that?" Dai Hao looked at him.
"Look here, Marshal. From beginning to end, this letter conveys one message-he wants you to surrender your military authority. Though some of its hints are veiled, we're all old foxes. Who wouldn't understand them? The very fact that Xu