Outside Didao.
Exhaustion covered Xiahou Ba's face. He stood at the entrance to the command tent, looking hesitant. He pondered for a moment, yet did not dare approach.
"Is that the General of Chariots and Cavalry outside?"
Jiang Wei's voice suddenly came from within the tent. Xiahou Ba paused, then walked inside with a bitter smile.
He hurriedly bowed in greeting.
"My respects, General of the Guards..."
"Why stand on such ceremony, General of Chariots and Cavalry? Sit."
Jiang Wei was kneeling before his desk, with maps and reports brought back by scouts from various places spread before him. He looked just as exhausted, his eyes bloodshot, yet there was no dejection or disappointment on his face.
Xiahou Ba carefully sat beside Jiang Wei. Of the three generals now commanding the army, Xiahou Ba had actually ended up playing the mediator.
The conflict between Jiang Wei and Zhang Yi was growing worse.
With the string of setbacks in the campaign, Zhang Yi's complaints about Jiang Wei had only grown. They had almost reached the point of arguing whenever they met. Without Xiahou Ba, they might well have parted ways altogether.
This worried Xiahou Ba greatly. If these two truly began fighting, the campaign would be in serious trouble.
How could they win when their commanders were at odds?
Now, he looked at Jiang Wei before him and said, "General, General Zhang failed to take the hill again today..."
"But please judge this fairly. This was not because General Zhang failed in his duties. He personally led two charges, but the enemy held favorable terrain. We truly could not take it..."
Xiahou Ba had already braced himself for Jiang Wei's anger. To his surprise, Jiang Wei did not fly into a rage this time.
A trace of bitterness flashed through his