Chapter Twenty-Four: Compromise

“None of the Shadow Team made it back. According to the Han soldiers who escaped, both squads were wiped out.”

From the outside, this looked like nothing more than an ordinary tent, barely able to squeeze in a dozen people. Yet, any contractor who pushed open its door would find themselves stepping into a modern, spacious conference room.

Opening the doors on either side of the conference room would reveal rooms arranged much like personal quarters—though only identical in appearance. Occasionally, even an auctioneer might appear within, offering contractors working in the scenario a brief window for buying and selling.

This was the effect of the “Mobile Team Space.” Few teams in the entire space had spent a million universal points and 500 team credits to trade for such a specialty. In this scenario, Wuzhou was the only one.

At an oval table around which more than twenty people were seated, Lin Feirui sat to the northwest, silent, gazing at her subordinates with shifting, subtle glances.

“It seems that way,” said the second person to her left, a short, sturdy man.

“We can’t be certain what happened,” added the first on her left, a mature, composed, and elegantly handsome man who adjusted his glasses but did not look at the team leader, instead watching the messenger. “A trap, or perhaps a skill with a special effect—either is possible. I suspect this is a spontaneous adjustment by the space itself to balance out our previous advantage. But if that’s the case… we should have received the mission instead.”

“Maybe the Shadow Team used some kind of item,” said the third to Lin Feirui’s right, a burly, muscular man. “Or perhaps they triggered a long-term cooldown, causing the mission originally meant for us to be given to another team. Didn’t the seller mention anything about this when we bought the item?”

“No, he said that since we bargained so ruthlessly, we’d have to discover any hidden attributes ourselves,” replied the fourth to her left, a woman with a stiff expression dressed in men’s attire, seated directly across from him.

Lin Feirui waved her hand.

Immediately, a low buzzing filled the room. All the men, and most of the women, began offering their opinions, glancing at their leader as they spoke, each vying for a hint of approval in her eyes—like a flock of peacocks striving to attract a mate.

She smiled, looking from one subordinate to the next. The meaning in those beautiful eyes differed for each: affirmation for some, praise for others, recognition, or gentle resignation. Those she fixed her gaze upon responded with emotions ranging from joy and excitement to eagerness and the resolve to learn from their mistakes.

When she closed her eyes—a gesture signifying, to her, the selection of tonight’s plaything, and to them, the receipt of the team leader’s approval—the man to her immediate left rose from his seat.

The room fell instantly silent. “We’re in cooldown now, and no one can leave the camp. The most important thing at this moment is to gather intelligence and prepare for what’s to come.”

All eyes turned to two women. “Xiaowan, Suyan, you two were the only ones to fail previously. This time, I’ll trouble you with gathering information.”

A and B—now Luo Xiaowan and Zhou Suyan—could only nod in reluctant acceptance at the deputy leader’s order.

Tip:

Grade-A item, auction price ranges between 200,000 and 250,000 universal points.

Effect: Before entering the battlefield scenario, allows you to set the enemy’s position and numbers (each with restrictions).

Usage: Thirty or more members of a team must concentrate their mental power on the item for five minutes. After the team enters the scenario and completes the first mission, they will be unable to leave their camp for seven days, and all skills except defensive ones will be disabled.

If the mission fails, normal actions are restored.

-----

“This isn’t what we agreed on!”

In the central command tent of the Yellow Turban camp, Lin Qi roared in rage.

“For the Yellow Turbans, for the greater cause, for the Great Virtuous Teacher, I beg you to agree,” Su Si bowed deeply, his demeanor humble yet his tone unyielding.

When Su Si had first entered the camp, Lin Qi had appeared every inch the dignified immortal, heroic and spirited. But once inside the command tent, seated and having heard Wang Luo’s terms relayed, his demeanor transformed in an instant to one of teeth-gritting fury.

Su Si, unafraid, began his persuasion calmly.

“It was only because Commander Guo lost his wits that the rest of us discussed and elected Wang Luo as commander. Then we encountered you, Commander Lin, and you, fearing Wang Luo’s refusal, insisted we keep this from him. It was you who asked us to invite you over while he led the troops out.”

“If we’d lost, there’d be nothing to say—he wouldn’t object. But instead, he won, capturing over eight hundred Han soldiers, seizing all their banners, supplies, and armor, and losing only a few dozen men.”

“Since the uprising began, the soldiers have faced defeat after defeat. Now that they’ve finally met a commander who brings victory, if you strip him of command, the men won’t stand for it.”

Lin Qi’s chest heaved. “I am the commander! Who would dare defy the orders of the Great Virtuous Teacher?”

“Right before I came, he executed Baigou,” Su Si said quietly. “Baigou had killed a captive and was sentenced to beheading, the sentence announced to the whole army.”

A murmur of surprise ran through the tent. The few subordinates with Lin Qi all knew Baigou.

“The troops didn’t make a fuss?”

“Bai Erjin carried out the execution. The soldiers, buoyed by their rare victory, cheered again and again.”

“Outrageous!” Lin Qi shouted. “He shows no respect for the Great Virtuous Teacher, and the troops behave so wantonly?”

“Commanders like you, who can officiate sacrifices and pray for blessings and healing, the soldiers have seen plenty. But someone who leads them to victory? That’s a rarity.”

Lin Qi gaped at Su Si, pointing at him for a long moment before regaining his composure. When he finally spoke again, his tone was calm. “Victory? The Han armies surround us on all sides. The ferry crossing is blocked, reinforcements cannot arrive—how can he possibly win?”

“The soldiers believe he’ll find a way,” Su Si replied. “He shows no sign of defeat, unlike the other commanders.”

Su Si’s face remained earnest, sincere, composed, and gentle, as though he hadn’t just laid bare the Yellow Turban commanders’ sorest wounds.

“So formidable?” This time, Lin Qi laughed, his composure unbroken. “Then let him have it.”

“Grain, iron ingots, iron ore, even my soldiers—he can have them all.”

“If he truly is as capable as you say, what does it matter if everything goes to him?”

“Commander Lin, you place the greater good above all else. On behalf of the thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers, I thank you,” Su Si bowed deeply. “In that case, I’ll return to deliver your answer.”

“Go,” Lin Qi waved his hand.

“Commander—” The moment Su Si left the tent, a nearby Yellow Turban officer stood up.

“He isn’t devout enough. You can’t give him our soldiers. Please reconsider,” another officer urged.

“Enough!” Lin Qi snapped.

“Those outside in armor and bearing swords are either Su Si’s men or belong to that scoundrel. Our people? Dressed in rough clothes, armed with iron hoes, dragging their families along. We’d hoped Su Si, Baigou, and the others would seize the chance to capture that rabble-rouser amidst the chaos, so that all these elite troops would be ours. Who could have guessed Su Si would betray us!”

“Fine. So he can win battles, so the soldiers support him. Once the siege is lifted and we reach Guangzong, I’ll report every detail to the Great Virtuous Teacher! We’ll see how he meets his end then!”

These words soothed the officers’ discontent—for now.