Chapter 232
Wang looked at each of his trusted advisors standing around the table. "Then call every captain and field commander to the assembly square. We will explain the situation directly to them ourselves."
Less than an hour later...
More than thirty field captains and high-ranking generals gathered in the wide, open assembly area near the center of the military camp.
Behind them, several rows of curious soldiers stood in neat lines, eager to understand the reason behind the sudden, unexpected meeting.
Wang stepped up onto a broad, raised stone platform overlooking the gathered men.
His deep voice was not overly loud, yet it carried an incredible, natural power that resonated clearly across the entire frosted square.
"I know that many of you are currently wondering why our vast army has suddenly stopped its advance," Wang began, looking out over the sea of faces.
The gathered soldiers remained completely silent, listening intently.
"I also know that many of you fully expected to march into a grand battle the moment we reached this valley," Wang continued smoothly.
Several younger captains exchanged brief, uneasy glances with one another.
Wang continued his address. "Yesterday... I rode out completely alone onto the open ice of the Frozen Lake. I met face to face with the Sovereign King of the Manticore Clan."
Low, excited murmurs immediately rippled through the massive crowd like a sudden wind.
One passionate young captain could not hold back his burning curiosity, stepping forward slightly. "Did he surrender Lady Lin to you, Patriarch?"
"No," Wang answered calmly. "He did not."
Another officer called out from the back, "Did he try to threaten our clan with his army?"
"No," Wang replied plainly. "He did not."
The soldiers became even more bewildered, whispering among themselves in deep confusion.
Wang gently raised one hand in the air. The vast camp immediately fell into an absolute, respectful quiet once again.
"He refused to release her today," Wang explained clearly to his men. "However, he gave his solemn word as a ruler on a vital matter. He promised that once her health is fully restored and the children are safely born into this world... Lin Wan will be granted the freedom to decide her own future with her own voice."
The entire crowd fell into a deep, stunned stillness.
General Orion watched the surrounding soldiers with a sharp, experienced eye. Some of the older, wiser veterans looked visibly relieved by the news, glad to avoid a devastating war.
However, several younger officers still held uncertain, doubtful expressions on their faces.
A younger commander suddenly took a bold step forward out of the neat lines. His name was Commander Felix, one of the newest officers promoted after his brave service in the previous military campaign.
He bowed his head deeply and respectfully toward the platform. "Patriarch."
"May I have permission to speak freely?"
"You may speak, Felix," Wang allowed gently.
Felix straightened his back, looking directly into Wang’s golden eyes. "What if the Manticore King’s promise is nothing more than a grand, clever lie to buy time for his own troops?"
The heavy, lingering question that almost every soldier had desperately wanted to ask... had finally been spoken aloud before the entire army.
The vast military camp remained utterly silent following Commander Felix’s bold question.
Not a single officer interrupted the heavy stillness. Not a single soldier whispered to his neighbor.
Every single man present desperately wanted to hear how their Patriarch would answer such a glaring concern.
Wang looked calmly down at the brave young commander standing before the platform.
"Tell me your name," Wang requested softly.
"Felix, Patriarch," the young officer answered, his posture rigid.
"How long have you loyally served our clan?"
"Eight full years, Patriarch."
"And have you fought directly beside me on the front lines before?"
"I have, Patriarch," Felix replied proudly.
Wang gave a single, slow nod of his head. "Then answer my next few questions with complete honesty, Felix."
Felix straightened his chest. "Yes, Patriarch."
"If I personally intended to deceive an enemy ruler..." Wang asked smoothly, "...would I announce my peaceful intentions to him first?"
Commander Felix frowned slightly, thinking through the logic. "...No, Patriarch."
"If I planned a cowardly, treacherous ambush against his forces..." Wang continued, "...would I personally request a quiet meeting beneath a white flag of truce on open ice?"
"No, Patriarch," Felix admitted quietly.
Wang clasped his broad hands behind his back, his deep voice carrying over the attentive crowd. "The Manticore King did precisely the same. He walked out onto that open lake entirely alone. He answered every single difficult question I put to him directly, without a shred of deceit in his eyes."
"He did not insult our clan’s honor," Wang said firmly. "He did not utter a single threat against our men. He simply refused to compromise her health, and he gave his sacred word as a ruler."
Commander Felix slowly lowered his head in deep thought, his previous anger completely fading away.
Wang looked out over the entire army, his voice full of profound wisdom. "True trust between powerful men is not built simply because someone is your dear friend. It is built when their actions and their character match the weight of their spoken words."
A low, agreeing murmur spread rapidly through the gathered ranks.
Standing beside the platform, Wei Xiang watched Wang with quiet, intense admiration.
The Patriarch was not asking his loyal soldiers to like or admire their ancient rival. He was simply teaching them to judge an honorable opponent with complete fairness and clarity.
Commander Felix stepped back and bowed deeply toward the platform. "I understand your wisdom completely now, Patriarch. I am truly sorry for foolishly questioning your high judgment."
Wang shook his head gently. "You were not questioning my judgment out of disrespect, Felix. You were seeking to protect our clan from harm. You did the absolute right thing by speaking your mind."
Felix looked visibly relieved, a bright smile appearing on his young face. "Thank you deeply, Patriarch."
General Orion immediately stepped forward to the front of the stone platform, his loud, booming voice ringing across the entire valley.
"Hear the absolute orders of the Patriarch!" Orion announced forcefully.
"Until further notice..."
"No soldier under our banner is to provoke the Manticore forces along the border!"
"No scouting patrol is to cross the agreed boundary line under any circumstances!"
"Any violation of these commands will be met with severe military punishment!"
Every single commander and soldier present instantly struck a heavy, iron-gloved fist against their chest armor, their combined response sounding like a thunderclap. "Understood!"
With the clear orders delivered, the grand meeting slowly came to a peaceful end, and the soldiers began to disperse back to their daily duties.
As the crowd thinned out, Wei Xiang caught up to Wang’s side as he stepped down from the platform. "You handled that restless crowd extraordinarily well."
Wang offered a faint, tired smile. "They are brave men who marched far from home. They fully deserved a honest explanation from their leader."
Wei Xiang turned his gaze toward the distant, snow-capped mountains. "Do you truly believe in your heart that Cassian will honor his promise when the time comes?"
Wang paused his steps, taking a moment before answering softly. "I do".
Wei Xiang tilted his head, genuinely curious. "Even though he has been your greatest rival for years?"
Wang gave a small, thoughtful shake of his head. "He is my rival, yes. But he is also a true Sovereign King."
"A true ruler’s word carries the heavy weight of every single life beneath his rule," Wang explained quietly. "If he were to break a sacred vow made on open ground... he would not only lose my respect. He would lose the respect and trust of his own people."
Wei Xiang slowly nodded his head, digesting the deep logic. "I had never thought about a Sovereign’s burden in quite that way."
Just as they began walking back toward the main tent, Captain Bren approached them at a very brisk pace.
"Patriarch!" Bren called out.
Wang turned his body around. "What is it, Bren?"
"The evening patrol unit found something strange along the border line," Bren reported, holding out his hand.
"What did they discover?" Wang asked.
Captain Bren held out a small, snow-dusted cloth bundle. One of the forward scouts had spotted it resting atop a wooden fence post near the exact boundary line separating the two great armies.
Wang carefully unrolled the soft fabric.
Inside lay a tiny, simple cloth rabbit. Its hand-sewn stitching was visibly uneven and crude, clearly crafted by an amateur hand rather than a professional tailor.
Wei Xiang’s eyes widened, and a bright smile instantly broke across his face the moment he laid eyes on the toy. "I remember this!"
Wang looked over at him, surprised. "You recognize this toy?
Wei Xiang nodded enthusiastically, a fond look in his eyes. "Lady Lin used to hand-sew those little cloth animals whenever the young leopard cubs in the village became restless or scared. She was notoriously terrible at sewing fabric."