In a daze, Mark Zou jolted awake, breathing heavily as he looked around. He wiped the sweat from his face—this was the three-story building where his mother once lived. Soldiers, all with weapons at the ready, guarded the floors below. Ned Zou had issued strict orders forbidding Mark from stepping out of the building.
Mark Zou was deeply frustrated, but his mood was even lower. He knew he was finished. When he was brought here, the people on the streets looked at him with cold indifference. The stories about his battlefield failures had been exaggerated, and Ned Zou had spread word of his disgraceful war record throughout the clan.
Now, most of the Zou Clan believed he was the reason they lost the war.
Gradually, Mark Zou calmed down. He shook his head and muttered to himself.
"No, even if we had listened to Wynn Domain, we would still have lost the southern war, and the battle at the eastern pass as well."
He had to admit, the Grant Family's soldiers were far stronger than those of the Zou Clan. Years of peaceful living had made most of the Zou Clan complacent; even their daily training had become lax.
The Zou Clan was situated in a northeastern basin, easy to defend and attack, with only one entrance. The fields within the basin were more than enough to sustain everyone in the clan.
At that moment, a commotion erupted outside. Mark Zou glanced at the moonlight through the window—it was already late at night. With a creak, the door below opened. Mark felt a chill run through his heart and frantically searched for something to defend himself with. He grabbed a chair and stood behind the door. Footsteps sounded on the stairs; it seemed like several people were coming.
This was Mark Zou's greatest fear: that tonight his uncle might kill him, and by morning claim he died of illness. Especially at this critical moment, even if many suspected the truth, he was now the clan's greatest sinner—the one responsible for the deaths of 200,000 clan members.
"Chieftain, it's us. Don't be afraid."
A voice called from outside the door. Mark Zou immediately breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door. Outside stood his three trusted generals.
"Chieftain, we've made arrangements. If things get worse, you should leave Zou City. They may try to harm you."
Mark Zou gave a desolate smile and shook his head.
"Where could I go? Even if I escape, what then?"
Suddenly, Mark Zou seemed to think of something, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.
"Let's betray them."
The three generals' faces changed instantly. One of them swallowed and said,
"You mean to tell the Grant Family about the situation in Wynn Domain and Sage Domain?"
Mark Zou nodded.
"Of course. Arrange it immediately. Send soldiers to Grant City and report everything truthfully."
After a while, the three generals nodded and left. Mark Zou showed a look of secret delight.
"Better to fight than to wait for death."
That was Mark Zou's thought now. There was no place for him in the Zou Clan anymore—he could die at any moment. He was unwilling to accept this fate. But whenever he remembered what he'd done to Lana Grant, he shuddered. On the battlefield that day, he saw Yuna Ji with his own eyes. Every time he thought of Yuna Ji, he felt a chill of fear.
"It's fine. As long as I help the Grant Family, they'll probably let me live."
Mark Zou chuckled to himself, eyes full of desolation.
With a creak, Yuna Ji pushed open the door to Lana Grant's room.
"Still awake?"
The voice was icy. Moonlight from outside spilled in. Lana Grant, lying on the bed, sneered as she looked at Yuna Ji.
"You're not Yuna!"
Recently, Lana Grant's condition had stabilized. She no longer spoke nonsense and acted normal, but she always asked about Yuna Ji.
"You've heard about the war, right? The Zou Clan was defeated too. It's a pity we didn't capture Mark Zou."
Lana Grant immediately shook her head.
"Can I call you Yuna?"
"Suit yourself."
Lana Grant smiled.
"That night I had a dream. I saw Father, Big Sister, Big Brother, Mother, and Yuna. You are prepared to die, aren't you, Yuna?"
Yuna Ji nodded. The smile on Lana Grant's face suddenly vanished.
"Don't hesitate. Tell Yuna not to worry about me. I'll be watching. No matter how this war ends, win or lose, I have one request."
"Go ahead."
"If you capture Mark Zou, don't kill him. Bring him to me."
Yuna Ji nodded, turned, and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Early the next morning, before the sun had risen, the sounds of drills echoed inside and outside Grant City. Both new recruits and veterans began their training.
Yuna Ji stood by the training field, watching the soldiers run. Lona Long beside her looked on seriously. Joseph Qiao, Sebastian Zhao, and Phoenix Yu had already found many of the older residents of Grant City. These veterans knew the routes well and had left the city to scout the mountain paths.
Everything was urgent now. The craftsmen also rose early, working on reinforcing the outer walls. With spring's war approaching, everyone in Grant Territory was making their final efforts.
"Gather the generals soon."
Yuna Ji spoke as she stood up and mounted her horse.
"Yuna, where are you going?"
Yuna Ji said nothing and sped off toward the west.
Bella Liang was up early, exercised for a while, and now felt warm all over. The sun was rising as she returned to her quarters, where Cyrus Sage, sweating heavily, was already waiting for her.
"Any results, Commander Liang?"
Faced with Cyrus Sage's question, Bella Liang nodded.
"The only way is, after spring comes, move in over the course of a week, then spend ten days preparing supplies. Once we have enough for half a month, we attack Grant City directly."
"That’s all we can do."
Cyrus Sage spoke, nodding helplessly.
Given their situation, this was the only option. Originally, once spring arrived, they would launch a fierce attack on the nearest outpost to Grant City. Once taken, that outpost could serve as a base, eliminating threats from the northern outposts.
A month had passed before the fighting even began. The remaining two months were their most precious time. Spring also meant sowing season; the southern granaries couldn't be left idle. Backup personnel would be stretched thin, but it was crucial that the southern fields were sown successfully.
"Next spring, both your side and ours should send some slaves or laborers over."
Cyrus Sage nodded.
"I've already sent word to my father. By the way, have you heard about the Zou Clan?"
Bella Liang looked at him in confusion and shook her head. Cyrus Sage then explained how Mark Zou had been forcibly removed from his position as chieftain.
"Something like this happened? What is that woman trying to do?"
Bella Liang immediately felt uneasy. The grain in Zou City was crucial for them. If a civil war broke out in the clan at this critical moment, the chaos would worsen. They couldn't possibly send their army to the Zou Clan just to quell an internal conflict.
"A civil war probably won't break out. Under Mark Zou's leadership, the clan suffered a disastrous defeat in this war. I heard most of the Zou Clan's generals have died, and now Mark Zou is under house arrest."
Bella Liang breathed a sigh of relief and then said,
"Let's hope so. The northern clan leaders have returned, right? I'll leave the incorporation of their soldiers to you."
After Cyrus Sage left, Bella Liang still felt uneasy. She knew Mark Zou would never willingly step down as chieftain. He was bound to do something, even if he was under house arrest. As clan leader, Mark Zou would not give up so easily.
"Unstable elements must be eliminated. Guards!"
Bella Liang called out, and a messenger quickly entered.
"Go immediately to Zou City and tell Grand Commander Liam Lien to eliminate all unstable elements."
Bella Liang had made up her mind. She planned to deal ruthlessly with Mark Zou. He still had influence in Zou City, and killing him was the best solution.
"No one has gone in, right?"
Ned Zou arrived with many people at the small building. Looking up, the soldiers guarding it shook their heads, saying no one had entered.
"Father, something's wrong. You should go to the barracks right away."
A young man rode up quickly on horseback. He was Harold Zou, Ned Zou's son, already entrusted with major responsibilities as the next chieftain of the Zou Clan.
"The soldiers aren’t listening to the new generals—they’re causing a commotion!"
Mark Zou looked down at Ned Zou from the window and sneered. Last night, he had instructed three generals to incite the soldiers, spreading rumors that Ned Zou planned to sell them to Wynn Domain and Sage Domain to die.
Though Mark Zou had no real talent for warfare, he was always cautious, keeping his troops in the rear and avoiding the front lines. The southern granaries were protected by Sage Domain’s army, but Mark Zou had convinced their leaders to let him take his clan’s soldiers to the rear granaries.
Once at the granaries, the soldiers indulged themselves, since there was so much food. No matter what, they would remember his kindness. Mark Zou’s trusted generals had already sent reliable men by secret routes, planning to deliver a message directly to Grant City.
Mark Zou still had options. If he couldn’t get out, he was determined to cooperate with the Grant Family. If the generals’ plot succeeded, he would kill the elders and escape himself.
"What a rabble, sister."
Henry Lien watched the commotion in the distance and sneered.
"How are the supplies for winter coming along?"
"It’ll take another three or four days."
Liam Lien stood up, snorted disdainfully.
"I can't stand another day here."