The cold dawn setteles over the camp, never fully asleep, the mist curling between the tents... Wu Zhen moves along his path, dragging his body with an unfocused mind, as he head to his daily duties.
Passing by a few men resting during their training he nods to greet them, the hand beside the cheek with three finger rised while the pinky and the thumb stay hidden over the palm... Looking almost like a normal greeting but indicating that he was part of Han's men to eveyone who was on his side.
The men previously stiff relax down and greets him too, going back to their heated conversation.
-So you meant tonight?- ask a man -No, tonight is the meeting. They will tell us what to do after- he replies -How will they let us know?-
Wu Zhen twists a brow passing over the men, they were talking about a meeting yet he didn't know anything about it, but turning around now and go back to listening would be too obvious so he lets it go.
"Maybe it's not related to Han" he thinks "I could have misheard too" yet something was making him feel very unease.
...
After reaching the border of the camp for his patrol shift, he takes position and begins walking around the perimeter... He begins to notice a patter while observing the men: whenever they see him they will get quiet or stiff but as soon as he greets them in their secret way, they would go back to do what they were doing and sometimes he would catch weird sentences...
During the day he overheard someone talk about "letters to communicate the location" yet he couldn't make it make sense in his head.
While passing over the armory he notices some ranked soldier checking the swords and other weapons, he recognizes them immediately since they are commanders and lieutenants under Han.
He pays close attention to their movements while trying to keep his distance. One of them, polishing the bows' quivers, slips a folder parchment inside one while putting in the arrows... That movement makes Zhen doubt his eyes, he couldn't deny it anymore, something was going on around the men.
He takes a step back, feelings confused -What the hell is going on...?- he whispers to himself, somehow Shen happens to pass by there at that exact moment. He looks at the confused face of Zhen then toward the men, slipping another letter around the weapons, then presses his lips and sighs.
Zhen can't help but feel that his actions are intentional so he rushes toward him -I failed Han's test then- he states
Shen twists an eyebrow and he goes on -I understand what's going on, he lost trust in me and decided to exclude me from his plans to unificate the Army-
Shen shakes his head -He didn't exclude you from THAT plan- he says, marking "that" a bit too much to the point of sounding odd
-Then what's going on? I discovered that he will hold a meeting tonight and I haven't been informed, am I not his most precious soldier? I helped him by letting him know about those orders after he asked me help to unificate the men and even retrieved the letter for him!-
Adistant shadow of a smile appears on HuaiZhi lips at that childish tantrum that Zhen throws then looks back at the other soldiers with an angry stare -It's better if you forget about tonight's meeting, you will save yourself a lot of troubles by not attending-
-So you admit there's something they're keeping from me?- Shen breathes heavily -I told you to forget it-
-You always do- he murmurs, looking to the ground defeated but before he could move away a big hand comes to ruffle his hair leaving him speechless -What?-
Shen doesn't say anything and just leaves, greeting him with the hand waving in the air from behind.
...
During the evening Zhen decides to sneak around the camp, he might not be the best soldier out there but he was still one and if there was a thing he was good at, that was walking softly. That's why his uncle always used him when it came to infiltration or passing messages around.
He went around for a few hours untill he finally located the tent of the secret meeting, he presses his head to the tent and start listening... Less than ten men seems to be inside, yet Shen is missing.
-Well all we need to do now is pass on the message- says one, apparently the meeting is already at the end -Yes, each one of you will let their most trusted men know so we can execute is quickly and silently-
"That's Han's voice...!"
-For each step of the plan, chose different men and don't inform the other of what another group did... We wouldn't want to let Ying and her men know if they have some spy in our Army. Remember that everything should be done before the war declaration... Everything. I want her troupes to be half of the current number by then-
At those words Zhen freaks out and detached himself from the tent, not believing those words, an hand comes and grabs his arm pulling him away... That's Shen who spotted him from afar
-What are you doing? I told you to forget about this meeting- he warns him -But...- -No buts, you need to stay out of trouble- he cuts him off
-Trouble? I'm not in trouble between our men even if I discover some too secret plan, we're still on the same side- cold sweat start dripping down his neck -But, I think... They're about to do something risky-
-Risky?- asks Shen -What did you hear?-
Zhen gulps -They are setting something in motion, a multi layered plan... Something about reducing Ying's men in a few days and the men acting out that plan can't know the full details because there could be spies amoung us. I'm not sure about what's going on but that's what I could understand so far- he blurts out in one sentence, afraid of Shen's imposing eyes
-But... What about you? Why you weren't there?- he asks with a hint of doubt -You're his most trusted man-
-Only those with a position of command were called, I'm not one of them- he mutters, lacking his usual coldness
-Wait... Could it be that Han is doubting you now? Did he find out how you helped me in the wood and since your report didn't add up he thought you were unloyal?- Shen shakes his head -No that's not the case, I'm well informed of his plan... I just got assigned a different job for tonight-
Only then does Zhen notices the disheveled appearance of the guard, the leaves stuck in his belt and the mud under his boots, even the somewhat sweet scent mixed with iron coming from his clothes -Let's say I had to retrieve something- his eyes fall on a few boxes behind him let on the floor in a rush, a strong herbal scent coming toward him.
-What? What do you mean?-
-Don't ask, you haven't seen anything- he turns his silver head around and pushes him away -Go back to your tent, never mention tonight to anyone at all. Not even Han- his warning makes the blood chills in Zhen veins -Not even Han...? Why? What you are saying is absurd...-
-Trust me, it's the best advice I can give you now... Stay out of this- and with those words he leaves him, letting those words echo inside the mind of the boy... More and more confused, now even scared.
-Whats the hell is going on...?- he murmurs to himself and eventually runs away from the area, wanting to distance himself from anyone under Han's flag for tonight.