Real Mount and Blade Game

"Boss Yang, calm down."

Zhang Song also stood up and placed one hand on Yang Di's arm seemingly unintentionally, both to dissuade Yang Di from losing his composure and to prevent him from taking any further action.

He looked at Zhang Bo with disappointment and vigilance, and said in a low voice: "Xiaobo, what you said is too ill-considered. Dehrim may have good points, but where is your position? We sent you to be a spy, not to let you be assimilated and lobby for the enemy! The foundation that President Yang fought for has become so... worthless in your mouth? Do you know what this means to President Yang?"

Zhang Bo was stunned by the two people's questioning, and cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

He opened his mouth, but found that all the compliments he had just given to Dehrim had now turned into a sharp blade piercing Yang Di's dignity, and were also the most suspicious "testimony" about his identity as a spy.

Only then did he realize, as if waking up from a dream, that his remarks, which were full of good intentions to ease the other party's pain of "surrender", not only failed to move Yang Di to accept Dehrim, but instead completely stepped on the most untouchable minefield in the heart of this proud leader - the total denial of his own authority and achievements.

The tent fell into deathly silence. The excitement of the previous reunion disappeared, leaving only suffocating depression and confrontation.

Zhang Bo felt that his clothes on his back were soaked with cold sweat. He looked at Yang Di's eyes burning with humiliation, anger and determination, and his heart went cold.

"No, that's not the case. Mr. Yang and Brother Zhang Song are not like that."

Zhang Bo just explained it subconsciously: "I just want us to live a better life together, so that we don't die in vain, and give the Green Leaf Group a chance to survive and grow again..."

The air in the tent seemed to have frozen.

Yang Di's anger oppressed Zhang Bo like substance, and the disappointment in Zhang Song's eyes was like a needle prick.

Zhang Bo's feeble excuse - "I just want us to live a better life together, so that we don't die in vain, and I want Green Leaf Group to survive and have a chance to grow and revive again..." - seemed so empty and weak in the face of Yang Di's thundering rage.

Yang Di laughed in anger, but that smile was icy cold, without a trace of warmth. He stared at Zhang Bo, almost squeezing out words from his teeth: "Survive? Revive? Just be a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy under the shadow of Dehrim, relying on others, and then begging that 'good man' named Shen Mu to give a little sunshine?!"

Zhang Bo was choked by this heart-piercing question and was speechless. His face turned pale and his hands clenched and unclenched unconsciously.

Zhang Song saw the right moment, took a step forward, and stood slightly between Yang Di and Zhang Bo. His voice was still low and serious, but his goal was clear:
"Xiaobo, now is not the time for polite talk. We just want to know the truth - what cards does Dehrim hold in his hand? What is the bottom line of the so-called 'conditions' on the other side of the negotiation table? How much room for maneuver is there? Stop talking about those empty ideals, we want facts!"

Zhang Song's questioning went straight to the point, leaving Zhang Bo no room for ambiguity. Although Yang Di was still angry, he also locked his eyes on Zhang Bo's face, waiting for his most truthful answer.

Zhang Bo's body swayed slightly, as if Zhang Song's question had drained away his last bit of strength to remain calm. He lowered his head, avoiding the two men's sharp gazes, and his shoulders trembled slightly. After a dozen seconds of silence, he spoke in a voice that was almost breathless, with great bitterness and helplessness, and every word seemed to have exhausted his courage:
"No...no...no real terms for negotiation."

These seven words were like thunder, exploding in the tent again, making the two men feel more depressed than Yang Di's roar.

“What?!” Yang Di shouted, and the anger that he had just suppressed was instantly ignited again.

Zhang Song's pupils shrank sharply, and he asked hurriedly: "What do you mean? What do you mean there are no real negotiation conditions? Didn't they put forward so many demands at the negotiation table?!"

Zhang Bo raised his head, his face a mixture of fear, guilt and despair, and the corners of his mouth formed a bitter smile that was uglier than crying.

He knew that he had to tell the cruelest truth, even though it might completely destroy the last hopes of the two people in front of him.

"Boss Yang...Brother Zhang Song...don't you understand yet?"

Zhang Bo's voice was filled with suppressed tears: "Dehrim... Shen Mu... They don't care about any of the requests made by Green Leaf Group at all! The negotiations this afternoon, those so-called 'discussions' and 'exchange conditions', from beginning to end... were just formalities!"

He took a deep breath, as if grasping at the last straw, and desperately revealed the core:
"The reason why Shen Mu sent me to negotiate is not because he wants to negotiate an 'equal' result! He sent me here only... only because he insists on the idealism of 'the continuation of Blue Star civilization'! He feels that compared to crushing us directly with the army, conducting even a superficial 'peace negotiation' will make it easier for you... the people of Green Leaf Group... to accept this outcome... an outcome... of being directly annexed and becoming a vassal of Dehrim!"

Zhang Bo's voice became lower and lower, finally turning into a hoarse whisper:
"He insisted on using peaceful means, not because we are qualified to negotiate conditions, but simply because he felt that this would be more 'humane' for you psychologically. The demands put forward at the negotiation table today seem to be conditions, but in fact they are established requirements, not bargaining chips. The so-called room for maneuver... does not exist at all. Dehrim's strength is there, and the human empire behind him is an unimaginable behemoth. Shen Mu has absolute confidence... He just wants to use this so-called 'peaceful negotiation' to 'mercifully' complete the incorporation of the Green Leaf Group and realize his ideal of... the unification of the human race on Blue Star."

He closed his eyes in pain:
"So, there are no real terms for negotiation. Because Dehrim's goal is not to negotiate at all... but to make us surrender. Unconditionally and honorably... or, after rejection... ingloriously."

Zhang Bo's voice became weak like a candle in the wind. He lowered his head and his shoulders slumped, as if the questioning he had just experienced had drained all his energy.

The big tent was filled with a suffocating silence, with only the heavy breathing of the three people audible.

Yang Di's chest heaved violently, and his weathered face, now distorted by extreme anger and disappointment, stared at Zhang Bo.

Zhang Song also pursed his lips, his eyes were as sharp as a knife, and the previous affection for old friends had been completely replaced by cold scrutiny.

Just when Zhang Bo thought he would be completely consumed by this anger, something unexpected happened.

Yang Di suddenly let out a long, almost labored breath from deep in his chest.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the terrifying rage was forcibly suppressed, replaced by an unfathomable fatigue and... a hint of disguised understanding.

"Ah."

Yang Di let out a low laugh that was full of sarcasm and had an unclear meaning, but then his voice calmed down, even with a bit of forced comfort: "Xiaobo, you... have worked hard."

The sudden change in tone stunned Zhang Bo. He looked up blankly and met Yang Di's complicated and indescribable eyes.

"So that's how it is..." Yang Di slowly sat back in his chair, his movements a little stiff.

He rubbed his brows, as if he was digesting this cruel truth, or as if he was suppressing something: "It seems that we are too naive. Do you really think you are still qualified to negotiate any conditions?"

Zhang Song next to him also sighed at the right time, and his tone became much more "helpless" and "soft". He walked to Zhang Bo and even stretched out his hand, patting Zhang Bo's shoulder gently in a seemingly comforting manner.

Zhang Bo could feel the strength in his palm - neither light nor heavy, and it was not a genuine comfort, but more like a forced, symbolic contact.

"Okay, Xiaobo, don't blame yourself too much."

Zhang Song's voice was low, with a hint of understanding: "Being caught in the middle, I know it's hard for you. You can tell these... the truth, you must be under tremendous pressure, right?" His eyes swept across Zhang Bo's face, as if looking for evidence of Zhang Bo's "betrayal" or "coercion": "Boss Yang doesn't blame you for bringing bad news, it's just that it's hard to accept for the time being. After all, this is our family business that we worked hard to build."

Yang Di answered at the right time, his voice deliberately hoarse and considerate: "Yes, in the final analysis, it is because we are not well prepared and our skills are inferior to others. We can't blame others, nor... can we blame you for passing on the message." He paused, looking at the top of the tent with a tired look, but in fact his eyes were still fixed on Zhang Bo: "Since Lord Shen Mu is flying the banner of Blue Star civilization and taking the path of 'humane' recruitment... then... let's go through the process. He wants a legitimate peace, and we will give him this 'status'."

He looked at Zhang Bo, and the deliberately created "magnanimity" in his eyes seemed a little stiff: "The next negotiations will require your hard work. Although it is just a formality, we still have to talk about what needs to be discussed, and do... do enough face-saving things. At least let the people below, the remaining people in the Green Leaf Group, see a 'decent' way to survive. Do you understand what I mean?"

Zhang Bo nodded quickly, like a drowning man grabbing the last piece of driftwood, his voice trembling with the trembling of a man who had just survived a disaster: "I understand, President Yang, Brother Zhang Song! I will definitely try my best to fight for it! Even if... even if there is no real room for negotiation, I will try to keep more things for the group and get more protection for my brothers!"

Zhang Song pressed Zhang Bo's shoulder hard again, and this time it seemed more like a signal to push him away.

"Go, Xiaobo. They're waiting for you. Remember, keep the situation stable and don't let them get suspicious." His tone was meaningful. "If you have any new discoveries, or if Lord Shen Mu has any substantive intention to make concessions, please find a chance to tell us."

Zhang Bo felt the push on his shoulder, as if he had been pardoned.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looked at Yang Di who had become much more "tolerant" and Zhang Song who "still trusted" him, and the guilt and panic in his heart that almost crushed him were slightly relieved.

He nodded heavily, his tone filled with gratitude: "Don't worry! I will never let Mr. Yang and you down!" After that, he looked at Yang Di again to confirm that the other party had no intention of stopping him. Then he turned around with some unsteady steps but abnormally quickly, and almost staggered away from the big tent that suffocated him.

When the curtain of the tent fell behind Zhang Bo, the atmosphere of "consideration" that was originally deliberately created in the tent disappeared instantly, and the stagnant air seemed to be ignited in an instant.

Yang Di clenched the armrests of the chair tightly, his knuckles turned white from the force, his teeth creaked, his chest heaved violently, and the anger that he had suppressed before erupted like magma: "Trust?! He is a man who will never betray trust! Zhang Song, listen to this! Do you still think he is innocent?!"

The gentleness and "understanding" on Zhang Song's face also disappeared without a trace. He walked to the door of the tent, listened for a few seconds to the footsteps gradually fading away outside, and after confirming that Zhang Bo had gone far away, he turned around abruptly, with only cold calculation and deep suspicion in his eyes.

"Boss Yang, what he just said..." Zhang Song spoke very quickly, his voice was very low and full of chill: "'Shen Mu doesn't care about any of our requests', 'the negotiations are just a formality'... What does this mean? It means that Shen Mu has already taken us in his hands from the moment he sent him here! Why is he so sure? Unless..."

"Unless he already knew that Zhang Bo is our man!"

Yang Di's voice was like the cold wind of the underworld, and he spoke the conclusion for Zhang Song. He stood up suddenly and paced anxiously in the tent, making the ground thump with every step. "That damn, inexplicably failed big plan! I always felt something was wrong! Shen Mu's reaction was unreasonably fast! The trap he set was so precise that it seemed like he was waiting for us to fall in! Where was Zhang Bo at the time? He was at every critical point in our plan!"

Zhang Song's eyes were as sharp as an eagle: "That's right! We regarded the main building of the castle as the safest 'escape route', and he suggested that Shen Mu hide there! It turned out that the Holy Light Knights were on the roof! He also predicted that the city wall would collapse, and the skeleton giant did come out, but was instantly focused by the heavy firepower that had been arranged in advance! Even our decapitation troops were surrounded as soon as they were teleported out... This kind of airtight defense is no exaggeration to say that it is prophetic! Our big plan is a secret in his mouth, but in Shen Mu's hands, it is probably already a spread-out battle map!"

"Spy..." Yang Di stopped, his face livid, and squeezed out the word from his teeth, "Double agent! We thought we had planted a sharp knife in the enemy's heart, but it pierced our own chest! Zhang Song, when did Shen Mu instigate Zhang Bo to rebel? Was it after he entered Dehrim? Or... was he discovered by Shen Mu a long time ago, and was coerced and bribed to turn against him?"

“It’s hard to say right now.”

Zhang Song frowned and analyzed quickly, "His performance just now... panic and guilt did not seem fake, as if he really did not expect to anger you. This may be the ultimate disguise, or it may be... He himself did not realize that his stupidity had sold out all the information! But no matter which one, the fact is that we lost miserably because his big plan was exposed! His loyalty to Shen Mu is definitely worthy of the greatest doubt now!"

Yang Di's eyes flashed with madness and destruction, and he clenched his fists: "I really want to kill him with my own hands now..."

"Boss Yang, calm down!" Zhang Song quickly held down Yang Di's arm that was shaking with anger, but his eyes were equally cold. "Killing him will not help. It will only completely break off relations with Dehrim. We have no capital left now! Besides... since Shen Mu dared to send him here, he must have a backup plan."

Zhang Song took a deep breath, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "But perhaps, this is our last chance! A great opportunity to test his true position!"

Yang Di looked at Zhang Song with bloodshot eyes: "Test? How to test? Do you think he is still worthy of our 'test' now?" His tone was full of distrust.

"It is precisely because of the extreme suspicion that this final confirmation is needed!"

Zhang Song lowered his voice and spoke decisively, "Didn't he say that Shen Mu wanted to 'peacefully' recruit us? Then we will take advantage of his 'guilt' towards us and give him a mission - a 'top secret mission' that only he and Shen Mu know about, but is equally deadly!"

There was a gleam of cold calculation in Zhang Song's eyes.

Yang Di immediately understood Zhang Song's intention: "You mean..."

"Tell him that we need to have a final communication with the Wood Elf Plane! Negotiations are fake, and surrender is imminent, but we must know the final attitude over there! 'Activate that backup plan'!"

Zhang Song spoke very quickly: "The wording is vague, but the direction is clear - it implies that the Wood Elf Plane may have a back-up plan or a killer, and we need to contact them secretly before we finally decide to surrender. We ask him to be our only trusted 'insider' in Dehrim, and to use his identity and ability as a prophecy mage, and even some of his privileges in Dehrim, to find a way to avoid Shen Mu's eyes and ears, and help us establish an ultra-long-distance secure communication with the Wood Elf Plane! The sooner the better!"

The anger in Yang Di's eyes faded slightly, replaced by a hint of cold calculation: "Good plan! If Zhang Bo really has some feelings and guilt for us as he appears to have, and he is still a member of 'Green Leaf', he will find a way to do this extremely dangerous thing! Even if he just tries, there will be clues! And if he..."

"If he refuses immediately, or talks about something else, or even turns around and reports this top-secret mission to Shen Mu..."

Zhang Song took over the conversation with a cruel smile on his face, "Then he is a complete traitor! Shen Mu's hound planted next to us! The generous negotiation he and Shen Mu performed for us was just to squeeze out the last value of Green Leaf Group without bloodshed, and then kick us out completely!"

"By the time,"

Yang Di's eyes became extremely ferocious, like a beast that was ready to eat its prey. He said word by word, "Even if we are doomed to perish, I will drag this dog that betrayed its master... and that hypocritical Shen Mu... to hell together!"

"Give him this chance."

Yang Di sat back in his chair, leaning forward slightly, looking at Zhang Song, his face regaining the cold determination of a superior: "Use your most covert way to convey this 'final request' to him. See which side our prophecy mage is on!"

"Understood!" Zhang Song nodded solemnly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Outside the tent, the afternoon sun was somewhat dazzling, and Dehrim's negotiation team was still resting in the small tent.

Inside the big tent, the poisonous vines of conspiracy were growing wildly and silently.

Yang Di and Zhang Song's last patience and trust in Zhang Bo are sliding towards the edge of the cliff.

They decided to give Zhang Bo a chance.

A final test that determines everyone's fate. (End of this chapter)