13 A NEW PLAN
The Decresh kingdom men were so terrified to go and fight the powerful kingdom, Neville. The loss they experienced in the first battle was so great that they were thinking of seeking help from another kingdom.
Even when the Decresh kingdom knew that the Neville kingdom was a powerful Kingdom with a great king, they didn't hesitate to attack it.
They only heard rumors of how powerful the kingdom is, and how they conquer their battles over other kingdoms. If not for the training the Decresh army had received, they wouldn't have been able to kill more than a hundred men of Neville's kingdom.
Prince Gen brought up the idea of seeking help from another kingdom to his father.
"Father, Luna kingdom is willing to extend their help to us, when I met with the prince and the king of their kingdom."
King Wang Lei sat quietly for a few minutes before uttering a word.
"Do you think we can't fight the Neville kingdom?" King Wang Lei smirked.
"Father, you know what happened in that battle, and you know you suffered injuries in the cause of that battle. Why would you make the same mistake you have made?" Prince Gen asked as he glared at his father, who was yet to recover from the wounds he sustained.
King Wang Lei stared into the angry eyes of his son.
"I think, I have a great idea," king Wang Lei finally broke the silence.
"Which is?" Prince Gen asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Let's take them unaware tonight." King Wang Lei responded.
Prince Gen took a good look at his father as he tried to imagine how it would be possible to do that when the walls of Neville's kingdom are beyond imagination. With a high protective gate, that can't be broken down by any iron.
"Father, have you ever thought of how to get into the kingdom?" Prince Gen asked as he waited for a response.
'Money' was king Wang Lei's response.
Prince Gen gets more confused at that moment. He wondered what the king meant by 'money'.
"What does money have to do with what we are discussing?" Prince Gen asked with a frown face.
"Tell commander Bingwen to organize four brave men and bring them to me immediately!" King Wang Lei ordered.
"Alright!" Prince Gen answered sharply.
He stopped the king's bodyguards who were standing on both sides of the king's throne from going to deliver the message instead, he went by himself.
He left for the message.
Prince Gen met commander Bingwen who was lecturing the army on how and what to do when they go to any battle. Prince Gen was impressed when he saw commander Bingwen lecturing the army. He has been doing it before, but not with boldness and full energy like this.
Prince Gen had to search for a particular spot to wait for commander Bingwen to finish before he would call for attention, not because he wanted to avoid disturbing him, but because the seriousness in the army's faces shows that they were eager or happy with what commander Bingwen was telling them. Taking him away for a few minutes might discourage some.
Prince Gen wasn't only going to tell commander Bingwen the message his father sent him, he also wanted to discuss something with him.
After waiting for commander Bingwen for a few minutes, prince Gen called for his attention.
"Yes, Your highness," commander Bingwen bowed down as he responded to prince Gen.
"The king demands you to bring four brave warriors to him immediately!" Prince Gen said to him.
"As the king wishes, I will do just that." Commander Bingwen replied as he stood up to leave, but abruptly stopped when prince Gen called out, "wait!"
"Yes, your highness," commander Bingwen answered.
"I think the king wants to send them on an errand. Make sure you hear the instructions he will give them. Meet me in my room after attending to the king." Prince Gen spoke with a command.
"Yes, your highness." Commander Bingwen replied and left.
Prince Gen also left for his room because he wouldn't want to stay around to hear the instructions the king would give to the four men. After all, it might cause an argument between him and his father, which he was never ready for.
Commander Bingwen arranged the four brave warriors, the king demanded.
"This is what you will do for me. I will give you some money to take with you to the Neville kingdom." King Wang Lei said to the four warriors standing in front of him.
Fear gripped the four warriors,, but they had no choice but to obey the king's command.
"You will disguise yourselves so that you won't be known by them. Tell them you are strangers traveling to another kingdom,, so you decided to stop to buy some food in their kingdom. I'm convinced if you tell them this, they will believe you. Ask one of their gatekeepers to take you to the kingdom market. On your way to the market, try to engage the man in a conversation that will lead him to explain how we can have access to the kingdom after showing him the money. No man will reject a huge amount of money without stressing himself. But also be on guard if he attempts to raise an alarm. If you are really brave, you will know what's best to do. Try to let him know how the money may change his entire life if he escapes from the kingdom. He won't be the first warrior to betray his kingdom." King Wang Lei explained to the four warriors and commander Bingwen who was also listening to the king's instructions.
After the king has told them how they will go about it, a sack of money was brought to them to take along.
After leaving the king's presence, commander Bingwen went to prince Gen to tell him what King Wang Lei told the four brave warriors. On hearing this, prince Gen demanded the four warriors, and they were brought to him. Prince Gen took out two men out of the four and replaced himself with the two.
"Bingwen, let's keep this a secret. No one, I repeat myself, no one should let my father know what just happened now. I hope I have made myself clear, "Prince Gen warned commander Bingwen and the two warriors with him.
"Yes, Your Highness." They answered in chorus.
King Wang Lei was sure that the warriors will carry out the assignment perfectly, and he does not doubt that. He didn't bother to see them again before they left, believing that Commander Bingwen would balance everything.
Prince Gen and the two warriors set out for the Neville kingdom. This time, Prince Gen didn't use his white horse so that he wouldn't be noticed by the gatekeepers. The commander and the King of Neville may know his face but certainly not the army. Besides, he didn't wear his royal outfits or his armor tunic. He was dressed as a commoner, in fact, like a slave.
The gates of Neville's kingdom were wide open, but the gatekeepers were armed, ready for any attack that might come unaware of them. They are always ready for any battle,, but it will be difficult to be prepared for the Decresh kingdom who were planning to attack them tonight.
"Maintain yourselves and follow me. I will do all the talking and no one should dare interfere." Prince Gen told them.
"Yes, your highness." They both answered.
When prince Gen and his men got close to the gate, they dropped from their horses and took them on their ropes.
"Who are you?" one of the gatekeepers asked them as his right hand was on the handle of his sword and his left hand on the scabbard, ready to cut off someone's head.
The other gatekeepers were standing at his back. They positioned themselves like they were about to attack their enemies.
"We are travelers, and we know that this kingdom is peaceful. So, we stopped to buy some food for ourselves before we continue our journey. We would be glad if you permit us to do so." Prince Gen responded.
The guard moved closer and examined them. The way he was scanning their body with his eyes will make one wonder if he was looking for a mustard seed on their body.
The gatekeepers led them in after satisfying their sight.
"Please, we would need someone to lead us to the market." Prince Gen pleaded.
"Just take this straight path, and it will lead you there. It's just a few steps away from here." One of the gatekeepers responded.
"To avoid questions from others you can do us a favor by letting one of you follow us, please. Some people may not believe us even when we explain to them why we are here. People think differently." Prince Gen pleaded once more.
"Alright, if you insist, then two of our men will follow you." Their leader responded and appointed two men to follow them which they did.