The Traitor

"Knock knock!"

In the dead of night, all was quiet. Luo Yu gently tapped on Zhang Gui's door.

The Watchtower had few houses. Only Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui had private quarters; ordinary soldiers had to share with seven or eight others.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Luo Yu."

"Luo Yu?"

Zhang Gui's voice held a hint of confusion, clearly not expecting Luo Yu to visit so late at night.

"Come in."

Luo Yu pushed open the door. Inside, the wooden house was arranged like Wang Shuang's - a wooden table, a bed, two small compartments, and a pile of miscellaneous items in the corner.

"Still awake, Commander Zhang?"

Luo Yu glanced around. Zhang Gui was polishing a curved saber with a yellowed rag.

"The fort is under siege. The enemy might attack at night, so someone has to keep watch. If Wang Shuang can sleep, I can't."

Zhang Gui shot Luo Yu a cold look:

"Speak up. What do you want?"

"I just wanted to ask Commander Zhang if we could put Wu Mazi's death behind us. I don't want to be enemies with you."

"Ha ha, are you here to beg for mercy?"

Zhang Gui sneered: "I already told you - we're all illiterate, fighting on the front lines just to earn some military credit. Wu Mazi has served me well.

If you had confessed and handed over the credit when you returned, I might have been lenient.

But begging for mercy now? Too late!"

After losing face in front of the entire garrison that day, Zhang Gui now despised Luo Yu.

"If that's the case, there's nothing to discuss."

Luo Yu suddenly changed his tone: "Commander Zhang, did you send a secret letter to the enemy? Planning to open the gates and surrender?"

The hand polishing the saber froze mid-air. Zhang Gui instinctively gripped the hilt:

"What are you talking about?"

A small dagger appeared in Luo Yu's hand as he muttered:

"I hate traitors who collaborate with the enemy!"

Wang Shuang paced back and forth in his room, holding his hands behind his back. The flickering candlelight illuminated his worried face.

He kept glancing at the door, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Creak."

The wooden door opened, and Luo Yu finally appeared, holding a blood-stained dagger.

"How did it go? Did you succeed?"

Wang Shuang asked eagerly: "Did you kill him?"

"He's still breathing."

Luo Yu spat:

"That guy is strong. It took me a while to beat him down and tie him up. Do you want to see him?"

"Ha ha, you didn't disappoint me."

Wang Shuang felt relieved, waving his hand:

"Let's go see this traitor!"

Wang Shuang's quarters were on the east side of the fort, Zhang Gui's on the west. Not far apart, he brought four trusted men with him, marching toward Zhang Gui's room.

The night watchmen looked at them with suspicion but didn't dare to ask what was happening.

Wang Shuang burst into the room and saw Zhang Gui in a sorry state.

The room was in disarray, clearly having seen a fight. Zhang Gui had a knife wound on his arm, was covered in blood, and was bound to a chair. He looked severely beaten, barely alive.

Seeing the once mighty Zhang Gui in such a state, Wang Shuang gloated:

"Ha ha, Zhang Gui, Zhang Gui, never thought you'd come to this!"

"Commander Wang."

Zhang Gui struggled to lift his head: "May I ask why you sent Luo Yu to capture me? What crime have I committed?"

"Why capture you? Don't you know?"

Wang Shuang's lips curled: "You sent a secret letter to the enemy, agreeing to open the gates tomorrow night. Your plan to collaborate with the enemy was discovered by me.

Who else would I capture?"

"Damn you!"

Zhang Gui's eyes blazed with fury:

"Talking nonsense! When did I write to the enemy? Wang Shuang, this is clearly a personal vendetta! You're just looking for an excuse to kill me!

For a year you've been targeting me. No need to pretend! Today I've fallen into your trap!"

Zhang Gui turned to Luo Yu: "You fool, with all your skills, you've been used as a pawn!"

"Ha ha ha, I'm so happy."

Wang Shuang couldn't hold back his laughter, while Luo Yu looked bewildered:

"Commander Wang, what's going on? You said Zhang Gui was sending secret letters to the enemy. Now you're saying I was taking revenge?"

"What's going on?"

A cold light flashed in Wang Shuang's eyes:

"Men, Luo Yu has overstepped his bounds, taking revenge on Deputy Commander Zhang Gui. Seize him!"

The four trusted men pounced on Luo Yu, tying him up with a hemp rope.

Outnumbered, Luo Yu struggled and shouted:

"Commander Wang, what are you doing? You said Zhang Gui was collaborating with the enemy, and you wanted me to help you punish the traitor. Now it's revenge?"

"You, with your strong body and simple mind."

Wang Shuang laughed loudly:

"Zhang Gui was right - you're stupid! All muscle and no brains."

Zhang Gui glared at Wang Shuang: "If I'm not mistaken, the real traitor is you!"

"There's no need to hide it anymore."

Wang Shuang's lips curled in a mocking smile:

"Yes, I've already made arrangements with the enemy to open the gates tomorrow night.

I was just worried you'd interfere and ruin everything. Since you had a grudge against Luo Yu, I used his hands to get rid of you, my thorn in the side!"

"So it was you! The real traitor is you!"

Luo Yu's expression turned cold: "Traitor!"

"Ha ha, let you die with your eyes open."

A look of disdain flashed in Wang Shuang's eyes:

"Zhang Gui was right - the letter was written by me. Did you think I'd just appoint anyone as deputy commander?

You're skilled, but you don't seem like someone who would serve me. So I used your hands to kill Zhang Gui, then pinned the crime on you.

Two birds with one stone, isn't that perfect?"

Wang Shuang was now a different person, his face full of cunning and deceit. No wonder he brought his trusted men - he was preparing to kill the messenger.

"Damn you!"

Zhang Gui cursed: "You're a traitor! I'm ashamed to be associated with you!"

"Ashamed to be associated with me? I don't care!"

Wang Shuang snapped:

"In this world, staying alive is most important!

The fort is besieged, our supplies are exhausted, and there's no hope of reinforcements. What's the point of holding out? Surrendering to the enemy means not only saving your life but also gaining wealth and power. Why not?"

"Just excuses for your cowardice!"

"I don't care to argue with you. Every man for himself!"

Wang Shuang sneered at the two men:

"Two dead men aren't worth my time."

The feeling of victory made Wang Shuang laugh out loud, triumphant.

Luo Yu suddenly lifted his head coldly, his lips curling in a strange smile:

"Commander Wang, what makes you think you've won?"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Several arrows shot out from the compartments on either side, piercing through the chests of Wang Shuang's four trusted men.

Blood spurted out instantly, and the four fell dead before they could even scream.

The laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a stench of blood.