Inside the Central Army Camp, the Five Army Camp Commander Yuan Feng, about forty years old with a square face, sat with a sullen, grim expression, surveying the gathered generals.

At this moment, within the military tent, numerous military leaders had assembled, each person's face either silent, grave, or anxious.

Not long ago, they had led troops into a third confrontation with the Qingzhou Rebel Army, resulting again in a crushing defeat. The once-proud Capital Camp Elite had been routed by the previously underestimated Qingzhou Rebel Army, with the scale of defeat even more significant than the two prior encounters.

"Is everyone mute? Speak! What are the casualties?"

Yuan Feng's sharp eyes bore into each face as he questioned.

A military officer, steeling himself, stepped forward: "Reporting to Commander, in this battle, preliminary statistics show 87 dead, over 300 seriously injured, and more than 800 lightly wounded... with war horses lost..."

"Pow!"

Yuan Feng slammed his large hand on the table, interrupting the report, his eyes reddened, as if his heart bled!

This number did not even include yesterday's two battles.

He painfully closed his eyes: "Continue the report!"

A second middle-aged military officer, gritting his teeth, stepped forward. His face was still stained with blood, a testament to the fierce combat:

"Commander, what's urgent now is not just the casualties, but the decline in morale! In just two days, we've suffered three consecutive defeats, each more disastrous than the last! Coupled with Prince Heng's psychological tactics, morale in the camp has plummeted, and some soldiers are even fearful of further combat... If the next battle doesn't turn our loss into a victory, I'm afraid..."

Yuan Feng clenched his fists tightly, his hand veins bulging:

"This place isn't far from the Capital. By communicating with Flying Eagle, the court must have received the aid request yesterday, so announce to the entire camp that reinforcements are coming to stabilize morale!"

Historically, Capital Camp officers have been in open and covert conflicts.

This time, for the Five Army Camp to be appointed to resist the rebels, it was due to Yuan Feng's voluntary application.

He went out full of pride, but now asking for help was equally humiliating.

If not forced, they would never willingly seek assistance.

Another slightly chubby military officer in the tent showed a bitter expression: "Commander, do you think that, given the current situation at the court, there will be support?"

This slightly chubby officer, with sharp eyes, surveyed everyone:

"Let's be frank, Your Majesty has been away from the capital for a long time, causing unrest among the populace, and turmoil in court. Although the Grandmaster temporarily presides over the court, he can hardly suppress the numerous officials. Previously, we were dispatched here without daring to initiate significant conflicts, which already says something! Now, as news of our defeat reaches the court, imagine how those civil officials would react? They are likely to argue endlessly for days without issuing a mobilization order!"

Pausing, he continued:

"Moreover, given the situation in the Capital, compared to deploying troops for our aid, the civil officials are probably more inclined to order us to retreat to protect the Capital! Even if the Grandmaster decides to overrule the opinions, mobilizing troops for our aid, when would the reinforcements arrive? Tomorrow? Or the day after? But will the Qingzhou Army give us this time?!"

No one responded!

The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Yuan Feng's face was stern, fixing his gaze on him: "So, what are you suggesting? To shake the army's morale?"

The slightly chubby officer did not retreat or avoid: "Sir! I simply mean that we can't just take hits passively anymore; we must make a decision before the opponent's next attack! Otherwise..."

Just then, the main tent was suddenly opened, and a deputy officer entered, holding a letter, approaching Yuan Feng: "Sir, this is a letter shot over by arrows from the other side."

Yuan Feng, expressionless, tore open the envelope to read it, and suddenly his heart sank, letting out a long sigh: "Two hours. Prince Heng has given us the final two hours to make a choice, either to join or, in two hours, it will be a showdown."

Everyone's heart skipped a beat, and anxiety rose.

A young general angrily said, "This is an open conspiracy. The enemy's goal in launching three consecutive attacks was to completely crush our morale, so they could absorb and swallow us!"

Yuan Feng was silent because he clearly understood.

Prince Heng does not wish to sacrifice too much to forcibly consume the Five Army Camp, so he chose to intimidate, shake the army's morale, and then use his status as a Vassal King to coerce and entice them into joining.

This method was effective, for with the Empress missing and presumed dead, the court was left with only ministers, while Prince Heng was a genuine member of the Imperial Family...

Yuan Feng was certain that among the group of officers in the tent, many had inner conflicts.

Faced with being unable to fight back, rather than risking their lives and being labeled as a rebellious army by the new emperor in the future, it seemed better to align with the Imperial Family.

But Yuan Feng did not believe the Empress would just perish like that, especially with the legendary "Zhao Douan" rumored to be escorting her.

As someone who had witnessed the military maneuvers once, Yuan Feng remembered Zhao Douan vividly.

"Now is not the time for blame; we have only two hours left. Everyone think, how to respond?" someone shouted.

"Sir, why not give me a squad of elite soldiers to mount a sneak attack from behind, catching the enemy off guard!" one person volunteered.

"To send you to die? In my opinion, it's better to retreat! If we can reach this position, we can use the terrain to restrain those Evil ones, providing resistance and awaiting backup!" another analyzed.

He was immediately rebutted with a sneer: "In just two hours, how to retreat? I'm afraid the moment we move back, the enemy would pursue, and the soldiers would instantly become a scattered army, completely defeated! It's still better to take the initiative!"

"No, we should proceed steadily..."

In no time, the opinions in the tent split into two camps, with officers arguing fiercely, their faces flushed, and spittle flying.

Yuan Feng sat in the main seat, indecisive, not because he lacked the courage to make decisions, but because in the current predicament, all choices seemed to have slim chances of success.

Just as he painfully closed his eyes again, thinking they were in a desperate situation, suddenly, the tent was opened once more, and the courier deputy returned, eyes shining with excitement: "Generals, stop for a moment. Scouts report, a large force is approaching from behind us, from the direction of the Capital. There is a possibility that it is the Divine Mechanism Camp coming to our aid!"