Ye Chen nodded, asking, “The opposition has formed a government, claiming total victory. How’s the situation on your end?”
Hamid grinned, “I’m doing great. They talked to me after capturing the capital. I didn’t want to be absorbed by them, preferring to hold my own patch as before. They respected my choice, we agreed to stay out of each other’s way, so I had the mood to marry and bring my wives for a trip, a holiday. After years in the mountains, honestly, I was going stir-crazy.”
Ye Chen asked, “What about the Ten Thousand Dragon Hall? Do they still recognise the land lease agreement with the previous government?”
“They do!” Hamid laughed, “They wouldn’t dare offend the Ten Thousand Dragon Hall. They promised the Hall Master that all terms remain unchanged, staying out of each other’s way.”
Ye Chen’s expression grew serious, “The Ten Thousand Dragon Hall isn’t a big worry. They’re a mercenary group, not coveting the opposition’s regime, so they can indeed coexist peacefully. But you, brother, by refusing their integration, with the old government surrendering so quickly, now that they have no enemies, you’ve become their target.”
“No way,” Hamid said confidently, “I have a good relationship with their leader. We’re brothers who’ve faced life and death together. Later, our ambitions diverged, his were big, mine small, but we understand each other. Now they have power, they won’t care about my tiny territory.”
Ye Chen shook his head, “It’s not that simple. There’s an old Chinese saying, ‘How can you allow another to snore beside your bed?’ You’re right under their noses, a self-armed force. When there were external enemies, you were an ally, sharing pressure and firepower. Now, without external enemies, aren’t you the enemy?”
Hamid frowned, silent for a moment, then waved dismissively, “Good brother, don’t worry. I’m not afraid of them stirring trouble. Thanks to you, my base is now a massive fortified stronghold. Your advice to stockpile grain and bide time, I’ve never forgotten. My tunnels are filled with food, ammo, and medicine, enough to hold out for three to five years. If they want to fight, let them try. I guarantee they’ll lose their wives and their men, shooting themselves in the foot!”
Ye Chen smiled wryly, “Brother, the situation’s changed, so must the strategy. Before, you were one of many opposition factions. The government couldn’t defeat you, so they’d pick softer targets, no need to fight you to the death.”
He shifted tone, serious, “But now it’s different. You’re the only uncertain factor in their eyes. If they attack, they’ll focus all their forces on you. Forget the rest, they outnumber you, with no other battles to split their troops. They could surround you with a fraction of their forces. What then?”
“This…” Hamid asked nervously, “Do you think they’ll really attack me?”
Ye Chen said, “If they attack directly, even if they can’t overrun you, they can harass you with long-range fire. Your men would have to hide in the tunnels, listening to shelling year-round. Your soldiers aren’t made of steel, they’d collapse in months.”
“But if they surround without attacking, cutting off all your external supplies, after a few years, without firing a shot, you’d run out of food and ammo, forced to surrender.”
“If you counterattack, with your forces, it’s like throwing eggs at a rock. Once you abandon your fortifications and strike out, you lose your greatest advantage, and defeat is certain!”
