Chapter 8: Intelligence Network
Victory on the battlefield was loud.
Victory in politics was quiet.
Victory in intelligence—
Was invisible.
---
Two days after the military standoff at the eastern river, Shattered County returned to what appeared to be normalcy.
Road crews resumed construction.
Caravans traveled the trade routes.
Militia patrols rotated along the ridge.
But Liang Chen knew better than to believe that Blackthorn had simply retreated.
Because armies that marched openly—
Were rarely the most dangerous threat.
---
[Alert: Information Discrepancy Detected.]
Grain Reserves – Western Storage: Missing 4%
Militia Rotation Logs: Altered
Trade Tariff Records: Delayed Entry
---
Liang frowned at the system interface.
Small things.
Individually meaningless.
But together—
A pattern.
---
Someone inside Shattered County was feeding information out.
---
[New Mission Available: Establish Intelligence Network.]
Objectives:
Identify internal information leaks
Monitor trade routes for irregular contact
Deploy covert surveillance within council and militia
Reward:
Intelligence Network Unlock
Espionage Detection +15%
Penalty for Failure:
Enemy Strategic Forecast Accuracy +20%
---
Accepted.
---
Liang summoned Captain Wei immediately.
"I need eyes inside our own territory," he said without preamble.
Wei blinked.
"You suspect a spy?"
"I suspect several."
---
Within hours, Liang had selected twenty individuals from among the militia—soldiers with strong loyalty ratings, adaptable personalities, and minimal political affiliations.
Farmers' sons.
Former traders.
Even one stable hand who had demonstrated exceptional observational skill during patrol duty.
---
The system highlighted their profiles one by one.
---
Loyalty: 88%
Perception: Above Average
Political Influence: Low
Deception Resistance: Moderate
---
Perfect.
---
"They are not soldiers anymore," Liang told them when they gathered in the inner chamber.
"They are observers."
Some looked confused.
Others—
Nervous.
---
"You will travel as merchants, laborers, messengers. You will listen more than you speak. Watch more than you act."
"And report everything," he added.
"Especially what seems unimportant."
---
Because in intelligence—
The smallest detail often mattered most.
---
Over the next three days, reports began filtering in.
Strange meetings in village taverns.
Unknown riders traveling trade roads at night.
Militia patrol routes being anticipated by external scouts.
---
Then—
One name began appearing more often than the others.
Council Member Wen.
---
Liang pulled up Wen's loyalty rating.
---
Loyalty: 58%
Influence: Moderate
Unauthorized External Contact: 2 Instances
---
And—
---
[Communication Pattern Match: Blackthorn Territory Trade Envoy Network.]
---
There it was.
---
"Bring me the records of his recent movements," Liang ordered.
---
Wen had left the castle twice in the past week without escort.
Each time—
Traveling west.
Toward the outer villages nearest the Blackthorn trade road.
---
[Probability of Intelligence Leak: 72%.]
---
Not proof.
But enough.
---
Liang didn't move immediately.
Arresting Wen without confirmation could fracture the council—just as Huo's removal had nearly done.
And this time—
Blackthorn would be watching for weakness.
---
Instead—
He set a trap.
---
False patrol routes were issued to Wen through official channels.
Militia movements that would never occur.
Supply shipments that didn't exist.
Watchtower rotations deliberately misaligned.
---
Then—
They waited.
---
Two days later—
Blackthorn scouts were spotted along a road that had never been used.
Waiting.
---
For militia that would never arrive.
---
[Leak Confirmed.]
Source Probability: Council Member Wen – 91%
---
Liang exhaled slowly.
It wasn't betrayal that angered him.
It was predictability.
---
The council was summoned that evening.
Wen sat calmly among them.
Until Liang slid a single report across the table.
---
"Care to explain why Blackthorn troops were waiting along our false patrol route yesterday?" he asked.
---
Wen's composure shattered.
---
Gasps rippled across the chamber.
Accusations followed.
Denials.
Desperation.
---
"I was ensuring stability!" Wen protested. "Blackthorn promised protection—"
"From whom?" Liang interrupted quietly.
Silence.
---
Guards stepped forward.
---
"Council Member Wen is hereby removed from his position pending investigation for treason."
---
No mercy this time.
---
[Mission Complete: Intelligence Network Established.]
Espionage Detection: +15%
Internal Security: +12%
Skill Unlocked: Intelligence Network
---
That night, Liang reviewed the updated projections.
Enemy Strategic Forecast Accuracy: -10%
Border Security: 84%
Council Loyalty: +7%
---
But the system had one final update.
---
[New Event Detected: Unknown Messenger Approaching Eastern Gate.]
Affiliation: Blackthorn Territory
Escort: None
Threat Level: Low–Unknown
---
Liang's eyes narrowed.
No escort meant one thing.
---
A message.
---
And messages—
Always came before war.