Chapter 103. The Seizure
Ba Sing Se.
A long carriage slowly approached the towering walls of the capital city, which were striking in their grandeur. Looking at them, it sometimes felt as though they were pressing down on your shoulders. Inside the carriage were ten of the finest conquerors from King Bumi's personal guard.
"Just to see these walls, it's worth visiting Ba Sing Se," one of them murmured in awe.
"About a hundred meters tall and thirty meters wide," another voice added. "They say the walls themselves contain entire houses and passages that allow the guards to move quickly and unnoticed along the entire perimeter."
"But here's my question: will they definitely let us through the gates?" asked another member of the group, looking somewhat sleepy.
"If you hadn't slept through our meetings, you'd know that General Hau, responsible for the city's overall defense, will turn a blind eye to our actions. He won't let General Sang, Long Feng's man in charge of the outer walls' defense, notice us."
"Better prepare for a fight. Long Feng doesn't accept even average recruits into his police force. Every member of the Dai Li is either already a master or close to it," their commander said, cutting off the budding conversation.
"With all due respect, Commander, but I don't think they'll be a problem for us," the youngest among them shook his head. His tone was steady, and he adjusted his slipping glasses several times as he spoke. "From what I know, they've never been known for their large numbers. Besides us, three other squads are approaching Omashu from different routes. And let's not forget Mr. Lao's people, who aren't weak either."
"Still, my heart feels heavy somehow," the commander sighed. Everyone turned to him. It's worth noting that this seasoned warrior had survived where many others had perished. His instincts were trusted unconditionally. "Their actions in the old city trouble me. They've definitely prepared something sinister..."
"The Beifong family has already searched the entire underground space but found nothing. Maybe we're worrying for nothing," someone tried to ease the tense atmosphere in the carriage.
"Time will tell," the commander said, closing his eyes.