Title: Cannon Fodder Rebellion

CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12: Shadows of Betrayal

The evening air was heavy with the scent of rain, the sky a dark canvas bruised by rolling clouds. Xia Lin sat alone in the stable, the silence pressing in on her like a physical weight. The others had already dispersed, retreating to their hidden homes, but she remained, staring at the flickering lantern light that cast long shadows against the walls.

The rumors were spreading faster than she had anticipated. Every meeting they held was smaller than the last, as more people withdrew in fear or doubt. The Xu family’s insidious campaign was working, and it felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her feet.

A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Startled, Xia Lin rose cautiously, her heart pounding. “Who’s there?” she called, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of a small dagger she kept hidden at her waist.

“It’s me,” a voice whispered, the door creaking open. Mei slipped inside, her face pale, eyes wide with urgency. “Xia, we have a problem.”

Xia Lin frowned, closing the door behind her friend. “What is it?”

Mei glanced around nervously before speaking. “I overheard two of our own talking with someone from the Xu family. They’re planning to betray us, Xia.”

The words hit Xia Lin like a blow. “What?” She felt her stomach drop. “Who?”

“I don’t know their names, but they were talking about handing over information in exchange for protection,” Mei said, her voice trembling. “They’re scared, Xia. They think the movement is going to fail, and they want to save themselves.”

Xia Lin paced, her mind racing. Betrayal. The very thing she had feared. “We have to find out who it is and stop them before it’s too late.”

Mei nodded. “I’ll ask around discreetly. Maybe Xu Luanyo can help too. He knows most of the people who are still with us.”

But even as Mei spoke, Xia Lin could feel the noose tightening around them. The Xu family had found the crack in their armor, and now they were driving the wedge deeper. If their ranks were divided, if trust shattered, the movement would collapse before they had a chance to fight.

“Be careful,” Xia Lin warned. “If they suspect that we know, they might act faster.”

As Mei left to gather more information, Xia Lin remained standing in the dim light of the stable, her thoughts swirling. She had always known the risks—fighting against a powerful family like the Xu’s was never going to be easy. But the idea of betrayal from within felt like a deeper wound than anything the Xu family could inflict.

---

Elsewhere, in the opulent halls of the Xu estate, Lady Xu and Mr. Zhang were deep in conversation. The plan to divide the movement had been effective, and now the final pieces were falling into place.

“The rumors are doing their job,” Mr. Zhang said with a smug smile. “But we must push harder. The more doubt we can sow among them, the quicker they’ll turn on each other.”

Lady Xu nodded, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “And what of our informants? Have they agreed to betray Xia Lin?”

“They’re on the verge,” Mr. Zhang confirmed. “Fear is a powerful motivator. A few more nudges, and they’ll give us everything we need to dismantle this rebellion from the inside.”

Lady Xu smirked. “Good. The sooner we rid ourselves of this nuisance, the better. I want them crushed before they have a chance to rise again.”

---

Days passed, and the tension within the movement grew. Whispers of betrayal lingered like a thick fog, and trust between comrades was fraying at the edges. Xia Lin tried to hold them together, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Every conversation was shadowed with suspicion, every glance weighed down with doubt.

One evening, as Xia Lin, Xu Luanyo, and Mei met in secret to discuss their next move, Xu Luanyo brought troubling news. “There’s a group of people who haven’t shown up to the last few meetings. I think they might be the ones Mei overheard.”

Xia Lin’s brow furrowed. “Do we know where they are?”

Xu Luanyo nodded grimly. “They’ve been meeting at the tavern on the outskirts of town. I haven’t approached them yet, but I’ve seen them talking with strangers—likely agents of the Xu family.”

Mei’s face tightened with anger. “We can’t let this go on. If they hand over information, it could ruin everything we’ve worked for.”

Xia Lin stood up, her expression hardening. “We need to confront them. Tonight.”

---

Under the cover of darkness, Xia Lin, Xu Luanyo, and Mei made their way to the tavern. The streets were quiet, the usual bustle of the town replaced by an uneasy calm. As they approached the tavern, they could hear voices inside, laughter and conversation. Xia Lin’s heart pounded in her chest, every step a reminder of the delicate balance they were trying to maintain.

Peeking through the window, they spotted the group—five people sitting at a corner table, their faces partially obscured by the flickering candlelight. Among them was a figure Xia Lin recognized all too well: Ren, a former ally who had been one of the loudest voices at the early rallies.

“I can’t believe it’s him,” Mei whispered, her voice laced with betrayal.

Xia Lin clenched her fists. “We need to know what they’re planning.”

They slipped quietly inside, taking seats at a table far from the group. As they strained to listen, Ren’s voice drifted across the room. “The Xu family’s offer is generous. If we hand over the plans for the next rally, they’ve promised to protect us and our families. We don’t have to go down with the rest of them.”

One of the others hesitated. “But what about Xia Lin? She’s been leading this from the start.”

Ren shrugged, his voice cold. “She’s already lost. The movement’s falling apart. We’re just getting ahead of the inevitable.”

Xia Lin’s blood ran cold. Ren was right about one thing—the movement was teetering on the edge. But she refused to let it collapse. Not like this.

Standing abruptly, Xia Lin marched across the room, her heart pounding with fury. Ren looked up, startled, as she approached their table. “You’re betraying us,” she said, her voice low but seething with anger.

Ren’s face paled, but he quickly recovered, his expression hardening. “Xia, it’s over. We can’t win this. I’m just doing what I have to, to survive.”

Xia Lin shook her head, disbelief washing over her. “You were with us from the beginning, Ren. How could you turn your back on everything we’ve fought for?”

Ren stood, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t understand. This is bigger than you, bigger than all of us. The Xu family will crush us, and I’m not going to die for a lost cause.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut through. Xia Lin’s hands trembled, but she held her ground. “You may be willing to betray your people, but I’m not. We will fight until the end, with or without you.”

Ren stared at her for a long moment before turning away, his face expressionless. “Then you’ll die trying.”

Xia Lin didn’t flinch. “Better that than live as a coward.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the tavern, her heart heavy but her resolve unshaken. The battle wasn’t over yet, but the lines had been drawn. And no matter the cost, Xia Lin was prepared to pay the price for their freedom.

As the rain began to fall, she knew the storm was finally here.