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ATLA, In A Darker World: 60 The War Meeting
🕑 Added 2024-12-21 23:20:00 +0000 UTCSouthern Earth Kingdom,
Omashu,
The War Meeting In Bumi's Throne Room
----
The throne room of Omashu was packed with tension.
Earth Kingdom banners hung solemnly from the walls, their greens, and browns muted in the dim torchlight.
The heavy scent of incense lingered in the air, failing to mask the undercurrent of unease that had gripped the city for weeks.
RUMBLE!
The doors of the Throne room were pushed open, prompting everyone's gaze to follow in that direction.
“Hello everyone. Forgive my …". The thick, aging voice of a middle-aged man fell into everyone's ears. It was followed by the sound of clear footsteps. “.... Delay”.
He wore a special Earth Kingdom Attire consisting of green and yellow with ring patterns quite similar in shape to the national currency.
Two tails of gray plaited hair fell from both sides of his cheeks and a tall hat covered his head completely.
“Grand Advisor”. The men of status in the room greeted.
“... Oh! If it isn't little Wen Jihao. Worry not, we've waited for you”. King Bumi, dressed in his usual eccentric attire—a patchwork robe that seemed more fitting for a wandering hermit than a monarch—lounged lazily on his stone throne, one leg slung over the armrest. Perfectly displaying his whimsical appearance.
The Grand Advisor's face faltered. To the others present, the King calling him by his real name was nothing worth mentioning. For him, however, the abnormality was quite glaring.
Ever since the first month he served as advisor to the king, Bumi had always called him 'Goody Two-shoes Consul'. Over the years, it had never changed, except on special occasions where he overstepped his boundaries.
'… Sure enough, he noticed …'.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter. He was already prepared to face Bumi's doubts.
In his situation, if The King acted like nothing happened, it would be a cause for suspicion.
"Your Highness”. Without a change in expression, he took his place standing beside the Throne of Omashu's ruler with an air of dignity.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor in a circular pattern were Omashu’s high officials: generals, military officers with high ranks and logisticians.
“Alright then, Councilman Wong, report”. With Wen Jihao's arrival, the meeting commenced.
“Your Majesty, esteemed council members,” Wong began, clearing his throat. “Our city continuously spirals into precarious situations. Omashu, though resilient, is straining under the demands of this war".
Councilman Wong was a seasoned bureaucrat with a talent for logistics. His crisp robes reflected his meticulous personality.
“... My words need not be trusted. The numbers speak for themselves”.
He gestured to a junior scribe, who unfurled a large map of Omashu. Points of interest were marked with ominous red ink.
“As of last month, our population has grown by 4% due to an influx of refugees from neighboring regions. This is equivalent to approximately 12,000 new mouths to feed".
Just this much was enough to elicit murmurs.
Wong wasn't done, as he pointed to a section of the scroll. “It has been this way for the past nine months. Worse, while our population swells, our food reserves dwindle. Councilman Zhao?”
Wong gave way to another member of the court. Yet another old-looking man stood to receive attention. “Our current stock of food reserves can only sustain Omashu for ninety days under rationed conditions. As of the beginning of this month, the daily consumption rate has seen a drastic increase of about 20%”.
"Projected refugee influx is estimated to be 450 new arrivals daily if the current trend keeps up
“Moreover,” Wong continued, “The Fire Nation's focus on Ba Sing Se has disrupted major supply routes. Our trade caravans from Gao Ling and Chin Village have decreased to the minimum. Attempts to secure alternate routes are thwarted by the Fire Nation’s expanding reach.”
The meeting soon turned to a Q&A discussion.
“What about the relief Caravans from Ba Sing Se?”
“The trade routes have already been strangled? You expect them to dig a tunnel across thousands of miles to send us grain?”
“It seems that they have more on their plates than we do”.
“More? Those bastards hide behind their walls safe and sound, ignoring everything while we fight the good fight”.
“.... Just supplies. You can't even count on them for that”.
“General Yulin, what are our chances of reconnecting the supply routes?”
A ranking officer asked solemnly. “Ba Sing Se is too far away to count on. We'd have better chances securing relief from the villages due east. If we can bridge a path for Gaoling to …".
“The fortress of Shen Guan has already fallen, Colonel Hoku. Our troops at the Front Lines are being slowly but surely pushed back. Forget about forcefully taking control of a trade route. We lose more and more sons and daughters of the Earth Kingdom with each passing day”.
“Do we not have any support? No reinforcements?”
“None. Resistances across the lands are losing ground. However, we have received reports that the women of Kyoshi Island have been aiding soldiers in their fights on the eastern front”.
“Kyoshi? You mean those secluded recluses on that Island?”
“What are they? Healers? What effect can a handful of women being tossed into battle achieve?”
“Our top priority now is food. If this goes on, we'll all starve to death”.
General Yulin, a gruff veteran with a permanent scowl, interjected. “What of the weapons? If food is scarce, I imagine steel is scarcer.”
Wong nodded. “Correct, General. Our smiths report a shortage of raw materials. Iron imports are down by 60%, and without consistent supplies, the production of armor and weapons will cease entirely within the next two months.”
Gasps rippled through the chamber. King Bumi, still silent, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Wong pressed on.
“The city’s sanitation systems are also under immense pressure due to overcrowding. Disease outbreaks have begun in the lower districts—cases of dysentery and fever have tripled. If left unchecked, this could spiral into a full-blown epidemic.”
Finally, Wong’s voice dropped, his tone laced with urgency. “Your Majesty, the city cannot sustain itself indefinitely under these conditions. Unless drastic measures are taken, Omashu will collapse from within before the Fire Nation breaches our walls.
The room fell into uneasy murmurs. General Yulin, ever pragmatic, was the first to speak. “Perhaps it’s time to stem the flow of refugees. Omashu cannot be a haven for every Earth Kingdom citizen fleeing the war.”
Several heads nodded in reluctant agreement, but Bumi held up a hand, silencing the room. “And what would you suggest, Yulin? Build a wall around our walls? Put up a sign that says, ‘No room at the inn’? Or maybe toss them into the Fire Nation’s waiting arms?”
Yulin stiffened. “With respect, Your Majesty, we must prioritize our own survival.”
Bumi leaned forward, a dangerous glint in his eye. “And with respect, General, what is survival without compassion? If Omashu falls, it will not be because we cared too much for our people.”
The room fell silent again, the weight of Bumi’s words settling heavily.
“... Sir .". Still, the stubborn general didn't want to let it die. “I feel …".
“Alright, let's not discuss more on this”. Yulin reluctantly fell silent. Wen Jihao however, was carefully watching Bumi, his mind racing.
"Now that that's over, we've got serious matters to discuss. And no, it’s not just about the shortage of my favorite tea leaves.”
Bumi's eccentric humor failed to lighten the mood. Only a moment later did they know that their king had no intention of being funny.
“Thank you Councilmen. Now then, I would like to start by saying ..... There is a traitor in this room”.
The murmurings ceased instantly. The silence that followed was so deafening that everyone could hear the soft breathing of the person next to them.
“.... Y-Your highness, what do you …".
"That's right Yulin. I didn't stutter". The mad king interrupted expressionlessly.
“Recently I have received word from one of our strongholds in the West. Haican to be precise …".
His voice was firm and dry. “Apparently, our own ranks have been infiltrated by Earth Kingdom Collaborators”.
“Impossible”. Councilman Zhao was the first to object. “And yet, I see the report on my desk councilman. Apparently, a Captain appointed from Omashu had been secretly fueling the Fire Nation with skilled labor among the transported refugees for months. He's dead now, but the damage he's done cannot be erased”.
“As most of you know, there was a disturbance several hours ago involving the use of Firebending in the city. This is directly related to that incident….”.
“... Furthermore, the group of refugees who put a stop to Haican's shady operations were supposed to be transported to my presence for judgement. However, a Lieutenant took it upon himself to execute judgement on his own will. As of now, he is dead, though not by my hand but by poison. I think I don't need to explain further”.
“..”. Silence.
Throughout the throne room, no one had anything to say. The vast majority of everyone sitting carried ugly, unsightly expressions on their faces at their king's revelation.
Yuling frowned, weighing the gravity of what could happen.
“Your Majesty, are there any prime suspects”. Everyone listened. Bumi just stayed there was a traitor in their midst.
It was clear Their King had no idea who the enemy was, but they wanted to know who Bumi thought of as a prime suspect.
Of course, they didn't hold out much hope.
Who would have thought ….
“... Oh, well yes. I do have a prime suspect …". Everyone's faces changed.
“Wen Jihao". Despite being prepared, the Grand Advisor felt his heart tighten. Sure enough to what's come must come.
“Sir …".
“... I placed Huo in the dungeons. Before his demise, I learned from the soldiers he brought along that Huo claimed he was acting under your orders”.
Everyone inhaled sharply.
“Would you care to explain”. All eyes turned to the Grand Advisor.
Jihao's image fell into everyone's eyes. The slightly knit eyebrows and narrowed eyes portrayal of his current state of mind.
His expression didn’t falter. He stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Your Majesty, I have served this city loyally for more years than I care to count. I have bled, sacrificed, and endured hardships for Omashu. Are we to take the word of a traitor—a man proven to have conspired against us—over my record of service?”
Bumi’s fingers drummed rhythmically on the throne. “That’s the funny thing about words, Jihao. They’re just noises until someone gives them weight. And I find it all too convenient that a man in my prisons was so blatantly killed under my nose".
“Your Majesty, forgive my insolence, but I do think there is a misunderstanding to this”.
Someone stood up at that moment. Weirdly however, it wasn't Wen, but Councilman Wong. At the moment, the old man's face sported a heavy frown.
“Advisor Wen has been your most trusted subordinate since his first day of service”.
“Indeed. I agree with the Advisor, that this is obviously a lie”.
Wong and Zhao stood up to support Wen Jihao. Others however, sat where they were and kept their opinions to themselves.
Feeling the change in atmosphere, General Yulin frowned. “Your Highness, the Fire Nation advances. Without evidence, it will be hard to come to a definite conclusion. There is a chance this might be an enemy plot to divide us from within”.
His brows furrowed even more. “Regardless, this matter needs thorough investigation”.
Bumi nodded. “I know of this General and plan to do so. I wish more than anyone that this is nothing more than an enemy scheme”.
“Now, before we descend into bickering, let me make one thing clear. If there is a traitor in this room….". The old King leveled an intense stare at his subjects.
"… I swear on my beloved tea stash, whoever they are will face justice. No mercy. No exceptions.”
Bumi clapped his hands, shifting the discussion abruptly. “Now, back to logistics. Omashu needs answers, and I need someone I can trust to get them.” He paused, his gaze falling on Jihao. “Wen Jihao, you will leave for Haican tomorrow.”
Jihao blinked, his neutral expression slipping ever so slightly. “Haican, Your Majesty?”
“Indeed,” Bumi said. “Councilman Wong is right. You are my most trusted advisor, so I am giving you a chance to prove this is all a conspiracy. Investigate the news of Earth Kingdom collaborators and oversee the relocation of refugees to the city. We can’t afford another farce in one of our strongholds”.
Jihao bowed stiffly. “As Your Majesty commands.”
“Good. Now then, what are you all waiting for? Tea? Meeting adjourned”.
As the meeting adjourned, the officials filed out slowly, whispers trailing in their wake. Everyone in the room who wasn’t a fool could see that Bumi suspected Jihao of treachery but lacked the evidence to act directly. The Grand Advisor’s assignment was both a warning and a move to distance him from Omashu’s heart.
---
Wen Jihao’s POV
As Wen Jihao left the throne room, his mind churned with possibilities. Bumi’s eccentricity made him difficult to predict, but one thing was clear: the King had set his sights on him.
“Sending me away, are you?” Jihao thought bitterly. “Planning to chip away at my network while I’m gone? Or is this just a test, a game to see how I’ll react?”
By the time he reached his quarters, Jihao had resolved to take precautions. He would instruct his loyalists to remain vigilant, keep an ear to the ground, and prepare for the possibility of Bumi moving against them.
---
Back in the throne room, Bumi slouched back into his throne, tapping a melody on the armrest.
A crooked smile on his face. “A good game of Pai Sho isn’t won by flipping the board,” he murmured to himself. “It’s won by placing your opponent in just the right position.”
He chuckled to himself, his laughter echoing through the empty chamber
