A confidant usually refers to the deep emotional connection between two people, mutual understanding, trust and support. They can share their inner thoughts and feelings with each other and at the same time, they can think for each other and provide help. In the novel, the respect of the two generals who had confidants meant that the friendship and trust between them had reached a very special level and could be regarded as a kind of high respect. This sentence may imply that some very touching stories happened in the novel. The emotional bond between the two generals made them each other's only friends and supporters. Their friendship was very deep.