Jiang Ziya accepted the tea, the cup pressing against his palm, heat seeping in through the pads of his fingers.
He lowered his head and looked at the leaf floating on the surface of the tea.
The Shang Dynasty's military strength, Xiqi's provisions, the terrain of the passes along the route, the attitudes of the various feudal lords.
But every calculation, in the end, always jammed at the same point.
Jiang Ziya's fingers tapped once on the tabletop.
"My lord, warfare has five essentials: the Way, Heaven, Earth, the general, and law.
"King Zhou of Shang is brutal and tyrannical, and has lost the Way under Heaven. That is the first.
"Xiqi has abundant grain and the people's hearts turn toward it. That is the second.
"Beneath the king's banner, capable men emerge in numbers. That is the third.
"This Jiang is untalented, but is willing to make plans for Your Highness. That is the fourth."
He paused for a moment.
"But the Shang Dynasty has deep roots and luxuriant branches. Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong holds the fort, and there are fierce generals like Kong Xuan.
"Our chances of victory... in the end, still depend on Heaven's will."
Ji Fa picked up his own cup of tea and slowly took a sip.
"Fatherly minister, what do you think... King Zhou, Di Xin, is like as a man?"
Jiang Ziya set down his teacup and weighed his words.
"A man of heroic talent and great strategy, but obstinate and self-opinionated.
"He does not believe in gods or Buddhas, only in blades and soldiers."
"Then compared with me?"
Ji Fa did not wait for Jiang Ziya's answer, nor was he angry. He spoke on by himself.
"I know there are capable people over there too.
"But capable people are still people. And