Choice

King Yue Yao Tosai's beautiful day was cast into shadow.

In his original plan, he would send in a decisive force while the Imperial Guard and the Holy Sun King were locked in fierce combat, settle the outcome in one stroke, then join forces with Wucuo, the ten-thousand-man commander, from within and without. Together they would divide the hundred thousand cavalry and claim the biggest share for himself.

Things had gone more smoothly than he had imagined. The Grand Commandant had been assassinated, and the excuse of returning his body had allowed Tosai to enter the camp. He had a chance to seize the entire army. He never would have thought that a group of low-ranking officers would ruin everything.

Outside the tent, hundreds upon hundreds of officers were shouting for vengeance for the Grand Commandant. Inside, ten ten-thousand-man commanders and two deputy commandants huddled together, whispering. Their expressions were quite solemn, but after half a day, they had yet to come up with any plan.

As the only onlooker, Tosai's face darkened. At last, unable to hold back, he slammed his hand on the table and rose. "The Imperial Guard is the strongest force in the Northern Court, renowned for its loyalty. Since when have we allowed a pack of slaves to behave so arrogantly?"

"They're not slaves," one of the ten-thousand-man commanders corrected him. "They're outstanding young men sent by the tribes to serve the Khan. In time..."

"In time, they'll become the backbone of their Lineages and the foundation that holds the Northern Court together," Tosai finished coldly. He had heard these platitudes since childhood. "Has nobody in the Imperial Guard taught them to obey orders? Or is today's Imperial Guard different from the past, able to defy its superiors?"

"The officers may have expressed themselves in