A Zheba said, "I don't know what crime I've committed. If I'm guilty of anything, it's being too stupid to complete the task Your Highness gave me. But if the Dragon King wants to cut off my head, I have nothing to say. That's all."
Li Man's defense was even simpler. "I followed orders and made my own judgments. I was never derelict in my duty."
The other five companions realized that Li Man's argument made more sense, so they embellished it. "I followed orders too. If I'm guilty, then the entire Left Army is guilty." "I knew nothing of the conspiracy and had no part in it. Prince Dudun told me what to do, and I did it." "I killed three Luoluo cavalrymen. Plenty of people saw it."
Dudun refused to defend his actions. "I am a descendant of the Khan. In this tent, only Little Prince Shulitu has the right to decide my fate. I lost to him, not to anyone else. As for my subordinates, they're a bunch of idiots who can do nothing but follow orders—and even then, they do a terrible job."
A Zheba and the others lowered their heads. They knew Prince Dudun was trying to distance himself from them, but they still felt ashamed.
Gu Shenwei remained silent. Indeed, only Shulitu had the right to judge these men.
"This is a struggle for the Khan's throne." Shulitu rose to his feet. The Dragon King had barely shown himself over the last few days, and they hadn't discussed how to deal with Dudun's little group. Shulitu had to guess what was on the Dragon King's mind, then make the decision himself. "I, Prince Dudun, and the King of the Whip Luoluo are all heirs to the Old Khan King's bloodline. Whoever wins would make