When Zhang Jiansheng burst in, Duke Chu tucked the People's Daily beneath his teacup and asked unhurriedly, "Why didn't you knock? What's got you in such a hurry?"
Zhang Jiansheng had no time for niceties. "Your Grace, have you read the latest Industry Promotion Daily?"
"I haven't had a chance yet. Why?" Duke Chu looked rather surprised.
"News has come from India-the Protectorate has suffered a defeat!" Zhang Jiansheng said. "The Industry Promotion Daily has already printed it!"
"Oh! Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers." Duke Chu remained perfectly composed and nodded. "The Industry Promotion Daily certainly gets its news quickly. Even I hadn't heard about this."
It seemed that his time away from court affairs had left him rather slow to hear the news.
Then Duke Chu said, "The Protectorate and the court will concern themselves with matters in India. There's no need to make such a fuss."
"But..." Zhang Jiansheng wore a peculiar expression. "The commander who suffered the defeat was General Zhaoyong."
"Zhaoyong..." Duke Chu suddenly came to his senses, his expression changing sharply. "You mean that bastard of mine did this?"
"General Zhaoyong resented the northern army taking all the credit, so he attacked Gorkha ahead of schedule. He advanced rashly in pursuit of glory, fell into an ambush, and retreated in defeat," Zhang Jiansheng explained with great care.
"That worthless bastard!"
Furious, Duke Chu grabbed the cup on his desk and hurled it toward the floor. But Zhang Jiansheng's eyes were sharp and his hands quick, and he caught the imperial-kiln teacup with its sacrificial-red glaze, a gift from the emperor.
After calming himself a little, Duke Chu took back the teacup Zhang Jiansheng handed him and drew a breath. "That bastard went too far reselling military supplies, so I had him