Fang Yun gazed into the distance, as though he could see the faraway Yin Mountain.
Zhang Poyue looked at Fang Yun and sighed deeply. "Making good on the boasts you made in your poetry must be the most satisfying thing in life."
The nearby scholars could not help laughing. He was absolutely right.
Fang Yun issued his orders: the Human Race would pursue the enemy for one day. After nightfall, all but a portion of the pursuing forces would return to the city. Tomorrow, they would muster a hundred thousand cavalry and advance first on Shuofang City.
Afterward, Fang Yun went to the council hall and summoned the officials to discuss the arrangements for the aftermath.
As usual, the Empress Dowager sat behind the lowered curtain without saying a word, while Liu Shan had already left Ning'an City with his people and returned to the capital.
When the discussions ended, the Empress Dowager's personal female attendant approached Fang Yun and told him that the Empress Dowager would depart for the capital tomorrow. Fang Yun then announced that they would see off her and the civil and military officials the next day.
Only after leaving the council hall did the officials realize that Fang Yun had acted virtually like the sovereign of a nation throughout the proceedings, yet not one of them had thought to object.
After leaving the council hall, Zhang Poyue quickened his pace to catch up with Fang Yun and asked quietly, "Fang Yun, how should we deal with that old dog Liu Shan?"
"The Burial Saint Valley will open soon. I don't have much time to waste maneuvering against him. Once I return to the capital, I'll force him to retire! If he knows what's good for him, I'll let him spend his remaining years in peace.