All Spirits Follow, Tian Wu Manifests

"Thank you for your efforts."

The emperor's eyes betrayed no emotion.

Zeng Mozhou bowed quietly, then descended slowly from the towering Chenhan Hall.

Ruler and minister understood each other perfectly.

Zeng Mozhou was unlike the Yongzhou warriors hailed as pillars of the Great Liang Imperial House, and unlike the Wang-Xie Clans, which had dominated the court for untold years. He was an old companion of the emperor in the truest sense.

Long before the emperor ascended the throne, Zeng Mozhou had served as his adviser on matters great and small. Their story had begun in the most ordinary way: a poor scholar had come to Jiankang to make his way in the world, and an idle prince had seen no prospect of ever rising. One day they met by chance, and from then on, dragon and cloud had risen together when the winds of change gathered.

Zeng Mozhou had spent several years as the leader of a martial brotherhood, run a trading house in Jiankang for several more, and even studied under certain Mystic Sects of the Central Land.

But whatever he did, he did it in service to the emperor.

Zeng Mozhou had no wife, no family, and scarcely any hobbies.

He knew that, in the hands of anyone with designs on them, such things would sooner or later become weaknesses—bridges and passageways by which enemies could strike at the emperor.

He had carved himself a private seal bearing four characters: "Lanling's Right-Hand Guard."

Lanling was the ancestral home of Great Liang's reigning dynasty.

In the Medieval Era, the warring states had often fought from chariots. The commander stood on the left with bow and arrows, the driver occupied the center, and the strongman on the right wielded halberd and shield to defend them.

Zeng Mozhou saw himself as