The Great Kang Imperial Palace lay beneath a pall of dark clouds. Qiqi gazed expressionlessly at Hong Beimo. "Li Tianheng's troops in Western Sichuan are massing toward Yunyang. According to reliable intelligence, Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou has already reached an agreement with him. They will soon launch a pincer attack on Yunyang."
Hong Beimo smiled. "General Su Yuchi commands his troops with divine skill. Your Highness recently allocated considerable reinforcements to him, greatly increasing his strength. Yunyang will not fall so easily."
"You certainly sound confident," Qiqi said. "Li Tianheng is desperate to find a breakthrough, and he is coming with fierce momentum this time. Guo Guangbi is vicious and ruthless as well. Facing two powerful enemies at once will hardly be easy for Su Yuchi."
"What truly worries Your Highness is probably Hu Xiaotian, is it not?" Hong Beimo asked.
Qiqi said nothing. Her long, dark, curling lashes lowered, clearly acknowledging the truth of his words.
"If this war breaks out, our greatest fear should be someone waiting to reap the fisherman's profit while the others fight," Hong Beimo said. "In my opinion, Hu Xiaotian will not act immediately. He will wait until both sides have battered each other, then send troops to seize Yunyang. He might even take the opportunity to capture Xingzhou."
"If Redwood River had not fallen into his hands, blocking Li Tianheng's route south, Li Tianheng would not be so desperate to break through to the northeast," Qiqi said.
"If he gains control of Yunyang, Li Tianheng will be trapped in Western Sichuan like a man inside a sack with its mouth tied shut." Hong Beimo paused. "But these matters are not really important to Your Highness."
"What is important, then?" Qiqi demanded coldly. "In your eyes, is that Imperial Mausoleum the only thing that