Night fell, the river of stars hung low, and the Purple Dawn Hall blazed with light.
Emperor Chen seemed in particularly good spirits that day and spoke at length with Tong Huan and Cui Yizhong.
But unlike Grand Commandant Tong Huan, who remained at ease, chatting and laughing throughout, Chancellor Cui Yizhong spent most of the time looking as though his parents had died. This great black pot of blame had been hurled at him, and he had to shoulder it whether he wanted to or not.
Emperor Chen's stern gaze swept toward him. Cui Yizhong started and forced a smile uglier than a crying face.
"We are about to send forth our troops, but these affairs have a thousand tangled threads. Pull one hair, and the whole body moves. There is so much to consider... We must be cautious upon cautious. These days, We treat even the lightest matter as though it weighed a mountain!"
Emperor Chen stirred the white fungus, lotus seed, and bird's nest soup a palace maid had just presented, speaking with a sigh.
"At the crucial moment, Your Majesty... can also lift a mountain as though it weighed nothing!"
Tong Huan smiled, accepted the bird's nest soup a palace maid brought him, and leisurely tasted a spoonful. His spoon struck the bowl with a clear chime.
Watching the snow-white fungus bob in his bowl, Tong Huan continued thoughtfully, "Your Majesty commands armies like a god. This campaign will sweep through them like rotten wood and withered grass. Western Liang is certain to lose. My only concern... is Han Zongwang!
"I believe we could send men secretly into Wuwei City to spread rumors that Han Zongwang already intends to rebel, sowing suspicion between Western Liang's ruler and his ministers. After all... Han Zongwang is one of