The majestic Forbidden City.
In the Court Deliberation Hall, the atmosphere was heavy as mercury.
The ministers moved gingerly, not daring to make a sound, lest they provoke the visibly enraged emperor.
The Central Court had issued three Command Tokens in succession, yet Northern Liang had made no response.
Beiliang Governor-General Zhang Xuanji had been placed under house arrest!
Imperial Edict after Imperial Edict had sunk like stones into the sea, while the military command seal remained in Jia Huan's hands!
"Defiant and shameless! His name will stink for ten thousand years!"
Emperor Jingde had gone several nights without sleep. His face was haggard, his eyes all but spitting fire as he pointed at the Grand Secretariat's ministers and unleashed a torrent of abuse:
"You cannot escape blame for this campaign-especially you, Yan Ti, you shortsighted rat!"
"I listened to your slanderous counsel and put a treacherous scourge like him in charge of Northern Liang!"
Grand Secretary Yan was terrified and uneasy, keeping his head firmly bowed.
The other grand secretaries wore stiff expressions. They dared not refute him, nor could they find anything to say.
How could they not feel stifled and indignant?
What had their original intention been in recommending Jia Huan?
To use his prestige among the frontier troops to boost morale, steady their hearts, and help them hold the borders together.
What was wrong with that?
They had never imagined that, rather than remain a clay idol on a lofty shelf, he would personally enter the fray and stir up trouble!
Ignorant of warfare, he had made himself the laughingstock of the world, digging his own grave with three consecutive defeats.
Even after things had reached this point, he showed no remorse and instead grew ever more deranged!
He had confined the governor-general and seized all