The Duty Room fell deathly silent, and Qin Yan's expression changed.
It was not because of Zhou Quan, but because of those words: "the envoys' death warrant."
His student, Wei Shouzheng, was in Xingqing Prefecture at that very moment.
The louder Zhou Quan's battle reports rang, the more tenuous his student's life became.
"Grand Secretary Song..." Qin Yan said slowly. "Zhou Quan disobeyed orders. That merits deliberation."
"But our most urgent concern now is the delegation.
"The Analects says: when sent to the four quarters, do not disgrace your sovereign's commission.
"My disciple went as an envoy on behalf of the Court.
"If he disgraces his sovereign's commission, I shall have no face left.
"But if the Court refuses to save one who has disgraced his commission, then the disgrace belongs not to the envoy, but to the Court.
"Thus, I propose only one thing today: send an envoy to the border and ascertain the Tanguts' intentions.
"Whether they mean to release our men or negotiate terms, we must first ask and find out."
"Grand Secretary Qin is right." Only then did Kou Yuan leisurely add his voice.
He set down his teacup, looked first at Song Yue, then at Qin Yan, his genial expression undiminished. "Every word Grand Secretary Song spoke was sound. Military orders stand firm as mountains; they cannot be cast aside.
"In my view, the merits and faults of Zhou Quan's battle should be judged by the Court.
"Reward is the Court's grace; punishment is the Court's law.
"Between grace and law, we must still seek His Highness's Imperial Judgment."
"Of course, Grand Secretary Qin's words are also full of feeling. With our envoys abroad, the Court cannot simply ignore them.
"Sending an envoy to inquire is perfectly proper.
"But permit me one more word..." Kou