Luo State, Zhao City.
Luo Ci was already gray at the temples. Luo Yan brought him the documents and said with some concern, "Ever since Duke Chong'er of Jin became hegemon, he has remembered the Son of Heaven's kindness and treated him with great respect.
"But he has grown increasingly harsh toward Jin State's Ducal Clan and taken up arms against All Xia states at the slightest provocation. In just a few years, he has annexed more than ten states. He is far too arrogant and overbearing.
"There are private rumors that Chong'er once told his attendants that, while the Luo Clan's sacred mark was indeed a miracle of the Sage King, he was born with double pupils-the appearance of the ancient sage kings-and was born to wield the whip over all beneath heaven."
Luo Ci sighed deeply. "During the Rebellion of the Five Princes, Luo State did not firmly support Chong'er. He must harbor some resentment.
"His life has largely gone smoothly, without suffering hardship. Five years after ascending the throne, he cast Luo State aside and became hegemon on his own. Who knows how proud he must be?
"If he wants to achieve a hegemony like Duke Huan of Qi's, he will certainly provoke Chu State. But Qin and Chu are allies, while Jin has distanced itself from Qi and Luo.
"He alone is of little concern. What worries me is that successive Marquises of Jin might all develop ambitions of sole hegemony. That is the road to disaster.
"If Jin attacks Chu State, the Count of Wu will certainly make peace with Chu State. No amount of reasoning compares with a painful lesson. Let reality make up for the education he lacks."
Luo Ci's prediction of Chong'er was entirely correct. Great strength brought confidence, and confidence throughout