Chen Tai had only just woken when an armored guard walked in.
The guard looked deeply troubled, his head lowered, not daring to speak.
Chen Tai put on his clothes. "What happened?"
"Duke Chen, Lord Wang left early this morning."
"Oh? Left? Where did he go?"
"He went to Jianye, with Tu Shu... he..."
Chen Tai said impatiently, "Speak plainly!"
Only then did the guard stammer, "Lord Wang said... he said he would not travel with pampered weaklings."
"Outrageous!"
Chen Tai flew into a rage. "I buried the dead along the way. That was a virtuous deed! How did it become something so contemptible in his mouth? Bring me paper and a brush! I shall submit a memorial impeaching this man!"
Meanwhile, Wang Jing was already well on his way.
His face full of disdain, he told his attendants, "Chen Tai only reached his present position under the shelter of his father and grandfather. When I dined with him yesterday, he was exceedingly arrogant and mentioned his father several times. He was plainly looking down on me, thinking my birth inferior to his!"
"I came to Wu to conduct inspections by His Majesty's decree. Even Chen Tai is someone I can impeach!"
"Since he cannot endure hardship and insists on proceeding slowly, we might as well reach Jianye first."
"Once we reach Jianye, I will have something to tell His Majesty, too."
Both men had brought a group of officials on this journey. Most of those Chen Tai brought were Gentlemen of the Secretariat and assistant officials drawn from the Three Offices.
These were all capable, practical men who could help Chen Tai govern the region.
Most of those Wang Jing brought, however, were palace officials, selected from among Cao Mao's Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest, Probationary Directors of the