Early on the fifth day of the second month, the emperor appeared at Lantian Main Camp as though nothing had happened and, as usual, had the drums sounded to summon his generals.
The assembled generals reacted differently at the sight of the emperor, but most held up well enough... anyone who had risen this far could at least maintain a steady outward bearing. Besides, several days had passed, and everyone had made preparations.
Yet where there was a majority, there seemed bound to be a minority.
The moment they met, one man dropped to his knees: Zhang Shijing. This Vice Director of the Right of Great Ying's Department of State Affairs had previously been ordered north to shoulder an important responsibility, only for the Jin Region to fall before he was halfway there. He had simply abandoned the idea of seeing Li Ding, too. Unfortunately, his journey had missed the emperor's, and only today had they met again, so he first begged forgiveness.
"It is good enough that you returned. With the wider situation changing so unpredictably, how could you be blamed?" The White Emperor did, after all, cherish old ties. Once Zhang Shijing had finished confessing his fault, he sighed. "Liben's fate remains unknown to this day... never mind. Return to Chang'an and manage the rear for me."
But before his words had faded, and before Zhang Shijing could give thanks, someone suddenly stepped forward from the side. It was Bai Hengjin, a senior minister of Great Ying's imperial clan. He cupped his hands and asked outright, "Your Majesty, forgive my presumption, but Chancellor Zhang is a Southern Office Chancellor. Where had he gone, what offense did he commit, and why did we know nothing of it? And Bai Liben is a great general of the state. How is