Chen Yu made the decision himself, adopting Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia's counsel and establishing a national policy of "showing weakness outwardly, strengthening the military within, and quietly awaiting the Summit War." The order for this strategic shift was like a ladle of cold water poured into boiling oil. It sent enormous ripples through Hua Country's war machine, which had only just begun to show its might, while quietly shifting the balance of power in the West Blue and even the entire world.
That day, the north wind howled beneath a leaden sky. Inside the eastern warm chamber of Zichen Hall, beast-gold charcoal blazed in a huge bronze brazier decorated with a coiled chi pattern. It dispelled the cold, but not the solemn atmosphere hanging over the senior officials. An imperial military and political conference was underway, one that would determine Hua Country's course for the next several years.
Chen Yu sat upright in the seat of honor, draped with a white tiger pelt, his calm gaze sweeping over the fierce, unruly generals under his command. Arceus's primal power over order naturally lent him an air of world-settling authority, suppressing the faint unrest within the hall.
Without preliminaries, he announced the earth-shaking strategic change. "I summoned you here today to decide Hua Country's future national policy. After days of deliberation by Kongming and Fengxiao, I have decided that, effective immediately, our external strategy will shift from active expansion to strategic defense and actively displaying weakness. Internally, we must devote the strength of the entire nation to accelerating the Soaring Dragon Plan, in preparation for the great changes ahead."
"Elder brother! What do you mean?!" Before Chen Yu had finished, the fiery-tempered Zhang Fei could no longer restrain himself. He strode forward, his bell-like voice shaking dust loose from the rafters.