Gui Yuanshu grinned: “No need to watch me like that. You know I’m hurting inside, yet you won’t even find me something to take my mind off it. Is just saying so with your mouths enough? Obviously a distraction is the more direct remedy.”

Zheng Shunshun said: “Sir — do you find a strong man dancing entertaining?”

Gui Yuanshu said: “You lot have gone too far. My heart is in such pain, and you actually want me to dance for you!”

Ding Man sighed: “Sir, even at a time like this, you’re still getting the better of us.”

Gui Yuanshu sized up the four of them: “You four… think yourselves… worthy of the title… strong men?!”

Zhang Chengdong said: “Sir, if you’re going to put it that way…”

Zhao Shanying cut in: “Then Sir should be the one to dance.”

Gui Yuanshu spat in disgust, took a deep breath, then stretched himself out: “Something must be done. Otherwise I’ll regret it.”

Zheng Shunshun said: “Whatever Sir wants to do, we’ll follow right along. Besides, when we get back, those two crates of gold sand will be difficult to account for — and we’d rather not have to explain that.”

Ding Man said: “All these years, Sir has been carrying things for us. We’re used to it.”

Gui Yuanshu: “Nonsense!”

Ding Man said sincerely: “Sir, we need you.”

Gui Yuanshu looked at the dossier again, something still complex in his eyes.

The road from Yuzhou to Daxing was easy going — after all, the Emperor of Great Chu had passed through Yuzhou on more than one occasion, and roads that an Emperor had traveled were the smoothest under heaven.

This trip to Daxing had to skirt around the Ning Army and Tianming Army’s battlefield. After heading southeast for more than ten days, they crossed the river and entered the territory of Jingzhou.

Once in Jingzhou, the convoy moved with increasing caution. Gui Yuanshu’s mood grew heavier too — though he could not let his subordinate brothers see it.

Meanwhile, in Daxing, inside the World Origin Palace.

Emperor Yang Jing listened to the report just delivered, and shot to his feet: “How could Prince Wu do this?!”

The newly appointed Minister of War Weichi Guangming bowed: “Your Majesty, Prince Wu truly had no other recourse. Prince Wu’s army — has run out of food.”

The Emperor froze.

“But — we had already arranged for several shipments of grain to be sent to him, hadn’t we?”

The moment he said this, he regretted it — for those words made him appear somewhat incompetent, even foolish.

The Emperor had indeed arranged several grain shipments for Prince Wu, but for Prince Wu’s great army these were no more than a cup of water on a burning cartload of firewood. What was more, one of the grain convoys had been waylaid en route.

Whether it had truly been robbed, or whether the escorts had stolen from it themselves, no longer mattered.

Weichi Guangming said: “Your Majesty, in your servant’s view, Prince Wu’s action is not without wisdom. With the great army pulling back to hold the capital, even should the rebel forces lay siege, given Prince Wu’s abilities in command, it would be exceedingly difficult for the rebels to break through. Your servant estimates: if we can hold for one year, the great bandit Li Xionghu and the rebel Yang Xuanji will have worn each other down to mutual ruin. At that point, Prince Wu can be sent back out on campaign and sweep away the rebels in a single stroke.”

The Emperor slowly sat back down, his expression still somewhat troubled, yet he knew the situation was irreversible — Prince Wu had already turned back. What else could he do?

Yet the Emperor knew full well how dangerous Prince Wu’s decision was. Saying it kindly — it was using one tiger to consume another. Saying it plainly — there was no longer any choice.

*Hold the capital…* Great Chu, with its ten thousand li of rivers and mountains, had been reduced to holding the capital. What a desolate thing.

“Your Majesty.”

The Minister of Finance Li Shang bowed: “In your servant’s view, the most pressing matter remains the procurement of grain. Prince Wu’s army of over one hundred thousand men has withdrawn to the capital, and the treasury is empty…”

The Emperor glanced at him: “Do you have a plan?”

Li Shang said: “At present, within a thousand li of Daxing, stability still holds, and there are many wealthy civilians who remain loyal to Your Majesty. They…”

Before he could finish, the Emperor had already understood his meaning.

Merchants and wealthy households held a lowly status — no matter how rich, theirs was not an elevated rank.

But if grain and money donations could be exchanged for official positions — for a title that would make them presentable, a status that allowed them to wear fine silk — they might indeed be willing to hand over grain and supplies in exchange.

“Your Majesty…”

Li Shang glanced carefully at the Emperor.

After a long silence, the Emperor waved a hand: “Go and make the arrangements. Try to… try to preserve the court’s dignity.”

“Your servant obeys.”

Li Shang looked toward Weichi Guangming, who understood and bowed: “Your Majesty, the matter we previously raised regarding a formal commendation for the former Chief Justice Gui Yuanshu…”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed.

He had made great use of the circumstances surrounding Gui Yuanshu’s mission to Qingzhou, and had elevated several young talents he had greatly admired from the Chongwen Academy days — this had genuinely transformed the court’s atmosphere overnight and had given the Emperor renewed hope.

Weichi Guangming and the others didn’t yet know that Gui Yuanshu had joined the ranks of the rebel Li Chi. But the Emperor knew.

To award an official commendation to a traitor — how could the Emperor bring himself to do that?

Yet Gui Yuanshu’s sworn brothers were operating on the firm conviction that Gui Yuanshu had truly died. The Emperor was in fact exploiting this very belief — using it to give Weichi Guangming and the others the resolve to move against the old officials with swift and decisive force.

If at this moment the Emperor told them the truth, he feared they might not be able to accept it all at once.

“This is… something we are already considering.”

The Emperor said: “But there are many pressing matters of state at hand right now. The matter you have raised — once this busy period has passed, we will personally draft an appropriate arrangement.”

“Our gratitude, Your Majesty!”

The several men bowed together.

The Emperor looked at Weichi Guangming: “Even in your days at the Chongwen Academy you had the talent for commanding armies. We still remember how in the students’ tactical exercises you were never defeated. Now that you are Minister of War, do not let other matters weigh too heavily on your mind.”

Weichi Guangming hurriedly bowed: “Your servant understands.”

Yet in their hearts, there was indeed some dissatisfaction, though they dared not show it too plainly.

Gui Yuanshu was their sworn brother. The man was already dead — couldn’t even a few words of commendation be given? And these would only be words, nothing more.

The Emperor’s attitude was something they couldn’t help but find suspicious.

After leaving the World Origin Palace, the three walked side by side.

“Weichi.”

Li Shang looked at Weichi Guangming: “About Gui Yuanshu’s matter — is there something hidden here? The Emperor’s attitude is something I simply cannot read.”

Weichi Guangming immediately said: “We must not speculate rashly. Has the Emperor not already said — the great matters come first? Relatively speaking, we have brought this up several times already and perhaps appeared too impatient. The Emperor did not reprimand us — we should be thankful for that. From now on, let us not speak of this matter again.”

Li Shang nodded, then asked: “The Emperor has sent you out of the capital to organize a new army. Be careful — within Jingzhou right now, rebel forces…”

He glanced left and right, lowered his voice: “What I said before about stability within a thousand li — in truth, beyond a hundred li from Daxing it is no longer safe. You must take great care.”

Weichi Guangming smiled: “I still believe the people willing to serve Great Chu outnumber those willing to become rebels.”

The young men looked at one another, each finding in the other’s eyes a hope for the future.

Yet it seemed all of them had forgotten — when Gui Yuanshu had come to them full of eager hope, eyes bright with anticipation, they had poured a great tub of cold water over his hopes and extinguished them.

It must be said: at that time, it had been Gui Yuanshu alone who held office, while all of them were still ordinary subjects.

“We’ll offer you our early wishes for a triumphant return.”

The two men clasped their fists. Weichi Guangming returned the gesture, then led his people away.

Li Shang let out a sigh: “If only Gui Yuanshu were still alive — then all four of us could truly join hands and accomplish something great.”

World Origin Palace.

The Emperor’s fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his expression somewhat dark.

Darkness seemed to be the Emperor’s constant companion — and the atmosphere of the entire city of Daxing, pressing down over the heads of commoners and officials alike without ever lifting.

“Your Majesty…”

The head eunuch steward Zhen Xiaodao bowed: “Your Majesty has not eaten since morning. It is now past midday — would Your Majesty care to take a meal?”

The Emperor looked at Zhen Xiaodao, silent for a moment, then said: “When we sent Master Fang and his group to Yuzhou — was that a mistake?”

Zhen Xiaodao dared not answer.

Why had the Emperor been so insistent on having Fang Zhuhuo kill Li Chi?

Because the Emperor was in fact profoundly wary of Fang Zhuhuo — even though Fang Zhuhuo had time and again shielded the Emperor from certain death.

Think about it: the assassin sent by Yang Xuanji had slipped silently into the World Origin Palace, yet was detected by the palace guards near the Eastern Study.

But Fang Zhuhuo had entered the World Origin Palace several times — had a single person detected him?

Saying it kindly — Fang Zhuhuo was bound by the life-debt the old Emperor had incurred, and that was why he treated the current Emperor with such particular care.

But do not forget: Fang Zhuhuo’s hatred was directed at the entire Great Chu imperial clan. And Fang Zhuhuo had been born inside the World Origin Palace — he knew this palace city better than any assassin.

If Fang Zhuhuo harbored any change of heart, was there a single person beside the Emperor who could stop him?

“Xiaodao.”

The Emperor looked at Zhen Xiaodao: “Go find Hui Chunqiu and bring him here.”

Zhen Xiaodao quickly acknowledged and ran out to summon the Imperial Guard commander.

Shortly after, Hui Chunqiu hurried to the Eastern Study. Before he could prostrate himself in greeting, the Emperor waved a hand: “Dispense with formalities. Come close and speak.”

Hui Chunqiu came near, body low in a slight bow.

The Emperor glanced at the door outside, then in a very low voice asked: “Those martial men from the martial world who rendered service for us before — can you control them completely?”

Hui Chunqiu answered: “Yes.”

The Emperor nodded, feeling somewhat reassured.

After a moment’s thought, he leaned in even closer and dropped his voice further: “Weichi Guangming is about to leave the capital to organize a new army and recruit militia. Dispatch someone to watch him covertly.”

Hui Chunqiu’s heart gave a jolt.

Weichi Guangming had been instrumental in the court’s great purge. A man like this — did the Emperor truly not trust him either?

Yet how could he dare say anything? He could only bow and comply.

The Emperor said quietly: “You also know — Weichi Guangming’s talent is no less than Prince Wu’s… far surpasses Gui Yuanshu and the others. If he were to — if he should…”

Hui Chunqiu immediately replied: “Your servant understands.”

The Emperor nodded: “We did not hastily promote them out of distrust. We simply had no choice but to take certain precautions… If they can help us through this most difficult period, we will reward them even more generously in the future.”

Hui Chunqiu dared not respond further, and of course he had no idea how to respond.

“Go and see to this matter yourself.”

The Emperor glanced at Hui Chunqiu: “But there is another matter you must personally handle.”

Hui Chunqiu’s heart clenched again.

The Emperor said: “Those men keep urging us to award a commendation to Gui Yuanshu. How could we grant any honor to a traitor like that? Have someone interrogate the prisoners in the imperial dungeon, tell them what to say, and let Li Shang and the others know…”

Hui Chunqiu exhaled a quiet sigh inside, bowed: “Your servant will see to it at once.”