Chapter 111

Zhou Shibo finished reading the secret missive and passed it among the ministers. Soon, the area outside the Golden Throne Hall became the site of the imperial council. There were other, more suitable halls available, but the Emperor had no heart for them; he simply stood outside the ruined hall, demanding that his officials devise a solution. Yun Que had also read the contents. Although the Shaowu State had occupied Tianmen Pass, they had not yet launched a full-scale invasion. By seizing the strategic high ground, they had inflicted heavy casualties on the Dajin border troops, forcing them to retreat and garrison a hundred miles back. The fact that the main Shaowu army had not yet moved was the only silver lining in this misfortune. Yun Que offered a faint smile. He had foreseen this scenario from the start; the Shaowu State was certain to seize any pretext to escalate. Yin Zishou was either negligent or, more accurately, far too arrogant. He had assumed his enemies wouldn't dare strike at him, but now, not only had they struck, they had occupied his front gate, ready to storm the courtyard and cut him down at any moment.