Seated upon the dragon throne, Emperor Chongning narrowed his eyes and said, "Since all lords are in agreement regarding both resolutions, we need not dwell on them further. Let us address the first item first: is there anyone who opposes sending troops northward? If so, step forward and voice your opinions."
Opinions, of course, existed, and a considerable number of high-ranking officials held them. Yet they could not step forward to voice them first; they had to let their flag-waving subordinates test the waters.
And the officials testing the waters were naturally those literary censors who spent their days playing with ink and chasing shadows.
Chapter 162