"Ducal Lord, you are getting on in years, so I will be brief," the Emperor said. "You are aware that Jin Mocong of Xining is causing turmoil, and sooner or later he will rebel. The courtiers all feel that rather than waiting for him to turn against us, it would be better to strike first. Therefore, deploying troops to Xining is inevitable."
The Ducal Lord squinted his eyes, pretending not to understand, and said, "Who then does Your Majesty plan to send out? My son just recently sent a letter from home, mentioning that the border at Beiping has become somewhat unstable lately, and the military situation is pressing. If it really gets out of hand, I fear the Imperial Court will need to provide support. In the past, I wrote him a reply, telling him to stand firm against any adversity, as Your Majesty has been preoccupied with the disaster areas and the situation in Xining, with no time to concern yourself with him."
