surrendering. Therefore, I am entitled to my bodyguard.'
'You are entitled to nothing!' someone else snapped.
Batu silenced his subordinates with an angry scowl, then he addressed Koja. 'You may have your bodyguard,' he said. 'But we aren't surrendering either, so I will also take five thousand men.'
Even without looking at them, Batu knew his subcommanders did not agree with his decision. Nevertheless, he felt sure it was the correct one. Five thousand Tuigan did not concern him, so long as he had five thousand Shou to watch them. Besides, if the emperor rejected the peace proposal, he would make sure that Koja's bodyguard never returned to defend the walls of Shou Kuan.
The lama studied Batu for a moment, as if trying to read the thoughts of the Shou commander. Finally, the little historian said, 'I am sure the khahan will agree to your request. When shall we leave?'
'At dawn,' Batu replied.
Considering the exhausted condition of his men, one night was not much rest before beginning such a long ride. Nevertheless, now that he had decided to return to the summer palace, Batu was unwilling to postpone their departure for even an hour. Thoughts of Wu, Ji, and Yo were flashing through his mind so rapidly that he was burning up with anxiety for them.
With more than a little fear, the General of the Northern Marches wondered how much his concern for his family had influenced his decision. For if his emotions had played any part in his decision to accept the khahan's proposal, he was betraying his duty.
16
As Ju-Hai Chou crossed the marble floor, he noted that he was the last minister to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The other mandarins already sat in their seats, their breath rising from their noses in wispy plumes of steam. Except for Ting Mei Wan, who wore a cream-colored fur over a black cheosong, the ministers were dressed against the cold in heavy hemp waitaos.
Though it was a chilly autumn morning, the Hall of Supreme Harmony remained unheated. Because its venerable builders had intended the building for summer use only, they had made no provisions for warming even the emperor's seat. The Divine One sat in his throne wrapped in a colorless wool robe.
Keeping his own cloak wrapped tightly about his chest, Ju-Hai Chou bowed to the emperor, then took his chair. No one had told him the reason for this dawn meeting, but the minister felt sure it concerned the army of horsemen that had camped outside the city last night.
'I am glad we are finally assembled,' the emperor said, glancing at Ju-Hai with visible annoyance.
In response to the Divine One's irritation, the minister simply bowed his head in apology and offered no excuses for his tardiness. He had come as soon as the chamberlain had summoned him, but no doubt the messenger had called upon him last. Thanks to Ting Mei Wan, Ju-Hai had grown accustomed to such treatment.
After destroying the Batu household, the beguiling Minister of State Security had mounted a propaganda campaign to convince the emperor that Wu had been a spy working for her traitorous husband. The cunning female mandarin had prevented Ju-Hai from contradicting her story by holding him prisoner at her house for several weeks. Ting had justified this unusual measure by claiming that Wu's death had unbalanced the Minister of State. She had further undermined Ju-Hai's influence by implying that the 'spy' had become the minister's lover. By the time Ting had released the Minister of State, even his own servants had looked askance at him.
Fortunately, Ju-Hai had come across a way to restore a little of his credibility. A few days after his release, the minister had learned that Ting's subordinates were searching for the ebony tube Wu had taken the night before her death. Assuming the tube contained evidence of Ting's betrayal, Ju-Hai had quietly begun his own search. So far, neither he nor Ting had met with success. It seemed as though the tube had simply vanished.
Ju-Hai's reverie ended when the emperor spoke to Kwan Chan Sen. 'What is our situation?'
The old man slowly rose to his feet and addressed the entire Mandarinate. 'From what we saw last night, the barbarians have ten thousand men, twice the number of our defenders.'
Ju-Hai stood and turned to the emperor. 'Divine One, may I speak?'
The Son of Heaven studied the Minister of State with a look of strained patience, but finally nodded his head. 'Please be brief. We have serious matters to consider.'
'Thank you, Emperor,' Ju-Hai responded, quickly bowing. 'Shouldn't we consider what the messengers told us?'
Sighs of exasperation rustled around the room. In the last two weeks, two messengers had arrived from Shou Kuan. The first had come sixteen days ago. He had reported that Batu and the provincial armies had trapped the barbarians in Shou Kuan. The exhausted rider had presented a request for siege equipment, reinforcements, and food. The second messenger had arrived just four days ago, reporting that General Batu was riding to Tai Tung with a Tuigan delegation and a peace proposal.
Although they had carried the proper seals, the men had been greeted with nothing but suspicion. Both times, Kwan Chan Sen had suggested that Batu had sent the messengers to lay the groundwork for a traitorous trap. The emperor and the other mandarins had agreed, and the men had died at the hands of Ting's interrogators.
The other mandarins were no more inclined to listen to Ju-Hai Chou than they had been to believe the messengers were legitimate. Without exception, they greeted the Minister of State's suggestion with intolerant scowls and impatient moans.
Noting the reaction of the other mandarins, the emperor said, 'Minister Ju-Hai, we have considered the words of the messengers and have all reached the same conclusion.' The Divine One turned back to the Minister of War. 'How do you plan to defend the city, General?'
The ancient mandarin answered immediately. 'With the exception of your guard, I have placed all forces in Tai Tung under my personal command-'
'Take my guard as well,' the emperor interrupted. 'If the city falls, they will do me no good.'
Kwan bowed his head. 'Thank you, Divine One. They will prove most useful-'
The ancient Minister of War was interrupted again, this time by the chamberlain. 'Excuse me, honored ones,' he said, moving toward the center of the room. 'I thought you would want to know that General Batu is at the city gate demanding entrance.'
'He dares show his face personally?' The emperor asked, pushing himself to the edge of his throne.
The chamberlain nodded. 'He is dressed like a barbarian, but several guards recognized him.'
'To believe we would open the gate to ten thousand enemies, he must take us for imbeciles!' Kwan objected.
'The impudent knave!' Ting said, speaking for the first time that morning. 'Have an archer plant a feather in his breast!'
'No!' Ju-Hai shouted, rising to his feet. 'Shouldn't we hear him out?'
Ting whirled on Ju-Hai, her eyes burning with anger. 'The traitor will make no promises we can believe!'
A chorus of agreement ran through the Mandarinate and Ju-Hai realized that nothing he said would persuade his peers to listen to him. To gain entrance into Tai Tung for Batu, he would have to appeal directly to the Divine One. He was risking the little that remained of his prestige, for the emperor had already indicated his displeasure with Ju-Hai once that morning. Nevertheless, the Minister of State knew Batu was no traitor. The young general would not have returned to Tai Tung if he did not feel that doing so was in Shou Lung's best interests.
Ju-Hai turned to the emperor. 'Divine One, what harm can come from admitting Batu into Tai Tung? Does anyone believe a lone man capable of defeating an entire city?'
'There is magic,' Kwan countered. 'With sorcery, one man can accomplish much.'
'Batu is no wu jen,' Ju-Hai returned.
'Neither are you,' Ting said. 'How do you know he does not carry some trinket to block the gate when we
