Zhisen began by putting his index finger on the part of the border the Jirandai shared both with the Erdeni steppe and the Reidan Kingdom. “When I return to the Imperial City with your refusal to apologize publicly to the Emperor for the recent raids, war will break out between us. However, as you know, we are presently at war with the Reidan Kingdom, too.” He paused, then looked up from the map at Tolon with some hesitation. “Given your lack of questioning my personal motivations so far, I assume that everyone here is aware that I have the intention of ousting Junsai?”
Khojin told him, “I informed everyone while you were unconscious.”
“That makes things easier, then,” Zhisen said, then fished around in a pocket within his robe, extracting a handful of colourful ceramic shards with smoothed edges. He picked a few red ones from his palm and laid them out at very specific parts of the map, throughout the Jirandai Empire, saying, “The best way to win a battle of wits is in increments. Junsai is no fool. The only reason he did not have me killed along with Ziying is because I have pretended to be his affectionate younger brother. While he is no fool, he is not heartless either. Since I have worked this hard to play the part of a helpful sibling, I cannot make it obvious that I am working against him. Therefore, everything I do publicly before revealing his deception to the court must take the form of actions which will contribute to his Empire. I must pretend to want him on the throne.”
Khojin glanced at his father sidelong, who seemed less interested in whatever it was Zhisen was doing with the colourful pieces on the map and more in Zhisen’s face. He was perfectly composed while talking, so Khojin could not fathom why Tolon had such a concerned expression while looking at him.
In any case, Zhisen finally finished up with the pieces and looked up again. “My plan has five elements which must operate simultaneously and precisely. Three of them require your direct cooperation.”
Tolon gestured at the map. “Go on, then. What are those tokens?”
“The first element of my plan does not require your assistance, but you must be made aware of it first. These pieces represent, in red, our troops— in blue, the Reidan troops. In green, the places where our scouts theorize your central encampments lie on the steppe.”
Khojin glanced at them, and was shocked to see that only two of them were outdated. There were almost thirty. He interrupted Zhisen, asking, “Whose scouts? The Jirandai military?”
Zhisen nodded. “Yes. Junsai has near-total control over the army. The generals trust him, and the Emperor has handed over a great deal of authority to him— at my request.” Some of the chiefs seemed confused, as if to ask why, if Zhisen was in such an important position, he would not just take the power to himself immediately and overthrow his brother later. “However, since Junsai trusts me, I have some sway with his plans. You may notice that two encampment locations are out of date. This is because I am in direct communication with our scouts, and I only convey information that I wish to convey to the court.”
At that, Khojin almost decided Zhisen was too untrustworthy.
But he added, “In any case, remember that. The first element of my plan is not related to the steppe— it is about Reidan. Since Junsai controls the army, it is on his head if we lose the battles. It is also his trophy should he win after a long and arduous fight—”
Togene interjected, “Is that why the war has been going on for over a year now?”
"Yes, exactly,” Zhisen said. “He has been intentionally dragging it out. He is in league with a double-agent who is a member of the Jirandai court while acting as a spy for the Reidan king. Also, he is facilitating the illegal weapon trading of a certain lord, who is supplying weapons to both the Jirandai and Reidan soldiers. This way, we can fight until it is all so hopeless-looking that Junsai’s victory will appear monumental.” Khojin had thought that his opinion of Junsai could not have become worse, but it did when he heard that. “Thus,” Zhisen said, “I will direct the battles to a crucial point, propose a plan of action to the court while taking credit for it, and conquer Reidan myself.”
So, you will show that you are the better prince, but disguise this as a victory in the name of the Empire at large, so that Junsai would at most suspect that you are still competing for the throne. Khojin glanced at his father again, but by the look on his face, he seemed to be thinking of the same thing. Before Zhisen could continue, though, Chief Olai asked him, “What exactly is that plan?”
“Why should I tell you how to conquer Reidan before we are allies? So you can take it yourself?”
Khojin admired his boldness. Honestly, he seemed not to be that attached to his head. But Olai, surprisingly, let it go. “Fine. So, you will conquer Reidan and later reveal to the court that Junsai lied.”
“Yes,” Zhisen said, nodding. “Now, the other elements of my plan are all connected to the battles that will be fought here on the steppe.” Khojin frowned and was about to ask, but Zhisen met his gaze and answered him first. “Like Chief Olai said earlier, we cannot live in peace. Not yet.”
“What are you suggesting?” Inalchi asked, looking suspicious.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhisen said, “A feigned war.”
No sooner had he spoken than all ten chiefs gathered and their heirs erupted into a heated protest. Since Zhisen did not attempt to quiet them down, only reaching again beneath the parting of his robe, the outburst turned into intense conversation. In an undertone, Tolon said to Togene, “You may be right.”
She raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
Tolon gestured loosely at Zhisen, who had extracted some kind of flat rectangular object with beautiful jewels and carvings impressed on it. He was admiring it in the light. “You were right, my dear, that he is probably insane.” Togene did not laugh. Tolon frowned. “What is he doing?”
Khojin was about to clear his throat and try to get everyone’s attention again despite the still-intense arguments taking place, but there was a sudden flash of steel. Some of the men turned in the direction of the sound of the blade unsheathing— Zhisen flipped the straight blade in his hand with an expert movement, then buried it in the table.
It was teak.
The tent was totally silent at that moment. Even the flickering torches seemed loud. Zhisen looked perfectly calm. The knife, which had been sheathed in that perfectly-rectangular box, was upright, its point slicing through the southern pass of Taaga.
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