Liao Xingwen fought down his anger. "General Lin, whatever punishment this officer deserves for his mistake, this officer will accept.

But Zang Wu colluded with the enemy and betrayed the state. The crime is past forgiving. By law, he should be beheaded!"

Lin Changsheng stared at him coldly. "Nothing is clear yet. We'll talk once this general has looked into it... It's late. Captain of a Thousand Liao, go back and get some rest!"

"General Lin..."

"Captain of a Thousand Liao..." Lin Changsheng cut him off. "A wise man bends with the times. Ning Chen has left the Great Xuan, and Liang Jingwu has been dismissed. At Beilin Pass now, this general's word is law.

I know Captain of a Thousand Liao is utterly loyal. But a man ought to look out for himself.

The Great Xuan today is ablaze with war on every side and full of holes. It isn't something you or I can turn around. A man should know what's good for him. Does Captain of a Thousand Liao understand what I mean?"

Liao Xingwen said angrily, "General Lin means that we do nothing, and on top of that, help a tyrant do evil?" (TL Note: 助紂為虐, literally "helping King Zhou in his cruelty." King Zhou was the last ruler of the Shang dynasty and the byword for a tyrant.)

Lin Changsheng's face darkened. "That's an ugly thing to say, Captain of a Thousand Liao. This isn't helping a tyrant do evil. It's knowing which way the wind blows... How much longer can the Great Xuan hold out as it is? If a man doesn't look out for himself, Heaven and Earth will strike him down. We all ought to look out for ourselves."

Liao Xingwen was beside himself. "General Lin, we're soldiers. Defending our homes and our country is our duty... If everyone only thought about looking out for himself, what would become of the common people?"

Lin Changsheng gave a cold laugh. "Defending our homes and our country? Captain of a Thousand Liao, open your eyes and take a good look. Is the Great Xuan…