On the twenty-second day of the first month, the Empress of Great Han, Xia Chichi, held a grand military inspection on the battlefield. There, she addressed her gathered officers and troops with a firm and determined tone. 0

“I know that within the court and beyond, there are many voices criticizing me and King Zhao for our relentless pursuit of war, refusing to grant the people respite. They say that even the great Emperor Wu of Han[1] never launched a northern campaign in such dire conditions, when the nation is threatened by famine. They claim that it would be wiser to focus on rebuilding the nation first, that we are rushing into war as recklessly as Emperor Wen of Liu Song did in the Battle of Yuanjia[2]. They argue that the northern barbarians would prefer nothing more than to see us make such a desperate northern advance.0

“Indeed, these words come from experienced and prudent minds, and they make perfect sense… However, times have changed....0