WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE f*******n City, the Hongzhi Emperor and his officials in the Ministry of War as well as the scholars of both academies stood anxiously in anticipation of what was unfolding within the empire. Academician scouts have reported a large encampment of mostly former Jinyiwei and steppe nomads to the northeast on the Liaodong Peninsula near the border of the nation of Joseon. Many of the Foreigners' ships have also just anchored along both the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas guarding the broad entrance to the Gulf of Beizhili which led directly to the shores not far from Beijing. There were other ships sailing directly from the nations and islands to the south and have arrived in response to their kin's call for aid. Upon receiving the report, the Hongzhi Emperor immediat
