Qi Yan is utterly delighted. To think about this issue, not only strategically, but from the perspective of a woman, is something not many men would do. "That is exactly why I advised the Emperor against this plan. Male Emperors have issued edicts of self-blame in the past, but for a man, this conveys an admirable sense of humility. The people's hearts would soften towards him. But for the first ever female Emperor, it would be accepting that having a woman as an emperor is a shameful, humiliating thing, and that she is not competent to rule the kingdom. This edict of self-blame would likely embolden the rebels. So a different plan was arranged." It was Qi Yan's plan, but she's aware that some might find it dishonorable and underhanded, and she doesn't want Magnus to think poorly of her.

"We had three aims. First, to destroy the rebel army, using as few soldiers as possible. Second, to help the rebels return to society. And third, to re-assert the power of the Wei kingdom, and deter them from rebelling again.

"To address the first aim, men were sent to the mountains of Huainan on a dry night with good wind. At a time previously agreed on, they set several simultaneous fires, which spread quickly. At the same time, a small group of soldiers infiltrated the city and carried out an operation to behead the leaders of the army. And a third group of soldiers disguised themselves as members of the rebel army, seeking help after being burned by the fire. This group was tasked with spreading rumors that the fires sprung from nowhere as divine punishment—a sign of Heaven's wrath. What do you think was the result of all this?"