"Zhen doesn't want to listen to you speaking politically correct words. Tell Zhen about the balance of power that was maintained by father-emperor while Zhen was away and what factions were formed and how strong they were. Who can be swayed by fame and riches? Who is a staunch follower of traditions and the Imperial Clan? Who leads each of the factions in the six ministries?"
Ning Fu felt nervous at all those questions because he realised that this was the emperor's oblique way of giving him a chance to rectify his mistakes.
He didn't know what the monarch would do with all this information but he could certainly guess that this was his chance to prove his mettle.
He began to speak, "The imperial officials who go along with the tides are...."
In the following days, he didn't realise but it was the first time Ning Fu worked himself and his subordinates to the bone to gather intellect about the various ministers and their families.
