Prince Ning, Yu Dianpei, summoned the noble families, scholars, and rich merchants within the city, originally intending to seek their sponsorship for some funds and grain and to calm them slightly.
If there were some who recognized the times and were willing to serve under his command, supporting his great cause, that would have been ideal.
But under the current circumstances, Prince Ning, Yu Dianpei, clearly could not realize his wish.
Although the people before him were all silent as statues and each maintained a respectful and solemn demeanor, Yu Dianpei could even guess their thoughts with his feet.
They were thinking "He is indeed the County Prince Fenyang, with unmatched military sharpness", "It seems the Court has foreseen this; the new emperor has a prosperous destiny", "Prince Ning's defeat is apparent; we absolutely cannot join the traitor to avoid implicating our families in the future", and even "Today we would rather die than associate with Prince Ning" and so on.
