The place of no return

The Emperor's audience hall, Northern Wei.

"Report!!" An average height soldier in the standard dark brown armour belonging to the seventh rank soldier of the Northern Wei army, said as he stood by the entrance hall waiting to be granted an audience by the Emperor. Emperor Zhong's lips thinned as he glance at the soldier. He had grown wary of military reports these past weeks but there was nothing that he could do to prevent them from coming.

The officials discreetly glanced the soldier at the door and glanced away. This was the first time a messenger came to court to submit their military report. It had to be an emergency, they watched the Emperor's expression. The change in the mood of the room was obvious.