The next morning, the Mings return to the palace. The Mings are shocked to see that the emperor has ordered the destruction of the Ming army. Ming asks the emperor if he has thought about how the people of the future will react to his decision to disband the army. The emperor replies that he has not. He says that since he ascended the throne, the country has been prosperous, and the people have praised him for being a "virtuous king." Ming says that he will never betray the emperor.