In this chapter, the young men discuss their decision to return to China. First, they want to thank Hu for his kind words. Then, they decide that Hu is the one who has changed the most since the emperor came to power. The young men wonder what it feels like to be respected in the eyes of the rest of the world. Hu says that he can't imagine what life would be like if he had nothing. He tells the men that he cares for them all the time, because only when he is with them, can he imagine what it would feel like to have a family. He also tells them that the officer who was supposed to be with them when they left the country has returned, and that he has waived 10 percent of their taxes to help them expand into the country of Shanghai. This sounds like a great deal of generosity, but Hu is not so sure. He feels like he is running away from a losing battle.