This chapter opens with a battle between a young man and the emperor of the cloud dynasty. The young man is the protector general, and he tells the emperor that the cloud kingdom has been reduced to "the poorest dynasty" in the northern wasteland. He says that since the tangs took control of the kingdom, the gates of the dynasty have been trampled to the ground by rioters. The emperor says that he would like to take over the throne now, but the young man tells him that he is full of "benevolence, righteousness, and morality," and that his words are all "for the sake of common people." The emperor replies that he will not be able to hide his "horrific act" at the jiliang tower by killing all of the relevant personnel and "erasing records," but he will have to "pluck" those who oppose him. The old man says that those who submit to him will prosper, but those who do not will die. He concludes that unless he steps on his corpse, he will never succeed.