This chapter opens with the emperor of Ming dynasty asking Marshal hong why he is staying at his palace. He is surprised that the emperor would trust the entertainer so much. The emperor tells him that the rumors are wrong, that cheng hong was invited to the palace by the emperor, and that the concubine of the emperor was the one to persuade him to surrender. He also asks if the emperor could be credited if he could persuade the ninth eldest brother to do the same. He says that he is sure that he can at least persuade cheng-hong to surrender without seeking the "quick death" of starvation. He tells him to ignore the emperor's kindness and grab his "morality is as heavy" as a mountain