The old man's words stirred the emotions of many scholars, who clamored that Yan's actions against their emperor trampled on the dignity of Zhou, insisting they abandon their pens for military service, rush to Yan to protect the emperor, and fight a bloody battle to avenge the shame.
"The plague in Yan, the cities ceded to our Zhou... after all, the people in those cities are Yan's people. Our Zhou emperor treats the people of Yan as his own children, personally venturing into the plague-infected cities, sending medicine and food. Yet, Yan with wolfish ambitions repays kindness with ingratitude and seeks to kill our Zhou emperor! It's simply outrageous!"
