Everyone in the imperial court, both civil and military, knew Wei Zheng's temperament well; he was certainly not one to fabricate things out of thin air. As for Zhang Liang, he was known for his keen perception, a man who suppressed the powerful and showed compassion for the poor and weak, and possessed a considerable reputation in governance.
Two men of integrity clashed...
On the right, the military officers were like statues, eyes downcast and spirits concentrated, indifferent to the argument between the civil servants, which seemed as though it was not their concern.
Xiao Song was much more imposing than both Zhang Liang and Wei Zheng, standing one step behind them with his eyes downcast, minimizing his presence. That was the privilege of his deputy position—for the most part, he did the hard work and, in the hall, whatever happened, it was his superiors who had to take responsibility.
