"A THOUSAND BLESSINGS AND MANY THOUSAND more be poured upon thee, thou who art the reigning Son of Heaven," began Famin Jie along with other honorifics addressed to the young ruler of the Middle Kingdom.

"The loyal subjects of this court have told me you deliver a message of divine importance, one that would determine the fate of my empire and its entire people. Take great care with the words that would roll from your mouth for the time that slips away moment by moment is ...