The Chinese Civil War - A Brief History

The southern kingdom had stopped paying its tribute for the last 20 years. There was actually a civil war going on right now, and the legitimate ruler had been deposed by one of his chief ministers. So they were all a little bit busy fighting it out, and the whole tribute thing had just whops slipped their mind. The imperial court presses to go ahead with campaign, but then the regional officials clamor against it. And so he changes his mind and calls it off. But then some other local officials offer a different type of campaign strategy that would cost at least two million tales of silver. And you really don't want to do that if you can ever avoid it.