Wooo~
Amid the deep, sonorous blast of horns, the gates of Hanhai Pass slowly swung open to either side under the force of massive winches.
Since its construction, this fortress commanding the border pass between Great Liang and Great Yan had rarely opened its main gates. Most of the time, only a side gate was opened to allow merchants and travelers through.
But today was clearly a special day.
Once the two cast-iron gates, each weighing tens of thousands of jin, had fully opened, the fully armed New Hanhai Army marched out in formation, flowing westward like a mighty, surging torrent.
"Leave the pass! Leave the pass!"
The thunderous chants echoed in all directions.
Standing atop the lofty city wall, Wang Chen looked down alongside Wu Zhao at this valiant army marching beyond the pass.
For centuries, no matter how relations between the two nations had waxed and waned, Great Liang's armies had never once set foot upon Yan territory.
The reasons were complicated.
For one, the Emperors of Liang throughout the generations had lacked the ambition to further expand westward, nor had they wished to exhaust their national strength for such a cause.
Secondly, Great Yan was roughly equal in strength to Great Liang. Should war break out between them, it would only hand an advantage to Great Qi, the northern powerhouse.
Thus, over the years, Great Liang and Great Yan had maintained a tacit understanding. Neither invaded the other, and they had even forged a marriage alliance.
Yet because of Emperor Shaowu's fall and Emperor Yuanjing's successful usurpation, Great Liang had descended into internal turmoil. Seeking to seize the initiative, Great Yan had dispatched a great army to attack Hanhai Pass.
The result had been a humiliating defeat.
But the greatest loss from that defeat had been three