The north.
King of Gold Wanyan Lie was paying his respects at a temple.
The previous war against the Song people in the south had truly fattened the Gold people up, bringing them no small amount of plundered wealth and population.
Even the King of Gold could afford a little extravagance now—coming to the temple to fulfill a vow, and incidentally commissioning a golden body for the Buddha.
"Chan Master Great Virtue, tell me... can I truly contend for the realm?"
Though Wanyan Lie held the Song dynasty in contempt, the sheer vastness of its territory still shocked him greatly.
It was a land so vast that even riding from dawn till dusk, one could not reach its end.
And it had a huge population and great wealth.
Not only that, the army's equipment was exceptionally fine, though the soldiers' will to fight was not particularly high...
Compared to it, Gold had far too little land and too few people.
"Amitabha."
Chan Master Great Virtue wore a kind and benevolent expression. With his palms pressed together, he said, "Benefactor, you bear the fortune of an enlightened king. You will surely chase the deer across the Central Plains and found a new dynasty!"
Before his words had faded, a Hu man rushed in. "My king! Urgent military intelligence!"
"Speak!"
Wanyan Lie swept out a hand.
"The Song people's army of two hundred and fifty thousand was defeated in the south by the King of Liang's chancellor with five thousand men... After this battle, Great Song's elite have all been lost!"
The Hu man spoke each word heavily.
"What?"
Wanyan Lie was stunned at first. Then he drew his curved blade and cleaved a wooden table beside him in two, throwing back his head in laughter. "Heaven truly aids me!"
"When I