The fifth year of Taiping.
July.
Great Liang's army won a crushing victory over the imperial court. Five thousand defeated five hundred thousand, shocking the realm!
In August, Great Liang's chancellor, Void Spirit Master, personally led an army of one hundred thousand and marched on Goldstone City!
The army stretched on in a mighty, rolling advance.
Aaron rode Little Jade as all the horses gave way, arriving at the riverbank.
Several riders followed at his side, Tang Xun conspicuously among them.
"Goldstone City is protected by the great river. Quarry Rock lies to the left, in the middle of the river, like a small island. Great Song's army has built fortresses and arrow towers on it... controlling the upper reaches of the river. Easy to defend, hard to attack."
Tang Xun pointed at the river. "Whether we wish to cross northward in the future or secure the south, an elite naval force will be indispensable."
Aaron could not help but nod.
Yet he also knew that a navy could not be trained overnight. Leaving aside everything else, the timber used to build warships could not be ordinary wood. It needed at least several years of treatment and air-drying, or it would fall apart within days of touching the water.
"If training them won't work quickly, why not just poach men from Great Song's army..." Aaron laughed.
Great Song had a navy, after all.
And now that the sun was setting over the western hills and everyone feared for themselves, desertion was hardly shameful.
Besides... even if they remained utterly loyal, they could be killed first and enlightened afterward.
"Report!"
Just as Aaron was about to say more, a rider galloped up to report, "The commander of Quarry Rock has surrendered!"
Without hesitation, Tang Xun dropped to his knees in congratulations.