The King of Chu gave the two armies ten days to prepare, and Fang Yun ordered Wang Li to bring the finest soldiers at Lotus Mountain Pass back to Pearl City.
Over those days, Fang Yun had incorporated the Deer Gate Army's elite into the new army, including everyone from Hanlin Academicians to Academy Students. Led by Wang Li, a general of the Pearl River Army, this new army arrived in Pearl City.
On the morning of July 12, 210,000 soldiers of the Pearl River Army entered Pearl City's Literary Academy and formed ranks in the Temple of Sages' plaza.
Of these 210,000 soldiers, 110,000 were elite veterans of the old Pearl River Army, 50,000 had been selected from the Deer Gate Army, and another 50,000 were new recruits dispersed among the various divisions.
The vanguard, rearguard, central division, left division, and right division formed ranks in the plaza before the Temple of Sages. Seen from above, the army of 210,000 formed a neat cross.
Fang Yun and the generals of the five divisions stood on a hastily erected platform.
Fang Yun wore the blue robes of a Grand Academician, with white clouds embroidered along the hem, cuffs, and other edges.
The five generals had originally all been Hanlin Academicians, but now four Hanlin Academicians and one Grand Academician stood behind Fang Yun.
Zhang Qingfeng had advanced to Grand Academician the previous month and politely declined the King of Chu's offer, remaining in the Pearl River Army to accompany Fang Yun to Two Worlds Mountain.
The summer heat blazed. Though it was only eight in the morning, the fierce sun already filled the sky with dazzling light. Sweat streamed down the soldiers' faces, and almost everyone's back was soaked.
Local officials and scholars stood on either side of the Pearl