In Yingzhou's Kinki Region lay Kyoto, also known as Kyoto Prefecture or Heian-kyo. The ancient capital of successive eras in Yingzhou, it was called "the homeland of the soul" by the Japanese and stood as a symbol of Yingzhou's culture.
The Great Huan Dynasty's armies marched from the Chubu Region into the Kinki Region, swiftly invading Shiga Prefecture, which bordered Kyoto Prefecture. Along the shores of Lake Biwa between the two prefectures, their forces advanced by sea, land, and air, supporting one another as they proceeded steadily and securely.
Shiga Prefecture, anciently known as Omi Province and also called Freshwater Province, occupied the center of Yingzhou. It was the corridor linking eastern and western Yingzhou and the passage connecting the Pacific Ocean and Japan, giving it immense military importance. It bordered Mie Prefecture to the southeast, Kyoto Prefecture to the west, and Fukui Prefecture to the northwest. In short, once the Great Huan Dynasty took Shiga Prefecture, it would stand directly before Kyoto. Of course, following the waterways of Lake Biwa could also bring them to Kyoto, but then they could only fight on the water!
With the two sides so close, the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty clearly had no wish to let the Great Huan Dynasty reach Kyoto too easily for the decisive battle. It therefore dispatched Grand General King Ying Bu with a massive force to intercept them at Hikone Royal City, Shiga Prefecture's major military stronghold, and see whether the Great Huan Dynasty would bypass the city or storm it. If they bypassed it, Hikone Royal City would become a nail driven into the belly of the Great Huan army during the coming decisive battle at Kyoto. If they stormed it, the city's geographical advantages would make it difficult to capture without grievous casualties, while also dealing