But the positions of these border garrisons did not remain unchanged forever. They were not fixed.
After a small border war or skirmish, it was perfectly normal for a border garrison to suddenly advance or retreat several hundred li.
The Wei Kingdom had never signed any treaty or issued any public declaration acknowledging that the site where the gold mine had been discovered lay within the Zhao Kingdom's territory.
It was merely that, for the moment, the site of the vast gold mine was under the Zhao Kingdom's control.
And even if that vast gold mine had been deep within the Zhao Kingdom's heartland, the Wei Kingdom would still have wanted a share of the spoils if its strength permitted. Who would listen to reason over something like this? They were like vultures catching the scent of prey.
Once the Wei Kingdom's court finished its deliberations, the armies near that stretch of border began quietly moving. Millions of elite troops lay low by day and traveled by night, slipping forward in batches to secretly gather in secluded valleys and forest strongholds a hundred li from the border between Zhao and Wei.
Their armor made no sound, their banners remained hidden, and millions of mighty soldiers lurked in the shadows, their killing intent gathering like clouds.
Above the countless ordinary soldiers stood many martial warrior officers, and at the very top, a great general in the late steel force realm had even been deployed.
Meanwhile, the Wei Kingdom also began secretly calling up countless sect experts, formidable figures of the martial world, and martial masters of every kind from across the country, preparing for the coming all-out war with the Zhao Kingdom.
After all, the Wei Kingdom knew that once the surprise attack succeeded, the Zhao Kingdom would very likely strike