Radiant Sun Imperial City, Purple Imperial Hall.
Late at night.
Flickering candlelight illuminated the mountain of battle reports piled within the imperial study.
Radiant Sun Emperor Xu Qingxuan sat upright upon the dragon throne, dressed in a bright yellow robe. His expression was composed, his gaze sharp. He held an urgent border report that had just arrived, his fingers tightening slightly and creasing the edge of the paper.
"Three passes breached in seven days?"
Xu Qingxuan raised his head and looked at the military minister below.
The military minister bowed. "Your Majesty, the information has been confirmed. Zhenyue Pass, Canglan Pass, and Luoxia Pass—three mighty strongholds have all fallen. Long Wushuang led his army through them within seven days, and his spearhead has already reached the heart of Bright Moon's southern frontier."
Xu Qingxuan fell silent for a moment.
He knew Long Wushuang was an exceptional commander, and he knew the Radiant Sun army was stronger than Bright Moon's. Yet those three great passes had been border fortresses painstakingly maintained by the Bright Moon Empire for a century.
For all of them to fall within five days was still far too fast.
Xu Qingxuan asked in a low voice, "How has the Bright Moon Empire responded?"
The military minister replied, "The Bright Moon Imperial House has issued an edict to mobilize reinforcements nationwide. More than seven hundred thousand troops have already gathered at the border, and reinforcements from the various prefectures are still rushing over."
Xu Qingxuan frowned slightly.
"Seven hundred thousand?"
"Yes."
Xu Qingxuan rose to his feet and walked before the enormous map of the realm, his gaze settling on Bright Moon's southern frontier.
"After the three passes fell, the Bright Moon Empire will certainly throw every soldier it can field onto the front lines."
The military minister