"Northern Zhou and Northern Qi were locked in fierce battle. Both sides had fought with real fire, especially Qi. After its early setbacks, it sent large numbers of troops north as reinforcements..."
In a hastily erected tent, Chen Cuo sat in the seat of honor. Chen Fanghua, Zhou Youzi, and Lingya, Ling Mei, and Yuan Quan of Kongtong sat beside him.
Chen Fanghua had been about to explain why he had come, but Yuan Quan stopped him and gestured at their surroundings.
After several years, Chen Fanghua was no longer the naive youth who had returned to his homeland. He understood at a glance and led them into the tent.
But perhaps because people from Kongtong were present, he did not continue where he had left off. Instead, he began with the state of All Under Heaven.
"...With Qi's troops gone, Huainan was left undefended. Wu Mingche was ordered to lead a northern campaign, routed the Northern Qi forces, and retook the lands of Huainan. The Emperor was delighted. He promoted Wu Mingche to Minister of Works, Chariots and Cavalry Great General, and Provincial Governor of Southern Yan Province, and even made him Duke of Nanping Commandery!"
"That's quite a collection of titles! The ruler of the Chen Kingdom certainly was generous!" Ling Mei clicked her tongue. "Even though I live in the mountains, I know how great an achievement it is to expand a kingdom's borders. His name will be remembered for generations. No wonder he received so many titles at once!"
As her words faded, a soft laugh came from the corner.
Everyone turned toward it. Yuan Quan was the one who had laughed.
He made no attempt to hide it. Smiling, he said, "With so many hats piled on his head, General Wu will likely have no