"Your Majesty, the Xian'an Court may be no match for us, but Flying Goose Pass is a stronghold of perilous terrain. We cannot stand by and watch the Xian'an Court occupy it. We should send His Highness the Third Crown Prince with his elite cavalry to seize the pass while we can, so our army can march straight through!"
Before the Heaven-Pacifying King could reply, the Third Crown Prince slammed the table and rose, his voice booming like thunder. "With my fifty thousand cavalry, I can storm Xian'an and take that old emperor's head!"
Everyone cheered, though no one took him seriously. Those fifty thousand cavalry were the Heaven-Pacifying Army's finest, but dreaming of taking Xian'an City with that force alone was absurd!
Still, everyone understood the value of a little boasting before battle to raise morale. No one would take it literally!
The Heaven-Pacifying Army soon set out. Its vanguard of fifty thousand elite cavalry reached Flying Goose Pass in just a few days.
By then, Li Yun had already led his troops to seize Flying Goose Pass and raised the Xian'an Court's Dragon Banner over it.
"We're one step too late." The Third Crown Prince's face darkened. Seated on his warhorse, he drew his saber, pointed it toward Flying Goose Pass, and shouted, "Attack!"
"Kill!"
Facing such a mighty pass, the Heaven-Pacifying Army's elite cavalry showed no fear. They dismounted, raised their blades and spears, and charged toward the walls.
Tang Changsheng stood atop the gate tower, a plumed fan in hand. Give him a zither and two young attendants, and the scene would have been complete.
"I stand upon the tower and survey the view; outside the walls, I hear a mighty clamor. War banners flutter, casting shadows through the sky—it seems Sima has sent his troops..."