Alliance of Qi Yan

Qiyan.

It was a city at the southern tip of Song State. Its State People had certainly had their eyes opened in recent days. Nobles they would never ordinarily see had gathered here, including nearly a hundred feudal lords. Ministers and grand officers were everywhere, and Prime Scholars were so numerous they counted for less than dogs.

Without question, this was the largest regional assembly of feudal lords in twenty years.

Luo Su arrived fairly early, and Duke Shuang of Song came to welcome him in person. As they walked, the duke said with a smile, "A hundred feudal lords gathered together, ministers and grand officers shoulder to shoulder-the last time I saw such a grand occasion was when the reigning Son of Heaven ascended the throne."

Luo Su smiled as well. "The willingness of these Dukes and Ministers and nobles to attend the assembly shows that they still respect the institutions of the Zhou State. That is a blessing. Surely none will refuse the righteous cause of coming to the king's aid."

Duke Shuang of Song sensed that Luo Su had changed somewhat. When they had traveled together earlier, he had been able to see the hesitation in Luo Su's heart. Now, however, Luo Su seemed to have worked something out, and there was an air of openness about him.

The feudal lords arrived in Qiyan one after another. In strict accordance with the Rites of Zhou, Duke Shuang of Song sent officials of different ranks to welcome them.

The lords stationed their armies in the camps Song State had already assigned them, then entered the city with their trusted ministers and a few personal guards to pay their respects to the Marquis of Qi.

Once the Marquis of Qi arrived with his many vassals, the rare gathering formally began. The lords took their seats according to their titles, bloodlines, and achievements.

Three men sat at the head of the gathering. Duke Shuang of Song naturally occupied the center. As a Bearer of the King's Mandate charged with guarding the east, a duke, and the host, his standing was the most exalted. The Marquis of Qi sat to his right. In those days, the right was the seat of honor, and as the reigning king's father-in-law, he naturally belonged there. Luo Su sat to the left, a descendant of the Sage King who had also held high office among the Three Excellencies for many years.

When the chime bells rang, the banquet preceding the assembly formally began. The Court Historian dispatched from Luoyi sat upright behind a pillar, ready to record the proceedings. The lords of the states had also brought their own Court Historians. Such a grand assembly naturally had to be recorded in full, so they could boast of it to their descendants.

Before the feast began, Duke Shuang of Song raised his bronze drinking vessel as host and said, "Heaven and earth have four extremities, and so the Son of Heaven appoints four feudal lords to guard them. The Son of Heaven did not discriminate against me for my origins in Yin Shang. What a gracious favor that was! How could I fail to give my utmost when the king entrusted me with such a weighty responsibility?

"Ever since I obeyed the Royal Mandate and became the lord charged with guarding the east, I have feared that I would fail to repay the King's grace. I have carried out my duties with trembling caution, as though treading on thin ice, afraid of making any mistake. Fortunately, through the King's mandate of heaven, I have achieved something over these years. At today's assembly of royal kin and noble relatives, I need not hide my face and flee."

"I summoned you all by the Royal Mandate, and you answered together. This was not out of regard for me, but in obedience to the Royal Mandate. You are all loyal servants of the Zhou State. With this wine, I toast you."

Even Luo Su found the speech remarkably polished. A delighted smile naturally rose to his face, and he raised his cup as well. "The Duke of Song speaks truly. His words reach the very depths of my heart. Let us speak no more of the old affairs of Yin Shang. We are all loyal servants of the Zhou State. Henceforth, we should work as one to ensure that its radiant mandate of heaven endures forever."

The lords pledged their loyalty one after another, and the banquet instantly grew lively. All the Court Historians began recording this important moment. Nearly a hundred feudal lords had sworn an oath together, and they had already inscribed the words "Alliance of Qi Yan" in their histories.

The lords attending the assembly did not realize its significance, but Ji Zhao noticed it through the sudden, rapid increase in his Fortune Points.

The banquet continued. The lords took the opportunity to strengthen their connections, and those of different surnames could even discuss a few marriages. The three men at the head of the gathering also began conferring in low voices.

Both Luo Su and Duke Shuang of Song had many old associates in the Royal Domain, allowing them to obtain firsthand news. Luo Su, in particular, also had the Marquis of Han as an ally, so he knew almost every detail of Ji Wan's movements.

Luo Su spoke first. "The Six Armies in Luoyi have already set out in separate groups. The two vanguard armies moved first, requisitioning provisions from the states along their route and arranging places for the main army to rest.

"There are more than a dozen states between Luoyi and Chu State, most of them ruled by viscounts or barons, as well as tribes of Southern Barbarians. But they probably will not act. They may temporarily withdraw west or south.

"Judging by how long the news took to reach us, the Son of Heaven's Six Armies should all have crossed the river by now and headed toward the Han River."

The Marquis of Qi, a veteran of many campaigns, considered this and said, "The Son of Heaven's army has traveled a long way. Under normal circumstances, it should rest and regroup for a short while. In other words, fighting should not break out for at least half a month.

"Besides, both armies are so large. Unlike the Central Plains, the south does not have vast stretches of level ground where movement is easy, command is straightforward, and even hundreds of thousands of men can fight. Most likely, the two sides will engage in smaller battles. That will stretch the front out, and the war will last longer as well."

At last, the Marquis of Qi reached his conclusion. "This great war between the King and Xiong Dun will not end anytime soon. We may need to attack the Eastern Yi tribes as a way of prolonging the assembly."

The Marquis of Qi offered his predictions about the campaign based on his experience, but failed to notice Luo Su's expression growing increasingly grim. Duke Shuang of Song did notice, however, and said, "Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Luo seems to have something to say."

Luo Su had been harboring an ominous premonition all along. As his uncle analyzed how the campaign would unfold, that feeling grew stronger and stronger. Seeing both Duke Shuang of Song and his uncle looking at him, he forced himself to keep his voice steady and asked, "Uncle, what if-this is only a hypothetical-what if the Son of Heaven goes into battle without letting the army rest and regroup? Or if he insists on deploying the army in hilly terrain crisscrossed by rivers? What would happen?"

The Marquis of Qi paused at Luo Su's question, then answered without giving it much thought. "If King Wu or the Sage King were still alive, perhaps they could win. But as I see it, there would be no hope of survival. Once an army collapses under those conditions, the consequences are horrifying. The best course would be to flee immediately, then find a way to rally the survivors and plan the next move."

At this point, the Marquis of Qi asked with some disbelief, "Surely the Son of Heaven would not be so foolish? Even if he knows little himself, as long as someone beside him understands warfare, it should not be difficult to accept their advice. You must be worrying over nothing."

Now even Duke Shuang of Song said helplessly, "Marquis of Qi, perhaps you do not understand this royal son-in-law of yours. His lack of accomplishment in either civil or military affairs is not really the issue. His greatest problem is his stubborn conceit and his inability to see himself clearly. Otherwise, with a man of such outstanding talent as the Marquis of Luo managing affairs at court, how could anything so absurd have happened?"

The three fell silent at once. In the end, Luo Su broke the silence, gritting his teeth as he said, "Now we can only hope that we are imagining things, and that the situation has not yet become irretrievable. I will never allow the foundations of the Zhou State to be shaken!"

I had originally thought each chapter ought to be four thousand characters long, but when I reached this point, a voice told me I could stop. I had finished telling one event, so there was no need to pad the word count. This was just right.