Luo Zai's final wishes were soon faithfully carried out. Scions of the Ducal Clan went ahead to Chu State to contact the Xiang Clan and negotiate passage.
Migration to escape the ravages of war had always been perfectly normal.
In years past, Zheng State had even moved its entire country from Haojing to the east of Luoyi to survive. This was the origin of Xinzheng.
Apart from countries like Qin State, which strictly controlled personal freedom through household registration and collective liability,
population movement between the States east of Xiao-Han was, on the whole, still considerable.
The States did not yet know that Luo State intended to move all its women and children away, leaving only some who were unwilling to leave to guard the Ancestral Temple and their homeland.
Luoyi.
The newly enthroned Son of Heaven Mo did the same thing his father had done, sending all the female members of the Royal House, including the Princess of Zhou, to Zhao City.
As the carriages departed one after another, Son of Heaven Mo stood atop the city wall, gazing far to the west.
His expression was utterly composed, in stark contrast to the terror written across his attendant's face.
Dust and smoke blotted out the sky there, and countless strong soldiers were advancing toward Luoyi.
Bai Qi had arrived.
He led Qin State's army of tigers and wolves.
He had returned once more to the land where he had once suffered defeat.
He recalled how, before he left Qin State, King Ji of Qin had told him with a smile, "Take Luoyi, and your defeat will vanish like smoke.
"Take Luoyi and sweep away the Zhou Royal House.
"Destroy the six kings east of the mountains and seize Zhao City.
"Let Qin's Mandate of Heaven rise slowly over