Luo State was busy handling the funeral arrangements following Ji Lingjun's passing. The importance of this hundred-year-old elder to Luo State was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Moreover, the elder had requested burial in the Luo Clan's ancestral grounds, beside the Sage King, which involved a great deal of Luo State's manpower and resources.
Following his great-grandaunt's earlier instructions, Luo Zhi began investigating troop movements and grain and fodder supplies within the various states. He then began contacting Luo State's traditional ally, Qi State, mobilizing the strength of the Ji-Jiang Alliance once more to prepare for the impending changes.
On the battlefield between Zheng State and Chen State, the two sides had faced off for barely a month before Zheng State breached Wanqiu in Chen State. Its troops charged and slaughtered at will through Chen territory, driving Chen's army all the way toward Lucheng.
Marquis of Zheng Chan laughed heartily and said, "To think Chen State would be so feeble! It seems they won't live to see Chu State restore their state.
"For such fertile land to lie in Chen State's hands is an injustice of Heaven.
"Once we annex all of Chen's territory and wipe out its ruling house, then contact Qi State to destroy Song State, could Zheng State not become the hegemon?"
As Marquis of Zheng Chan dreamed away, he had actually begun aspiring to hegemony.
At this point, Song State's army had set out from Shangqiu and already crossed the border between Song and Chen. Zheng State's scouts naturally received word of this.
Zheng State's ruler and ministers were somewhat astonished by Song State's appearance.
Song State was no small state like Chen. Its land was very fertile, and its population was twice Zheng State's. "Chen State actually sought troops from Song State rather than