On the eighth day of the fifth month, the Emperor set out west for Guanzhong.
Naturally, the Empress, Grand Princess, consorts, princes, and palace attendants accompanied him. From the Southern Office, Chief Chancellor Su Wei, Zhang Shizhao, Yuwen Changying, and Yu Changji also traveled west, while the other four remained behind.
From the Northern Office, Duke Niu, an expert on the Heaven Ranking, accompanied the procession, while Duke Gao remained behind.
Minister of War Duan Wei and Minister of Justice Wei Chi accompanied the Emperor, along with more than half the officials of their ministries. Their vice ministers remained behind, as did the ministers of the other four ministries.
The Crouching Dragon Guard accompanied the procession with the Crouching Dragon Seal, as did four thousand men of the Jinwu Guard. From the Upper Five Armies, the Longwater Army, Central Rampart Army, and Shesheng Army each sent their full strength of eight thousand men.
As for the three imperial grandsons of legitimate birth and the two underage princes, all remained in the Eastern Capital. The eldest imperial grandson, Cao You, Prince of Dai, served as regent, assisted by the Southern Office.
In the final count, the guards, troops, and officials numbered no fewer than seventy thousand.
On the eighth, the procession of enormous three-story baggage wagons carrying the Emperor and Empress set off first, leaving Ziwei Palace and passing through Duan Gate before suddenly stopping. Then, right before Zhang Xing's eyes, something happened that left even this visitor from another world dumbfounded-dozens of three-story, two-story, and single-story wagons gathered in a particular arrangement. First, they were loosely linked and bound with iron chains and hooks. Then seven or eight experts who cultivated Longevity True Qi, including the Heaven Ranking expert Duke Niu, formed an array and worked together, using their Longevity