In the early winter of the Sea Circle Calendar year 1515, the chill had quietly seeped into the West Blue. Hua Country had purged the capital region with overwhelming force and established its capital at Chang'an. Like a boulder cast into the already turbulent West Blue, it sent ripples spreading in every direction at an unprecedented speed.
Yet this newborn regime controlled far less than the former Flower Country's entire territory. The vast south, the wealthy coast, and even the other powers scattered throughout the West Blue were watching this sudden change of power in the north with complicated, inscrutable feelings.
In southern Flower Country stood the great city of Jinling. Commanding the banks of a great river, with waterways crisscrossing its territory and boats thick upon the water, it had long been a thriving hub connecting north and south and drawing traffic from every direction. It was also the southern secondary capital designated by the old Flower Country. Though its palaces and royal gardens were not as magnificent as Chang'an's, they still presented a grand spectacle.
When news arrived that Yujing had fallen and King Luo Shunzhi had been captured, the undercurrents within Jinling instantly became raging waves. Supported by some former officials who had fled south, led by Duan Hong, a former Pillar of the Five Treasures Navy, the royal uncle stationed there, Prince Fu Luo Yongzhen, hastily held a ceremony to offer sacrifices to Heaven in the secondary capital's palace and proclaimed his accession. He retained the name "Flower Country" and adopted the era name "Xing'an," meaning "restore the state and bring peace to the realm."
Above Jinling's walls, the new royal banner bearing the character for "Flower" snapped in the cold wind, yet carried an indescribable air of loneliness and hollowness. Inside the palace, Luo Yongzhen wore ceremonial robes that were slightly too large as he received the homage of his ministers. His face showed little of the dignity expected of a sovereign; instead, alarm, bewilderment, and a trace of helplessness at being thrust into the eye of the storm mingled upon it. He knew perfectly well that he was merely a symbol pushed to the forefront by powerful men in troubled times. Real authority rested firmly in the hands of the burly, sharp-eyed Pillar of the Five Treasures Navy standing below the throne, "River-Turning Mirage" Duan Hong. Duan Hong needed this banner of "legitimacy" to rally support against the northern "usurpers," while Luo Yongzhen needed Duan Hong's swords to preserve his tottering throne and his life.
"Your Majesty!" Duan Hong stepped forward, his voice booming like a great bell and making the palace pillars tremble faintly. "The illegitimate Hua Country regime on our northern frontier has usurped the state, provoking the wrath of men and gods alike! I, Duan Hong, am willing to lead the men of the Five Treasures Navy and serve you unto death, assisting Your Majesty in drilling the troops, strengthening our arms, and restoring our land!" His words rang out forcefully, but his eyes gleamed with undisguised ambition and a burning hunger for power.
Most of the ministers below the throne were former nobles who had fled south, frustrated bureaucrats, and powerful local figures from the south. Each had his own thoughts, and very few were truly determined to restore the country. From the moment of its birth, this rump court lay beneath the shadows of internal power struggles and its powerful northern neighbor.
Relying on the great river's natural defenses and Duan Hong's still largely intact naval force, the Jinling regime barely maintained control over roughly thirty percent of Flower Country's wealthy southern territory. Its tens of thousands of troops consisted mainly of the former southern garrison forces and Duan Hong's Five Treasures Navy, forming a separatist power. They continually dispatched envoys, attempting to contact other undecided forces within the country and even neighboring nations in the West Blue to form an "anti-Hua" alliance. Most who responded, however, remained noncommittal and waited to see how events unfolded.
News of Jinling's establishment of a rival sovereign court swiftly reached Dragon Might Hall in Chang'an through Guo Jia's all-pervasive intelligence network. The charcoal fires burned brightly inside the hall, but could not dispel the grim, murderous atmosphere that suddenly gathered.
"Prince Fu? Duan Hong? Hmph! A pack of wretches clinging to life, and they dare set up a court!" Fourth Brother Zhang Fei's fierce eyes widened, his thunderous voice shaking fine dust from the rafters. "Eldest Brother! Give me a command tally, and I'll lead my own troops to flatten Jinling! I'll twist off that damned emperor's head and Duan Hong's dog head and give them to you for chamber pots!"
Liu Bei frowned slightly at these words and gently counseled, "Calm yourself, Fourth Brother. Jinling is a thousand li away, with rivers barring the way, and the enemy navy's strength cannot be underestimated. If we rashly launch a campaign and our supply lines are cut, or the fighting drags on, our army may be placed at a disadvantage." He turned to Chen Yu, his tone steady. "Eldest Brother, Jinling's false court is nothing to fear, but it holds a claim to legitimacy. If we leave it alone, those waiting on the sidelines in the southern provinces and commanderies may begin to harbor hopes and join the false court. The trouble that follows would be endless."
Guan Yu's Phoenix Eyes narrowed and opened, their sharp gleam held in check. Stroking his beard, he said slowly, "Second Brother's concerns are entirely sound. Jinling's false court is a minor affliction, but it occupies a crucial location and must be removed. Yet we have only just secured Chang'an, and the surrounding regions remain unsettled. The eastern governor of Linhai has made no clear declaration, and bandit trouble in the western mountains has yet to be eliminated. If our main force marches south in full strength, leaving our rear empty, what will we do should trouble arise?"
Zhao Yun added, "Brother Guan Yu's words show mature judgment in affairs of state. The key to the Jinling campaign lies in its forces. Duan Hong has managed the Five Treasures Navy for years and knows the great river's conditions well. Our army is newly formed. Though its fighting spirit is strong, we will need a foolproof plan to settle everything in a single campaign."
Huang Zhong also said thoughtfully, "Jinling has high walls and deep moats, as well as the Yangtze's natural defenses. A direct assault would certainly bring heavy casualties. We must take it through strategy, or force its main strength into a decisive battle on the river with overwhelming speed and force. Once we destroy its main army, Jinling can fall without a fight."
Unable to hold back any longer, Gan Ning stepped forward and declared, "My lord! Generals! Duan Hong's reputation is empty! Every man in my Brocade Sail Battalion is a warrior on the water who can fight a hundred men! If my lord trusts me and gives me command to organize and train the navy, with Brothers Guan, Zhang, and Zhao providing support, we can sweep away Jinling in one stroke and proclaim Hua Country's military might!" A faint aura of flowing water surrounded him, Kyogre's power held ready but unreleased, displaying his powerful confidence.
Guo Jia gently waved his feather fan. Uxie's Power allowed him to discern the connections beneath information. Now he spoke slowly, his voice clear and calm. "My lord, gentlemen. Jinling's false court has three weaknesses. It appears powerful, but in truth, it can be broken with a single strike."
He walked to the huge map of the West Blue and lightly tapped Jinling with his feather fan. "First, its ruler is weak and its minister strong. Luo Yongzhen is mediocre and cowardly, while Duan Hong is domineering. Ruler and minister distrust each other, and their foundations are hollow. A little sowing of discord will surely open cracks within."
His fan traveled upriver and pointed to a strategic location upstream, Xiakou. "Second, its geographical defenses are also its shackles. Its army relies too heavily on its navy and must be weak on land. We can send a wise and courageous general with elite land and naval forces to gather secretly at Xiakou, then seize an opportunity to sail east downstream and strike straight at Jinling! This is a covert advance along an unexpected route."
Finally, his fan traced a circle around Jinling. "Third, they have not won the people's allegiance. The people of the south have suffered under the old dynasty for a long time, and word of our policy of 'equal land distribution and tax exemption' has already quietly spread south. If our army proclaims our benevolent policies wherever it goes, we can win the people's support."
He concluded, "Thus, I believe that a southern campaign against Jinling is not merely unavoidable; it should also be fought and won swiftly! This battle will establish our might and utterly crush the hopes of the old dynasty's remaining loyalists, while bringing all the wealthy tax-producing lands south of the river into our hands and strengthening our foundations! However, the keys to this battle are surprise, speed, and precision, not brute-force assaults."
Chen Yu sat upright in the seat of honor, quietly listening to everyone's counsel. Arceus's all-embracing aura of dominion over order flowed naturally from him, ensuring that the discussion in the hall remained clearly structured despite the many voices. His gaze swept over the talented men beneath his command, his decision already made.
"Brothers, you have all touched upon the essential points," Chen Yu said gravely. "Jinling must be taken! However, as Guan Yu and Liu Bei have warned, securing our rear is fundamental. This is, after all, a world where martial strength reigns supreme. I trust your fighting prowess. For this southern campaign, powerful generals will lead elite soldiers in a surprise attack, seeking a swift victory!"
He rose abruptly, his voice decisive:
"I appoint Gan Ning commander of the southern expedition's navy, Zhao Yun vanguard commander of its land forces, and Guo Jia military adviser to the expedition! You will command the Brocade Sail Battalion and the elite troops under Zhao Yun. Make preparations within the appointed time, advance east in secret from Xiakou, seek an opportunity for a decisive battle with Duan Hong's navy, and take Jinling directly!"
"Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, each of you will command your own forces to guard Chang'an and the strategic passes in every direction. Closely monitor movements in Linhai to the east and the western mountains, and ensure our rear remains secure!"
"Liu Bei will oversee domestic affairs, ensure supplies of provisions and military necessities, pacify the newly submitted territories, and implement the new policies!"
"In this battle, only victory is permitted, not defeat! Now is the time to proclaim Hua Country's military might!"
"We obey!" the generals and ministers answered in a resounding chorus, their fighting spirit soaring into the heavens.
With the military orders issued, Hua Country's war machine began operating efficiently once more. At the great river's docks outside Chang'an, the Brocade Sail Battalion's warships began gathering quietly for intensive prebattle drills and familiarization voyages. Gan Ning was full of vigor, Kyogre's power surging through him. He handled boats and controlled waves as effortlessly as moving his own limbs, and under his command, the warships moved as nimbly as swimming fish. He vowed to make the name "Brocade Sail" resound along the great river in this battle and prove his worth.
Meanwhile, in his own camp, Zhao Yun carefully selected his finest soldiers, those most skilled in rapid maneuvers and assaults. Equipped with powerful bows and heavy crossbows, they practiced joint land-and-water tactics day and night, including landings, storming attacks, and street fighting. The extraordinary speed and precise judgment granted by Reshiram's power would play a crucial role in this surprise attack. His quiet gaze held absolute faith in victory.
Guo Jia directed operations from the central command tent, with detailed maps and intelligence dossiers on Jinling and its surroundings spread before him. Uxie's Power allowed him to distinguish easily between true and false information and discern its connections. He continually worked through routes of advance, timing, and every possible complication. At the same time, more spies were sent south. Their mission was not only to gather military intelligence, but also to spread rumors and drive a wedge between Duan Hong and Prince Fu.
Meanwhile, in the palace of Jinling's false court a thousand li away, an evening banquet was underway, outwardly lavish but oppressive in atmosphere. Prince Fu Luo Yongzhen occupied the seat of honor, unable to taste the delicacies before him. His eyes drifted from time to time toward Duan Hong, who chatted and laughed freely below, carrying anxiety and fear he could barely conceal.
Duan Hong sat in the foremost seat to the left, exchanging toasts with his generals. His voice boomed like a bell, and his every glance exuded self-importance.
"Why should Your Majesty worry?" Duan Hong raised his cup toward Luo Yongzhen, his tone carrying a trace of arrogance that was difficult to detect. "The northern soldiers may be fierce, but they know nothing of fighting on water. Upon our great river, they are nothing but worthless weaklings! Our Five Treasures Navy has roamed the West Blue for decades. Our warships are as numerous as clouds, our officers and men fight with all their strength, and with the Yangtze's natural defenses as well, our position is impregnable! If Hua Country dares invade, we will burn its fleet to ashes! Then Your Majesty can march north, recover the sacred capital, and restore order to the court!"
Luo Yongzhen forced a faint smile and raised his cup in acknowledgment, but his heart was ice-cold. He vaguely sensed that beneath Jinling's prosperity, dark currents were already surging and deadly dangers lurked on every side. The northern threat was like a thorn in his back, while the ambition of the powerful minister beside him was even more like a man-eating tiger. This lavish banquet seemed like the final revel before a storm.
North of the river, the sword of Hua Country's southern expedition had already left its sheath, its edge pointing straight at Jinling. Yet Jinling's false court still awaited its approaching judgment amid drunken indulgence and conflicting dreams beneath a shared roof. War clouds crowded the great river. A battle that would decide who ruled the south was on the verge of erupting.
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