In winter, the skies over the West Blue always darkened early. When the towering silhouette of the Chang'an appeared on the horizon, Liu Bei and the officials waiting at the port breathed a collective sigh of relief. Before the ship had fully docked, Chen Yu stepped onto the solid ground of Chang'an Port with Guo Jia, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and the others.
"Welcome back in triumph, my lord!" Liu Bei led the civil and military officials in a bow.
Chen Yu helped Liu Bei up and swept his gaze over everyone. Though he had been away for only a little over a month, he could clearly sense that Chang'an City felt graver than before, its air heavy with the oppressive stillness before a storm. "Liu Bei, how are things at home?"
His expression solemn, Liu Bei handed over an urgent military report. "Your return is timely, my lord. The Ilisia Kingdom has joined forces with its vassals, the Blackstone Duchy and the Wind Chime City-State, and massed a hundred thousand troops along our eastern maritime border, accusing Hua Country of 'usurping sovereign authority and threatening the safety of shipping routes.' Their vanguard has repeatedly crossed the line of actual control at sea and engaged our eastern patrol forces in minor skirmishes. According to secret reports from the Wind-Listening Guard, although the World Government has made no public statement, it has tacitly approved Ilisia's military action. Intelligence also indicates that Cipher Pol Agency operatives are active in the enemy camp."
Everyone returned to Zichen Hall. On the enormous sand table depicting the West Blue, red flags representing enemy troops crowded the eastern border, making the situation plain at a glance.
"Those strutting clowns dare run wild!" Zhang Fei's fierce eyes opened wide, his voice booming like thunder. "Brother, give me