Chapter 96: Zhang Huang’s Great Era

June 13th, the reign of King Zhao of Zhou.

When Chang Jia appeared in Shangluo in such a wretched state, the entire world was thrown into an uproar. The various states had never imagined that the arrogance of the Duke of Wei could reach such heights. While no one truly held the Son of Heaven in high regard, at least a façade of outward deference had always been maintained. Never had the states considered that anyone would go so far as to cruelly harm an imperial envoy, as the Duke of Wei had done.

"Even the Marquis Cheng of Wei in his day was not this arrogant!" was the common sentiment. It was only then that they recalled that the current Duke of Wei was none other than the vanguard of Wei’s southern campaigns back then. He had tasted more of the shame of Wei’s past defeat than anyone else. With that realization, many could at least understand his desperate thirst for vengeance. As for the honor of the Son of Heaven, they cared little; in fact, the states were happy to see the prestige of the Zhou house further diminished by the Duke’s hand.

Though the states were indifferent, the small court of the Zhou house was in a state of panic. At the morning assembly the following day, the King of Zhou flew into a thunderous rage, severely reprimanding the Duke of Wei for his rebellious conduct. Furthermore, to counter Wei’s advance, the King issued an imperial decree demanding that all loyal vassals immediately cease their own conflicts and dispatch troops to safeguard the royal domain. From this moment on, the Duke of Wei had completely severed ties with the Zhou house, and everything seemed to echo the events of decades past.

In the Wei military camp, no attention was paid to the actions of the Zhou house; they were focused entirely on their preparations. They responded to none of the clamor from the outside world, intending to use their spears and halberds to silence all dissent. Had it not been for the fact that their grain and armaments had yet to be fully replenished, the Wei army would not have lingered at Changping Pass for so long—they would have already marched upon Xinle, the capital of Chen. They were filled with a smoldering rage, waiting only for the final moment to erupt, intending to turn the entire world upside down.

"My Lord, the final shipment of grain and armaments will arrive in five or six days."

In the supply camp, the Duke of Wei stood on high ground, surveying the sprawling encampment.

"Good..." the Duke nodded. He had never felt such pride; he felt that there was no one left in the world who could restrain him.

"Tell the armies to rest and gather their strength. In three days, we march on Xinle," the Duke commanded in a deep voice.

"Understood!"

As he continued to gaze into the distance, the Duke’s ambitions grew ever loftier. What was the King of Zhou? Nothing more than a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy. He wanted to see if the states would still remain as loyal to the royal cause as they had in the past.

***

A day later, news emerged that shifted the situation once again.

The states of Chu and Wu, responding to the King’s call, had begun to withdraw their forces with a tacit understanding, easing their mutual hostilities. Chu and Wu were major powers; if they ceased their fighting, they could collectively send two hundred thousand troops north. Combined with the Qin forces on the borders of Chen, the tide of the war could surely be turned. However, Chu and Wu only pulled back their soldiers; they mentioned nothing about sending troops to defend the King. Sending a large army north to attack Wei was an immense drain on resources, and both states had to be cautious. Moreover, launching a distant expedition against a prepared enemy waiting in comfort was highly disadvantageous.

After all, these were not the days of decades past; any lingering loyalty to the royal house had long since been washed away by time. Even the great war they had participated in years ago was now remembered with deep regret. After countless casualties and ruinous expenditures, they had gained nothing but an imperial decree of commendation.

With Chu and Wu remaining motionless, the smaller states dared not act either. Although they were terrified by the might of the Wei army and wished to form a coalition, they would not move without the backing of the major powers.

In light of this dire situation, the Zhou court issued another decree, calling upon the states to follow the example of the Duke of Qin and show courage in their duty. But it was to no avail; the Zhou house could not offer the benefits that Chu and Wu demanded, and it was impossible to stir these self-interested players.

Within the courts of Chu and Wu, fierce arguments raged between those who supported a northern expedition to defend the King and those who advocated for staying put. The former saw Wei as a great threat and calamity, while the conservatives argued that since Chu and Wu shared borders, they were far greater threats to each other than the distant state of Wei.

It was not just the King of Zhou and the small states that were anxious; the rulers of Chu and Wu were also deeply unsettled. For decades, with Qin and Qi keeping Wei locked in the north, they had lived in relative peace. Now that this tiger had broken free, they were naturally alarmed. The fall of the majestic Changping Pass—which had not even lasted a single day under Wei’s assault—sent further shockwaves through their capitals.

Ignoring the entanglements of the southern states, the capital of Qin, Xianyang, was also embroiled in intense debate over the defeat at Changping Pass. The Qin military had lost all face, suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Wei. Wei Changtian, who was far away at the border, was being cursed relentlessly in Xianyang. The consensus among the people was to strip him of his command and drag him back to the capital to face interrogation.

Yet, the Duke of Qin suppressed these voices. In his view, the handling of Wei Changtian was already the most expedient solution. However, the Duke did not step forward to clear Wei Changtian’s name; Qin needed a scapegoat, and Wei Changtian was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. Qin now faced a dilemma: should they continue to attack Wei? Unlike Chu and Wu, if Wei destroyed the state of Chen, Qin would face the threat directly; they could not remain on the sidelines. But Qin had suffered heavy losses, and if they were defeated again, they would truly be in danger. Thus, the court of Qin remained mired in dispute.

***

On June 15th, when the Wei army had finished its preparations to march on Xinle, the states of Chu and Wu could no longer sit still.

"The Duke of Wei is arrogant and ignores his sovereign and father. Chu has long enjoyed royal grace and must not allow such a rebel to run wild..."

"The Wei clan is cruel and overbearing, endangering the vassals and poisoning the world... Wu must strictly resist..."

Rarely did the two states speak in unison, but they both voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Duke of Wei. Although they still did not propose a military intervention, their clear stance allowed the Zhou house and the smaller states to breathe a sigh of relief, finding some measure of comfort. Following this, the states of Ba, Shu, Liang, Zheng, and even Lu—which bordered Wei—all added their voices to condemn Wei’s rebellious actions. Only the states of Tang and Song, as Wei’s junior allies, remained steadfast in their support of their "big brother."

Among the great powers, only Qi remained silent, not participating in these events. However, while the court of Qi remained quiet, undercurrents were surging. The Duke of Qi was old and gravely ill, nearing death, and for months, the state had been in turmoil. The princes vying for the throne had all emerged with their own factions, fighting joyously.

But in the last few days, the capital of Qi had suddenly gone silent. The only commotion came from soldiers emerging from the palace, constantly arresting people—mostly those with influence within the city. Fear gripped the people of Qi; with powerful enemies outside and chaos brewing within, it felt as though the Duke was leaving no successor. The state of Qi stood on the brink of collapse.