He was a general who had left a lost city in the third year of the Panlong Calendar to join Zhong Shengguang. He was someone with a long list of victories to his name. Under Commander Zhong, he had gone straight to commanding troops and had won plenty more battles since.0

He gathered true energy, and his voice boomed across the square, “You may have already heard today’s objective. That’s right, we’re escorting the most important caravan of this autumn and winter back to Puxi Gully! As long as we see them safely from Baixiong Pass to Puxi Gully, we can return in triumph. Ever since Wei City fell, Puxi Gully has been Panlong City’s forward line in the west, shielding us from the fangs and claws of the states of Baling and Xianyou. To protect our ally is to protect Panlong City; to protect our countrymen and neighbors is to protect ourselves! All of you, fight at the fore, and guard our Panlong!”0

Spirits surged below the platform, and the crowd roared in unison, “Fight at the fore, guard our Panlong!”0

By the second shout, even the onlookers, most of whom were ordinary cityfolk, had joined in, their voices shaking the southern quarter.0

Then the southern gate of Panlong City swung open, and General Nanke led the...0