Chapter 132: New Year's Eve

we speak of the beauty of a nightingale's song, it is in its most exquisite detail. Her beauty lies in its most enchanting abstraction. Each strand of hair, every curl of her clothing, unfolds with br...The Fenghualing lantern is a specialty product of Yun Guo. It has a complex structure and large size. The petals resemble the feathers of a phoenix. When lit and raised into the air, the shadow of a phoenix can be seen flying on the lantern wall, hence its name.

Every year on New Year's Eve, the Yun City Lantern Festival attracts many people to come and see it, not only from Yun Guo but also from other countries.

The Lantern Festival isn't just about the beautiful scenery; it also features a market where rare treasures are traded. While not as large as the Cloud River Market, there are many things you wouldn't see otherwise. Whether cultivators or ordinary people, everyone in Yun Guo makes it a habit to purchase something they love on this day to welcome the New Year.

When the Yunhe Market of the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month began, they were still in the Chiling Mountains. Ye Qingyu said that they couldn't miss the Lantern Festival again.

Sister Xia Wang, with her round face, was a master at weaving phoenix flower lanterns. In the entire Lingxiao Secret Land, hers were the most beautiful. That day, Jiang An'an kept pestering her for instructions.

In the center of the Lingxiao Secret Realm, on the Cloud Platform, dozens of finished Phoenix Flower Lanterns had already been placed. They just needed to be lit and they would soar into the sky.

Xiao Wang, the senior apprentice, was meticulously weaving in front of a half-finished lamp. Her ten fingers danced gracefully as she manipulated the translucent silk thread. Jiang An'an moved a small wooden stool beside her and sat down, her big eyes wide with fascination, watching intently.

"Sister Xia Wang, your phoenix flower embroidery is so beautiful," Jiang Anan said enviously.

Xia Wang's senior sister smiled with satisfaction: "Of course, my senior sister has liked phoenix flower lanterns since she was a child."

She spoke as she reached out, gently pressing her hand against Jiang An'an’s cheek.

A slight turn of his gaze met Jiang Wang's clear and tranquil eyes.

My heart suddenly skipped a beat.

“Brother Jiang is looking at me, Brother Jiang is looking at me!” she shouted in her heart.

"His eyes were so intense..."

He smiled at me!

Her heart was in turmoil, but her face remained composed. She merely tapped her small chin lightly, revealing a hint of nonchalant tenderness, then turned away, forcing herself to appear calm as she continued weaving the phoenix flower pattern. However, her ears had instantly flushed crimson.

At that time, beneath the towering cloud platform, disciples of Lingxiao Pavilion came and went, preparing for the night's lantern festival. Jiang Wang stood among the crowd, quietly gazing this way.

Facing Wang Shijie's gaze, Jiang Wang politely smiled as a greeting.

Of course, he was watching AnAn.

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Xiao An looked at the phoenix flower for a while, then turned her head to find her brother. When she saw Jiang Wang, she smiled sweetly and went back to looking at the paper lanterns.

She was very curious, why could the shadow of this phoenix lantern conjure a phoenix. Her senior sister Xiao Wang said that tonight they would release nine hundred and ninety-nine phoenix lanterns into the night sky, which would be more beautiful than stars.

She loved looking at the stars very much and didn't know of any scenery more beautiful than them. So she was looking forward to it.

Children are often easily absorbed in things they enjoy. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice her brother had disappeared into the crowd.

On New Year's Eve of 1938, the West was not at peace.

For the people of Yong who had been invaded by foreign enemies, this was even more so.

Throughout the entire Yong nation, from the monarch and officials to commoners, no one had ever imagined that one day they would be attacked by the weak Chu state.

Many people in Yong Country firmly believe that Zhuang Country is just a small branch that split from their own nation and will eventually be brought back. When it will be brought back depends only on when the Yong court makes up its mind. Even though Zhuang Country has actually been established for over three hundred years, many people in Yong Country still do not recognize Zhuang Country as an independent nation.

So when the Zhuang Nation suddenly launched a war, many people didn't believe it was true and thought it was a rumor.

However, the fact was that on the eve of December 29th, at the break of dawn, the vanguard army of the Zhuang Kingdom had already broken through the border troops stationed by the Yong Kingdom in the Qichang Mountains and marched into Lingbei Prefecture.

On that night, the eve of the lunar new year in 1839, Daoli San Jiu had already broken through the defenses of Lingbei Prefecture and led his army into Yiyang Prefecture. Their advance was unstoppable!

Yong Guo's British Duke Bei Gong Yu hung his command, leading the troops to counterattack Zhuang Jun and drive their army back south of the Qi Chang Mountains. However, halfway through the campaign, he changed course with his army.

Because the great army of State Luo came from the west, and joined forces with State Zhuang's Qingjiang Shui Fu, the Lanhe Shui Fu was in imminent danger!

The State of Zhuang had secretly made a deal with the State of Luo, even persuading the Qingjiang Water Prefecture and the infamous Luo State Navy to team up.

Worse still, the Bing Kingdom, which the Yongguo had always been most wary of, has also made a move. The Red Horse Guard, ranked seventh among the ten great cavalry forces in the world, has come north!

When Zhuang Jun captured Lingbei Prefecture, a major stronghold in the southern region of Yong Guo, it seemed to signal the start of a massive war. Instantly, battles erupted along the entire front line, and troops from Jing and Luo provinces mobilized in response.

A day before, Yong Nation was still a veteran power in the Western frontier, having once competed for dominance with Jing Nation. Although it could no longer compare to Qin and Jing, nations like Wei Ling Zhuang and Chen were still commonplace.

But just in a short day, the situation took a sudden turn, and the danger of national subjugation was already apparent!

At this time, Emperor Taishang of Yongguo, Han Yin, broke through the pass and personally donned armor. He went alone to Tianming Mansion to meet King Zhuang Gao in Yuyang Prefecture.

Everyone knows that the current Lord of Yong, Han Yan, is a mere figurehead. The real power in Yong resides entirely with the Taishang Huang, Han Yin.

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And Yong Guo's Prime Minister Qi Mao Xian personally sat in Jing An Mansion, welcoming the possible offensive of soldiers from Jing Guo.

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Jing'an Prefecture is a military stronghold in the north of Yong Nation, and has always been built as a defensive line against the hypothetical enemy of Jing Nation. Although Chima Guard is renowned throughout the land, Qi Maoxian, relying on the heavy troops and strong city of Jing'an Prefecture, certainly has the power to fight.

The profound foundation of the Yong Nation lies deep. The State Master Qi Maoxian, with virtuous men by his side, repelled the Red Horse Guards from the north. Duke of Britain, Bei Gong Yu, aided the Lanhe Shui Mansion. In the west, the Luo Nation and Qingjiang Shui Mansion united their water forces.

Whether it was the state of Jing or Luo, only one army was sent. Only the state of Zhuang went to war with all its might.

The key to victory or defeat in this national war now lies with Yiyang Prefecture.

The Taishang Huang (Supreme Emperor) of Yong Guo, Han Yin, was a figure from the same era as Zhuang Chengqian, the founder of Zhanguo.

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Over three hundred years ago, Han Zhou, the mighty ruler of Yong Kingdom, died in battle. His crown prince died mysteriously in the East Palace. Then came the "Three Kings' Struggle for Power." A war broke out between the Three Kings, and Yong Kingdom, already weakened, was further ravaged by chaos. In the end, however, none of the Three Kings ascended to the throne.

It is said that the people of Yong felt the pain caused by the three kings constantly fighting each other, disregarding the lives of their subjects, and plunging Yong into chaos. They believed that none of them were worthy rulers, so they turned to support the younger brother of Han Zhou, Han Yin, to succeed to the throne.

Han Yin ascended the dragon throne at Tianding Mansion, personally leading his troops. In just one year, he defeated the three kings one by one, completely controlling the military and political power of Yong Nation. This stabilized the turbulent situation in Yong Nation.

...and even repelled the invasion of the State of Jing!

Here's the translation:

Regarded as a wise ruler who turned the tide of fortune, his influence rivaled that of the renowned King Han Zhou.

And then, they secured dominance over the entire world, bringing peace to the southern lands formerly known as "rebellious" regions.

In that battle, Zhuang Chengqian personally defended the Qichang Mountain Range, not giving an inch, firmly repelling the attacks of the Yong Kingdom. And the Qingjiang Shui Mansion, which had made an alliance with Zhuang Chengqian, under the leadership of Song Hengjiang, went to war with their entire clan, killing so many that the Lan River ran red, opening up a line for the Zhuang Kingdom.

Later on, the Zhuang Kingdom joined the Dao-affiliated states and received a certain degree of protection, becoming a pawn planted by Jing Kingdom in the western frontier. The rest is history.

Failure to "pacify" the state of Zhuang and allow its continuation was also a major reason why Han Yin failed to surpass Han Zhou in many people's hearts. After all, Zhuang Chengqian was merely a general under Han Zhou, diligently serving and obeying orders while Han Zhou was alive. However, Han Yin failed to defeat Zhuang Chengqian.

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It can be said that Zhuang Guo is the nail that is stuck deepest in Han Yin's heart.

This time, was it Han Yin removing the thorn from his eye and the splinter from his flesh, or Zhuang Gao Xian inheriting Taizu's ambition and launching a counter-attack against the powerful Yong Gong Cheng

Everything has already been decided in the Battle of Yiyang Prefecture.

ps: The Zhuang Yongguo War has begun. To make the plot easier for everyone to understand, a hand-drawn map of the Western Region situation and an overview map of Yongguo were released on the public account "Qíng Hé Yǐ Shén." Readers can go take a look.smiling and saying, "How could I be tired This expedition to the Spirit Realm was a complete victory! The plan of the Sea Clan to rise as the dominant species has been shattered by us! It's just that...