Volume 1: Chapter 4 - The Decision to Divide Qin at the Alliance Ceremony

Dawn overtook Fengze's mountains and waters as the southern gate of Daliang City thundered open.** The Wei royal procession, resplendent in full ceremonial regalia, surged forth, greeted by thunderous cheers from throngs of citizens lining the city's outskirts. When a gleaming bronze chariot, escorted by three thousand armored knights, rolled beyond the gates, the ovation reached a crescendo. "Long live King Wei!" and "Long live the Hegemon of the Six States!" echoed across the land, filling Daliang's streets with a sea of people. 

Wei Hui Wang, beside himself with excitement, bowed deeply from his lofty bronze chariot to the cheering masses. Never before had he imagined such adulation. For three centuries, no monarch had commanded such universal reverence—not even his grandfather, Wei Wenhou, or father, Wei Wuhou. It was his own greatness, he thought, that had elevated Wei to unparalleled prosperity. The kingdom thrived in wealth, territory, and military might. And now, after convening the Six-State alliance to carve up the realm, who could rival his achievement? Even Qi Huanwang's "Respect the King, Expel the Barbarians" and the Nine Unions of nobles paled in comparison. The Six-State alliance defied the Zhou emperor, relying solely on strength to unify the lands. Within six years, per General Pang Juan's plan, Wei would annihilate the five rival states and claim dominion over all. No—actually, Qin would vanish first. Then Wei's hegemony would reach its zenith. The king envisioned his red chariot crushing the kneeling lords of the Six States, ascending to heaven's palace above the mortal realm. Yet he felt a pang of reluctance, wondering if ruling mortals was truly better than being divine. 

"Pardon me, Your Majesty," a voice pierced his reverie. "The five sovereigns await outside the camp. General Pang Juan requests an audience." 

Pang Juan? Wei Hui Wang blinked, still riding the waves of his fantasy. The red-clad general stood before him, resplendent in martial splendor. "You've returned," the king said, trying to compose himself. 

"Indeed, Your Majesty. The alliance's fate is sealed. I've negotiated terms with all five lords." 

"Excellent! General Pang Juan deserves commendation. Ascend and join me." 

Pang Juan bowed deeply but remained steadfast. "It would be improper for a subordinate to ride alongside His Majesty. I shall follow in my own carriage." 

"Very well," Wei Hui Wang conceded. "Proceed to the camp." 

As their chariots parted ways, Wei Hui Wang observed the fluttering banners of the Six States—each a vibrant testament to their unique "Mandate of Virtue" as per the Yin-Yang School's Five Elements theory. Wei, inheriting Jin's fire mandate, wore red; Qi, crafting its own golden-righteousness doctrine, donned purple; Chu, claiming earthy legitimacy, sported yellow; Yan, reverting to water after rejecting fire, chose blue; Zhao blended fire and wood; and Han, clinging to Jin's legacy, wore green. Only Qin, defiantly black, remained an enigma. 

At the sacrificial altar on Fengze's shore,** where water met sky, the alliance's gravity unfolded. Five thousand Wei knights formed an armored circle around a thirty-foot wooden platform, while the six sovereigns' carriages drew near. The ritual commenced with hymns to heaven, as Wei Hui Wang ascended the altar, his obesity notwithstanding, to deliver a speech drafted by Pang Juan. The text extolled Wei's divine favor and outlined the plan to partition Qin. 

Below, the five lords listened with mixed reactions. Zhao Chenghou sneered at Qin's weakness, while Chu Xuanwang, corpulent and self-important, loudly questioned Wei's strategy. When Wei declared war on Qin, the assembly erupted in approval—until Pang Juan interjected, cautioning against underestimating Qin's resilience. His words fell flat, though, as the king toasted Zhao's "brilliant plan" and the alliance's unity. 

In the grand pavilion,** where six dragon-carved tables formed a square, the final negotiations took place. Wei Hui Wang, flanked by Pang Juan and his brother, Prince Yang, presided over the assembly. The lords—Chu Xuanwang's boisterous laughter contrasting with Zhao Chenghou's gravitas—debated tactics until they agreed on a dual-pronged assault: a joint invasion of Qin's borders and incitement of the Rong nomads to rebel. 

As the covenant was sealed with wine and oaths, Wei Hui Wang's ambition soared. He imagined Qin's collapse, his empire unchallenged. Yet in his heart, a shadow lingered. What if Qin proved more resilient? Or if the other states schemed behind his back? Little did he know that his arrogance would soon blind him to the seeds of his own downfall.