The Great Qing’s initial victory in reclaiming lost territory shone like a brilliant dawn, greatly uplifting the morale of the people and leaving the entire nation immersed in jubilation and fervor. Su Ran keenly seized this opportunity to strike while the iron was hot, pushing forward with his grand plan for territorial expansion with thunderous momentum. However, as expected, this display of national strength and ambition hit the regional landscape like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves and provoking intense reactions from neighboring countries and external powers alike. Suddenly, the situation became infinitely more complex and precarious.
Since the Great Qing’s success, some neighboring countries had become gripped by fear and trepidation. Like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, they worried that they would be the next target of the Great Qing’s expansion, so they spared no effort in fortifying their military defenses. Though these nations had their own private agendas, they formed a loose alliance for the sake of self-preservation to counter any further actions the Great Qing might take. External powers, meanwhile, felt the rise of the Great Qing like a thorn in their side; how could they sit idly by as the Great Qing’s influence grew to threaten their own hegemony? These powers began operating from behind the scenes, throwing their full support behind the neighboring nations. They provided a steady stream of military aid, sha…
Chapter 194