At the hour of Mao (5-7 a.m.), the city gates slowly opened.
Gu Fang mounted his horse and stood at the very front of the army. He slowly raised his right hand, clad in an iron gauntlet. The standard-bearer understood and tilted the large banner bearing the character 'Qian' forward. There was no lengthy oath, only a single sharp command:
“March!”
The horns blared into the sky, and the army, like a waking giant python, slowly flowed northward. Gu Fang walked at the very front; as his horse's hooves kicked up dust, he turned his head to glance back at the walls of Jiuyuan Commandery.
Lin Yi stood atop the city wall like a 'husband-gazing stone,' watching the army until the last banner vanished from sight. She blinked her stinging eyes, let out a soft sigh, and turned to descend the tower.
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