Bab 191: First Step

In the heart of the city, the contingent of soldiers stands but a fraction of what one might expect. 

Their numbers sparse, hardly pose a threat to Aeryon warrior. 

Within the city walls, the defenders, despite their valour, grapple with dwindling morale. 

The shattered gates serve as a stark testament to their fading resolve; they persist in their defense solely due to their confinement within these walls.

However, amidst this fragile tableau, the gaze must turn toward a particular cohort: the private soldiers, stalwarts in service to the influential magnates and nobility of the realm. It is here that Aeryon scrutiny must linger.

The prevailing Yan empire bears an uncanny resemblance to the twilight era of the Eastern Han dynasty, where the reins of authority lay clasped within the grasp of potent aristocratic lineages. 

These familial colossi cast their commanding shadows over the empire's governance, dictating its course and fate.