Since its founding, Wu Zhou has always been in the shadow of Xiongchu.
The reasons are twofold. Firstly, it was a young nation, without the profound foundations of Xiongchu. Busy dealing with internal issues before responding to external threats, it could only concede before Xiongchu's provocations on the borders while landing heavy punches on its own people.
Secondly, its geographical location was unfavorable; Qiyan lay to the west and Xiongchu to the east. Wu Zhou was being attacked from both sides.
Qiyan, this cunning fellow, well versed in the strategy of befriending distant states while attacking close ones, secretly made a pact with Xiongchu. When Xiongchu roared, Qiyan would creep up to Wu Zhou's backdoor, brandishing a small knife, hollering that they wanted to "open Wu Zhou's eyes."
Wise men do not swallow insults. Wu Zhou roared back, fighting as it retreated, waiting to stabilize the inner turmoil before regaining its territories.
But that didn't happen.
