In times when such paramount authority fell and power lay vacant, it was the perfect era for heroes to stir the winds of change and reestablish supremacy.
Across the whole of Yangzhou, aside from the declining hegemonic Ning Country, the emerging nations like Lingnan's Su Country, Nanhai Country, or the western countries of Hanzhong and Xichuan were far weaker than the newborn Chu State.
None of these four nations had the potential to vie for hegemony.
Apart from these countries under the former Yue system, the only remaining ones in the territories of Yangzhou were numerous large and small Yi countries in the southwest.
Although those Yi countries were not weak, and their might even surpassed the Chu State, they were ultimately considered separate entities, culturally separated from the Yangzhou norm represented by the Jinling court.
