The air rang with the loud calls of bugles and dull beating of drums. The front door of the great hall was slowly pushed open, and all the ritual doors along the way were opened as well. Guards of honor consisting of hundreds of strong Long Bo men stood in two rows on either side of the walkway, welcoming the guests together with a procession of three thousand generously armored soldiers. King Yang Qiu greeted Liu Bang with a very grand ceremony. The scene felt like a dream to Wu Qi, especially when he could still remember how King Yang Qiu had attacked Liu Bang the last time the two met.