After Phùng Hưng's banner faded amidst the smoke and fire, the nation once again plunged into darkness. But amidst the Giao Châu fields, amidst the Red River's silt, a common clan in Hồng Châu quietly rekindled the nation's soul.
Khúc Thừa Dụ, a man both gentle and resolute, did not wait for orders from the North when the Tang dynasty weakened; he stood up himself, accepted the Mandate of Heaven, and served as the Jiedushi (Military Governor) of Tĩnh Hải quân, officially reclaiming governance for the Việt people.
His son, Khúc Hạo, not only defended the nation but built it. He redefined administrative boundaries, established household registers, and reduced taxes, bringing a rare period of peace after more than a millennium of foreign domination. The people called it the Era of Great Peace of the Khúc clan.
Although Khúc Thừa Mỹ was later captured by the Southern Han army, the fire lit by the Khúc clan's forefathers still burned faintly in the people's hearts. That flame passed on to Dương Đình Nghệ, and then to Ngô Quyền two men who continued the Khúc will, transforming the spirit of self-determination into true independence.
In the year 938, after more than a thousand years of Northern Domination, the Việt people no longer feared, but only yearned yearned to live as Việt people, speak the Việt language, and die as Việt people.
In Đường Lâm at that time lived a young man named Ngô Quyền, who served the hero of Thanh region, Dương Đình Nghệ. Ngô Quyền regarded his father in law as his teacher and viewed the people as his own flesh and blood.
When Dương Đình Nghệ was betrayed and murdered by Kiều Công Tiễn, Ngô Quyền's hands trembled with rage. He spoke to his generals:
"The sin of killing a father and betraying the nation cannot be tolerated by Heaven and Earth. If Công Tiễn is human, I shall turn him into ashes on the wind. If he is a demon, I shall strike him down to the underworld!"
After punishing Kiều Công Tiễn, Ngô Quyền received news that Lưu Cung, the King of Southern Han, was mobilizing a great army to invade. The generals were fearful, but Ngô Quyền merely smiled, looked at the surging Bạch Đằng River, and said:
"They think the water is a road, but this water is a sword. If we fight on the shore, we lose; if we fight on the river, the river will win with us."
He ordered sharp iron spiked hardwood cọc (stakes) to be planted beneath the riverbed, waiting for the high tide to lure the enemy in, so that when the tide receded, the momentum of Heaven would shift to the side of the Việt people.
On that day, the sky was leaden gray, and the river water surged white. The Southern Han enemy ships cut through the waves with a roar, arrogantly shouting:
"These barbarians only know how to ambush in the dark how can they oppose the Celestial Court!"
Ngô Quyền stood in the bow of his ship, the red banner fluttering behind him, pointing to the river and shouting:
"Is that your land? Or is it your grave?"
When the tide receded, thousands of iron tipped stakes appeared under the water. The enemy ships crashed into them, shattering and sinking. Red blood spread across the river surface, mingling with the sounds of swords, waves, and drums. Ngô Quyền cried out:
"THIS BATTLE! ONE TIME FOR ETERNITY!"
Crown Prince Lưu Hoằng Tháo was killed in battle. Lưu Cung, upon hearing the news, fearfully withdrew his army. From that moment, the East Sea had only one owner: Việt Nam.
In the year 939, Ngô Quyền ascended the throne, establishing the capital at Cổ Loa, initiating the long era of self governance and independence for the nation. During the enthronement ceremony, he spoke to the people:
"Heaven created the Việt people to stand upright, not to bow before anyone. From now on, this nation belongs to these people, and the blood of these people shall no longer flow for others!"
The entire populace shouted in unison:
"Long live King Ngô! Long live King Ngô!"
The Bạch Đằng waves still flow, like the nation's first song of independence. And whenever the land and river face peril, people still hear Ngô Quyền's voice roaring in the wind amidst the waves:
"The Southern Nation shall never bow its head!"