Fufeng County.
A few sturdy horses hurried over from the Southern Frontier, found an inn in the nearest State City, handed the reins to the smiling shop boy who came forward to greet them, and a group of people, dusty from travel, entered the inn. Leading them was a burly man with a shaven head and robust muscles, carrying a bronze rod as thick as a child's wrist on his back.
One end was still stained with mud, mixed with some red traces.
The big man raised his hand and tossed a small silver piece directly onto the counter of the inn, embedding it deeply into the wood.
With a loud voice, he ordered a few jars of strong liquor, baijiu, and also asked the shopkeeper to choose meats and dishes to accompany the drink. The shopkeeper agreed with deep bows, his forehead sweating cold, only relaxing after he heard them stomp up the stairs.
