Mao Prefecture lay on the edge of the Shu Region. To its west stood the Myriad-Blade cliffs of the Roof of the World. The cliffs were steep and perilous, a natural barrier that blocked the Central Plains regimes from advancing westward, while also making it difficult for the Barbarians of the Roof of the World to invade eastward.
Yet every frontier had its hidden paths, and this place was no exception. Some ten-odd years ago, a Living Buddha of the Barbarians and a tribal prince had once come down through this route, leading a small force and joining hands with the people of the Marshlands to wreak havoc here.
But times had changed. Those involved back then were long since dead or scattered. It was said that the Living Buddha had been jointly suppressed by several retainers of Great Rui's Five Army Commandery and had vanished without a trace. As for that prince, after suffering heavy losses and seeing his plans fail, he had immediately fallen from power upon returning to the Roof of the World and become an insignificant figure. Rumor had it that he had died not long ago.
As for the Marshfolk who had caused trouble then, after Qiu Yan's management, they had now settled down as well. They had established trade with Great Rui and begun planting special grain varieties within their tribes. From time to time, Agricultural School members from the Central Plains would go there to offer guidance.
Still, that incident had given the imperial court considerable food for thought. Thus, several frontier cities here had gained many more defenders, and many more military camps had been built.
"The blood and qi of a military camp are vigorous enough to suppress even Divine Abilities, secretly conforming to the path of yang. If a hundred