"So this was Jinzhou City."
Qian Yuan leaned out of the carriage and gazed at its low walls with a sigh.
Liu Nan poked his head out the other side. "Why are these walls so run-down? Plenty of the little towns we passed through had better ones."
"Jinzhou City's walls have been smashed apart several times. It's impressive they still look this good." Zu Zhengzhao smiled as he explained. "Zhou and Qi have fought several wars, and every one of them has swept through Hedong. Now Northern Zhou holds northern Hedong, while the south remains in Qi's hands. Pingyang Commandery is Qi's foothold in the region!"
Their carriage was spacious, one they had struggled to hire after switching to the overland route. Chen Cuo had then asked Zu Zhengzhao and the other two to travel with him, saying they were headed the same way. Over five days, the three had grown much more at ease. Their initial tension and awkwardness had faded, and now they chatted freely.
At this, Chen Cuo asked about the situation in Hedong.
"Jinzhou is the seat of Pingyang Commandery," Zu Zhengzhao replied, his tone immediately turning respectful. "The commandery was established under Cao Wei and remained an important northern stronghold during the Jin Dynasty. Zhou and Qi have fought endlessly over Hedong, their territories interlocking like a dog's teeth. That has made Pingyang all the more crucial. War often reaches it, and many soldiers are stationed here. There are quite a few garrisons along both banks of the Fen River."
Chen Cuo nodded. Though he had only just arrived and had yet to enter the city, he could already sense the air of bloodshed. The city itself radiated an ominous aura, likely the result of too many battles.
With that thought, he smiled. "Brother Zu,