Rain had fallen over the East of the Passes as well, but in just the right measure, nourishing the somewhat parched soil of Jizhou's commanderies and states.
With disaster striking Guanzhong, if anything went wrong in the commanderies and states of Hebei too, chaos across All Under Heaven would become inevitable in an instant.
What was probably the last autumn rain fell on Zhao City's weathered walls, where patches of moss clung.
The current Household Head of the Luo Clan was Luo Bai's son, Luo Yi.
He stood in the highest tower in Zhao City, gazing out over the whole city. Even without counting the thousand years before its destruction, this place had already been the center of Hebei for nearly two hundred years, and was indisputably one of its cultural and commercial centers.
Yet even in Zhao City, according to the clan's calculations, the profits brought by trade were steadily declining.
Great Han was worsening by the day. Many people could see this, and even those living through it, whether commoners or officials, could feel that All Under Heaven had changed.
"Husband, are you still thinking about suppressing the unrest in Guanzhong?"
Luo Yi's wife came up to stand beside him and asked softly. She was a younger female relative of his from the same clan.
Watching the pattering autumn rain, Luo Yi said reflectively, "My dear, do you know how All Under Heaven today differs from the time of Emperor Li?"
Without waiting for his wife's answer, he continued, "Under Emperor Li, the situation across All Under Heaven was even more precarious than it is now. Great Han's Altars of State were on the verge of toppling. The calamity that destroyed Qin was no idle talk.
"But back then, everyone under heaven knew why things had come to