Hedong Province was a peninsula as a whole. Hedong Prefecture lay in the middle of its westernmost region, and Grain Transport Vessels reentering the canal from Luoshui Lake had to stop at its docks.
Farther north in Hedong Province stood another important prefectural city, Jinnan Prefecture. It was not connected to the canal, but its position controlled the throat of the entire Hedong Peninsula.
Continuous mountain ranges flanked the city to the east and west, making it the only overland passage into Hedong Province from the north, apart from the canal and sea routes.
For precisely this reason, Jinnan Prefecture's Prefectural Garrison numbered ten thousand men and had a third-rank Commandery Commissioner stationed there. Although the commissioner did not administer the city, he could require the prefect's full cooperation in an emergency.
He was also the only Commandery Commissioner in Hexi and Hedong Provinces who was not subject to the Transport Commissioner's authority. Previously, he had taken orders only from the Five Military Governor's Office. Now, after the Great General had been placed under house arrest, he took direct orders only from the Ministry of War.
Since this was an unavoidable passage into the peninsula by land, local commerce flourished as well, ranking among the foremost prefectural cities.
"Hyah!"
Lin Hao galloped along the official road on a chestnut horse. Beside him rode Yin Saide, who had removed his mask and put on a bamboo hat.
Because of Yi Feng's strength, Lin Hao had arranged for him to go directly to Jinkou by water, while the two of them followed the clues on horseback to this gateway into Hedong Province.
"That's the Prefectural Garrison over there. Commandery Commissioner Cheng Wen holds the title of First Rank Martial Benevolence Commandant. He's forty, at the peak of force gathering and embrace the