From late September onward, the rain grew more frequent, washing over heaven and earth in layer after layer, with only occasional breaks.
Around this time, rumors gradually spread through Jiangling City that Zhang Xing, Zhang Sanlang, Chief of the Exorcising the Dragon Gang, seemed to have been in a poor mood lately. Or perhaps this was no longer a rumor, but an acknowledged fact at every level.
To be honest, this had a rather bad effect. The middle- and upper-ranking members inside and outside Jiangling's Cangcheng, and those attending training at the military camps, were reportedly somewhat uneasy. Especially with storms gathering everywhere beyond their borders that autumn, nothing could better deserve the name of a troubled season.
That day, the trainee commanders of another five battalions finished their training. They would either remain in Jiangling or return to their battalions in the prescribed proportions, and the taverns outside the city naturally grew lively again.
"Why, though?" Upstairs in a tavern opposite the Cattle and Horse Camp, Zhai Qian was thoroughly baffled. "Aren't things looking splendid?"
"He's angry because we couldn't get the battle formations working, isn't he?" Niu Da replied without thinking. "Third Brother's never been happy about that."
"There's really no need," Xu Shiren said helplessly. "With this sort of thing, either it works or it doesn't. We genuinely lack the strength, and training trainee commanders and military officers was the right thing to do regardless. That succeeded, too. Why stay discouraged over this for so long?"
"Then that certainly isn't it. The Chief wouldn't keep dwelling on something already settled," Xu Shiying suddenly said. "And it certainly isn't the business in Henan that you want to mention but don't dare to. Huaixi has taken half of Yingchuan. What does the Jiyin Traveling Office gaining Liang Commandery amount