After autumn.
Its original meaning was after the autumn equinox, a simple expression marking a point in time.
But in an agrarian society, after autumn meant far too much... because the autumn equinox also marked the end of the autumn harvest. Only then was there ample grain, ample livestock, ample civilian labor, and relief from the scorching heat... even the currents of nameless rivers gradually slowed after autumn, making them easier to cross, while the Great River still carried enough water to serve as a transport artery.
Executions after autumn, settling accounts after autumn, going to war after autumn!
Counting from that summer when the Three Expeditions ended in disastrous defeat, Great Wei broke apart, and rival powers rose everywhere, six years had now passed, and the seventh had begun... or, by another reckoning, three years had passed since the Jiangdu Army Mutiny, the Exorcising the Dragon Gang's subjugation of Hebei, Sima Zheng's return to the Eastern Capital, and Bai Hengqiu's westward entry into Guanzhong.
These three powers had annexed what needed annexing, purged what needed purging, founded states where states needed founding, proclaimed emperors where emperors needed proclaiming, appointed Marshals where Marshals were needed, and established Traveling Offices where Traveling Offices were needed. There was no room left, and even the nonaggression agreement between the Eastern Capital and the Exorcising the Dragon Gang had only a few months remaining.
Whatever calculations or elaborate tricks came next, it was hard to imagine anything that did not involve large-scale war.
"If in life you never sail the sea, then come upon Dongting's waves."
Dressed in plain-colored brocade, Bai Yousi reached the wooden gates of the True Fire Temple, on that famous island in the True Fire Sect's lake, and suddenly stopped. With a hand on the sword at her waist, she