Longzhou Calendar, 1781, early January, The Beginning of Spring
The Beginning of Spring marks the commencement of seasons, the revival of all things, the awakening of hibernating animals and the springing up of vegetation.
To the people in the western Longzhou, the coldest winter had finally passed. However, it was not the onset of a vibrant spring, but rather, a time of greater death as spring approached.
An unexpected flood during the autumn harvest had turned western Longzhou into a vast swamp. Even powerful clans couldn't harvest their crops while also fleeing the disaster. The flooding of the plains meant that there were no crops to plant, no food to harvest, not only for the commoners, but for the noble families as well. They could only rely on their stockpiled grain.
Throughout the flood, the starving noble families occupying the high grounds revealed their most savage sides, turning the entire western region into a purgatory where water and fire intersect.
