April 17th, a succession of clear days.
Upon the Jianghuai Great Marsh, not a single sail shadow could be seen, birds flew high, fish leaped from the water, with only rippling waves moving gently, a scene of lifeless stillness.
The giant snake lay coiled, not to mention boats unable to navigate, even ordinary birds and fish dared not venture out.
Hundreds of soldiers stood at the river's mouth, with a grand sacrificial platform set up, casting long shadows, while outside the central circle, a large crowd of locals gathered, murmuring about the several figures on the high platform.
"Fellow villager, fellow villager, I've just arrived, can you tell me which one is the River Governor?"
"Look there, they say it's the one on the left of the County Magistrate, the tall and best-looking one."
"Why is he so young? He looks even younger than my eldest at home, can he really handle the giant snake?"
