Yingzhou was located north of the Yangtze River, surrounded by countless mountains and valleys. Towards the east was the fertile Jiangnan region and northwest of it was the center of the Qing Kingdom, the important city of Jingdou. This province, Yingzhou, was not far from two of the wealthiest areas, and it was also at the crossing of the Wei River and the Yangtze River. Logically speaking, merchants should have be flocking there. The province should look lively and be full of happy citizens.
Yet, the actual Yingzhou seemed to be rather run down. It wasn't that everything was gloomy, or that the houses were old. It was that the people on the street all had on dreary expressions and seemed lifeless. The street vendors were also spiritless. Even the savoury crepes all looked cold and limp.
