Dà Qiān, with profound foundation and a history spanning thousands of years, has endured numerous wars but remains prosperous after passing through dynasties.

And among these, the capital Jinling is the most renowned.

In the southern district of Jinling city, there are countless wealthy households with embroidered curtains. When they go out, they are accompanied by carriages and horses, and their meals consist of delicacies from mountains and seas.

In past years, the most bustling embroiderer's garden in South City was a constant flurry of activity. Plays were performed one after another, from morning until night and from nightfall until dawn.

Of course, the most eye-catching were not those plays.

Young nobles loved to watch the graceful dancers in their sheer crimson dresses. Their slender bodies swayed gracefully, revealing glimpses of their plump, fair legs.

Upon tender, delicate feet were red strings tied, and as the bells on the strings jingled and swayed, they surely captivated countless eyes and stole countless hearts.

This really wears the performers out, but thankfully, the reward is generous. This real gold and silver is worth it, so what's a little tiredness?

If one were to catch the eye of a powerful official and be taken into his household, then one would undoubtedly rise rapidly in status and change one's fate.

Every year, the number of people visiting Xiuyuan increases, but especially in the last two years, there have been many beautiful women in the garden.

Now that the year is drawing to a close, if it were an ordinary time, I would be busier than ever and wouldn't even have half a day free.

But since the day before yesterday, the number of people coming to the pear garden has decreased.

In the past, the most common sight was that of young, richly dressed gentlemen accompanied by their servants, shaking fans inscribed with "Leisurely Elegance" under the winter sun. They would stand in groups of three or five beneath the stage, craning their necks to watch intently.

Now, these people can only stay at home, the dull ones complaining foolishly, the intelligent ones apprehensive and contemplative, each with their own thoughts and worries.

But one thing is undeniable.

The curfew in Jinling has been extended, and the inspection of people entering and leaving the city gates has become stricter.

Once curfew starts, even a minute late means you can't enter the city.

Then truly the six streets were silent, pedestrians vanished. On nine avenues, a vast expanse lay empty, illuminated only by the moon.

"Wow! You don't know! There are so many dead bodies, they would pile up five streets high!"

Unlike the quiet of bustling South City, North City, where ordinary people lived, was still as lively as ever, or perhaps even more so.

In a teahouse, a middle-aged man in a sweat shirt beamed with excitement as he described the scene of the battle at Yànluò Mountain to the person before him.

He continued, "Well now, those barbarians from the Southern Border went over with a bang last month, hundreds of thousands of them! Look, look!"

Saying this, he shelled a peanut, popping the two red kernels into his mouth before continuing.

That's it, gone in one gulp.

Oh no, it's gone after World War I.

The thin man before me nodded upon hearing this.

"Indeed, quite a few people have died."

The strong man peeled open another peanut and continued, "Well, that's not all."

Even Lian Na Zhongwu General died in battle, and of the 200,000 troops he led, not a single soldier returned.

"Shaking his head, he sighed, 'Goodness gracious, I can't even begin to count how many people were involved before and after this. But it all ended in just one battle.'"

"What do you mean, how could that possibly stop anything?"

That thin man nodded slightly, picked up his tea bowl and took a sip. After the warm tea had gone down his throat, he carefully opened his mouth to speak:

"This... first it was Tongwei City, then Yang County, now the court has sent troops and even allowed barbarians to pass through, but they all suffered defeats."

"It seems he's quite formidable. Could these soldiers in his hands be celestial beings?" He uttered this in a hushed tone.

The strong man nodded in agreement, pushing aside the peanut shells from his sleeve and saying in a low voice:

"Who said otherwise?"

"The Man tribes fought with us a few years ago. They weren't just tough fighters, they were really skilled warriors. Back then, if it wasn't for General Huwei subduing them, who knows what would have happened today.

"Hmph, the imperial court can only send these barbarians to fight..."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Well, it's good news, I suppose. Still ended up getting wiped out."

"Even if we look at previous years, there haven't been any wars this big, have there?"

The thin man shook his head and bit his lip, saying, "Well, no.

Looking back now, it seems this current court truly lacks the capacity to handle things.

These years, those who were able to fight and win battles weren't stripped of power or dismissed.

Now, what should be done?

That burly man lowered his head and whispered, "I think they'll be here soon."

"It seems unstoppable now!"

The thin man remained silent. After a long pause, he whispered, "I heard that people in Beiliang are living much better now."

"The capture of An yang County, while seemingly a minor setback,"

To be honest, I was thinking, just like this... let him come at me.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a voice like a bronze bell rang out.

"Father, second uncle, what are you guys talking about? Who is he? I want to hear too. But this little rascal just sneaked over here."

He wasn't very old, probably around ten years old. He held a shuttlecock in his hand, and there was a string of shiny snot hanging from his nose. His eyes blinked not at all as he stared intently at the table.

The burly man waved his hand: “Get lost, you kid. What are you doing in a teahouse? Go home and play.”

That child snuffled his nose and giggled as he crept up to the table, "Dad, what are you two whispering about? I want to know too."

The thin man beside him touched his chin and said, "You're still young, you wouldn't understand."

The child placed his hands on the table and frowned, "Second Uncle, if you didn't tell me I definitely wouldn't understand. If you told me, maybe I would."

Upon hearing this, the thin man smiled faintly and clasped his hands together, saying: “National affairs, do you understand?”

The child held their face high, taking their hand off the table, and said in a manner like a little adult, "I know."

National security and peace, mountains and rivers unharmed, this is what national affairs are all about.

"Well, well, look at you. You've learned a few new phrases, have you? Where did you pick them up?" The burly man beside him watched his son with amusement.

The child placed their hand on the table again, sucking in a breath and saying: "I don't remember when I learned it, but an old Taoist said..."

The thin man chuckled softly, then asked, "Do you know what this means?"

"National affairs, the child replied."

The skinny man shook his head, "I know what it is, but I don't know why. I understand, I understand!"

The child's face flushed red, and he huffed, "Hmph, you guys just don't understand! I haven't been to school, so how would I know so much!"

I'm going to school, and I definitely know more than you.

The burly man immediately bellowed, "How dare you speak to me like that? This is your second uncle! Are you itching your butt?"

But the thin man didn't mind, just about to explain the meaning to his nephew, but this mischievous nephew stuck out his tongue at him with a smug smile and ran away.

The big man looked at his retreating back, then slowly withdrew his gaze.

His eyes fell on the table, and a gasp escaped his lips.

"This little rascal! So he's here for the peanuts. I said, how could he possibly understand this!"

"This little glutton! Can't get enough!"

Only the shells of peanuts remained on the table where there were flowers before.

On the street below the teahouse, a child with a bag of peanuts glanced triumphantly at the teahouse, then waved his hand.

Come, eat peanuts!

A group of children in rags surrounded him, sniffling and calling out happily one by one, like a flock of little sparrows hopping and skipping.