The Huai River flows through the city. In the third year of Xianfeng's reign, when the news of the fall of Anqing drifted to Qingjiangpu along the water wind, the boatmen on the dock were furling the last sail.
Shen Yanqing stood at the stern of the "Tingfeng" and ran his fingertips over the four words "Peace on Huaishang" engraved on the ship's plank. His gown was stained with dew from the south of the Yangtze River, and his luggage contained half of the unprinted "Huai Salt Research" and a secret letter from the Governor's Office of Water Transport - it was delivered by his mentor Wang Ding during his lifetime.
As dusk fell, he looked at the lanterns gradually lighting up on the shore and whispered, "Let's sail the boat."
The oars cut through the water, carrying him towards the treacherous wind and clouds of Huaishang.
