All Under Heaven Is the King's Land, and All Within Its Borders Are Ruled by Warlords

The twentieth year of the Wanli reign, the fifteenth day of the fourth month. The Renchen year, summer. Donglai City, the hour of the Rabbit. The sky had yet to grow light when the watchman atop the city wall struck the final beat of the fifth watch. The clapper's muffled sound floated through the thin mist, as if something had pressed a hand over its mouth. The soldiers guarding Donglai's walls had already been standing there for two hours. Dew had soaked their armor through, and the shafts of their spears were so slick they could barely hold on. No one spoke. Everyone had heard that trail of footprints last night. Around midnight, someone came to the city below. He hadn't walked there. He'd been dragged. His bare feet had carved a long trail through the sandy road. By the time he reached the city gate, his whole body