After Li Chang and his party arrived at Songhe Prefecture in Jiangnan by boat, they saw a bustling scene. Between the harbors of the rivers and seas, merchant ships were as numerous as weaving threads. The streets of the city were filled with horses and carriages, and although there were many poorly dressed commoners in the countryside, the population was dense, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard.
However, when they entered Yun Gui, it was a different scene. Bandits roamed freely, and rebel soldiers were rampant. In the rugged mountains and forests, many villages were almost deserted, and the better ones formed alliances to protect themselves.
