Xie Jue arrived in Yangzhou just as the city welcomed its first snowfall of the year.
Snowflakes danced in the air, blanketing the earth in white; awakening to a silvery world, the lake sparkled and the frost-clad trees on both banks created a breathtaking scene, a beauty distinct from that of spring.
Xie Jue pushed open the window to admire the view. He favored snowy landscapes, a fondness since his days in Ningzhou; heavy snow buries the traces of bloodshed, slaughter, and corpses, transforming chaotic battlefields into pristine, frozen expanses, erasing signs of past turmoil. The snow in Yangzhou appeared gentler compared to Ningzhou, marking his first time witnessing the snow in Jiangnan.
There is a common saying among the people: an auspicious snow foretells a good harvest; with such a heavy first snowfall, the coming year promises good weather. Xie Jue also hoped for favorable conditions in Beining.
