The rain in May was gentle, like the prelude to drumbeats, leaving long intervals in between. But when June arrived with the wind, the drumming of the raindrops became urgent. The sun loomed behind the gloomy clouds, only occasionally casting its relentless gaze down, admiring the wars of the human world, waiting for the offering of life.
Xiulote stood on the rampart of the Wooden Fort, with rain "pitter-pattering" against the flags behind him, and "whooshing" into the great river before him. Amid the swaying wind and rain, he watched the hundreds of large boats of the Naval Forces, the continuous fleet stretching for miles, with armored Samurai standing at the prow of each. Then, the Young Commander saw something and nodded slightly with a smile.