In the winter of 910, a stretch of road outside a village near present-day Hangzhou was transformed overnight.
The old trees lining the road were wrapped one by one in colorful brocade. Field ridges, house corners, and even the open spaces where children played were draped in costly silk. Seen from a distance, the entire village seemed to shimmer with light.
Qian Liu, founder and King of the Wuyue Kingdom, was behind this extraordinary display.
Born into a poor family, Qian Liu possessed courage and military ability from an early age. During a period of great rebellion, as regional military powers rose across the land, he entered the army. He could hardly have imagined where that decision would lead. Step by step, he rose to control southeastern China, was invested as a king, and eventually founded his own kingdom.
Yet after reaching the height of power, the little village where he was born and raised remained constantly on his mind. He wanted to return and share his glory with the elders and neighbors who had known him before he became a king.
So he held a magnificent banquet.
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