A Korean girl told me that this is the best summer of her life since she became an adult. This year, Qin once again turned its spear toward Wei and Zhao, and for Korea—rarely, after several years—it finally got a chance to catch its breath. Her father does business in ironware in Xinzheng. Because the various states are all competing to reform and train their armies, weapons are in unprecedented demand. In just one year, he earned as much as the family had in the previous five. Trade routes are more open than ever: from Xinzheng, along the official road, all the way south—toward the state of Chu to view the clouds over the Mengze, and toward Qi to stroll through the markets in Linzi. As long as you save up a few months’ wages, you can join a merchant caravan for a trip. There are fewer checkpoints along the way and more inns; even distant rare treasures and exotic jewels have become cheaper. The other day, in the streets of Xinzheng, she said that suddenly everyone stopped what they were doing, embraced one another, and shouted, “Long live the king!” It turned out that a report from the front had come with good news: Korea had actually repelled Qin’s army at Yiyang. All across the country, people felt like they had narrowly escaped a catastrophe that would have wiped them out. She said she was very happy.