Late February.
Youzhou.
The once crucial border pass has now become an abandoned pawn by the Court.
Since the Xuanhe Period, the Court began to neglect Youzhou, and later, when chaos broke out in the Northern Land, the Court dispatched the last remaining Border Army in Youzhou to eradicate the Celestial Master Army. Not only did they fail, but the remaining Border Army was nearly annihilated and absorbed by the Celestial Master Army.
The destruction of the Border Army caused the Court to lose control over Youzhou.
Later on, the domestic situation became increasingly chaotic, and various forces were fighting their own battles, which weakened the power of the Central government and left them unable to pay officials' salaries across the country.
Thus, local officials were working irregularly, leaving government offices closed for long periods.
