Jinhe County had long been infamous for its abundance of tigers. The land teemed with them.0

This was, in part, a consequence of war.0

After warfare, the population dwindled. With fewer people, vegetation flourished unchecked, and the beasts—tigers, leopards, wolves, and the like—returned to reclaim the lands they had been driven from. Even demons and monsters became more prevalent.0

After peace was restored to the Great Yan, many parts of Guangzhou saw their tiger and leopard infestations eradicated. Yet in Jinhe County, with its abundant mountains and forests, the problem persisted.2

At its peak, it was said that tigers and leopards roamed in packs through towns and villages, day and night, undeterred by human presence. Some accounts claimed the animals had become so numerous that they abandoned their solitary habits, forming groups that boldly wandered the streets during daylight, unfazed by humans. 0

Whether this was exaggeration or truth, the sheer scale of the problem was undeniable. At the very least, there must have been bold tigers that ventured into the town from time to time.0

Eventually, a tiger achieved sentience and proclaimed itself king of the mountains. It no longer descended to hunt humans personally but sent other tigers to capture and deliver its prey.0

Several attempts...0