Before even approaching the spacious hall specially constructed for this purpose, the sounds of lively chatter were faintly audible.
Unlike the clamor of the workshop area, here it was all about heated debates and red-faced arguing.
Displaying his waist badge for access, Li Yan walked lightly into the grand hall, and was immediately greeted by a remarkable scene:
In the center of the hall, a massive wooden platform took up most of the space, on which lay a giant silk map, halfway drawn, with the veins of mountains and rivers already taking shape, marked by countless colorful lines and dense symbols.
Several scholars, dressed in gorgeous Confucian robes, were gathered around the table, pointing at the map from time to time, quietly debating the ancient and modern names of certain rivers or the precise elevation of certain peaks, holding heavy ancient books or freshly organized survey records.
