The Shubuto River runs south to north, traversing from the North Coast to the South Coast of Ezo, stretching over eighty miles and dividing the vast Ezo land into two segments. This is the narrowest location on the Maoshili Peninsula, about eighty miles from the Rivermouth of the Korobetsu River, roughly a day's journey by oar-sail ship. In the Ainu language, "Shubuto" means "a river with many stones," hence, the Stone River.
The shadowy night descends upon the rocky riverbank. Tall Luwei reeds sway silently in the northern wind. Passing two months of moons, the riverbank's silence suddenly vanishes. As the morning sun rises over the East Mountain, ten customs ships loaded with Monk Soldiers and three merchant ships, empty except for Gold, were already anchored at the estuary of the Stone River, as if appearing out of nowhere. However, upon closer inspection, the bows of the customs ships faced northeast, while those of the merchant ships pointed southwest…
