「Ears within gateway」describes what can be LEARNED, CONVEYED, SMELLED, SNIFFED, RUMORS (both literally and figuratively) while within the「gateways」to the pleasure quarters, within the government-operated schlong inspection stations, the place to learn NEWS and GOSSIP about anyone's REPUTATION in town, CURIOSITY and INQUISITIVENESS.
　「Rod down and battling, internally divided within gateway」to the pleasure quarters describes a simple test for infectious gonorrhea: stuffing one's hand into a loincloth and grasping the meatus, then SNIFFING, SMELLING one's fingertips, a test employed by feudal officials charged with policing clients prior to admission…gonorrhea causes an unmistakable, telltale odor that is easily detectable.
　Inner element, often understood to mean only「ear」but ears「adjust internal pressure, rebalance」resembles the shape of a vertical banner attached to a pole used in China and Japan to identify soldiers as belonging to one side or the other of a battle. These same flags are used still today as attention getting devices in Asia for advertising specials, a vertical「banner ad.」Placing such a banner ad with a FAMOUS, WELL-RENOWNED loud singing girl attracted the attention of others not yet admitted access through the gateway.
　Perhaps signaling the arrival of a FAMOUS, WELL-RENOWNED individual with exceptional talents, or possibly some great soldier with a REPUTATION particularly on his way home from a battle possessing an odor that was easily detectable. Meanings of SNIFF, SMELL might signal his whereabouts, cause CURIOSITY and INQUISITIVENESS not only for his rumored prowess, but also NEWS of the last battle, prompting someone to ASK, and then to LISTEN and HEAR the reply.

Modern definitions (that generally disregard history) …excluding politically incorrect concepts and other meanings deemed offensive today; may list only pigeonholed definitions, euphemisms, or meaningless mnemonics)
Chinese: to hear; news; well-known; famous; reputation; fame; to smell; to sniff at
Japanese: hearing, audible sound, rumour, rumor, hearsay, reputation, tasting, to hear, to listen, to ask, to enquire, to query, to learn of, to hear about, to follow, to comply with, to smell, to sample fragrance, to be heard, to be audible, to be said to be, to be reputed, to inform about, to read to, to sing for, to tell, fame, renown, famous, celebrated, to persuade, to make understand, to listen attentively to, to be lost in, wanting to hear, to catch, to understand
Unihan extended: hear; smell; make known; news
EDRDG: hear; ask; listen