The northern border, Hanye Territory.

The world is filled with snow and frost. This scene has lasted for nearly three years. All things are withered, and even in the mountains and forests, there is hardly any sign of animal activity.

On the frozen lake, several locals wearing thick winter clothes and covered in snowflakes were using hoes and pickaxes to hit the ice and dig out large holes.

The reason for coming out in such cold weather is that there are frozen fish at the bottom of the lake, which can serve as a scarce source of food these days.

Bursts of white air were exhaled. They had been working like this for several days, but the harvest was never enough. There were too many people in the villages and towns who needed to be fed. Some elderly people could not survive this long winter and died quietly one night.

"Huh, I can't dig anymore." A villager slumped on the ground exhausted. Judging from his voice, he seemed to be quite young, probably in his twenties.

"You can't do this, Barron, haha." Although the conditions were difficult, the uncle next to him still laughed.

"When I was young, I experienced a worse situation than this. At that time, migrating winter wolves came to the territory, and I fled into the mountains. I almost got lost and died there."

"When they were extremely hungry, they would even eat grass roots and tree bark. How could they care less about other things?"

"Although there is a food shortage now, at least we have fish and can survive."

"Can you really survive by eating grass roots and tree bark?" The young man was a little skeptical, and then looked at the big fish dug out from the ice pit.

"It's getting harder and harder to catch fish. The shallow ones have been almost dug up by people nearby. Going deeper, it's all mud." He sounded worried and disappointed.

"When will days like this end?" He supported himself on the frozen lake with his hands, looked up at the dim sun, and the cold wind was still blowing around him.

Hearing his call, the people working nearby were also infected by the depressed mood, slowly stopped, and sat aside to rest.

Yes, when will this situation end? Are we really going to freeze to death or starve to death on this land?

"If, if the south is really as warm as everyone says, why don't we go there?" one of them murmured.

"Don't let your imagination run wild. Their place is owned by someone else. If we run over there, it would be like starting a war." The uncle stopped talking about this dangerous topic.

"Oh, I'm about to die, how can I care about so many things?"

"If the Empire cannot solve the problems in the North, then we will have to solve them ourselves."

The young man clenched his fingers into a fist and smashed it against the ice beside him.

"Isn't it just the Southern Territory? Wasn't that conquered by our ancestors? Back then, when we conquered the Land of Oz, it was us, the remnants of the Isle of Everdarkness, who were at the forefront. But when the rewards were finally bestowed, the rich and fertile Southern Territory was given to the royal family, while we were left with only the poor and barren Northern Territory."

The major nobles in the North, led by the Trey family, are basically the survivors of the Everdark Island, that is, the descendants of the former Mercury Dynasty. In order to gain the recognition of the upper class of the continent, they return to this colorful and colorful world. As the most resolute and disciplined army, they are at the forefront of the army and fiercely clashed with the army of Oz.

The iron-grey flags, the unfalling wisteria and crescent moon, and the fearless warriors represented the will and heritage of the Mercury Dynasty. It was under these undead grey armies that the ground forces of Oz were defeated step by step. Finally, the Great Witch of Oz was nailed to the city gate by the knights of House Trey.

"Let's not talk about the past." The uncle waved his hand slowly.

"We were outsiders after all, and the upper echelons of the Empire were full of distrust and wariness towards us. It was only because our ancestors' fiefdoms were in the north, and the Trey family's bloodline had been decimated in the war, nearly extinct, that the Empire gradually began to feel at ease."

"The North isn't exactly great, but at least over the past few hundred years, people have gradually grown accustomed to this stable life."

What he said was not without reason, and the others did not know how to refute it for a moment. There was a brief silence among them, and the uncle took out the only remaining tobacco in his arms, lit it, and smoked it slowly in the cold wind, as if in this uncomfortable life, only this short moment could make him relax and calm down.

The sun slowly reached its noon position, but it was still cold here and there was no joy.

Just as these people were taking a short break, a burst of hurried horse hooves sounded across the road by the lake, galloping towards the town not far away.

"What is that?"

"He looks like he's from the south. His clothes and appearance suggest he's a messenger or a cavalryman."

"Are you in such a hurry? I think the horse is almost dead."

"Maybe something happened."

"How about we finish work early today and go back to take a look?" one person suggested. After a moment's hesitation, the others nodded and all agreed.

In this depressing and difficult environment, we always hope for some changes, and things cannot be worse than they are now.

Soon after, the group began to return, dragging the fish they had dug out with a snowmobile.

It was more than an hour later that they arrived back in the town. The streets were bustling with noise, completely different from their usual deserted appearance.

"A rebellion occurred in the imperial capital?"

"No, it seems to be saying that the new emperor has ascended the throne."

"What about the Regent and the Queen?"

"He should be dead. After all, it's a power grab, so of course he has to be ruthless."

"Why does it feel like the empire is about to end?"

"Alas, who says it isn't true? We in the North are almost unable to hold on any longer. I hope the new emperor can allocate more food this time."

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