High Above

The commercial and industrial zone north of Nauman City has a gentle name, "Qingfeng Harbor", but its actual situation is much worse than its name. Since one hundred and fifty years ago, the Nanling Army established its first military base here. Since the establishment of a military factory, the breeze in Qingfeng Harbor has often brought with it the smell of forged steel and molten metal.

One hundred and fifty years later, the military factory was gradually converted into a production site for the production of various light industrial products, providing most of the pioneer towns and manors in Nanling with the necessary agricultural tools, weapons, lanterns and alchemy raw materials.

The smell of potions and metallic smell filled the place, and the gentle breeze slowly blew them away, but the workshops continued to produce them all day long.

No wild animals should be willing to come close here, but the magic of Terra lies in this - large numbers of iron-beaked seagulls like this unnatural taste, and they scream in the gray clouds above the breeze harbor. As they shuttle, one or two gray feathers fall down from time to time.

At the pier on the seaside, there is an endless stream of merchant ships arriving here with the raw materials needed for the workshop, and also transporting goods away. On the blue ocean sits a tall gray watchtower, its top shining brightly even in the daytime. Eye-catching golden light, the core of thunder flashes at the top of the tower, which can not only guide the passing ships, but also be a weapon to drive away the surrounding monsters.

With a steel-patterned sword slung around his waist, the white-haired boy walked along the seaside street. The brown wooden breakwater technology originated from the elves of Canaan Moor. If you think about it carefully, you will find that the connection between the Empire and Canaan Moore had been established decades ago, but at that time most people thought it was just an ordinary technical exchange, but they never thought it was a precursor to an alliance between the two countries.

He has long white hair that falls to his waist. His ivory white alchemist robe is slightly wider. There is a blue-gray band wrapped around his forehead. On his handsome and fair face, his thin lips are always With a hint of smile.

The slender young man's eyes were clear, and his aqua eyes scanned the seaside streets and the merchant ships that were as dense as a school of fish, as if he was observing something condescendingly.

But this condescension does not come with any arrogance or contempt, it is just a purely rational examination.

On October 22, Terra 773, two weeks after leaving the imperial capital, Ian returned to the area around Nauman City in Nanling.

After leaving the Imperial Capital, Ian did not use the fastest transportation combination of 'Alchemy Train' and 'Gryphon'. In that case, he could return to Nanling in three or four days.

The reason why he stopped and walked all the way back to his hometown at a speed that was not too fast but not too slow was not only to avoid his luck in causing another problem with the transportation system, but also to observe the state of war preparations and the impact of Feiyandi's harassment on Nan What impact does the ridge have?

The results were quite disastrous.

Along the way, Ian saw that whether it was the knights' manors in the golden wilderness or the knights' villages and towns in the hilly areas, they all seemed a bit depressed compared to when he left, especially after the agriculture was affected, and the autumn harvest that should be held recently has been The festivals have been cancelled.

After all, there wasn’t much food, so there wasn’t much to celebrate.

The situation around Nauman City is not bad. After all, apart from the grain reserves in previous years, the three core cities of Nauman, Three Rivers and Harrison Port are all large coastal cities. Judging from the luxuriance of Terra's coastal products, the fishing alone is not enough. As for really starving to death.

"This is still a situation where I remind you to take precautions in advance - if there is no preparation in advance, it is basically foreseeable that Nanling will fall into famine. It is estimated that only a few big cities can barely survive by relying on the aid from the Imperial Capital. .”

Ian observed the entire city along the streets. Compared with when he left, the streets of Breeze Harbor became much deserted.

Nanling has entered autumn. The autumn without the joy of harvest is only left with a bleak silence. The streets that were originally bustling with people and tourists seemed extremely deserted. The exotic goods originating from Canaan Moor, the exquisite swords, armors and various alchemical products were all deserted. Ask.

Most pedestrians were walking in a hurry, and there were no children playing or businesses shouting on the street.

The women were haggling fiercely with the grain sellers who had raised the prices. This was probably the most life-like scene Ian had ever seen.

In contrast, there is a busy scene in the workshop industrial area. Looking across the dirty top floors of the houses, the chimneys made of rock bricks in the distance are spewing various alchemical dusts. Most of these dusts are slightly toxic, which means that Terran skin is thick. If it is a human being on the earth who has not experienced genetic modification, , living here for three or four years will probably lead to illness.

The workshop area shrouded in dust mist is bustling with activity. Production is going on here, with a large number of skilled workers and porters coming and going.

Although universal education has been canceled for many years, official alchemy workshops in various places will provide some training courses for skilled workers, just like the various feeding manuals and planting tips popularized by Axel. Education in another sense Popularization is slowly spreading.

From this point alone, Ian believes that Axel, the landkeeper, cannot simply be classified as a ‘bad guy’. He has a comprehensive and step-by-step plan for the governance of his country.

Moreover, he has a strong hold on the entire country. Even though he has not appeared much in recent years, the supreme power of the entire empire is still in his hands.

The Setar Empire is not a primitive medieval empire. It is a powerful industrial country with a complete industrial system. The aristocratic system of the empire may seem primitive, but it is not a simple feudal system. It is a system composed of emperors, nobles, knights and common people. Coupled with the Ascendant system, this structure is indestructible and loyal.

When Axel proposes a policy, the people below will implement it. No one dares to disobey the will of the fifth energy level, and no one is stupid enough to think that they can play word games and obey the emperor's direct order when facing the emperor's direct order. But this land guardian didn't dare to kill him because of some 'rules' and 'order'.

This emperor of the empire is the descendant of the Sun Bird, and it only takes him a second to get from one end of the empire to the other.

"There may be problems with universal education, but if you teach a trade, everyone welcomes it."

After seeing the prosperous scene in the workshop area, Ian couldn't help but nodded slightly: "Reforms must be adapted to local conditions. Higher education cannot be rushed."

The simple transport trucks on the street are piled with large barrels or large boxes of raw materials, as well as very tightly wrapped products. Ordinary people may not be able to see any clues, but Ian can see through these coverings and see the inner things.

That's weapons and ammunition. Large quantities of different weapons and ammunition.

Armor, swords, parts of ordinary gunpowder firearms, bullets of various calibers, some alchemical gunpowder and alchemical artillery shells.

Ian even saw a batch of core igniters in the heart of the alchemy furnace - armored vehicles with heavy outer armor and a small group of escort knights delivering this batch of strategic materials worth at least 20,000 talers into a lead-gray armored ship. superior.

This is the current general policy of Nanling. All aspects of productivity are compromised for the military industry. Nothing can be seen from this.

At least you can’t see how ordinary people live today.

After roughly calculating the throughput of the port, Ian walked to a snack shop where he had bought specialties.

He walked in and asked: "Boss, do you have any more Qingfeng baked cakes?"

Qingfeng baked cake is a local specialty. Its appearance looks like two plates put together, which is similar to the dorayaki of the previous earth. The pastry using honey and eggs as raw materials has a golden and crisp skin and a sweet taste. Each store will Depending on the technique, various types of nuts, sesame seeds or raisins can be added.

Some stores do not make sweet cakes, but add fresh meat or shrimp fillings to bake them with a rich umami flavor that permeates the entire cake.

When Ian ate it along the way, he quite liked this specialty. When he took a bite, it tasted crispy and sweet with a sweet aroma. It melted in the mouth. The fresh meat had a strong texture. When chewing, the gravy and fat spread out. It was full of flavor. Full of satisfaction.

Whether it's sweet or salty, Ian loves them all, unlike the local Naumans who would fight over taste and denounce each other as heretics.

But unfortunately, he came at the wrong time this time.

When the clerk saw Ian's alchemist robe and his fair face that looked like he had been soaked in an alchemy laboratory, he bowed respectfully and said, "Sir, the price may be a little more expensive than before."

Ian glanced at the price list in front of the counter with his eyes. The sweet Qingfeng baked cakes that originally cost two pfennigs each have now increased to four, doubling the price.

On the contrary, it is stuffed with meat and shrimps. It was originally three pfennig. Now I buy it for five pfennig alone or nine pfennig for two.

"Two meat-filled ones, please."

Ian didn't say much. This pastry shop also sells candies, but the jars on the shelves are all empty. Even Nanling's specialty physalis sugar pills, a sweet and sour snack similar to sweet and sour mints, are empty. there is none left.

He raised his hand and pointed at the sugar bowl: "What, are they all sold out?" There was a hint of accusation in his tone.

"No, there are no raw materials..." The clerk was taking out the hot cakes from the oven for Ian. When he heard this, he immediately lowered his head: "Sir, are you from other places? The sugar cane and beet fields in Nanling have been destroyed. Agents of the Flame Land attacked... To be honest, even the price of flour has increased a lot, making it difficult for the store to open..."

His tone was gritted, and he couldn't hide the anger and hatred originating from his heart.

"That's it." Ian saw that the clerk spoke clearly and seemed to be an educated person, so he asked a few more questions, and then he realized that the other person was actually the owner.

The old shop owner passed away last month, and his son, who originally studied in Nauman City, had no choice but to come back and inherit the family shop.

"My father used to be in good health, how could he suddenly become ill and die?"

The young shop owner's tone when he said this was full of sadness and hatred. He believed that his father's sudden illness and death was definitely related to Feiyandi's plague tactics.

Looking at the other person's expression, Ian felt that if he met a Feiyan person, he would probably chop the person into minced meat and stuff it into a baked cake.

Because Ian's image was so good, and he said a few words of comfort, he seemed quite gentle and approachable, so the shop owner's chat box also opened up.

All food and cash crops in Nanling have been hit. Although the Governor's Mansion quickly adopted corresponding spraying treatments to eliminate pests and diseases, this year's food production is only 40% of the previous one.

That is to say, thanks to the steady flow of food support from the Central Plains, the Governor's Mansion has already made preparations to collect food. Otherwise, this year's Nanling will definitely be a year of great famine, and no one knows how many people will starve to death.

Even so, rising food prices are inevitable. Many restaurants in the city have closed, and only some cheap seafood restaurants are still open. Even rich people cannot buy their usual pastries, let alone candies.

"Sugar is also a material in the workshop. We are not preparing for war now. We give priority to supplying it to the army."

The shopkeeper nagged like this: "As long as I can kill a few more Feiyan brats, it's not a big deal if I don't eat candy."

Ian felt that it was not that simple, because the mist on the shop owner was light red.

But this may have been his personal bad luck, so Ian went out again and visited several other pastry and bakery shops that were still open, proving that the young owner of the original shop was indeed right, basically all Cereals and sugar have either increased in price or become unavailable at all.

The fortunes of these shop owners are all normal gray and white,

"It seems that I was right to ask Isengard to help me prepare enough food. A fleet of food should be enough to appease the territory."

Holding the baked cake, Ian walked to the observation deck of Qingfeng Harbor, eating baked cake and blowing in the wind, overlooking the most important commercial and industrial town north of Nauman City.

His eyes were lowered and thoughtful: "The reduction in grain production in Nanling has not affected the order of the towns around the three-city trade route. Even pastries are still being sold. Although the price has increased, the fact that they are being sold is in itself a problem. The representatives still have guests, and most of the residents complain, but they are not panicked or worried that they will starve to death."

"But that's not necessarily the case elsewhere."

"When the grain-producing area of ​​the Agate Stone Plain is hit, the first people to feel the pain are definitely not the imperial people, but the mountain people."

"The Mountain People Autonomous Region and the Imperial Colonies in the west are unable to stop the spread of the biological warfare plague immediately. Their food production reduction is definitely more serious than that around Nauman City. That is the main target of the Flying Flame Land."

Ryan collar is naturally one of them.

At this moment, a gust of sea breeze blows in my face, and the coolness of autumn and the breath of the blue sea slap on my cheeks, like the touch of tulle.

It rolled up the fallen leaves, and Ian reached out his hand and took one out of the wind.

"The insect plague continues. The Flying Flame Land has not stopped its activities."

With silver light flashing in his eyes, Ian thoughtfully sent the leaves with insect-eaten traces back to the wind: "The situation in Nanling is more serious than what I heard in the Imperial Capital - and the news for ordinary people is blocked, They don’t even know that.”

He turned his head and looked at Nauman City. The rows of roofs and chimneys formed a jungle of buildings. The workshops there were also operating at full capacity, spewing out large tracts of white water vapor or alchemy dust. The huge Nauman City There was even a faint sound like a bell coming from the alchemy tower.

That's the only place in Nauman City where armor can be legally manufactured.

Even it is operating at full capacity, which is enough to prove that the so-called 'total war' is coming and the seriousness of the situation in South Ridge.

Two baked cakes were obviously not enough to fill Ian's stomach. Although he looked slender, he had a big appetite.

The new shop owner's craftsmanship is even better than his father's. A little spice powder is added to the meat filling to enhance the flavor. It tastes fragrant in the teeth and is quite satisfying. The higher price makes sense.

So he went back to the pastry shop, planning to buy two more to eat on the way to Naumann City.

By the way, ask the shopkeeper what's going on and help him avoid any bad luck he may have encountered recently.

There are indeed perks for good craftsmanship.

But as soon as he reached the street where the pastry shop was located, Ian saw two heavily armed knights guarding the door, while two other knights in strong armor were asking about the situation in the shop.

"Please stop...sir."

The knight guarding the door noticed Ian's approach. He saw Ian's alchemy robe and the silver 'Elite Alchemist' badge on his chest. He immediately lowered his head and said in a less stiff tone: "Here is the Important investigations are being conducted, please recuse yourself.”

Ian heard a sharp shout from inside the store, 'Are you sure you told the whole truth? ! ’ ‘Please note, sir, if you don’t tell the truth, it is treason! ’ Such words.

"Crime of treason?"

Raising his eyebrows, Ian looked at the guard knight who seemed to want to continue to expel him. He took out the badge of the Patrol Knights from his arms. The water element in his hand made the surrounding air moist.

The young man said indifferently: "Tell me the situation, knight."

"this……"

The knight guarding the door was startled. As a civil servant, he obviously did not do his homework well and did not recognize the knight's badge immediately. However, he felt that it was quite familiar and could not be offended.

Moreover, such a young alchemist and sublimator...

He looked at the other guarding companion, then stood up straight: "I want to report to the commander."

The knight enters the store. Soon, another squad leader with a more complex armor style and power structures on his legs appeared in front of Ian.

Just glancing at the badge in Ian's hand, the squad leader immediately stood upright and saluted: "Reporting to the commander, the Nauman City Guards, squad leader Piman, is leading the team on a mission to track and screen the Feiyan Land agents!"

"Report to me." Ian said calmly. He saw the shop owner looking at him in shock: "Why would he be suspicious?"

"Report, sir." Captain Piman was not surprised by the existence of the Patrol Knights. After all, their immediate boss, the Marquis Barton, was the senior supervisor of the Patrol Knights. He said fluently: "A week ago, something happened in the Mountain People's Autonomous Region around the Baisen Mountains. There was a large-scale rebellion, and we traced that Feiyandi agents developed traitors within us and provided weapons and food to the rebellious mountain people through our internal channels."

"There is some overlap between this shop owner's raw material channels and the internal traitor's channels. We can't let go of any clues!"

nonsense. Ian thought to himself, how many other channels can obtain sufficient and high-quality food at this time? If there is no overlap, you have to really check the store owner's situation. That would be too magical.

Moreover, the mountain people rebelled? Which mountain people rebelled?

Elder Manya and the others are still cooperating with the empire recently, right? The Marquis of Barton is their partner.

However, they do not represent all mountain people.

"No wonder no one from the Dragon Worship Cult has responded to my message in the past two weeks. My feelings are like a fire in the backyard, and the situation is even quite serious."

Thinking of this, Ian suddenly had some guesses in his mind.

But he continued to give instructions to the knights: "Tell us about the mountain people's rebellion in detail. How wide is the spread and what is the impact."

"Report to the chief." Piman also saw that the inspector knight had probably just returned to Nanling, and examining the shop owner was not a critical task, so he simply continued to report: "The mountain people's rebellion is very complicated, and the scope of the incident is extremely large. The colonies of Guang, Moldor, and Odor have fallen, the tribes in the Frodo Autonomous Region that support the empire are still resisting, and the South China Sea Navy is on its way to support."

"The Midela Autonomous Region and the surrounding aristocratic territories have been caught in the flames of war, but it is currently limited to the interior of the Baisen Mountains. The Agate Stone Plain is patrolled by the Marquis' knights and has not been affected."

"Where's the Ryan Territory?" Ian nodded slightly and went straight to the core: "What's the situation? I remember that the mountain knights are also managing it. Isn't it also affected by the rebellion?"

Piman thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, sir, contact with the former Ryan Territory has been lost."

——Ha, I knew it.

Sighing in his heart, Ian shook his head.

He knew that things were not going so smoothly.