High Above

  Chapter 627 When I first returned to Nanling, the territory rebelled (5500)

The commercial and industrial area north of Nauman City has a gentle name 'Breeze Harbor', but its actual situation is much worse than the name. Since the South Ridge Army built the first From the beginning of the first military factory, the breeze in the breeze harbor often brought the smell of steel forging and molten metal.

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

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

There shouldn't be any wild animals here that would be willing to come near, but this is the magic of the continent of Terra - a large number of iron-billed seagulls like this unnatural taste, and they sing and shuttle in the gray clouds over the breeze , From time to time, a gray feather or two fell.

At the pier by the sea, an endless stream of merchant ships brought the raw materials needed for the workshop here, and also transported the goods away. There is a tall gray watchtower on the blue ocean, and its top is shining even in the daytime. The eye-catching golden light, the core of the thunder flashes on the top of the tower, which can not only guide the passing ships, but also a weapon to drive away the surrounding monsters.

  With a steel-patterned sword on his waist, the white-haired boy walked along the seaside street. The technology of the brown wooden breakwater originated from the elves of Canaan Moore. Thinking about it carefully, the connection between the empire and Canaan Moore had been formed 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 the alliance between the two countries.

He has long white hair that hangs down to his waist, and his ivory white alchemist robe is a bit loose, with a blue-gray bandage wrapped around his forehead. On his handsome fair face, his thin lips always With a smile.

  The young man with a slender figure has clear eyes, and his water-colored pupils scan the streets by the sea and the merchant ships that are as dense as schools of fish, as if he is condescendingly examining something.

   But condescending does not carry any arrogance or contempt, it is just a purely rational examination.

   In 773 Terra, on October 22, two weeks after leaving the imperial capital, Ian returned to the surrounding area of ​​Nanling Nauman City.

  After leaving the imperial capital, Ian did not use the fastest combination of 'Alchemy Train' and 'Griffin' transportation. 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 to observe the state of preparation for war and the harassment of Feiyandi to Nan Ridge has any effect.

   The result is pretty bad.

Ian walked along the way, whether it was the knight manor in the golden wilderness or the knight-led villages in the hills, they all looked a bit depressed compared to when he left, especially after the agriculture was affected, the autumn harvest that should be held in the recent period Festivals are cancelled.

   After all, there is not much food, and there is nothing to celebrate.

The surrounding situation of Nauman City is not bad. After all, except for the grain storage in previous years, the three core cities of Nauman, Three Rivers and Harrison Port are all coastal cities. Judging from the lushness of Terra’s coastal products, fishing alone is not enough. As for really starving people to death.

"I still have a reminder to take precautions in advance - if there is no preparation in advance, the famine on the Nanling side is basically predictable, and it is estimated that only a few big cities can rely on the aid of the imperial capital to survive. "

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

  Nanling has entered autumn. There is no harvest and joy in the autumn, only the bleak silence is left. The streets that were originally bustling with crowds and tourists are extremely deserted. Those exotic commodities originating from Canaan Moore, exquisite swords and armors and various alchemy products are empty. Ask about.

  Pedestrians are mostly in a hurry, and there are not even any children playing around on the street, and businesses shouting.

  Women and price-increasing grain vendors are bargaining fiercely, which is probably the most life-like scene Ian has seen.

  In contrast, it is the busy scene of the workshop industrial area. The view is beyond the dirty top floors of the houses, and the chimneys made of rock bricks in the distance are spewing alchemy dust of various colors. Most of these dusts are slightly toxic, and they are the skin of Terra humans. If it is humans who have not undergone genetic modification on the earth , Living here for three or four years is estimated to be full of illness.

  The workshop area shrouded in dust and mist is very lively. It is busy with production, and there are a large number of skilled workers and porters coming and going.

Although popular 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 breeding manuals and planting tips popularized by Axel, education in another sense Popularity is slowly rolling out.

  From this point of view alone, Ian believes that Axel, the keeper of the land, 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 control over the entire country. Even though he has not shown 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 seems primitive, but it is not a simple enfeoffment system. It is a system composed of emperors, nobles, knights, and civilians Coupled with the sublimation system, this structure is indestructible and loyal.

When Axel proposes a policy, the people below will implement it. No one dares to violate the will of the fifth energy level, and no one is so stupid that when faced with the emperor’s direct orders, he feels that he can play word games and obey others. However, the keeper dared not kill him because of the 'rules' and 'order'.

  The emperor of the empire is the inheritance of the sun **** bird. It only takes one second for him to travel from one end of the empire to the other.

   "Education may be problematic, but if a trade is taught, all are welcome."

  Ian couldn't help but nodded slightly after seeing the thriving scene of the workshop area: "Reforms must also be tailored to local conditions. Higher education cannot be rushed."

  The simple transport vehicles on the street are full of large barrels or large boxes of raw materials, as well as very tightly wrapped commodities. Ordinary people may not be able to see the clues, but Ian can see the inner things through those covering skins.

   That's weapon ammunition. Huge numbers of different weapons and ammunition.

  Armor, swords, parts of ordinary gunpowder firearms, bullets of large and small calibers, some alchemy gunpowder and shells of alchemy artillery.

Ian even saw a batch of core igniters of the alchemy furnace—an armored vehicle covered with heavy outer armor and a small group of guard knights sent this batch of strategic-grade materials worth at least 20,000 talers to a lead-gray iron-clad ship. .

  This is Nanling's current general policy. All aspects of productivity are compromised by the military industry. There is nothing to 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 dim sum shop where he had bought special products.

  He asked as soon as he entered the door: "Boss, do you still have Qingfeng baked cakes?"

Qingfeng baked cake is a local specialty. Its appearance looks like two plates closed together, similar to the dorayaki of the previous earth. The pastry using honey and eggs as raw materials is golden and crispy, and the taste is sweet. Each store will According to different crafts, put various nuts, sesame or raisins.

  And some shops do not make sweetness, but put fresh meat or fresh shrimp filling, baked to produce a rich umami taste, soaking the entire cake.

When Ian ate it along the way, he liked this special product quite a bit. It tasted crispy after one bite, and the sweetness had a sweet fragrance, which melted in the mouth. Full of satisfaction.

  Whether it is sweet or salty, Ian loves it, unlike the local Naumans who will fight for taste and reject each other as heresy.

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

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

  Ian glanced at the price list in front of the counter out of the corner of his eyes. The price of sweet light breeze baked cakes that used to cost two Finney coppers has now increased to four, and the price has doubled directly.

   Instead, it’s stuffed with meat and shrimp. Originally, it was three pfennigs, but now I buy five pfennigs alone, and nine pfennigs for two.

   "Two meat fillings."

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 balls, a sweet and sour snack similar to sweet and sour mints, are all empty. there is none left.

  He raised his finger and pointed at the sugar bowl: "What, are they all sold out?" His tone carried a hint of accusation.

"No, there are no raw materials..." The clerk was taking out the hot cake from the oven for Ian, and he immediately lowered his head when he heard this: "Sir, are you from another place? The sugar cane and sugar beet gardens in Nanling were all blown up by flames." Local agents attacked... To be honest, even the price of flour has increased a lot, it is difficult to keep the store open..."

  His tone was gnashing his teeth, and the anger and hatred from his heart couldn't be concealed at all.

   "I see." Seeing that the clerk spoke clearly, like an educated person, Ian asked a few more words, and only then did he know that the clerk was actually the owner.

  The old shop owner passed away last month, and his son, who originally studied in Nauman City, could only come back to inherit the family shop.

   "Father used to be very healthy, how could he suddenly get sick and die?"

  The tone of the young shopkeeper was full of sadness and hatred when he said this. He believed that his father's sudden illness and death had something to do with Flamingo's plague tactics.

  Ian saw the other party's expression, and felt that if he met a flying flame man, he might chop the other party into minced meat and stuff it into the cake.

  Because Ian's image is so good, and he said a few words of comfort, he seemed quite gentle and amiable, so the owner's conversation box also opened up.

  All food and commercial crops on the Nanling side 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, thanks to the continuous food support from the Central Plains, the Governor’s Mansion has already made preparations for storing food. Otherwise, this year’s Nanling will definitely be a year of great famine, and I don’t know how many people will starve to death.

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

   "Sugar is also a material for the workshop. Isn't it in a state of preparation for war now? Give priority to supplying the army."

  The owner of the shop nagged like this: "It's enough to kill a few more Feiyan's cubs, and it's not a big deal not to eat candy."

  Ian felt that things were not that simple, because the mist on the owner of the store was light red.

But it may have been his personal bad luck, so Ian went out again and went to several other pastry and bakeries that were still open, proving that the young owner of the original shop was right, basically all Grains and sugar are either more expensive or not available at all.

  The fortunes of these shopkeepers are all normal gray and white,

   "It seems that I asked Isengard to help me prepare enough food. It is true that a convoy of food should be enough to appease the territory."

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

His eyes were downcast, full of thought: "The reduction in grain production in Nanling has not affected the order of the towns around the three-city trade route, and even the pastries are still sold. Although the price has increased, the sale itself is a matter of fact." There are representatives and guests, and residents complain the most, but they are not panicked, and they are not worried that they will starve to death."

   "But not necessarily elsewhere."

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

   "The mountain people's autonomous region and the imperial colonies in the west have no way to stop the spread of the plague of biological warfare in the first place. Their food production reduction is definitely more serious than that around Nauman City. That is the main target of Flameland."

  Lian Ling is naturally one of them.

  At this moment, a gust of sea breeze rushes towards the face, and the coolness of the autumn day and the breath of the blue sea hit the cheeks, like a touch of tulle.

  It rolled the fallen leaves one by one, Ian reached out and took a leaf from the wind.

   "The infestation continues. The Flamefields have not stopped."

Silver light flashed in his eyes, and Ian sent the moth-eaten leaves back into the wind thoughtfully: "The situation in Nanling is more serious than what I heard in the imperial capital—and the news of ordinary people is blocked, they Didn't even know that."

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

  There is 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 'all-out war' is coming and the situation in Nanling is serious.

  Two baked cakes are obviously not enough to fill Ian's stomach. Although he looks slender, he eats a lot.

  The new shop owner's craftsmanship is even better than his father's. A little flavor-enhancing spice powder is added to the meat stuffing, which tastes lingering in the teeth and is quite satisfying. It is reasonable to sell it more expensive.

   So he went back to the pastry shop and bought two more to eat on the way to Naumann.

  By the way, ask the owner about the situation, and help him avoid the bad luck he may encounter recently.

   Good craftsmanship does have preferential treatment.

  But as soon as he walked to the street where the pastry shop was located, Ian saw two heavily armed guard knights guarding the door, while the other two knights in solid armor were inquiring about the situation in the shop.

   "Please stop...sir."

The knight guarding the door noticed Ian's approach. When he saw Ian's alchemy robe and the silver 'elite alchemist' badge pinned to his chest, he immediately lowered his head and said in a less blunt tone: "There is An important investigation is underway, please avoid."

  Ian heard a sharp voice from inside the store and asked, ‘Are you sure you told the whole truth? ! ’ ‘Attention, sir, it is treason if you do not tell the truth! ’ Such words.

"Crime of treason?"

   Raising his brows, Ian looked at the guard knight who seemed to want to continue to expel himself. He took out the badge of the Patrol Knights from his arms, and the water source quality in his hand made the surrounding air moist.

  The boy's tone was indifferent: "Tell me the situation, knight."

"This…"

  The knight guarding the gate was stunned. As a civil servant, he obviously didn't do his homework well. He didn't recognize the badge of the inspector knight immediately, but he felt quite familiar and couldn't be offended.

   Moreover, such a young alchemist and sublimator...

  He looked at another companion guarding the gate, then stood up straight: "I want to report to the officer."

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

  Just glanced at the badge in Ian's hand, and the team leader immediately stood up and saluted: "Reporting sir, Nauman City Guard, team leader Piman, is leading a team to track and screen Feiyan's spy mission!"

   "Report to me." Ian said indifferently, he saw the shopkeeper staring at him in shock: "Why is he suspected?"

"Report sir." Captain Piman was not surprised by the existence of patrolling knights. After all, their immediate boss, the Marquis of Barton, was the high-level patrolling knights. A large-scale rebellion, we tracked down that the spies of Flameland developed traitors within us, and provided weapons and food to the rebel mountain people through our internal channels."

   "The store owner's raw material channel and the internal traitor's channel partially overlap, we can't let go of any clues!"

   Crap. Ian thought to himself, how many channels can get enough and high-quality food at this time? It is too magical to really check the situation of the shopkeeper if there is no overlap.

   And, 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.

   "It's no wonder that in the past two weeks, no one from the Dragon Blessing has replied to me. The feeling is that the backyard is on fire, and the situation is even quite serious."

  Thinking of this, Ian suddenly realized that he already had some guesses.

  But he continued to instruct the knights in his mouth: "Tell me about the mountain people's rebellion in detail. How big is the scope and what is the impact."

"Report sir." Piman also saw that the inspector knight had just returned to Nanling not long ago, and it was not a critical task to inspect the shopkeeper, so he simply continued to report: "The situation of the mountain people's rebellion is very complicated, and the scope of its spread is extremely large. Guang, the colonies of Moldor and Odor have fallen, and the tribes supporting the empire in the Frodo Autonomous Region are still resisting, and the South China Sea Navy is going to support."

   "The Midra 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 Marquis' knights patrol the Agate Stone Plain and have not been affected."

   "Where is the leader of Ryan." Ian nodded slightly, and he went straight to the core: "How is the situation? I remember that the mountain knights are also managing it, so it won't be affected by the rebellion, right?"

   Piman thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, sir, the former Lean leader has lost contact."

  —Ha, I knew it.

   Sighing in his heart, Ian shook his head.

  He knew that things were not going so smoothly.

  (end of this chapter)