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"Old man, are you really going?"

"What else?" A burly middle-aged man packed his bags and glared at his questioning son, "Such a good opportunity, do you think it will last forever? Haven’t you seen how in demand a household registration is here in Jiangnan? Wealthy businessmen from other regions throw down hundreds of thousands of silver taels and still can’t get a single household registration! "

"But... didn’t they say they would settle us here?" The simple-minded elder son whined reluctantly.

"Settle? Settle this here?" The middle-aged man said angrily: "That’s for settling overseas. I’ve heard that the latest batch to be settled is on a new island, full of man-eating zombies everywhere. Can it compare to the comfort here? You have no ambition, but your brother’s a good seed for studying. Going abroad will ruin him!"

"And do you know how long we have to wait? We’ve been here for six months already.

Do you have any idea how many Northern People are still not settled?

Every day, like a beggar, you go to collect relief grain – how long do you want to live like this?

Your sister has reached the age of marriage, and without a household registration, what kind of family do you expect her to marry into?

Day in and day out, and you still don’t have a clue! "

The big man looked aggrieved, "Then old man, I’ll go with you, okay?"

"You go? Who’s going to farm the assigned land?

" The middle-aged man was so furious he slapped his son on the head, "What do you think I’m struggling back to that forsaken place for? Twenty mu of Spirit Field, who do you think that’s for?

You’re no good at studying, and you’re a blockhead at business.

Without some land, what will you use to get a wife? "

"Old man..." The big man’s face was bitter, and his eyes were red.

"Alright, stop nagging like a woman." The middle-aged man lowered his head, hoisted his luggage on his back, and turning his head said, "I warn you, the land is yours, but you have to provide for your brother. The cotton quilts I left and some of your mother’s old jewelry shall be your sister’s dowry. If you dare to lay a hand on them, even as a ghost, I won’t let you off! "

The big man: "...."

"That’s that, then..." The middle-aged man took a breath, walked out the door, and, looking at the snow outside, his eyes became slightly moist.

When his partner was swallowed by a snake, he had thought about joining the old boss, but he just couldn’t let go of the few capable kids. Now, his own old life was unexpectedly worth such good terms. That must be worth it, right?

Have you been in a rush, old partner? I’m coming right now...

--------------------------------

"This way for those going to the Northern Territory!"

At the dock, Xu Bohan was slightly stunned to see a large group of Northern People gathering.

He had thought there would be few like himself, willing to trade life for their children’s future prospects, because, after all, a poor life is better than a good death.

Living in Jiangnan, even with discrimination, you don’t worry about food or warmth.

And so long as you’re willing to wait, going overseas means a fresh start, doesn’t it?

Despite how he and his son badmouthed life overseas, in truth, he had made inquiries; life overseas isn’t bad – warm all year round, abundant resources, fertile land. A few old pals who had been resettled had even sent him letters, all saying that life overseas wasn’t as bad as imagined.

There’s a house to live in, plenty of food, and safety provided by the Western Sea Army. Although it can’t compare to Jiangnan in terms of environment and food, it’s much better than life in the Northern Wasteland used to be.

With such a life to look forward to, who needs to risk their life heading north to gamble on their fate?

But in reality, he was wrong. There must be a thousand people gathered at the dock!

"Yo, Brother Xu? You’re catching this trip too?"

"Oh? Brother Du?" Xu Bohan saw a familiar figure and immediately smiled, "You’re going as well?"

"Haha..." The other man hurried over and then whispered, "Man, you finally got a second lease on life, what are you doing? Rushing to lay down your life and head back?"

"Aren’t you doing the same?" Xu Bohan frowned, "With my big family, trading this old life for a better future for them, what’s not worth it? What are you joining the excitement for?"

This Mr. Du was different from him; his wife and children hadn’t been able to escape, a lone man by himself, who knows what he was thinking?

"I’ve got my eye on a widow recently, that figure, tsk tsk tsk!"

Xu Bohan: "....."

"But she’s a local from Jiangnan, even if she’s a widow, it wouldn’t be my turn, you see.

.. The official from Jiangnan mentioned that this time, as long as you go and come back alive with useful intelligence, they’ll offer a house and provide a chance for children to study for free or train at the martial institute.

With this incentive, would that widow still look down on me? "

Xu Bohan’s mouth twitched, and he immediately lost the desire to respond. In just half a year, this guy had completely forgotten his former wife and children; quite a carefree soul. But perhaps that’s for the best—after all, one must always look ahead.

"Everyone, move in closer. Each person will receive a piece of Warm Jade. The journey is bitterly cold, and it’s tough on the body. Each person gets only one, so make sure not to damage it."

A soldier at the front bellowed out.

With these words, everyone’s eyes lit up.

"What a wonderful thing!" The one surnamed Du drooled as he eyed the stacked orange Warm Jade at the front, "This item, when sold to the north a few years back, even the rich families couldn’t buy one for two hundred thousand taels. Now they’re giving it away for free.

Indeed, this is a grand gesture. If I live to come back, just selling this would make me carefree for a lifetime. "

Xu Bohan hadn’t planned on returning alive, but now with the sight of the Warm Jade, a slight spark of life flickered in his heart. If he could bring it back successfully, he would have a dowry for his third daughter...

And so, each person, with different thoughts in mind, hunched over against the harsh wind and snow, gripping the invaluable piece of Warm Jade, and once again set foot on that huge ice road.

This time... ahead of them was not hope, but a dead end!

---------------------------------------

"Ah, quite a number of people are not afraid to die," Murong Yunji said with a smile as she observed the long queue and then glanced at her companion.

Her companion for this mission was none other than the current Wind Gate War God, Weichi Feihong!

"In this life, there’s always someone willing to risk everything for something, no matter what it is!" Weichi Feihong said, grinning.

"Do you really think these people can make good soldiers?" Murong Yunji asked doubtfully.

"Why not?" Weichi Feihong replied. "A large part of Xu Hu’s War God Army is made up of commoners. Nowadays, the better bloodlines are all trying to get into the War God Army and the Western Sea Army. If I don’t come up with my own methods, am I supposed to just guard Lyuzhou forever?"

"Oh, so you’re taking a different path..." Murong Yunji said with a smirk.

"Soldiers are forged in battle..." Weichi Feihong muttered, "Which of the young soldiers commanding a large army didn’t start from the battlefield? The soldiers of Tian Heng are his direct subordinates, and Xu Hu’s forces have been accumulated bit by bit in protecting Jiangnan from the living corpses over the years. As a newcomer, my prestige is far less than those two. If I want good soldiers and just wait for His Majesty to think of a solution for me, wouldn’t that make me a worthless person? "

"The Northern Territory is a good place—the individual quality of the people there is very high; especially now, it’s said that they are being raised on Demon Flesh by those Giant Serpents, so their physical fitness is definitely beyond question. It’s a good source of soldiers."

"You’re actually eyeing that?" Murong Yunji rolled her eyes at him.

"So what if I am?" Weichi Feihong said. "As the Wind Gate War God, I am supposed to spearhead the charge. Naturally, I have to pick fierce and strong people for my soldiers. Just like these men who dare to risk it all, knowing full well the terror of the Giant Serpent, and still willing to take on the challenge. Just for that, they are qualified to be my soldiers. Just wait and see, the soldiers I’ll bring forth will certainly startle you! "

"Hahaha..." Murong Yunji suddenly burst into a delicate laughter, her ample chest heaving with each chuckle, making Weichi Feihong’s eyes blaze with heat. "Have you really not considered being my deputy?"

"You’re quite capable and skilled in the Divine Wind Technique. Being my deputy would be perfect for training scouts. Why insist on mingling with that Demon offspring?"

Murong Yunji gave another roll of her eyes. The ’Demon offspring’ he spoke of was none other than the current Thunder Department War God: Nezha!

"Women, after a certain age, begin to fancy younger flesh." Murong Yunji cast a sideways glance at him. "I’m no longer interested in old meat like you..."

Weichi Feihong: "...."

"But as for soldiers, the Northern Wasteland might not be so easy to poach, right? There are so many powerful families watching."

"It’s tough to poach in the North, but it’s easy in the Northern Territory..." Weichi Feihong’s ambitious gaze turned to the north. "If His Majesty’s intelligence is correct, this will be my opportunity!"