Beyond the mountain road that is blocked off Grey Castle Territory, there are many villages scattered at the foot of the mountain.
The endless plain at the foot of the mountain is a rare and wonderful place, no wonder the lord on that side looks down on Grey Castle Territory on this side of the mountain.
Given the barren land of Grey Castle Territory, it was indeed not something others would consider.
At this moment, a heated discussion about taxation is taking place in a simple mud house at the foot of the mountain.
"Village chief, the lord is collecting more and more taxes these days, and we don't have much food left."
The middle-aged man who spoke seemed somewhat agitated, but this was understandable, as the local lord's recent tax collection had indeed been outrageously high.
" Henry, calm down. Lord Blas has indeed been collecting more taxes lately. I think this is due to the war. Things should be back to normal once the war is over."
Henry, the middle-aged man, was still very excited. He looked at the village chief and then at the other people in the house.
"Village chief, will the war end? Have you forgotten the people who fled here from elsewhere just two days ago? It was Lord Blas who went to steal other people's ore. We might be going to the battlefield soon."
"Yes, village chief, I think Uncle Henry is right, the war definitely won't end anytime soon." A thin little boy seemed to agree with the middle-aged man. Henry's words.
"No, Henry, even so, what can you do? We are just ordinary Serfs, we are all people without freedom, we can't do whatever you want. The lord orders you to the battlefield, can you resist? Even if you dare to resist, with what? With your fists?"
"Hahaha."
The others in the room laughed. Indeed, the lord's longsword was not something your fists could withstand.
"Yes, Henry, if there isn't enough food, we'll eat less, or we'll think of some other solutions."
The village chief largely agreed with the words of the person who had spoken earlier; they really had no other choice, and this was how they had lived for generations.
Henry was indignant at the others' mockery, but he was helpless; he couldn't fight back alone. The village chief's other suggestions were just empty words of comfort; if they had a solution, they wouldn't be arguing endlessly, but would be taking action.
"I need to go to Grey Castle Territory; perhaps we can find a solution there." (Middle-aged Man) Henry said something that shocked everyone, causing a brief silence to fall over the entire room.
After a brief silence, a deafening roar of laughter erupted.
"Hahaha."
" Henry, have you gone mad from hunger?!"
"My God! You must be crazy! You actually want to go to that godforsaken place to try to find a solution?"
"Heh, you might as well use your ass to think of a solution."
...
"Do you have a better way? Aren't we just waiting to die here? Perhaps we could survive if we went to Grey Castle Territory." (Middle-aged Man) Henry shouted loudly to everyone.
"Heh, Henry, you 'd die even faster at Grey Castle Territory. We can wait here, but going there means starving to death. Besides, that only road has been blocked for two years. Is there anyone at Grey Castle Territory who doesn't even know about it?" someone retorted to the Middle-aged Man. Henry, what he said does make some sense.
If someone has blocked the road for two years without clearing it, it's because they used to come and exchange salt. Now that the road hasn't been cleared for two years, it's likely that all the people there have died, and that barren land is of no use to them.
"I'd rather die over there."