Joseph was a native farmer of Casparmyburg, he grew up here, and half of his life has passed, and he has never left Casparmyburg for hundreds of miles.

Although he never left the place, Joseph was very satisfied with his life, he had a virtuous wife, and a sensible son, and the family took care of the fields and orchards, and although he had to pay a very heavy tax to the lord, he was able to eat enough every year.

But this year is different.

Since the beginning of the Sleeping Moon, the climate in Casparmyburg has taken a sharp turn for the worse, and every day is gloomy and terrible, and there is hardly any sunshine again.

Although it was normal for the weather to be cold in the winter, Joseph sensed that something was not right.

Previous years' sleeping months weren't as cold as they were this year.

I remember my father once told him that there was a year when the moon of sleep was the same, and as a result, a heavy snowstorm fell in the bitter cold month, and even the houses were buried by the snow, people could not even get out, the cellars were frozen, hundreds of people were frozen to death in the streets, and the nobles collected the sale of grain, so that the commoners could not buy food, and many people starved to death in their homes.

"I'm afraid there will be a big snowstorm next month."

A worried Joseph said this to the others, but no one believed him.

Everyone laughed at him for becoming a "Master Mage" (because powerful magicians can affect the weather).

Worried about this fact, Joseph began to secretly stock up on food.

Then, the cold moon came, and the truth gave everyone a hard slap.

The blizzard really came, and a week of heavy snowstorms covered the whole land, and the snow was one person high blocking the doors, and people could not go out, so they had to rely on food at home.

"What the hell is weather! Gotta find a way to get some food! ”

Joseph looked at the snow that had not yet melted, the grain and jerky stored in the barrels were almost exhausted, and only the last four days' rations were left, and if they didn't do anything else, the family would probably starve to death.

The tightly wrapped wife whispered, "Shall we borrow some food from Bob next door?" ”

"Impossible," Joseph shook his head, "no one would want to lend food to anyone else in this kind of hellish weather...... I'm sure the grain stores in Casparmyburg are closed, and in the event of this snowstorm, they must stock up on food -- or raise the price and take a bite of it. ”

"I don't know how long it will take for this weather to ......"

"It won't be long, the blizzard has stopped, but this snow will continue for a long time."

Joseph's face was very ugly: "This snow is the big problem, we don't have firewood." ”

With such a thick snowfall, many homeless people must have frozen to death in Casparmyburg, and the situation in these villages outside is not optimistic, they can't leave the house for a week, they don't stock up so much firewood on weekdays, everything that can be burned in the house has been burned out, once there is no fire to burn, the cold temperature will soon take their lives.

"Why don't we tear down the chair and burn it?"

"Firewood is just one of them, we are running out of food, and we have to find a way to solve the food problem."

Joseph wrapped up his clothes and said ruthlessly: "I'll go into the city and have a look, and if I can buy some food, I can carry it." ”

Just as Joseph was about to force his way out, there was a sudden knock at the door.

Joseph's family was shocked, how could there be people with such thick snow outside?

"Joseph!"

"It's Bob."

Joseph hurriedly opened the door, and outside, Bob was buried in the snow, and his whole face was blue.

"Come on in!"

When Bob entered the door, he asked very dryly, "How much food do you have at home?" ”

Joseph opened his mouth, and then said against his will: "There are still two days of rations." ”

"Two days?"

Bob's brow furrowed, and after a moment, he said, "Two days for two days!" It's a big deal, I'll give you a little bit, as long as you can make it to your destination...... Pack your things and get ready to go! ”

"Packing up? What do you mean? ”

Joseph was shocked: "Where to go?" ”

"Ellington!"

Bob paused, lowered his voice and said, "You don't know yet, do you?" Something big happened inside Casparme, the monsters attacked the castle and many people died, and Lord Lawrence decided to temporarily levy a protection tax in order to pay the soldiers' pensions - those who had no money had to take out the grain as collateral. ”

"Conservation tax!?"

Joseph suddenly raised his tone: "This hell weather, we have no food of our own, and we still have to pay taxes!?" If we don't have anything to eat, we're going to starve! ”

"So, we all discussed it and decided to get out of here and go to Ellington."

Bob said very calmly, "Owen, the owner of the Potions House, is willing to show us the way. ”

"But so suddenly...... The snow hasn't melted yet! ”

"If you hesitate any longer, after the snow melts, the tax officer will go straight to the door."

Bob said lightly: "Now there are twenty-two families in the village, and you are the only one." ”

"Everybody's agreed!?"

"That's right."

Bob said: "I've heard people from the Tang Chamber of Commerce talk about Ellington before, and it's not the same place as before. ”

Ellington ...... But it's so far away! The carriage also runs for six days! ”

"We don't have a carriage, but we do have feet."

Bob looked indifferent: "If you don't leave here, sooner or later you will be forced to death by Lord Lawrence, and if you leave here, there is still a glimmer of life." ”

"But, but ......"

Joseph, who had never left Casparmyburg, had an inexplicable fear of traveling far away.

"Did you know that the merchants who came from there before the winter were full of praise for Ellington, saying that it was a city of miracles that was changing with each passing day?"

Bob said very longingly: "I heard that the roads there are all paved with a kind of black gold, and they are very flat and not muddy at all, regardless of wind or rain. It was also heard that the food ripened in a day, and that even the poorest farmers were richer than those elsewhere, and that if they were willing to work, they could earn gold and eat delicious barbecue and bread at every meal! ”

Joseph, who had been able to nibble on dry meat for several days, swallowed: "But they definitely don't welcome outsiders......"

"No, you're wrong, I've heard that outsiders are very welcome to settle there."

Bob said with great certainty: "They say that Ellington is different every day now, and that the lord there needs a lot of people to build the city, and he will pay to hire people to work for him, instead of being drafted for free, and it is said that he will be paid dozens of silver coins every day." ”

"Dozens of silver coins a day!?"

Go ****** your fears! Joseph's psychological defense line collapsed in an instant: "When to go!?" ”

"Right now."

Bob opened the door and walked out without looking back, he had already said what he should say, and it was up to him whether he wanted to go or not.

"Honey? Are we really going? It's so cold outside, son he ......"

Joseph looked at his shivering son, and said ruthlessly: "We must take risks, or we will die if we stay at home!" Honey, quickly pack your things, bring food and clothes, and nothing else! ”

The two of them immediately got busy, and Joseph ran to the bedroom, and carefully carried into his bosom the coins he had accumulated over the years, one gold coin, fifteen silver coins, and eighty-two copper coins, which was all his savings.

Soon there was another knock on the door, and when Joseph opened the door, there was already a crowd of people in full gear outside.

"Ready?"

Looking at those familiar faces full of confusion and anticipation, Joseph took a breath of cold air and said, "Ready." ”

In this way, Joseph's family joined the army of refugees.

On the snow-covered ground, they quietly left their home where they had lived for most of their lives and began their long journey to Ellington in the south.

Day after day, the procession did not stop, and they did not dare to stop - legally they belonged to the wealth of Lord Lawrence, and if the lord's soldiers found them fleeing from Casparmyburg, they would be hanged!

The further south they went, the less snow there was, and the calf-deep snow was very little less than at the beginning, and they relied on each other, supported each other, shared food with each other, and relied on their will to persevere and resist the cold.

"Come on, everyone, it's going to Ellington soon!"

Every time someone couldn't hold on, Bob and Owen, who led the team, would describe the beauty of Ellington: "Everyone is fed and clothed there, everyone has the opportunity to make money, and there is no need to worry about being ripped off by the guards, and there is no need to worry about being demanded by the tax collector......"

In the world of these farmers, they have never heard of or seen such a beautiful city, and they have come here, almost all of them are supported by one breath.

"Daddy...... Daddy......"

Joseph's son muttered unconsciously, his body boiling hot, feverish from the cold.

"How long is it!"

Joseph was also in poor spirits, and along the way, they were joined by refugees from many other villages, who also consumed large quantities of rations, in fact, having eaten their last food yesterday.

The starving fleeing ranks were on the verge of collapse.

"It's coming soon!"

"You always say right away! My sons are dying! ”

Joseph's eyes were red and he wanted to pounce on the guy and beat him up.

"Preserve your stamina! My friend! I won't lie to you! ”

"But it's a lie! What is better than the kingdom of God Ellington! Why haven't we seen it yet! ”

"One-two-one-hey! One-two-one-ha......"

In the distance, a very rough voice was rapidly approaching.

"Not good! It's a bandit! ”

Joseph's face changed dramatically, and the Lardian Hills were notoriously known for their bandits.

His words caused an uproar in the procession, and the women and children cried in fright.

Bob yelled, "Concentrate on formation!" Men are standing up! It's time to protect your family! ”

Owen, who had fled, had a bitter face, thought about it, and quietly grabbed an alchemy potion in his hand.

Soon the men appeared in front of everyone, a group of warriors who were half-naked, armed and fierce-looking.

"Bandits! Suffer death! ”

Owen closed his eyes and roared, and directly smashed the alchemy potion in his hand!

"Bandits?"

Elsa, who was blocked behind by the figure of a strong man, looked dazed. (To be continued.) )