In the former territory of the Zhouqing Kingdom.
This region's geography can be summed up quite simply: "two plains, surrounded by mountain ranges."
Apart from the two plains, the entire Zhouqing territory is composed of low, gently rolling mountains.
In the summer, these mountains are home to a variety of wild beasts, most of which are adapted to endure extreme cold. They manage to survive the harsh solar stillness (a long, frozen winter) through methods like hibernation or entering a deathlike torpor.
This had brought considerable convenience to the Zhouqing people who originally lived here. Being unskilled in agriculture and unwilling to cultivate land, they relied on hunting wild beasts and harvesting fruits from honeywood groves for sustenance.
However, these provisions were far from sufficient to guarantee a life free of hunger.
To the west, the insectoid Chizhi tribe with their tough shells and rancid pus-filled bodies were nowhere near as palatable as the people of Taicang in the east.
In certain eras, the Taicang people were indeed reduced to livestock raised by the Zhouqing people. Their flesh, known for its tender and savory qualities, helped the Zhouqing survive the bitter cold of solar stillness.
But now, the Zhouqing lands were barren and uninhabited—a result of divine punishment, chaos, and the massacres carried out by the Taicang army.
To put it plainly, the Zhouqing kingdom had been annihilated, and its people wiped out.
The few Zhouqing survivors who fled deep into the mountains to escape death would not survive this solar stillness either.
The lack of food in the mountains, the extreme cold, and the relentless icy winds would inevitably claim their lives.
At present, however, a group of about four to five thousand people had set up camp in a forest within what was once Zhouqing territory—an area that was supposed to be desolate.
This forest wasn't one of the precious honeywood groves but rather an ordinary woodland.
The purpose of this expedition was straightforward: the royal court had issued a decree.
Generals Ronglu and Chujiao were to lead 2,000 soldiers and 3,000 able-bodied Taicang civilians on a journey during the early days of solar stillness, when the weather was not yet unbearably cold, to Zhouqing territory and harvest lumber.
This lumber was desperately needed for heating and building shelters for the people of Taicang.
Taicang's timber reserves were already insufficient, and the effort to build housing for the newly migrated Jiangu people had nearly depleted the stockpile.
If a massive replenishment of timber wasn't secured, Taicang's reserves would run out within three to five days.
The consequences would be catastrophic: countless civilians would freeze to death.
Faced with such urgency, the people of Taicang undertook this arduous journey without complaint.
After all, solar stillness had only just begun. With sufficient food, the strong and healthy men of Taicang were unlikely to succumb to the cold. As long as they survived, hard work was a small price to pay.
Moreover, if timber truly ran out, they would venture into the wilderness even at the risk of their lives.
For if they didn't, their families—their wives, children, and parents—would have no hope of survival.
With this practical mindset and under the guidance of the royal court's decree, the expedition set out on its long journey. They crossed the Azure Mountains and reached this forest.
The people's trust in the royal court was unwavering, largely because ever since Jixia had ascended the throne, Taicang had undergone earth-shaking transformations. Many things that were once thought impossible had become reality.
Even so, a dozen leaders among the 3,000 laborers couldn't help but question Generals Ronglu and Chujiao.
"General Ronglu, the trees are nearly all felled, and we've tied them into bundles as you instructed. But the so-called 'miracle force' you mentioned hasn't shown up. What are we to do?"
"Exactly, General! We didn't even bring carts for this journey. With so much timber, how are we supposed to transport it back to Taicang?"
"Carts? Carts wouldn't be of much use!
You've forgotten how, on the way here, if it weren't for the skilled soldiers clearing the path ahead, we wouldn't have been able to traverse the snow. And do you realize how many carts it would take to carry all this timber?
Besides, carts can't traverse the difficult terrain we've encountered!"
"And let's not forget we followed your orders, using tough vines to bind the timber into massive bundles. There are over 120 of them, each larger than any cart could carry!"
Ronglu and Chujiao's expressions darkened as they listened to the crowd's concerns. Ronglu furrowed his brow and said, "Since I've promised a miracle force, then it will come! Are you doubting me—or the royal court?"
His words carried a sharp edge that silenced the leaders. They exchanged uneasy glances.
One of them stepped forward, bowed, and said, "General, we mean no disrespect to you or the royal court. Our concern is the sheer scale of this operation. With so much timber in the middle of this heavy snow, even if the Silver Guards of Taicang were fully deployed, it wouldn't be enough to transport it all back."
"We hope the generals won't take offense. We merely fear that all our hard work—the timber we've harvested—will go to waste if it cannot be transported to Taicang.
That would be a minor regret compared to the larger issue: without enough timber, how will Taicang survive?
How can our families endure the solar stillness without warmth?"
Ronglu's face grew even grimmer, though he couldn't deny the nagging doubt in his heart. He reached into his coat to touch the scroll hidden there.
He recalled how, before the expedition, King Jixia had responded to his concerns with a casual wave of his hand, handing him this scroll and saying, "Once the timber is ready and securely bound, open this scroll. You'll know what to do then."
Despite his profound respect for the king—an admiration as boundless as a surging river—Ronglu couldn't help but question whether this single scroll could truly solve such a monumental problem.
If it couldn't, what then?
What would they do if Taicang ran out of firewood for heating?
As doubt gnawed at him, Chujiao noticed his somber demeanor and chuckled. "Why fret? When has the king ever let us down?"
Ronglu shook his head. "It's not that I doubt the king. It's just that the stakes are too high this time. Without enough timber, countless people will perish during this solar stillness."
Chujiao replied, "The final bundle of timber is nearly tied. Let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, then worry all you want."
Before he could finish, a Taicang laborer arrived to report that the last bundle had been secured.
Taking a deep breath, Ronglu led the leaders out of their makeshift tent.
Outside, the forest was nearly stripped bare, leaving only massive stumps.
Under normal circumstances, Taicang's policy forbade such large-scale deforestation. For every tree felled, a sapling was to be planted to ensure the forest's survival.
But during this solar stillness, urgency trumped sustainability. Restoration would have to wait until the thaw.
In the clearing, 120 massive bundles of timber lay neatly arranged.
Each bundle contained countless tree trunks, each six or seven zhang (roughly 60–70 feet) in length, tightly bound with vines.
It was only thanks to the forest's exceptionally tough vines and the efforts of a thousand Taicang soldiers weaving them securely that such massive bundles could be tied together.
In short, most of this forest's timber was now packed into these 120 enormous bundles.