The oasis was a vast stretch of land around the volcano that remained untouched by ice and snow year-round. The entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy had been built atop the Volcanic Oasis.
The expanse of the oasis was beyond description.
The vast fertile lands here all belonged to Red Castle, to the Shadowflame Family. Over several generations, the grand dukes had successively enfeoffed nearly three hundred knight lords around their territory, guarding the entire oasis and making it impossible for wind and snow to penetrate even an inch.
But beyond the oasis were several warm enclaves like "satellites," such as Sancha River Mouth and Guangguang River Valley.
Unable to control them directly, the Shadowflame Family had enfeoffed two earls and five barons to govern these warm enclaves. Like satellites guarding the vast oasis, they became unavoidable nails in the path of Snow Demons and Snow Ghosts seeking to invade the oasis.
Because they were satellite enclaves, these warm lands could not connect directly to the oasis. Thus, trade routes had to be carved out across the snowfields.
The Shanhe Trade Route was one such route connecting the oasis to Guangguang River Valley.
The Fluorite Mushroom Family was responsible for building and clearing it.
"These Snow Ghosts are really useless this year. It's not even the height of summer yet, so why have they already gone limp?" Lord Ertlas complained.
"Complain less, Ertlas," Baron Roman said. "With fewer Snow Ghosts, we can focus more attention on our territories, govern them properly, and perhaps take the opportunity to open up new farmland."
"That requires people, my lord," Lord Ertlas said. "If the thunder beasts pulling carts recover early this year, could we perhaps engage in some serf trade?"
"Yes, my lord." Lord Marcus chimed in. "The oasis has rested and recovered for twenty