Near the end of the month, Gulf of Alaska, 58 degrees north latitude. Great Whale Island, the kingdom's port, Divine Whale Port.
In the distance, layered mountains were covered in emerald conifer forests, with hawks soaring over the peaks. Streams flowed slowly at the foot of the mountains, pink low trees set off by yellow and blue wildflowers, all bathing together in eighteen hours of polar-day sunlight, the whole place brimming with vigorous life.
The life brought by the streams stretched closer, and the long meadows abruptly turned into cultivated potato fields. In those more than one thousand mu of potato fields were several hundred busy tribesmen weeding, and potato seedlings several palms high. After two months of planting, green flower buds had already appeared on the potato seedlings, soon to bloom into pink-white flowers. And beneath the warm summer fields, the constantly swelling roots and stems of the potatoes were nurturing the autumn harvest, preparing the most precious winter rations.
Although it was at the same latitude, under the joint shelter of the Alaska Warm Current and the northern mountains, the summer coast of Alaska was far warmer than the Kamchatka Peninsula under the influence of the Chishima cold current, even exaggeratedly "10 degrees" higher. In fact, this was a subarctic oceanic climate, and might be even more suitable for the growth of potatoes than Hokkaido at more than forty degrees north latitude!
"Clop... clop... clop... clop!"
Two tall Jurchen Horses came "ambling" from the distance, treading across the long summer meadow. The amble's four hooves alternated in four beats, without a bounding suspension phase, and one hoof was always on the ground. This was the slowest and steadiest gait of horses, suitable for beginners and relaxed training.
Looking more closely, each of these two great horses carried a