Helan Prefecture.
Geographically speaking, Helan Prefecture lay to the northwest of the entire Cold Moon Continent. The famed main range of the Helan Mountain Range ran through one side of its territory, branching into countless crisscrossing subsidiary ranges that formed an endless expanse of mountains and mining districts.
Of course, Helan Prefecture covered an enormous area. The mining regions surrounding the Helan Mountain Range accounted for at most half of its total jurisdiction. Further north lay the Immortal Dynasty's famed Helan Great Steppe, as well as the perennially frozen Northern Frozen Ocean.
In the middle stretch of the Helan Mountain Range's main range lay a vast, fertile basin surrounded by mountains, known as the Helan Basin.
The climate there was pleasant and its produce abundant. It was the site of Helan Prefecture's provincial capital.
Helan Prefecture had several thousand aristocratic families of all sizes, but there were not many areas suitable for large-scale human settlement. Any family with even a little prestige would choose to purchase estates and other properties near the provincial capital.
This was especially true of third-rank families and above. Their main residences were generally not far from the provincial capital.
This had created the Helan Basin's current state of economic prosperity, with aristocratic families standing shoulder to shoulder.
At present, Helan Prefecture had two first-rank aristocratic families. One of them was the Helan Han Clan, whose industries were concentrated primarily in mining-related fields.
The Helan Han Clan's main residence stood on the northern side of the Helan Basin.
As an ancient aristocratic family with deep foundations, the Helan Han Clan's main residence alone occupied the area of an entire city. The surrounding lands were all Han Clan industries as well, making it practically an "independent kingdom."
And as the capital of that "independent kingdom," the main