568 South

As the train slowly started, Zhu Wencong officially headed south; bidding farewell to the prosperous Washington and journeying toward post-war Richmond.

Almost a year since the Civil War, aside from the cessation of hostilities, there had been no change in the South, where people's quality of life was as sparse as a Wang Xiao'er's New Year celebration.

Countless Southerners were hoping for salvation from the Northern Federation, but, as expected, not only did the North refuse to aid, it also barred Southerners from migrating to Northern cities.

"There really is a guard every ten steps!" Luo Xueqing remarked as she observed the changing landscape outside the window upon entering Virginia.

"They count on me to pay salaries, so they absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to me; if manpower wasn't an issue, having a guard at every step would have been no problem.