“The nation is ruined, but mountains and rivers remain”
Why do I emphasize the Appalachian mountains so much? They are the oldest mountain range in the World and have seen much degradation. Once soaring as high as the Himalayans, time has reduced them to their current labyrinth of hardscrabble crags and mazelike hollows perpetually shrouded in mist and shadows . Yet, people have nestled in its endless hollows and valleys for as long as humans first wandered into them. Birthing and nurturing many cultures, civilizations and nations have existed throughout their existence. Yes, they have diminished over the eons but they still provide a fortress sanctuary for people who seek freedom. Dufu thought that a nation is most threatened by forces internally as opposed to invasion.
Only the mountains and rivers remain. If you can tap into that wisdom, it provides a key to my stories.