MTL - Medieval Empire Soldier-Chapter 216 ·The Lich King

During the long winter from the Winter Veil Festival to the end of the festival, due to the frozen land and the cold climate, the York River running through the Barony of Draco has also been closed. The townspeople in Oak Town hurriedly lit fires to keep warm, starched and washed clothes, and did handicrafts by the way. Due to the heavy snowstorm in winter, many buildings in the territory were suspended. The free people and farmers took the money they earned from their work and went to the tavern in a blink of an eye, drinking the cheapest barley wine and eating black wine mixed with sawdust. Bread and hard beans, talking loudly about all sorts of interesting things.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity of the baronial army to recuperate and fallow in the territory, Laeren also began intensively planning for the newly recovered Duncan Castle and preparations for further military expansion.

Along the frozen river, Lailon, Adrian, and Clerk Pittman led a team of knights on a patrol. On the compacted gravel road, the faces of several robust laborers approached with exhausted expressions. They didn't notice it until more than ten steps away. In front of him was Baron Draco, and several people greeted Laeren reverently.

  Lyron nodded with a smile, without expressing too much.

In the few days after the Winter Veil Festival, most of the young and strong workers in the collar became exhausted. The reason was the arrival of a charismatic alchemist. , It can be called a master doctor. Sure enough, inspired by the alchemist wizard, the people of Baron Draco were full of energy. Within a few days, the number of pregnant women increased sharply, and the newborn population also increased.

Originally, Laeren was worried that the alchemist might be a fallen person who believed in Slaanesh. After all, in terms of indulgence, he could not be too careful. After careful screening by several witch hunters and Luther Huss, They unanimously concluded that there was no trace of corruption in the alchemy wizard, so Laeren stopped asking, and let him inspire the people in the territory to applaud for love.

  The noise in the workshop along the river, Lehron stared at the workers who had been working for a while, and then left with peace of mind.

In recent months, more and more workshops and industries have been established in the Barony of Draco. Due to the disaster in Nordland last year and the incident in Marienburg in the middle of this year, many businessmen who pursue stability look at Taking advantage of the good law and order of the barony and the reputation of Laeren himself, they moved in one after another.

  The workshops opened on the banks of the York River are springing up like mushrooms after rain, and a large number of new production jobs are also in urgent need of manpower. While solving the shortage of labor, the overall output value has been further improved, and business has flourished.

Less than a month has passed since the recovery of Duncan Castle. The expansion of the territory has not played a role for a while, and there are still too many foreign populations who come here and there every day. There are villages and farms, but the barony, which is becoming saturated with population, can no longer accommodate more people, which also makes the affairs officer Pittman a headache.

Therefore, for the temporary suspension of these new foreign populations being included in the territory, the idea of ​​the affairs officer is to first utilize these laborers, give full play to their value, give them a subsistence treatment, and then quickly expand the gathering place, spending one to two years The time is being absorbed into the barony.

This requires a process of transformation, so it must be stable during this period of time, and it must not be messed up. The recent friction between the foreign population and the local population was also handled by Baron Draco himself. As a hero of the empire, especially the defender The victory of the expedition by the authority of the empire, and the prestige of Lairen ensured that no one would disagree.

   "My baron, investing a huge amount of money to rebuild Duncan Castle is not worth the loss. We can use half of the gold coins to improve the forest patrol camp in the north." Along the river bank, Pittman said seriously.

  Lyron discussed with him the cost of rebuilding Duncan Castle. The minimum cost is expected to be no less than 6,000 gold coins.

   "If the improvement of the forest patrol battalion can solve the threat of the northern forest, wouldn't it be useless to achieve the results of two months of hard work?" Lellen asked rhetorically.

   "Uh..." Pittman was dumbfounded for a while.

"Let's be sure, rebuilding Duncan Castle earlier will be of great benefit to the barony." Lellen's thick leather boots creaked as they stepped on the snow: "However, the speed of normal land transportation is too slow. Steward, what do you think of a river port along the York River?"

   "River port?" The officer thought for a while, and then said: "It should be possible. Although the width of the York River is far less than that of the Riker River, it is still more than enough for transportation."

   "My baron, if you want to build a river port, I will find the dwarf craftsmen later and ask them for their suggestions."

"Well, the dwarves' buildings are solid and reliable. Let them make a plan as soon as possible before February arrives. As for commissions, costs, etc., feel free to grant them." Laeren nodded and said: "We still have a lot of money in our warehouse. It’s a savings, it’s better to use it up as soon as possible.”

  In the baron's warehouse, the total value of the confiscated trophies, decorations, and rare metals alone exceeded 7,000 gold coins, plus a few wooden boxes of various coins, the specific amount was about 10,000.

  Lai Lun has always adhered to the principle that money should be used wisely.

Considering the high cost of animal transportation, and the long time of transportation, shipping by water is undoubtedly the best choice at present. It just so happens that, on both sides of Duncan Castle in the depths of the northern forest, there is a village named Hill The river is surrounded by rivers. If the two rivers are connected to each other, it can be completely unimpeded, laying the foundation for future population migration and forest development.

  At present, Nikas Francis is leading an army of more than 240 people stationed in the castle. Judging from the messages they sent back, the situation is not bad, and everything is under control.

  However, before that, Laeren still needs to organize several times to clear the forest and inspect the roads, so as to prevent the small group of beastmen running around from continuing to poison.

   In the days that followed, Lailon was quite busy.

  The river port in Oak Town was finally chosen to be built in a section of the river that is close to the town. The river is wide enough and the terrain is relatively flat, which is convenient for transportation. It is expected to accommodate the navigation of two imperial-style galleons, which is already very huge.

  Wait until February, the weather is not so cold.

  Lerlen's territory is also very lively. Crowds can be seen everywhere on the roads and streets. It is not spring yet, and it is still late winter. Many children are playing outside the house, and adults are also sewing clothes, enjoying the slack time.

A trade route that spreads from Sessenmund, Middenheim, Draco, Heggig to Kronborg, in the joint efforts of Leren and White Wolf Elector Boris Todbringer Now, it has been preliminarily formed. It is related to the three parties of Nordland, Middenland and Hawkeland. The three electors signed a fair trade agreement together, unifying tariffs and preferential conditions and equal treatment for attracting investment from chambers of commerce. , forest resources from Hawkland, high-quality metal ore from Nordland, dyes and leather from Middenland, and wood elf goods will sell well in the three provinces, and certain preferential policies will be provided.

  The reason why Laeren joined was because of Lauren Loren, who called Baron Draco to own the only wood elf trading post in the empire.

   This influential move has aroused the jealousy of Ostland and Steeleland.

The two cold and barren provinces in the north can't even be self-sufficient in food. Although the bull-elect Van Meer-von-Lauchoff is a consistent supporter and ally of the Grand Prince of Rickland, he is by no means a stupid Stubborn and stubborn, after weighing the interests, the Elector of the Bull took the initiative to submit a list of "gifts" to the Elector of the White Wolf, and included the property resources owned by Ostland in the cover letter.

As for Steele, as the poorest province in the empire, Elector Alberich-de-Anderson chose to be a rogue without a "skin". He first denounced the special trade route initiated by Boris and Lehren He didn’t even ask Steele to join him. Then, Moral kidnapped Elector Anderson and wrote a letter of plea for help to Laeren and White Wolf Elector, which described the miserable life of the people in Steele with eloquence. , and at the end of the letter, he blatantly sold out the votes for the next Imperial Assembly, or even the next vote, without dignity.

   probably means: Boris, you have always wanted to be the emperor, as long as you bring me this time, I will listen to you in the future.

  In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts, after some discussion, the three electors and Leyron decided to provide Steele with food subsidies to dispel the nonsense of Anderson.

  Elector Boris also heard about the construction of the river port in Oak Town, and Elector White Wolf expressed his willingness to contribute, making the communication between Middenheim and Draco more convenient.

   For a period of time, Laeren saw merchants from Kislev and the Kingdom of Knights on the streets, as well as a small number of merchants from the Southern Kingdom, the Principality of Tyrell, and even the Arabians.

And the Overland Chamber of Commerce, relying on the trade route led by Lailon and the wood elf trade exclusive, has become a well-deserved director of the Middenheim Merchant Guild in one fell swoop, with great power, even number one in several provinces in the north of the empire. One of the big merchants, although there is a geographical gap compared with many old-fashioned big merchants, the White Wolf Elector Boris Todbringer took extra care of this big merchant with the Leren javelin. The business of Lang Chamber of Commerce is relatively partial.

Yatru-Ofran certainly knows who brought everything to him. This fat and careful businessman not only handed over half of his trade income, but also moved all his assets into the Barony of Draco. Expressing his loyalty to Lellen, with the endorsement and backing of the heroes of the empire, his shrewd mind was fully utilized, and he was no longer restrained. After becoming a member of the Middenheim Merchant Guild, he began to make drastic changes in the blurred and complicated trade field. Intervening in many aspects, almost plundering and crushing, destroyed two chambers of commerce that monopolized a single industry. This move also received strong support from the White Wolf Elector.

  In mid-March, in the early spring season, the winter wheat harvest has been completed, and the time has come to the annual spring plowing time, and the scene of spring plowing is everywhere in Baron Draco.

In other parts of the empire, self-cultivating farmers do not have to pay high taxes, which also means that no nobles will send troops to protect the interests and safety of self-cultivating farmers. They can only arm themselves, unite to protect farms and villages, and fend for themselves. This does not exist in the barony.

  The baron's soldiers are always patrolling, and the guard posts on both sides of the road are always in effect.

In the Battle of Duncan Castle, the baronial army suffered a large number of casualties, exceeding 270 people. Therefore, Laeren invested a lot of gold coins to re-expand the new army. Pay attention.

  The Eternal Knights also ushered in a three-month supplement, aiming to increase the size of two companies, that is, 120 knights, to ensure that the elite level is not lost.

  Once the winter is over, the undercurrents in the empire are also temporarily relieved by the harvest of winter wheat, but with the spring plowing season and after the spring plowing, the harvest season has passed, and all the stability will be torn apart.

  At this time, the threat hidden among the undead strikes again, which will cause even greater riots and turmoil. All of this only exists in a confusing prophecy.

  Old World, Edge of the Roof of the World, Land of the Damned, Sylvania.

   "Plop-plop-" The scarlet wing membranes blow the wind, and the **** zombie dragon hovers in the air in a dark swamp and black forest. On the edge of the sky, the sun is gradually setting, which means the arrival of a long night.

"Bang..." The black iron boots fell from midair, with a bald head, sharp teeth and fangs, blood-colored pupils, and the bone sickle sword held in both hands was still oozing blood. There were bursts of black air lingering around him. There is no doubt that this is a vampire.

Nearly dead trees around seem to be avoiding instinctively. Stone mounds, barren graves, the dead, hanged, and blasphemous undead transcend the boundary between life and death. They are afraid of the visiting vampires. Burning their souls, the undead wandering in the wild screamed in an instant: "Ah——"

   "Heh, boring bastard." The bald vampire smiled cruelly, clenched his fist with his left hand, and completely crushed the soul wrapped in black flames, as if it was just for fun and to satisfy his tyrannical morbid psychology.

The iron boots moved along the narrow jungle, leaving black magic symbols one by one. He bent down and entered the dark, deep, and damp cave. The music is as beautiful as music.

  In the dark cave, only the turquoise will-o'-the-wisp is burning, which is a cursed fire.

On the rock wall deep in the cave, a naked middle-aged man's limbs were tied tightly by spiked chains. He cried bitterly, and wailed hysterically towards the man in black in front of him, "Let me go!" , please let me go, I told you everything, I really told everything I know!!"

   "Roar..." The bloodthirsty grave ghoul hovered beside the middle-aged man, sniffing the meat, unable to hold back his hunger and thirst, but seemed to be afraid of the man in black.

"Oh, be quiet, Earl Gabriel, you are not bringing benefits by shouting like this. On the contrary, you are killing my patience, even if my life is eternal." A dry voice said, his tone was calm, He said persuasively: "Tell me, count, what is buried in the Bergland burial ground, just tell me, and your suffering will end."

   "I don't know, I really don't know!!" The middle-aged man was on the verge of collapse, he was afraid of the breath of the ghoul: "Family, the family's tomb has been sealed long ago, I really haven't seen it once!"

   "Hehe... You are the Black Lich King, but you actually enjoy this low-level pleasure of torture." A chuckle came from the vampire's mouth, and he leaned his back against the rock wall with great interest, his laughter was like a whisper in a grave.

"You don't seem to be lying, the smell of fear." The black-robed man took off his hood, revealing a skeleton face, the blue flames in his eyes and the undead wind on the staff are so daunting: "The stench , Manfred, you have let me down."