Soul of Burning Steel

After saying this, Joshua did not wait for the suddenly noisy crowd to quiet down, but continued on his own: "Some of you should already know me, but today's theme is not this— ——Perhaps you don’t know yet, my father, the old lord, died in an accident, and my uncle invaded the main city while I was away, expelled my knights, and planned to seize my title.”

"You must have a deep memory, because not long ago, the patrols of their group were still showing their might in my street, but don't worry, they have completely disappeared and will not come again."

At this moment, he paused, waiting for the surging crowd to digest the news, and then said loudly: "Because I have already killed everyone in charge."

The originally disturbed crowd was silent for a moment, and then there was a burst of cheers - everyone present had been threatened and blackmailed by the foreign patrol team, otherwise, no matter how cold it was in winter, there would not be many People go out, and the people of the Northland are simple and honest. If the days are longer than a few days, they will definitely be behind the scenes. However, since the lord of the family is doing it for him, it is natural to celebrate first.

As for the naked propaganda of force like murder... Only truly powerful people can lead knights and soldiers to expand the territory, resist the black tide, and protect their own territory. People, since the new lord has shown his force, Then cheer for him.

Amidst the cheers, Joshua concluded concisely: "My citizens, you can live as before and walk freely on your own land. All those who have been blackmailed or hurt can come to St. Lauren The cathedral receives compensation - don't try to lie, the priests of the god of punishment are watching you. Well, that's about it, this year's tax exemption for families with newborns for one year, end."

There was louder cheers, and Joshua waved his hands casually, then turned and walked down the high platform.

"Firefly, let's go, the next thing is up to Artanis and the others."

"Yes Master."

Time flies, November 15th, Frost Moon, six days after the declaration.

Frost spreads with the wind, everything freezes, fields and pastures are completely covered in white, farmers harvest the last wave of hardy plants, and herdsmen drive their cattle and sheep back to their sheds, and everyone begins to prepare for this winter.

In the disputed continent Mycroft, from the vast sea at the extreme north to the cape cliff at the far south, every inch of its land is incredibly fertile, and the growth of plants is also extremely fast due to the influence of magic power. The product is the source of disaster that troubles all human forces, [Black Forest].

Outside the center of human power, at various fortresses on the frontiers of civilization, the rapidly spreading black jungle is constantly growing, expanding like a plague, wantonly encroaching on the living space of human beings, and the countless monsters that grow in it act as pioneers and turn into black tides , Destroy towns and villages, and the blood of the dead bodies is used as fertilizer to nourish a black forest. These cursed trees can grow to tens of meters in height in only three years.

The frontier fortresses that are relatively close to the Black Forest must be surrounded by dense forests or huge grasslands. Countless monsters are lurking in them, staring at them. There is only a small road covered with blood and bones as the only passage.

Because of the severe cold, the northern land is relatively stable in this regard. The cold inhibits the activity of plants, and the speed of felling can easily exceed the growth rate of these plants. Therefore, the pressure of the Black Forest Fortress in Moldavia is not like that of the southern border of the empire. as big as its peers.

This situation has both disadvantages and advantages. Because of the characteristics of the plants and the land, the life of the common people in this world is not difficult, at least much happier than the common people in the middle ages in Joshua's previous life. Due to the peculiarity of the land, no one has to worry about food. However, the vitality of food in this world is comparable to that of weeds. One mu of land can harvest at least three wheat crops a year. Even in a place like the Northland, two seasons are very simple. Sometimes the wheat mutates, and even requires a mage and a German to harvest it. Rui came to control and couldn't let them grow out of bounds.

Although cattle, sheep and other herding animals can easily return to wildness due to magic power, they grow very quickly because of this. As long as there is enough feed, they can quickly leave the juvenile stage in about two weeks, and grow up in about three quarters. It can be officially harvested, and its speed is incredible. After all, it is a fantasy world with magic power, no matter how strange it is, it is normal.

In the other courtyard in the west of the city, Joshua was sitting in the study, frowning as he looked at the letters in his hand.

After becoming a lord, it would not be too much to say that he is very busy. In fact, he does not need to do all kinds of chores to maintain the order of the city and the territory under his name. What the soldiers need to pay attention to is actually only the people who do things under the management.

What really bothered him was the various letters.

As the successor of the Field Earl of the Northland and the new lord of Moldavia, since the day before yesterday, there has been an almost endless stream of courtesy letters from other nobles in the empire, not to mention Joshua's loyalty to the knights in his own territory Documents—he must prepare a polite reply to every letter, and make different answers according to the history and status of the other party. This is the minimum etiquette for nobles.

Where has Joshua done such a thing before? Every time he writes this thing, it is a kind of painful torture for him. Several times, the soldier wants to smash the desk in front of him with a punch, but he resists it with great willpower.

"Tsk, shit, the lord's mansion is completely destroyed, the clerical staff who used to help my dead father draft the documents were all driven away by the dead uncle, and now that group of people are probably spending the winter in their hometown in the countryside, and they probably won't be able to call back in a short time. "

After finally signing the reply to a certain frontier marquis with beautiful calligraphy, Joshua temporarily put down the halfling pen in his hand and drank a cup of tea to soothe his spirit.

The old servants and government affairs management team around the old earl have all been scattered because of Danlia's actions, and most of them have gone back to their respective homes for the winter. Now Joshua is almost a bare-bones commander, and he can only do everything by himself. The situation will probably continue in the spring of next year. Fortunately, it only needs to be replied once, and it will not be repeated after it is done.

"Master, I have another letter for you."

There was a silver-haired and energetic voice in the hall. He hadn't done anything in the past few days, but kept delivering letters for Joshua and occasionally helping deliver meals.

"This is the first letter of today..."

Joshua couldn't help sighing, but after covering his forehead for a few seconds, he seemed to have figured something out, and then he said to the direction of the hall with a serious face: "Xingying, if you still have a letter next time, you can send it by yourself." Open it and have a look, if it’s not very important, don’t give it to me, just reply casually.”

"Hey, can I? But this letter looks expensive."

Yingying ran to the door of the study with a luxurious-looking envelope that was even gilded on the edges, and asked doubtfully with green eyes, "I'll fill it in? Isn't that good?"

"...Give me this letter, everything else is fine."

Joshua stood up and picked up the gilded envelope: "I think your writing might be better than mine."

He is not talking nonsense. Although Yingying looks young, in fact, the database in his head has everything except a little old. The handwriting of imperial capital style is much better than that of Joshua, a professional soldier. The format of the reply letter is mostly the same, which is not a problem.

Opening the envelope in his hand, Joshua took out a platinum invitation card from it.

"……banquet?"