The icicles hanging from the eaves were dripping steadily. It was February 15th, 1781—the season when ice and snow began to thaw. What made it rare was that the sun had actually appeared. Looking down from the peak of Brin Hill, one could see many diligent housewives in the streets and alleys of
Unfortunately, cotton couldn't be found anywhere.
Nearly every resident of Morant City who had purchased these magical beast fur garments had them re-tailored. Those with the skill did the alterations themselves, while those who lacked the ability paid to have them redone. The main reason was that the prices of the magical beast fur garments the Norton Family had put up for sale were truly rock-bottom—only about double the price of artificially raised cattle and sheep pelts, but the warming effect was incomparably better.
And so, during this soon-to-end winter, Morant City remained bustling with life. The residents, wearing their re-tailored magical beast fur garments, filled the snow-covered city with vitality and energy. In previous winters, most people had stayed home to hibernate, but this winter the streets were still crowded with people coming and going. Many had even piled up all manner of ice and snow sculptures along the sides of the streets, and the cheerful, clear laughter of children echoed through the alleys from time to time.
This is the Morant City of my heart, Lorist thought to himself. The young Locke had been exiled by his family and came to Morant City to study. At that time, the Commercial Alliance was in its golden twenty-year period of development, and Morant City radiated an unparalleled vitality and brilliance. It was here that Lorist had transmigrated, adapted, and integrated himself into this world of
From the main gate of the mountain estate came the exchange between
"His Highness is over there, looking at the scenery."
Soon, light footsteps sounded behind him. Lorist didn't turn around. "What is it?"
"Your Highness, the Flying Tiger Corps and the Hunter Cavalry Corps have returned to Bruvia City. But they've captured quite a few more prisoners this time. Ludos is furious and has lodged a protest with us..."
"How many people?"
"Seventy... around seven hundred thousand..." Fatty Shi was a bit embarrassed himself.
Well, this was practically sweeping every province surrounding the Mana Hill Plains clean. No wonder Ludos was angry and protesting—having to resettle that many prisoners, or rather, refugees, was an enormously difficult task for the Free Union, especially with the rainy season approaching so soon.
"What a mess!" Lorist was also startled by the number. This was a case of killing without burying the dead. For the Flying Tiger Corps and the Hunter Cavalry Corps, all they had to do was escort the refugees to the Mana Hill Plains and wash their hands of the matter. All the resettlement and allocation was pushed onto the Free Union, without considering whether it could bear such a heavy burden.
"Do you have any ideas?" Lorist asked.
"We could split them up," Fatty Shi said, apparently having already thought of a solution. "We transport half of them to Yungeshandra Province and let them settle there.
"And what about Ludos?"
"Your Highness, Ludos's main complaint is that these refugees have added to their troubles. The Free Union Administrative Committee's plan for this year focuses on the development and reconstruction of the Krisdol Hills and the rebuilding of Albernia Port. They hadn't made any arrangements for the Mana Hill Plains. Originally, we thought that even after defeating the Commercial Alliance, the Mana Hill Plains would remain a flashpoint for small-scale conflicts for the next few years, so we didn't plan to develop the surrounding areas of the fortress cities.
But we didn't expect such a decisive victory this time. The Commercial Alliance won't recover its vitality for years. And the Flying Tiger Corps and the Hunter Cavalry Corps' raids on the provinces surrounding the Mana Hill Plains have made things even worse for the Commercial Alliance. Judging from the current situation, the Mana Hill Plains are now safe and can be vigorously developed and restored to productivity. Ludos's protest is nothing more than an attempt to get grain and production supplies as aid from our Family. As you've said yourself—the squeaky wheel gets the grease..."
Apprehensive.
After all, nearly two hundred years of Commercial Alliance rule had left deep marks on this city. The former glory and brilliance, the unyielding resilience, even the suppression and helplessness of the final years—none of these could make the million-plus residents of Morant City forget that they had once been members of the Commercial Alliance. In the hearts of most city residents, they had already become traitors to the Commercial Alliance, supporting the formation of the Free Union and standing against the Alliance in open defiance. For them, the Commercial Alliance army's advance meant despair and the shattering of their hopes for a good life—the descent of utter catastrophe.
Lorist remembered when he had led the Family's armed forces out of Morant City toward the front lines at Bruvia City. The atmosphere in the city had been so oppressive and cold. Countless residents stood silently along the streets, watching the fully armed and perfectly marching Norton Family troops leave Morant City. Not a single cheer—though their eyes gleamed with hopeful light, they refused to shout out. Lorist understood perfectly. These residents feared that if the Commercial Alliance forces won, they would return to Morant City and settle scores, so all they could do was remain silent...
When the Norton Family forces achieved their great victory over the Commercial Alliance and Lorist returned to Morant City with his bodyguard unit, he found the entire city had erupted into celebration. There were singing, dancing, and jubilant crowds everywhere. The thousand-plus members of his bodyguard unit received an indescribably warm welcome. Due to the surging crowds, they had to dismount and proceed on foot, and before long everyone's hands and arms were stuffed with all manner of food and gifts. Many handsome guardsmen even received the attention and affection of beautiful women along with kisses, and even
As the actual occupiers of Morant City, although the Norton Family forces had worked hard to downplay their status as occupiers—maintaining strict discipline, trading fairly, not bullying the weak, readily helping others, and upholding order, practically more civilized and courteous than the people's army from Lorist's previous life—the residents of Morant City still saw them as an outside military force and rarely took the initiative to make friendly contact. But after this war, the residents of Morant City affectionately called the Norton Family forces "our protectors." When some soldiers on leave went out to enjoy themselves, they even received invitations from beautiful women, spending wonderful and romantic evenings...
Before the war, even though the Norton Family had strongly supported the newly established Free Union Administrative Committee, its administrative orders always encountered bumps and hiccups during execution. Although commercial activities in Morant City had gotten back on track, the residents' attitude toward commercial investment was mostly one of urgency for short-term profit. Everyone worried that if the Commercial Alliance forces returned and recaptured Morant City, all the invested capital would be completely wasted.
Even though the Free Union Administrative Committee had launched numerous plans and intended to invest heavily in developing and transforming the Krisdol Hills and building large-scale public infrastructure, the response from Morant City's residents had remained lukewarm. But now, after the victory in the war, countless city residents had formed new commercial chambers and trading companies, proactively coming to inquire about investing in the Krisdol Hills. Even on days of heavy snowfall, it couldn't stop the long queues of people waiting outside the Administrative Committee's headquarters for consultations. The fervent atmosphere permeated the entire winter.
No wonder Ludos was protesting. The Norton Family forces had captured so many refugees that they were practically creating chaos for the Administrative Committee. The Committee had placed this year's focus on the development and transformation of the Krisdol Hills and simply didn't have the capacity to handle the resettlement of so many refugees—no energy, no manpower, and no way to divert large amounts of funds and grain from the Krisdol Hills. So they had no choice but to turn their eyes toward the aid the Norton Family could provide.
"Did Tiger Ross and Fareya capture a lot of goods and wealth?" Lorist asked.
"Yes, Your Highness." Fatty Shi lowered his head and replied. "The Flying Tiger Corps and the Hunter Cavalry Corps practically emptied the five provinces surrounding the Mana Hill Plains. The miscellaneous goods piled up at Bruvia City are like mountains—just the valuables alone are worth over ten million gold Forde, and that doesn't include the one million gold Forde in cash given to the White Lion Corps. The remaining grain and various raw materials are innumerable. Steward Sperel is planning to transport all those goods and raw materials back to Morant City for auction to convert into gold Forde..."
Lorist shook his head. "After the rainy season, you'll go handle the resettlement of these refugees. Select suitable refugee families and have Tiger Ross lead them overland and by sea to Yungeshandra Province—whether it's four hundred thousand or three hundred thousand, you decide. As for the remaining refugees, negotiate with Ludos to resettle them locally around the four fortress cities in front of the Mana Hill Plains. The necessary grain, daily supplies, and farming tools should be allocated from the captured goods. The Free Union doesn't have our Family's foundation, so it truly is difficult for them to bear the burden of resettling these refugees. Since the supplies were all captured, we don't need to be particular about this. Also, order the Hunter Cavalry Corps to help these refugees build farmsteads and reclaim farmland to restore production—they made the mess, they can clean it up themselves. As for the remaining goods and raw materials, hand them over to Steward Sperel."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Oh, I'll have Schwad go help you as well, to ease your burden a bit," Lorist said to Fatty Shi with concern.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Fatty Shi let out a breath of relief. If he had to handle everything alone, he'd be utterly exhausted—these were over seven hundred thousand people reduced to refugee status. They had no goodwill toward the Norton Family forces that had put them in this predicament, and Fatty Shi urgently needed capable helpers to resettle these refugees as quickly as possible so as not to leave any lingering problems behind.
Every commercial chamber had retreated to its own territory to lick its wounds and wait for its strength to recover. Across the continent, no wars or conflicts were taking place anywhere. But the Mana Hill Plains was a hive of activity, with the Norton Family forces running themselves ragged. Tiger Ross deeply regretted his order to capture so many refugees. When he heard Lorist command him to lead the Flying Tiger Corps in escorting refugees to Yungeshandra Province, his head started to ache. So he used his promotion to Great Swordmaster as an excuse and vanished without a trace, leaving all the troublesome matters to Deputy Corps Commander Mason and Dolus.
In July, Lorist received a letter from the Family's territory and a congratulatory letter from the
As for the Second Prince's congratulatory letter, it congratulated him on the great victory over the Commercial Alliance forces on October 10th of last year, and incidentally discussed the possibility of equipping the Kingdom's armed forces with gunpowder and cannons. Lorist didn't know whether to laugh or cry—it had been nearly nine months before the congratulatory letter arrived. That was far too slow. But he understood—the Second Prince must have written the letter after learning the details of the war from the returning White Lion Corps. Currently, the Second Prince was in Duke
There was no helping it. The former Krisen Empire's territory was simply too vast. If not by sea, the journey from the Northland to Morant City would take at least two months. Lorist estimated that his reply would reach the Second Prince sometime after October, provided the messenger could accurately locate the Second Prince's whereabouts.
In his reply, Lorist made it unequivocally clear to the Second Prince that the Kingdom's armed forces could not be equipped with cannons and gunpowder. The reason was simple: a single war against the Commercial Alliance had consumed all the gunpowder the Norton Family had accumulated over more than three years. Without gunpowder, cannons were nothing but scrap metal. If the Second Prince didn't need gunpowder, the Norton Family could sell some cannons to the Kingdom's armed forces—as many as they wanted. At the same time, Lorist indicated that he was using last year's victory to force the Commercial Alliance to submit and sign a peace treaty with the Kingdom to restore peace, and he hoped to receive a satisfactory reply soon...
After handing the reply to the Second Prince's messenger to take back, Lorist asked Genolio: "Have there been any news from President Peterson?"
Genolio shook his head. "None, Your Highness. Ever since you released President Peterson, there's been no word at all. If we'd known this would happen, we shouldn't have let him go for free—at least we could have exchanged him for a ransom."
Lorist thought for a moment. "Forget it. Let's wait another month. If there's still no word, we'll go back to the Family's territory. We can leave things here for now—it's not like we're in any rush."
...