Chapter 467 Famine and Long Summer
Morningfrost Ridge.
The waterwheel of the mill turned slowly, farmers were working in the wheat fields, and Jiandong Castle stood majestically on the northern hillside of the quiet village.
Phocas, wearing plate armor, rode his horse across the ridge of the field and came towards him with a cart loaded with wooden barrels and sacks.
From a distance, you can smell the scent of wine, and there are labels of cabbage and carrots on the sacks, as if they are about to be sold to vendors at the market.
“Oh—”
The driver immediately pulled the reins, dismounted, took off his hat, and said respectfully:
"Good day, my Lord Knight...May glory always be with the Duke."
There are no parishes in Morning Frost Ridge and no restrictions on personal beliefs, but there are strict controls on missionaries.
The illiterate peasants could not understand the difference between monotheism and polytheism, but they could clearly feel that their lives were gradually becoming more affluent, and they attributed all this to the lord.
Praising the lord and regarding him as the only belief...has become the consensus of the vast majority of citizens in Morningfrost Ridge.
The young master does not often show up in the territory, and Fokasi often feels helpless about this, but he also understands that the young master has his own mission to accomplish.
However, in Morning Frost Ridge, the young master implemented a new policy called "Citizen Representative Parliament System".
It is said that it imitates the citizen assembly system of ancient sages, where free citizens who obtain the status of subjects elect parliament representatives to participate in politics, and the current Speaker of the Parliament, Rich, is responsible for making decisions.
Phocas could not understand this system, but judging from the booming economy of the territory, he still admired the young master's groundbreaking decision.
In the territory, some citizens have spontaneously compared the lord to the sun.
The sun is far away in the sky, but we can always feel its brilliance.
Phocas briefly asked the coachman a few questions, then rode his horse into the pass, ending his daily patrol and returning to the bustling White Night City.
In the most majestic White Night City in the territory, the Art Temple of Flowers was built, attracting bards, painters, and construction craftsmen from all over the continent to come and pay their respects.
These high-tech talents have also driven the local development of White Night City.
Not only in the northern province, but also in the entire Golden Lion Kingdom, White Night City is the center of art, culture and science.
In the tavern, you can see bards singing the praises of free love with romantic words; in the academy, philosophers and scholars use new theories to impact the existing theological system; by the well, boys and girls dance boldly and passionately.
Fokasi was often infected by this prosperous atmosphere and could not help but think of what the young master had said to him.
This is a... great Renaissance!
The City of White Night already shows signs of being a country within a country, just like the Divine Empire’s majestic water city of Veneto.
The current Queen Theresa does not care about this.
Her focus is on new shipping routes and maritime strategies.
As navigators discovered a new waterway between the Southern Continent and the Golden Lion Kingdom, Theresa has sent a fleet to the Southern Continent in search of gold, pearls, corals and spices. The territory of the Golden Lion Kingdom has increased instead of decreased compared to the reign of King Lionheart, and it has begun to take on the aura of an empire.
However, Fokas also heard that the situation in the "Northern County Kingdom" on the northern front and the "Shenting Empire" on the eastern front was not optimistic.
The Kingdom of Northshire has always been the front line facing the invasion of the orcs and barbarians. In order to divert domestic conflicts, this group of warlike people have been invading the northern part of Golden Lion for many years, harvesting rich land and demanding war reparations.
In recent years, the people of North County have been intimidated by the prestige of the Duke of Honeysuckle and have concentrated their efforts to fight the orcs head-on, and no longer have any intention of attacking the Golden Lion Kingdom, but they are almost at the end of their rope.
First of all, the old king of the Northshire Kingdom, "Ironbone Harrag", is old and terminally ill and has no power to help.
Secondly, a great leader descended from the sky in the Kingdom of Beasts. The orc Erhantar, who called himself the "Golden King", established the Holy Land, unified the major tribes, and launched a fierce attack on the Wall of Neverwinter.
The attack and defense of Neverwinter Wall has lasted for two months, and no one knows how long this battle will take to end. What is certain is that unless the Kingdom of Northshire also sends a sanctuary to guard Neverwinter Wall, the fall of the fortress is a matter of time.
As for the Divine Court Empire and the Roland Kingdom, they were arguing fiercely over the issue of faith.
The Pope has ordered the "excommunication" of the Sun King Louis. Church believers all over the world will regard Louis as the incarnation of Satan and the devil and hate him to the core.
Louis immediately sent the messenger to the guillotine and announced that he would send troops into the Papal States to personally ask God for his opinion.
If the two countries go to war, it will inevitably trigger a world war that will involve the entire continent.
On the northern and eastern fronts, two powder kegs are ready to go.
On the southern front, the conflict between the Golden Lion Kingdom and the Ice Sea Kingdom over territorial waters is becoming increasingly severe, and the outbreak of a naval battle is only a matter of time.
Fokas was somewhat thankful that Morning Frost Ridge was far away from the center of the war, and the dangerous Jueling Mountains and the entire Golden Lion Kingdom served as a natural barrier for Morning Frost Ridge. But at the same time, he felt ashamed of his thoughts. After all, a knight should be brave and fearless and fight in battle.
Return to White Night Castle.
Phocas took off his plate armor and put on a light cotton armor, thinking of knitting a few sweaters for the young master, as his children would need them sooner or later.
Just as he sat down on the bench in the corner of the lord's hall, the door opened with a creak, and a wolf-eared woman from the Isu tribe walked in.
"Mrs. Lena, what can I do for you?"
Phocas looked at the red-haired wolf girl who was appointed as the chief financial officer by the young master and asked.
"In recent days, the crop harvest in Morning Frost Ridge has been very good, and the export volume of agricultural products has increased dramatically." Lena said seriously.
Fokas was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Isn't this a good thing? Why is Lady Lena frowning?"
"How can Morning Frost Ridge be suitable for growing crops? This is clearly a sign of abnormal climate."
Lena smiled bitterly and said, "I heard from Ms. Megan of the Mage Guild that the long summer is coming... The temperature will get higher and higher, and drought and hunger will spread across the entire continent."
Phocas was confused: "Long summer? Drought? What does this mean?"
"During the three long summers, the world was like hell, with thousands of miles of barren land and starving people everywhere." Lena said, "This is a record in mythology about the abnormal climate before Ragnarok."
Fokasi restrained his smile, nodded slowly, and whispered:
"Famine... I experienced it as a child... It was terrible."
Lena held her forehead and sighed, "According to those missionaries, the long summer is a sign of the coming of the Famine Knights in the apocalypse... Only by believing in God can we avoid the suffering of famine."
Fokasi frowned and said, "Are you trying to say... this abnormal weather is related to the Holy See?"
"I don't know, but I feel that if this continues, even business will be difficult. We must inform His Excellency the Duke of Honeysuckle." Lena said.
Phocas nodded slowly: "If I remember correctly... after the long summer, there will be three seasons of cold winter... by then, all things will wither, and the whole continent will be shrouded in the shadow of death."
Lena sighed softly: "Instead of thinking about these, why not think about how to deal with the upcoming war... Once the orc army breaks through the Great Wall of Neverwinter and invades the Kingdom of Northshire, the Absolute Mountains will become precarious, and we will also be invaded by the orcs!"
"I will report all this to the Lord truthfully." Phocas's eyes flickered slightly, "Master, he will definitely make the decision!"
…
As soon as Ye Zhi received the message from Phocas, he used the Snow Owl's teleportation technique to rush to the White Night Castle.
In the lord's hall, handmade carpets hang on the walls and precious candles burn in the brazier.
After listening to Fokas's report, Ye Zhi stroked his chin, leaned back in his chair, and asked:
"In your opinion...is it necessary for us to reinforce the Kingdom of Northshire?"
"The current situation is still unclear, so it's better to wait for the opportunity." said Fokasi.
Ye Zhi shook his head and said, "The orcs and humans have a deep blood feud. Once the Great Wall of Winter is breached, Morning Frost Ridge will also be threatened... We must reinforce the Great Wall of Winter, but..."
Just in time to test the power of the Death Law, Ye Zhi's eyes narrowed slightly: "I can go alone."
(End of this chapter)
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