Taking a deep breath, Baron Bishop stepped out of the carriage. The guard stood outside the car to salute him, and urged him a little bit-the lord of the city held a meeting in person, just waiting for him.
This winter is particularly gloomy and bleak, and the entire Northland has not had a good time. The guards leading the way were still wearing last year’s old uniforms, and the outer walls of the city lord’s mansion were not repainted, and even the servants in the mansion were abolished by a third.
In the usual years, the patriarchs of the Buche family will issue a new uniform to all public servants in the city. Nobles don't care about a piece of clothing, but many civil servants at the bottom really need it.
In addition, some refugees were hired to maintain the city, paving roads, and repairing sewers. At this time, the cost of labor is low, and it doesn't cost much. It is considered as a work-for-work to avoid disorderly law and order. Otherwise, the hungry refugees can do anything.
As for the abolition of domestic servants, this is unprecedented. It often means the decline of a family-of course the patriarch would not say that, and the steward only announced that these damn servants were not working hard.
Bishop didn't know the specific situation in the city either. This year's nobles' annual salary is still normal, and many nobles in Banshee Castle have made a lot of money by doing business.
However, the unsuccessful war half a year ago was too exhausting and the family paid a painful price.
Bishop estimated afterwards that after more than 3,000 troops were fighting for more than half a month, the city's material inventory was emptied by half. The compensation afterwards is also terrible.
The war is too expensive.
The guards of the city lord's mansion led Bishop to the inner house of the mansion, and the butler came out to greet him. When the two sides met for a while, Bishop asked in a low voice, "Who are there for the meeting?"
"Broken Bridge City, Horn Fort, Spire City, Night Owl City..." the butler burst out a series of city names. "Special envoys from seven cities have arrived, and three other cities have sent people to send messages and are willing to join. "
Bishop looked sad, "has this year been so bad?"
"Very bad." The butler whispered and shook his head, unwilling to talk more.
Six months ago, Bishop led the team to evacuate the town of Dense Fog without receiving any orders. To put it nicely, it's called'the main force was saved'. It doesn't sound like it's being pushed back.
Friedman Bucher was furious at the defeated retreat and fined Bishop a large sum of money. But afterwards, the city owner returned the money to Bishop privately, and encouraged him to continue to forge ahead and serve the family.
As the most powerful frontline commander of Banshee Fort, Bishop was grateful for him, and his original dissatisfaction disappeared. Looking back at the other selfish nobles, he was full of hatred instead.
Now the market is sluggish and the family is in trouble. But many middle and low-level nobles hid in their homes and continued to covet for pleasure, leading a luxurious life.
Bishop was very clear that many nobles did not speak on the surface, but complained to the lord in private. They hold salon gatherings every day, hiding in hiding and plotting how to break through various prohibitions, without any loyal thoughts.
Walking into the meeting room where the meeting was being discussed, a dozen people were already sitting at the table. Friedman Bucher took the lead and introduced Bishop to the guests.
Except for the special envoys of the cities in the Northland, Bishop unexpectedly saw Viscount Tarak of Gray Eagle Castle in the Duchy of Oss. This handsome and tall Southern aristocrat was smiling, and he seemed very close to everyone.
"Bishop, you can talk about the situation in Coldwind City." Friedman pointed to the map hanging across the living room. "We can no longer tolerate the situation getting worse."
Compared with the map drawn by Coldwind City, Banshee Fort uses a smaller scale, and the roads and towns are also rough, and only the main roads can be seen. The markers are very abstract.
Bishop pondered for a long time in front of the map, and first gave his own judgment, "I am very happy to see you and the Buche family unite at this moment. But I want to say that we are probably a step too late."
Pointing to Coldwind City on the north side of the map, he continued: "According to the information in the past six months, Victor Hugo has been expanding his military power and trying his best to recruit high-level combat power in the North.
The heavy infantry in Coldwind City is likely to exceed one thousand. The light cavalry has reached three hundred. There are one hundred wizards above level five. Hugo himself has also been promoted to rank ten, which should be the result of colluding with the lower realms.
This level of strength is already quite terrifying and more destructive than it was half a year ago.
We once again blocked the trade with Coldwind City, and hope to complete our war mobilization in the spring of three months. But half a year ago, the monster of the Black Forest voluntarily ran out to fight us, and now he will not stay in Coldwind City obediently.
I must warn you that the war is likely to break out early within a month. Hugo's mobilization speed is faster than ours, and its mobility is stronger. He is likely to gather local superior forces to attack one of our cities in a short period of time. "
Bishop paused for a while. Everyone in the audience talked left and right, and quickly turned their eyes to the special envoy of Broken Bridge City. Six months ago, Victor Hugo picked soft persimmons and squeezed the Horton family in Broken Bridge City cleanly. Up.
The special envoy of Broken Bridge City turned pale and asked in surprise, "What should we do?"
"I don't know what to do?" Bishop shook his head.
"Unless the various families in the North can speed up their mobilization and gather a wave of powerful military forces to make a threatening posture, we can only watch Hugo do it first. One of our families may not be able to handle it."
The special envoy of Broken Bridge City hurriedly looked at the other special envoys and called out anxiously: "Everyone knows what Victor Hugo has done in the past six months. He wants to be an enemy of all the nobles.
Everyone, the future of the Northland is in our hands. Our Broken Bridge City will undoubtedly be attacked first, saving us is equivalent to saving everyone. If Broken Bridge City is over, you will be next. I hereby appeal..."
The special envoys gathered together because they saw the threat of Victor Hugo. However, judging from the current situation, it is impossible for more than a dozen cities in the Northland to complete the mobilization before the early spring.
Even mobilizing only high-level combat power takes time and requires mutual adjustment and cooperation.
Friedman Bucher had also made up his mind a long time ago that he would never go to war without gathering enough troops. At this time, if Coldwind City took the initiative to attack Broken Bridge City, the Butcher family would give strong verbal support, but they would just stand still.
Sure enough, the various envoys gathered in the meeting room all stood up and expressed their willingness to assist Broken Bridge City to resist strong enemies. They also comforted Broken Bridge City’s special envoys. Don’t be afraid. Baron Bishop was talking about the worst situation. awful.
Friedman Bucher took his stance even more solemnly. The attack on Broken Bridge City was to challenge the entire Northland, and it would inevitably be strongly condemned and retaliated by all the nobles.
It's just that the more comforting sounds, the paler the face of Broken Bridge City's envoy, and his head is covered with cold sweat.
Bishop himself stood in front of the map, looking at the special envoy of Broken Bridge City, who was pitiful by everyone, and looked at the poor worm who thanked all parties for their support but hoped that they would implement their support.
Broken Bridge City is the bait to be thrown out. Everyone hopes that Victor Hugo can stop eating this bait. It is best to have indigestion and provide time for the mobilization of the nobles in the North.