Border Town this year is very different from previous years.
In previous years, after the end of the Devil's Month, he had to wait another month in the slums of Changsong Fortress, and only after the snow was completely cleared could he set out on his way back home. After returning to the town, what I saw was mostly a mess. The houses that have been left unattended for months are in dilapidated condition, some weak wooden houses have long been crushed by heavy snow, and some townspeople even hide evil beasts in their homes, biting the cabinets and tables into pieces and dragging them here. The hay and rags were filled in the corners, apparently using this place where they could shelter from the wind and snow as their own nest. They often spend a week repairing their houses and replacing moldy furniture. As for the long-lasting rotten smell, the residents here are used to it.
However, this year, Border Town has been completely new, the snow was quickly swept away, and a colored paper flag issued by His Royal Highness the Prince was hung in front of the house. Looking from a distance, the monotonous and dilapidated town has become colorful, and the flags of various colors are mixed together like a sea of flowers. Everyone ran to tell each other that on the first day after the end of the month of demons, His Royal Highness will hold a grand celebration dance in the square! Anyone can go, not only do you not need to pay coins, but I heard that there are free food distributions!
What is the dance? It is a social occasion that only the upper class nobles can participate in. Everyone has only heard of it from the well-informed businessmen in big cities, but even they cannot participate in it. I heard from business people that it is not an event where you can get an invitation just by having money. His Royal Highness actually let everyone participate
"Your Highness, it's not good for you to do this?" the chief knight discouraged. "There is neither a band nor a dancer here. Who will control the rhythm of the dance? Besides, in such a remote place, even the nobles do not Sure to dance, your subjects will just screw it all up."
Carter had only attended one ball when he was in the capital, and it was held by a marquis to celebrate his daughter's birthday. The elegant strings and exciting drums are intertwined, the ladies dance to the melodious music, and the men show their fast and powerful dance steps after the drums, or spin, or tap, combining the movements with the drums. During the break, the waiters walked through the crowd with drinks and snacks, and the men searched for the woman they liked. There is some romance.
Carter sighed. Although he was young at the time, he couldn't date the girl he liked, but the elegant and romantic atmosphere still haunts him to this day. Replace the noble nobles with these gang of villagers who deal with stones and beasts every day? God, he couldn't imagine such a scene.
"Leader? Yes," Roland ordered the militia to remove all the stone sculptures and gallows in the square. "The iron axe and the militia are."
"That sandman?" Carter was stunned. As the captain of the Musket Team, Iron Axe's performance in Demon Moon finally won the approval of the chief knight, and the title of alien is no longer mentioned, but the opponent is Mojin after all, how could he know the etiquette of the mainland kingdom!
Roland smiled mysteriously: "Because what I'm going to hold is not a ball in the usual sense, you'll know when the time comes."
The preparatory work to be done is not much, mainly to remove the obstacles in the square, and then build a firewood pile in the center. A table was built with bricks beside the pyre for grilling food. That's right, this is the celebratory dance Roland came up with with a slap in his head - a mix of a bonfire party and a barbecue.
What to use to increase the people's sense of identity with the place of residence has always been a serious consideration for the prince. Nationalism and nationalism are too esoteric for these rural villagers who have worked for their lords all their lives and do not know a single character. Only their family wealth and relatives are worth caring about. The more backward, the more short-sighted. This is the law of civilization development. "Civilization will eventually become as big as its ideas." Roland agreed with this.
However, this does not mean that spiritual construction can be ignored. Victory Celebration is one of the transformation methods he has figured out. In fact he was incomprehensible that the world had gone through the Demon Month without any celebration. The evil beast attack once a year is almost like a natural disaster, and defeating such evil is naturally a stroke worthy of a big book.
So he decided to name the first day after the end of the evil month as Victory Day. Those who belong to his territory, this day is not only a public holiday, but also holds various celebrations. As long as it lasts three or four years, it will become a tradition that will be passed down on the territory. And the lords will gradually feel that they are indeed different from the people under the governance of other lords.
Before noon, the square was crowded with people, and the militiamen lined up in a circle to block everyone from the firewood.
It seems that giving out food for free is quite attractive. At least half of the people in the whole town came, Roland thought. The fly in the ointment is that the square is a little smaller after all. Except for the pyre, there are more than a thousand people almost shoulder to shoulder, and it is difficult to have room for activities. He also saw some children have climbed up the nearest roof to visit the middle of the square.
The first celebration, it is inevitable that there are shortcomings. Roland estimated that the time was almost up, and took the stage to give a speech.
This is the second time he has given a public speech in the square, and his mentality is much calmer than the last time.
"My citizens, good noon. I am the fourth prince of Greycastle Kingdom, Roland Wimbledon." He still chose the same beginning as last time, but this time the effect was completely different. A warm voice has erupted, "Long live His Royal Highness!" "Long live His Royal Highness!"
Roland suddenly felt a heat in his chest. This time he didn't arrange any support. Seeing the spontaneous cheers of the militia team and the crowd, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction filled his heart.
When the voices retreated a little, he pressed his hand down, "The month of the demon is over, despite the heroic fighting of the militia, the demonic beast has never been able to cross the city wall one step. Border Town has defeated the terrible enemy at a very small price. This proves that, as long as we all unite, we can stand here even without the charity of Longsong Fortress! They want to threaten the town with food, they want to force us into submission with starvation and cold, and today's victory tells them, It's all in vain!"
"That's right, I don't want to go back to that place again!"
"Follow His Royal Highness, there is not a day when you go hungry in winter!"
"Finally, you can no longer be blackmailed by them, Your Highness is merciful!"
Taking advantage of the rising emotions of the crowd, Roland continued to speak loudly: "Let's celebrate this glorious and glorious victory, this is a day to be remembered! I declare that from now on, the first day after the end of the Devil's Month will be Call it "Victory Day"! The Celebration Ball is just for that! My fellow citizens, enjoy the day to the fullest! Now, the dance begins! "
The torches were thrown into the greased firewood pile, and the flames burst into flames, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire square.