Storm Keep.
The sunless morning was gloomy, the sky was gray and gloomy, as if it was about to rain.
The sultry, humid low pressure made it hard to breathe, not to mention the over 400,000 imperial troops gathered in this fortress, as well as countless refugees who fled from the western border one after another.
Now this majestic fortress standing on the western border of Feiyan Territory has almost become a can of sardines that is about to be squeezed.
Anxiety, anger, fear, and even despair are brewing and circulating in the fortress, and the result is endless security problems.
Regardless of the hundreds of thousands of troops gathered in the city, this army that has just suffered a disastrous defeat and has a low momentum, let alone controlling refugees to maintain law and order, it is already good not to have mutiny within itself.
Fortress Commander Knight Nimitz stood on the tower, looking down at the refugees who were still pouring into the fortress below, feeling more and more uneasy.
He knew very well that if these refugees were allowed to continue pouring in, Storm Fortress would be in chaos sooner or later.
Although Storm Fortress, as an important western gateway of Crimson Flame Territory, has always had sufficient strategic reserves of food and grass, even so, it cannot withstand the consumption of such a huge population.
However, what made Knight Nimitz even more worried was that he had asked to see His Majesty several times, but he had never received a response.
As the commander of this fortress, Knight Nimitz can be regarded as a half-master, but now, the great nobles of the Glorious Empire are gathered in the fortress, and Nimitz has become an insignificant person, even if he has one I want to mention my stomach's suggestion, but no one is willing to listen to it...
A sound of footsteps interrupted Knight Nimitz's contemplation. He turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with a majestic face walking towards him.
"Your Excellency!" Knight Nimitz hurriedly bowed to salute.
At the same time, an eager hope rose in my heart.
The person who came was the Lord of the Southern Territory, the Duke of St. Landers, the real big man of the Glorious Empire.
Knight Nimitz knew that only through the Duke of St. Landers could his opinion reach His Majesty's ears.
"Nimitz Knight." The Duke of St. Landers smiled gently and said, "Recently, the law and order in the fortress has become more and more chaotic. Should you take stronger measures so as to deter those rioters?"
The Nimitz knight smiled wryly and said:
"Your Excellency, it's not that I don't want to, but that I don't dare at all.
The refugees were already extremely emotionally unstable. If they took tough measures, it would only cause greater riots. "
Seeing that the Duke of St. Landers frowned, Knight Nimitz quickly persuaded him again:
"My lord, in my opinion, the best way is to expel these refugees from Storm Fortress and evacuate them to Crimson Flame Territory. In this way, the pressure on law and order in the fortress will be greatly eased.
The army can also concentrate on preparing for the coming war. "
The Duke of St. Landers nodded slightly, as if he was moved.
But the Yeluge bachelor next to him suddenly said:
"Knight Nimitz, have you ever thought about the consequences of forced expulsion if the refugees are unwilling to leave Storm Fortress?"
Knight Nimitz didn't know Maester Yaruger. Seeing that he was not wearing any clothes with a family crest, he knew that this person should be a commoner.
But the civilians around the Duke of St. Landers, even the Nimitz knights, did not dare to underestimate them, so they could only ask patiently after hearing the words:
"My lord bachelor, why are the refugees unwilling to leave?"
Maester Yaruger explained:
"Refugees are sometimes stupid and sometimes smart.
They don't understand the general trend, let alone military common sense. But they understand a simple truth—that is, in times of crisis, they must closely follow in the footsteps of big shots.
Now there is His Majesty in the Storm Fortress, the noble lords of the empire, and an army of 400,000. This configuration can give these refugees who have just escaped from hell a sense of security.
So you see, the gate of Storm Fortress leading to Crimson Flame Territory has always been open, but how many refugees left voluntarily for such a long time
Even though the fortress was overcrowded and the security was worrying, they still refused to leave.
At this time, the psychology of the refugees was very fragile. Most of them did not dare to go to the Crimson Flame Territory to face the unknown future. They only hoped that the imperial army could defeat the orcs and let them return to their hometown.
If we do forcibly evict, I am afraid of the consequences... "
The Nimitz knight retorted somewhat unconvinced:
"I think we can publicize the news that the orc army is coming to the refugees, and let them know that Storm Fortress is not safe. Moreover, we can also tell them that the food stockpiled in the fortress is not enough to support the consumption of so many people..."
"Okay, Knight Nimitz." Hearing this, the Duke of St. Landers interrupted decisively, "I also understand your opinion, and I will report the truth to His Majesty, and let him make the decision."
After speaking, he turned and left.
Obviously, the Duke of St. Landers understood that the commander of the fortress was not a smart man. He overestimated the sanity of the refugees and underestimated the ugliness of human nature.
They even said they wanted to spread the word about food shortages...
The Duke of St. Landers instantly lost the desire to continue talking with him.
Walking down the tower, the Duke of St. Landers asked the Bachelor Yaruger beside him:
"If you can't forcibly expel them, is there any way you can get the refugees to leave Storm Fortress voluntarily?"
Bachelor Yaruge seemed to have been prepared for a long time, and immediately nodded when he heard the words:
"Yes, and it's very simple. As long as we spread the word that the army is about to withdraw from Stormhold.
Then, without forced expulsion, those refugees will run east by themselves. "
The Duke of St. Landers took a deep look at Maester Yerug, and said with a smile:
"Why? You still think it's not a good idea to stick to the Storm Fortress?"
Bachelor Yaruge nodded, bluntly said:
"That's right. The orc army is not an army in the general sense. If we still use the traditional strategy, it will only cause the empire to suffer a more miserable defeat."
The Duke of St. Landers sighed and said:
"Do you also agree with Marquis Garcia's strategy?"
Bachelor Yaruge shook his head and said: "I don't know what the specific strategy of Marquis Garcia is, but looking at the Loire Valley where the northern army is stationed, it should be the battlefield chosen by Marquis Garcia... let's not talk about whether it is suitable or not, but at least That is the only way for the orc army, unlike Storm Fortress, it is very likely to be bypassed by orcs... "
The Duke of St. Landers pondered for a moment, but still said helplessly:
"Unfortunately, it is impossible for His Majesty to agree with Garcia's strategy..."
Bachelor Yaruge seemed to have a plan in mind, and said with a light smile:
"It depends on how we persuade, and how the situation in Storm Fortress changes..."
(end of this chapter)