It was at this time that a merchant set his sights on the centuries-old Fort of Abbasquia.

Some people dare to think that since the king has lived in a luxurious and comfortable palace, the former seat of the Abbasquia royal family has lost its meaning of existence.

Eventually, the merchant gathered a group of citizens. He pleaded up his courage to make a promise to His Majesty Nordin, promising that the project would be done well and beautifully.

The project unexpectedly won His Majesty's appreciation, and His Majesty the Emperor waved his hand and passed the petition for the project.

The process was so fast that the then chief of the empire, Tian Sen, was not able to raise his objections.

To tell the truth, Tian Sen was willing to demolish the Prime Minister's Mansion and use the good bricks of the Prime Minister's Mansion to build roads for His Majesty the Emperor, and he was not willing to demolish Abbasquia Fort.

When the enthusiastic citizens and ministers of the empire stood aside to watch the scene of the castle collapse, almost everyone cheered for the project, and Tian Sen was the only one who quietly wiped a handful of tears.

Of course, the politically incorrect behavior of wiping tears must not be seen by others, only one's own family knows their own affairs, and there are not a few people who are staring at this position.

Tian Sen walked along the King's Avenue paved by his former dreams to the Imperial Palace, and His Majesty the Emperor was not in good health when he came in, so it was a long time to recuperate in the palace.

At first, the people did not take the emperor's illness to heart, after all, according to the court physician,

"It's just a small infection. ”

Since then, the emperor's illness has been getting worse day by day, and there is no sign of improvement at all. Tian Sen hoped that this report on the victory of the civil struggle in the north would improve the emperor's mood, and it was said that this would be good for his health.

Bypassing the palatial front hall, Tian Sen, who was familiar with the road by car, followed a path straight to the emperor's bedroom. With the identity of the Prime Minister of the Empire, even if the palace guards standing on the side of the road found him, he was just as unimpeded.

Under the system of the Great Prussian Empire, the prime minister was only responsible to the emperor alone.

Tian Sen walked to the emperor's sickbed, and the servant beside the emperor carefully woke up the man lying on the sickbed.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Prime Minister is here. ”

Emperor Nordin broke away from his sleepy eyes, and after seeing Tian Sen, he was about to say something, but suddenly as if he remembered something, he lowered his head and waved his hand at Tian Sen, and said

"Prime Minister, stand farther away when you talk to me. I came in very sick. ”

Tian Sen was surprised to find that the emperor's voice was so hoarse and weak, as if he was ten years older. But despite his surprise, he still hasn't forgotten what he was doing this time.

Tian Sen arched his hand towards the emperor on the sickbed, then took a few steps back and said

"Your Majesty, I have come here to report to you a piece of good news. ”

In order to save His Majesty's energy and rest, Tian Sen tried to make a long story short and presented this report to the Emperor.

Emperor Nordin listened to this report, first closed his brows, and then slowly stretched.

"Didn't the vassals of the empire play a role in the face of foreign invasions?"

"It's a pity, these Northlanders' miserable people have been living in obedience for a long time. Tian Sen replied with some embarrassment. Even when he was king of the North Sea, in the face of the invasion of the Wiegand people, he could only protect a few large tribes.

"But I believe this will be an inflection point between the people of the Northland and the Weegand tribes. Tian Sen's eyes rolled a few times, and he bypassed the topic with a smile.

Hearing Tian Sen's words, Nordin nodded reluctantly.

"Have the ministers of the empire discussed how to reward the local inhabitants and the lords who played a role in this matter?"

"Not yet, Your Majesty. But I already have a draft, it's up to you to approve it. ”

Tian Sen felt sweat on his forehead, even though he was lying on the sickbed, the emperor was still the emperor, and he had already thought about it so much just when he heard about it.

"I plan to spread the word about Valuno's victory in the towns of Abbasquia and several of the main towns of the Empire, so that they know that the Empire still has a large territory in the north, and that it is still a virgin land that is not very well developed. ”

"Steadily increase the proportion of the local population, and then send some pioneer corps in the name of the people. ”

"Colonize the Northlands with Valuno as the center and reward the local vassals. As far as I know, our empire is fully capable of co-opting subjects in this region and bringing them directly into a part of the empire. ”

This is also Tian Sen's long-standing political proposition, to core part of the Northlands and increase the strength of the areas directly under the empire.

Although the meeting more than ten years ago established the position of the Abbasquia Emperor, but the number of territories directly belonging to the royal family is not very large, the royal family in order to win over the local lords, but also paid a lot of land resources that originally belonged to the Abbasquia royal family, in order to help the vassals of those tribes stabilize the place, the royal family also continued to respond to the requests of these people, send troops and money. However, these vassals, after stabilizing their rule in the region, did not know what gratitude was, and used the output of the land to build their own castles and courts, while the military service tax burden of the empire was delayed again and again.

The prime minister can think like this, because they are supposed to work for the royal family and do dirty work, but the royal family can't think so, the emperor is the most merciful person in the whole of Pruos, and he has to pay attention to his appearance.

Moreover, His Majesty Nordin really regards himself as the guardian of the people of Great Prus.

In these days of the emperor's absence, Tian Sen suddenly felt that he had crossed the line a little. In the empire, the emperor is his only backer and political capital. Looking at this emperor, who was also half of the emperor he watched grow up, he drew a new line for himself in his heart.

Although the emperor lies on a sickbed, only the emperor is the center of the country.

After a long time, the emperor saw that Tian Sen had nothing to add, so he took over and chatted.

"The interests of the common people should also be considered, since the town of Valuno is to be built, then it should be directly promoted to the city level within the territory of the empire. It is estimated that the losses in this war will not be small, so let's tax exemption for ten years, and after ten years, it will be dealt with according to the municipality first. ”

The emperor's words are also within Tian Sen's estimate, the regression of these interests is completely affordable by the empire's finances, and now the city of Valuno has not developed at all, if the people who are called now pay taxes are estimated to not be able to pay a few children all year round, it is better to give up the taxes for a good reputation.

As for the municipality, it is considered from an economic point of view. If you want to directly appoint a mayor in the Northland, not to mention what the local residents think, you must always arrange a team for this mayor, coupled with the special geographical location of Valuno, it is likely that you will have to recruit a force from the mainland to garrison there, and when these things are arranged, there is no need to consider the problem of returning to the capital for a hundred years.

What's more, this town is isolated and helpless, and the empire is also their only reliance, as long as the mayor is not too stupid, he knows how to stand in line, and he can guarantee the local loyalty without the emperor personally appointing it.

Nordin looked at Prime Minister Tian Mori, who bowed to him and retreated, and a feeling of dizziness caused by the illness came up again.

The emperor looked at the empty dormitory with some blankness.

More than ten years of emperor's career is a dream, from the beginning of self-preservation, to the later consolidation of status, all kinds of administrative means are more and more proficient, he stood on the stage and cried to be the protector of the empire The young man has gradually become blurred in his memory, but the empire under his rule is still scattered.

Thus, while the town of Valuno was still in the throes of triumphant celebrations and reconstruction, a caravan colony from the capital set out on the arrangement of the Imperial envoy.

A number of people who lived in the town of Abbasquia but had little to do with their livelihoods also took the flight, including a few of the Empire's down-and-out nobles. These nobles grabbed a random title in the government of the empire and hit the road.

The list of these individuals has been preserved as part of the political archives made during the Empire's development of the Northlands, which contain the following names:

Mitchelson Green, Amy Fergus, Montgomery Kirk, and Conan Davis.

When he heard the news that there was an opportunity for the reclamation group, Conan didn't hesitate and immediately signed up. For the past few years, Conan has been learning to read and write with a Grey Friar who always wears a mask, and has learned a little about the vast world from the Grey Friar's extensive knowledge.

Now, the monk is gone. On the night he decided to leave, he went to meet Conan and disappeared from Conan's life forever. Even if Conan dug three feet into the ground throughout Abbasquia, he couldn't find the whereabouts of the old man.

As for Conan's father, Davis, Conan tried to ask Davis for his opinion before leaving.

Davis looked at Conan carefully, looked the half-sized boy from head to toe, and foot to head, and finally said

"You're such a big kid now, I can't control you, just go and find your own way. ”

In this way, Conan followed the caravan out of the city where he had been born and raised, taking with him only a dozen gold coins for his journey, a short sword bought from a blacksmith, and two sets of change of clothes. Considering that he might not be able to find a place to buy clothes for many years, he gritted his teeth and bought a few sets of the latest popular styles.

The caravan was packed with room and board. It was black bread, which was said to be a specialty of the Northlands, and the locals ate it, and the leader of the caravan took it out in advance for everyone to get used to. Conan took one from the cook on the first day of eating, and it was quite weighty to pick up, and Conan tried to bite it, but he almost didn't knock his tooth out.

At this time, the kitchen of the caravan began to sell their broth to the crowd at the right time, and the rich aroma filled the whole camp, so that everyone felt that the black bread in their hands was tasteless.

Conan, of course, wanted to get the soup too, but he didn't remember it until now. It turned out that he didn't even have a bowl.

Conan got a bowl made of clay from another carriage in the caravan, and the bowl seller was overjoyed to see so many people coming to buy his bowl.

At this time, the caravan's breakfast time was almost over, Conan hurriedly took the bowl he had bought for three small silver coins, and ran to the soup pot that the cook had set up, the cook rubbed his bulging belly, took the bowl handed by Conan, and said with a curse

"If you come so late next time, I'll smash your bowl. ”

By the time Conan had drunk the hot broth, the caravan had already departed. Fortunately, Conan learned from a few citizens around him, and broke the black bread in his hand into small pieces and buried them in a bowl, so that he could eat them while walking.

Probably because he was immersed in eating, Conan walked and walked to the carriage near the center of the caravan, and as he walked past the side of a carriage, Conan faintly heard the sound of wine glasses colliding, and the smell of fried meat steaks.

Before the caravan guards could run to chase him away, Conan took two puffs near the carriage and swallowed the bread that had only softened a little after soaking.

As for accommodation, it was more convenient.

The messengers who accompanied the caravan had a carriage, the caravan commander had a room, the guards had a room, and Conan and the other bankrupt nobles had a room.

As for the civilians who accompanied them, they had to figure it out on their own. Anyway, the current Abbasquia has begun to recover, and the probability of sleeping in the open is not very high.

By the time Conan stepped into the carriage, the carriage was still empty, and Conan groped his way to find a corner to lie down. The whole carriage was filled with the smell of rotting old wood and the stench of low-quality leather.

The carriage for Conan's down-and-out nobles was a makeshift modification of a wagon, and it was an overestimate to say that it was modified.

There were no beds in the carriage, and there were no partitions or anything like that, so it was just a hard layer of linen cloth on a carriage that was too old to hold any goods, and then a few pieces of rawhide quilts were piled up, and it was done.

After Conan got into the carriage was a very white, very thin young man, Conan glanced at him when he got on the train, and the young man nodded slightly at him, and found a place near the entrance to sit cross-legged, and the two of them remained silent very tacitly.

The third person who came up was a big man, with a strong body odor on his body, as soon as this person got on the car, Conan had a slight feeling of suffocation, if it weren't for the fact that the carriage was already leaking, Conan doubted that he would be able to live until the next morning.

The stout young man carried his luggage into the carriage, and he grinned at Conan and the white young man, and then took up a large space in the carriage. This made Conan look at the remaining space in the carriage, which, if he was not mistaken, would have been to accommodate at least four people.

"I hope the body of the fourth man is not too exaggerated. Conan prayed.

Just when Conan was still having a headache, a rather ostentatiously dressed aristocratic young man lifted the roof of the carriage. Although he wasn't as big as a stout youth, he carried a travel case that could be called a giant.

Several people in the carriage looked at the young man in unison.