Snow struggled to suppress the anger that was about to erupt in his chest, looked up at Aker on the city wall and said, "Lord Aker, isn't it inappropriate for you to do this?" ”

Just now, Aker sent people out of the city to check the amount of iron ore, but he was very dissatisfied, and even offered to exchange the weight of the ore for the number of Snow people entering the city. Pen, Fun, Pavilion www.biquge.info For every ten catties of ore, only one person can enter the city.

"What's not suitable?" Aker laughed, and said unhurriedly: "You are people who are supposed to be sinful, and Count Ropier, for God's sake, not only forgave you, but also gave you a job to live on. But over the past two years, the amount of ore you have turned in has become smaller and smaller. For your laziness and lack of desire to repay the favor, I could have followed my father's instructions and drove you all back to Rook Town. But I have always been merciful, so I put forward the conditions of exchange to help you tide over the difficulties, such a benevolent act, you still say that it is not appropriate? ”

"But with ten catties of ore in exchange for a place, nearly half of us can't enter the city." Snow said with a frown.

After several years of mining, the ore outside the iron mine has been exhausted, and it is becoming more and more difficult to dig from the depths by relying on outdated mining tools. Therefore, the amount of ore this year is only one-third of that of previous years, which is far from meeting the indicators required by the border fortress.

If Aker's exchange method is followed, less than half of the hundreds of residents of Ruke Town will be able to enter the fortress. The remaining inhabitants, with a shortage of food and no walls or weapons to defend them, were sentenced to death. Either they die of hunger and cold, or they fall into the mouths of wild beasts in the endless mountains and forests, and become their reserves for winter.

"That's your own fault, the mine is in front of you, and the amount of ore mined is not enough, who do you blame?" With his hands behind his back, Aker looked down at the people dressed as refugees under the city wall, and said with a sneer: "This can be regarded as God's punishment for your laziness." ”

"Honorable Lord Aker." Snow was just about to speak, but Randolph on the side stepped forward first, bent down and bowed, and explained respectfully: "The gods are above, it's not that we are lazy, it's just that the iron ore outside the mine has been mined. In the past two years, we have had to go into internal excavation, and the difficulty has increased to a higher level, so there is a deficit in numbers. ”

"That's your problem." Aker disagreed.

"There is a reason, even if it is a way to enter the city in exchange, it should lower some standards, right? Ten pounds of ore for one person is too unfair. "The man had to bow his head under the eaves, and looking at Aker's attitude, he had already made up his mind. Since the way of exchange into the city could not be changed, Snow had to bargain over the weight of the ore exchanged, and if he could keep one more person, he would keep one more person.

"Ten catties of ore in exchange for one person is already the best standard, don't bargain with me, you are not qualified." Aker waved his hand indifferently, "Alright, let's start weighing." ”

Aker did so at the behest of his father. Because the ore inside the iron mine is too difficult to excavate, there is no oil and water to speak of. Since there are no attractive benefits, Snow miners have become dispensable. Therefore, Fnnis used this method of exchange, leaving some people to serve as drudgery in the fortress, and the rest of the people rushed back to Ruk Town and left them to fend for themselves.

With Aker's order, groups of soldiers walked out of the fortress. The soldiers were divided into two groups, one in front of the gate to prevent the Snow crowd from scrambling into the city and causing chaos. Another team began to weigh the ore on the wagons behind. The so-called weighing is really arbitrary, and the soldiers put the ore on the car in their hands, and estimate the weight value one by one.

Soldiers with a slight conscience will quietly report the weight higher, but more soldiers, like Aker, look down on Snow and these people at all, deliberately report the weight, waiting to see their jokes. After a few moments, the total weight of the ore was estimated.

A soldier trotted to the city wall and handed a parchment scroll full of numbers into Aker's hand.

"Oh? The total weight is still a whole number. Aker raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "A total of 1,000 catties, congratulations, there will be a hundred people who can enter the fortress and be favored by the gods." ”

Hearing Aker's words, all the people under the walls became terrified. Snow frowned, according to his estimate, the amount of ore was at least more than 1,300 catties, obviously this value was a whole hundred catties lower because of the bad taste of the soldiers, which was equivalent to the lives of dozens of people. But Snow knew, with these nobles, they had no reason to talk about.

"Dear Lord Aker, we are all the Earl's people. For the Earl's sake, give us a way out. Two months later, as soon as the time had elapsed for the beasts to swarm, we would return to the town and work hard. ”

Randolph's respectful tone, humble request, did not earn Aker half of his sympathy and mercy, "What are you talking about, since you damaged the idol and were driven out of the territory by the Count, you have been abandoned by the gods. The Frontier Fortress is the border line of the Earldom of Ropier, and to the north of your Rook Town is the Dark Territory of the Lordless. So don't say that you are the earl's people, and if you want to get it, go to the endless mountains and forests to ask the devil. ”

Hearing that he had been abandoned, the low sobs of women and children could be heard in the crowd.

Randolph was about to ask again, but Snow on the side stepped forward and raised his hand to stop him. Now the situation is clear, the nobles of Aker have given up on them, and no amount of groveling will only be exchanged for more disdain and ridicule.

Yu Qilai is being looked down upon here, so it is better to leave some backbone and return to Luke Town. He didn't believe that he would not survive with his ideas and knowledge far ahead of his time.

"Okay, just a hundred." Snow stared at Aker and said expressionlessly.

"For poor old Scott's sake, I'll leave the candidates for the city into your own hands." Aker smiled, "But you have to hurry, it's almost time for lunch." ”

Everyone looked at Snow, even though he had only been mayor for half a year. But the respect and convincing of the inhabitants of Rook Town for Old Scot had been automatically transferred to him. Now they voluntarily put life and death in Snow's hands, and whoever left and who stayed was all up to Snow's words.

An unprecedented pressure was concentrated on Snow, a bad feeling that Snow had never experienced.

"If you don't know how to choose, I have a suggestion." Aker raised the corners of his mouth and said, "It's better to use wrestling to decide who stays." ”

Snow directly filtered out Aker's cool words and the coaxing of the soldiers around him, and turned his head to look at the residents of Luke behind him, all of whom were familiar faces, and Snow couldn't bear to let anyone return to Luke Town. But he knew that the time had come to make a decision.

"Hear me clearly, women who are not yet adults, and those who are over sixty years old, please stand at my right hand." Snow shouted loudly.

His choice is very clear, these three types of people are relatively disadvantaged. Returning to Rook Town is basically equivalent to sending them to death, and only by settling these people into the fortress and leaving the rest of the adults behind can there be a glimmer of life.

Almost every household in Rook Town has children, wives or elders. Therefore, Snow's arrangement was not opposed by everyone. Amid the cries, the old man, the woman, and the child formed a long line on Snow's right-hand side.

Counting them, Snow's brow furrowed. In the team of more than 300 people, there were 133 old people, women and children, which exceeded the 33 places.

Snow looked up at the walls, and all he could see was Aker's eyes waiting to see his joke. Snow was sure that even if he led everyone to kneel now, Aker would not give one more spot.

"One hundred and thirty-three people...... Snow's expression darkened, and he really couldn't say anything if he persuaded people to stay.

"I'll stay." Randolph, who was at the head of the team, stepped out of the group, looked at Snow and said in a joking tone: "At my age, even if I eat bread covered with butter every day, I won't live long." ”

Under the leadership of Randolph, many people took the initiative to step out of the team. Randolph counted again, leaving thirty-four people, and the vacant spot was reserved for Snow.

"Mayor Town, these people are the roots of Rook Town, please stay and take good care of them." Randolph saluted Snow.

"Randolph, do you think I'm going to leave you behind?" Snow asked with a smile.

In the past few years of getting along, Randolph really knows Snow's personality. With his character, he will never escape. It's just that Randolph didn't expect that in the face of such a life-and-death choice, Snow could still talk and laugh so freely.

"But ......"

"There's nothing to do, I've decided." Snow interrupted Randolph, he knew very well in his heart that if his dragon head really wanted to enter the city, the people who stayed behind would even have the last hope of surviving by him.

"Brothers and sisters, say goodbye to our loved ones." Looking around at the residents of Rook Town, Snow turned his head and glanced at Aker with a firm expression, and said in a loud voice: "I promise, it won't be long before I will bring you back here and take our relatives home." ”

Hearing Snow's sworn words, Aker and the others all smiled disdainfully.

Under all the exhortations and low weeping, the selected hundred people, accompanied by a group of soldiers, entered the fortress, and the gate was about to be closed.

"Please wait a minute." At this moment, in order to help everyone live, Randolph left behind his dignity and opened his mouth again.

"What else?" Aker, who had already turned around and was about to descend the wall, asked.

"Lord Aker, for God's sake, can you give us some food and weapons?" Randolph's request was not too much, as was customary in previous years, when they returned to Rook after two months, the fortress would provide them with winter rations. And judging by the current situation, it is very likely that they will not last more than two months.

"Letting your wives and old men into the city is already God's greatest gift to you, so you can find your own food and weapons." Aker turned around, paused slightly, and smiled sideways: "But I can give you a suggestion to live, a month ago there was a wounded wizard who fled to the Endless Forest, if you happen to be able to catch her, I can intercede with my father and let you take refuge in the fortress." ”