"Come on then, I thought you were still dealing with family matters." Arthas smiled and gestured sideways.

Perhaps it was Alsace, who lost his parents and was unprepared to shoulder the responsibility of governing the country, has changed greatly, and his words and deeds are strange.

Oryx stood by the king's side.

"Hand of the King." Auriden Pirenod on the side saluted respectfully, not thinking of himself as a prince at all, as if he had really accepted the status of "senior officer of the garrison of the asylum" from the bottom of his heart.

Oryx nodded in return, quietly looking at the other man twice. found that this person is really worthy of being a ruthless character who has endured for more than ten years, not showing the mountains and waters, just from the appearance, I really can't see it at all, he will be the northland man of the year in the future.

"It's burning, like the royal capital that day." Arthas stared at Steinbrad in the distance and said quietly.

Oryx looked into the distance.

The elevation of that town is a little higher than here, and if you stand on a hill a few hundred meters high, you can still get a rough idea of the town from below. At this time, the fire had completely engulfed it, but in the sea of fire, there was a chance that a faint strange green light would rise into the sky......

The orcs of the Blackstone Clan were performing sacrifices, and the green light was the faint evil power that the warlock had summoned through this.

This town is located in the southeast of the Alterac Mountains, on the eastern border of the Kingdom of Alterac. To be exact, it is east-southeast, which can be seen as due east.

It used to be the eastern center of the kingdom of Alterac, although the population is not large, far less than the capital of the Stratholme region, but because of its excellent geographical location, the capital of Alterac to the west, the Andorhar region to the east, and just on the transportation artery connecting the central region of Lordaeron and Hillsbrad, it is well developed.

After the betrayal of the Alliance, the kingdom of Alterac has existed in name only. There was a massive exodus of population, and this important town, nominally under the jurisdiction of the League, was in fact owned by Lordaeron.

No matter how the ownership changes, its important geographical location remains the same.

In the more than ten years under the jurisdiction of Lordaeron, it has developed considerably here, and there are many barns and inns, and since there is no longer a need to pay the transit tax as before, the caravans of central Lordaeron no longer have to go far through the Silver Pine Forest to Hillsbrad; Caravans in East Lordaeron no longer have to pass through the dangerous region of Hinterland; Goods from the town of Nanhai were able to reach Andorhar more quickly and be delivered to all of Lordaeron, which quickly prospered due to the increase in business travel, as if it were moving towards a small city.

If it weren't for the Third War, maybe this would have become another important town in the Kingdom of Lordaeron.

It's a pity that history has no ifs.

Oryx turned to look at Arthas.

Although it is two or three kilometers away from Steinbled, it is a very poorly concealed vantage point. Alsace's dark costumes were already conspicuous in the snow-covered hills, and if they were to light a torch, they would become a living target in the dark.

The royal guards did not light the lights, and the top of the hill was dark.

I don't know if it's because of the shadows, Oryx feels that Arthas, who has just changed from His Highness to His Majesty, doesn't look very good. There was a deep sadness between his eyebrows, even more haggard than the last time they met.

"Those orcs want war, and I give them war. Lordaeron was never afraid of them. Arthas said softly but firmly.

Aurex shook his head.

Stannbrad still has to fight, but if he starts an all-out war with the orcs, he will fall into the trap of Naozu.

The Blackstone Clan, which believes in the Burning Legion, sent this force here to burn and plunder, in order to disrupt the already tense situation, so that Lordaeron and the orcs stranded in the southeast of the Hillsbrad Hills will fight.

Then their "allies", the Scourge who serve the Burning Legion, will be able to reap the benefits and spread the plague in the land of Lordaeron.

Lordaeron must not be bogged down in a war with the orcs at this time, the consequences of which are unimaginable.

"Your Majesty, may I say a few more words?"

"Say it."

Oryx bowed and said, "In two words, Steinbrad must be beaten." It is not only necessary to fight, but also to fight quickly, recover it as soon as possible, and quell the disaster, so as not to cause panic among the people in the country. However, the 'orc' who captured Steinbrad was not the 'other orc' under Thrall's command. ”

Arthas frowned slightly, and quickly understood the meaning of his words, "Could it be that 'this orc' is a hawk among the orcs?" ”

"It's not just factions, these orcs are from the Blackstone clan and are very loyal to the Burning Legion, and they came here to start a war between Lordaeron and Thrall's orcs, so that the Scourge Legion that will poison Lordaeron with the will of the devil can take advantage ......of it."

Aurex took a moment to explain to Arthas the history of the Blackstone Clan and other things.

"I see."

Arthas nodded after hearing this, called a royal guard, and ordered: "Send a letter to the troops on the front, asking them not to act rashly for the time being, and try to avoid escalation." ”

The guards took the order and left.

Steinbrad is attacked by orcs, and most people will see this as a precursor to all-out war for the orcs. While those who are sane enough, even if they don't know as much about orcs as Orrix, will suspect that this may have been deliberately done by some orc faction with ulterior motives to start the war, the regular army must still prepare for an all-out war to avoid being caught off guard.

After all, if war is so easy to defuse, the history of mankind will not be the history of war, especially when the hatred between races is exhausted and the waters of the endless sea cannot be diluted.

Orix noticed that Arthas was wearing full-body armor, which had previously been dimly lit and shrouded in a large hood, making it difficult to detect without noticing.

"Your Highness, are you going to go into battle in person?" "Did you see the mental outlook of those soldiers?" ”

"Morale is low, and the soul is not giving up." Arthas said noncommittally, with a sense of imperativeness in his tone. It was only then that the fierceness that belonged exclusively to the "young Prince of Alsace" was revealed.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, an ancient proverb can just explain the situation at present - a herd of pigs, even if led by a lion, is still a herd of pigs."

Although the commander of this "herd of pigs", Oriden Pirenod, was standing nearby, but when it came to such a dangerous matter, Oryx would not care about this person's face. Besides, that's what happened.

"Is there any other way we can do it?" Arthas turned to look at him, "The nearest regular army corps is a hundred miles away, and it will take at least three days for the defenders of Andorhar to be mobilized here. Far water can't quench the thirst of the near, and by the time the battle-ready troops arrive, Steinbrad has long been reduced to ruins, and the people have become the souls of the orcs, what is the point? ”

"Your Majesty, I can bring in reinforcements from Dalaran." Oryx said.

"Dalaran?" Arthas shook his head and smiled, "Oryx, Dalaran is doing his best to deal with the Scourge in Northrend. First, they are out of the way, and second, they don't focus on the little things that we are capable of solving. ”

"Trust me, Your Majesty." Oryx said very seriously.