It's still quite a bit from the Salz region, and even further to Kingston. Now the size of the team has risen to 3,000 people, and most of them are young and strong, after all, the weak old man can't support the current one no matter what. Of course, there are some rich old people among them, but they only make up a very small part of the team.

Thankfully, Belifin had left behind a lot of money before leaving, which was enough to cover the party's rations until they reached Kingston. As for the research and production funds of those alchemists, it seems that they can only be started after the Ziying Stone Mine finds a master to sell. Aaron now suddenly had a sense of anticipation for Dalyse.

The trek along the way caused many people to catch the wind and cold, and those with poor physical fitness died one after another, but the number of people in the team did not decrease, but increased as the team passed through one village after another. By three days, the number of people in the ranks had increased to four thousand.

While there is currently an abundance of Ole Coins to buy supplies, the number of items available has decreased as medium-sized towns continue to move away. For the past few days, Aaron has been unable to buy a grain of wheat or half a loaf of bread from the village he passes.

Although some supplies were stored, if new supplies could not be purchased after two days, a considerable number of the team would probably die.

In order to alleviate the anxiety and irritability of the team after a long trek, Alun followed the advice of a young man to learn fencing and shooting for the refugees from the vigilantes, and then set up a competitive competition, from which the winner received ten denaries (silver coins). As a result, the public's attention has shifted from anxiety and irritability to competition.

"Young man, your suggestion is very good. Aaron said appreciatively to a young man.

"Lord Xie praised me, I just talked nonsense casually, I didn't expect to be heard by adults and adopted, I didn't dare to take credit!" Although the young man's clothes were tattered, there was a hint of humility in his conversation, and he should have read some books.

"Good. Aaron nodded and said, "Tell me my name, young man." You will be rewarded for it!"

"Pers, Pers-Bill! The young man met Aaron, his eyes burning.

"Soldier, ten Orlei coins for this wise gentleman!" Aaron commanded, turning to one of the soldiers.

"No, sir. I'd rather work under your hands than ten Orets!" Perls said before the soldier could speak.

"Oh?" said Aaron, who looked at Perls in surprise for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me why, young man?" ”

"It is because of your kindness and love, my lord, that my family can continue to live together. Purs' eyes welled up with tears in his eyes, and he said excitedly.

"Well, I can see that you are a dutiful son, a loving father. Well, I accept your request, Perls!" Alan smiled.

Sincerely, Perls got down on one knee and kissed the upper of Aaron's boot.

The two activities, the competitive and winner-guessing activities, not only quietly erased the bad mood in the team, but also aroused the interest of most people in martial arts. Aaron also personally presented prizes such as armor, helmets, swords and axes to the winners of the competition. Aaron had intended to give them a greater interest in the art of fencing as a prize, but he didn't expect it to become a symbol of honor that those people were fighting for.

In this way, the procession was bathed in joy and excitement, and the refugees temporarily forgot about their grief and recent disaster. Three days later, unwittingly, they entered the Salz region and arrived in the town of Salz.

In order to avoid causing too much of a stir and unnecessary trouble, Aaron had his team set up a makeshift camp on a plain three miles outside the city. It is said that it is a camp, but in fact, it is a simple shack built with bamboo, wood and branches and leaves.

Having met the Count Anthony of Salz a few times, and Arlen is now a baron, and he is an upstart in the Salz area, the guard at the gate very politely told him that the Count had gone out and would not be back until later.

In desperation, Aaron had no choice but to take Atai along the bustling streets of the city to an exchange unknowingly.

Having lived in the city of Salci for decades, Arun is no stranger to the exchange. Although I haven't been here for many years, I have stepped back on the threshold of the exchange today, and everything is as cordial and familiar as before.

Since he came, Aaron also followed the moving flow of people to walk around, although the goods in the exchange were ordinary and there were not many types, but Atai on the side was as happy as a child, looking around and lingering.

Here, there are too many memories of the two of them from their childhood. In the blur, the young figures who jumped and shouted were now gone. And how many of these lives have been lost because of war?

The next day, Arlen visited the Count Anthony's mansion again, this time at home.

"Haha, Your Excellency's visit this time really makes a few of us have a light on our faces!" said the Earl with a smile after everyone had taken their seats. In addition to the earl, there were several local nobles in the council chamber, and Aaron only vaguely remembered seeing a few on the road before he joined the army.

In the conversation that followed, Aaron went straight to the point and stated that a large amester mine had been discovered and was being mined in his territory. Now, because of the mining and the growing population, more money is needed to keep things running. If the Honorable Earl and other powerful nobles or wealthy men were able to join in the mining affairs, then everyone would be rewarded with satisfaction.

When the Earl and several other old nobles heard this, they all showed very interested expressions.

However, the Earl still raised his concerns: "Aaron, your father and I are very good brothers. You are now rising through the ranks, and you may one day be canonized as a viscount by your great majesty!, however, even so, I have a question. ”

"But it doesn't hurt to say it!" said Aaron, holding out his right palm, and smiled. He cursed in his heart: "When we are so hungry that we can't even eat half a piece of stinky bread, why don't you come to call you brother!

"I've heard a little about your situation in Kingston during this time, and I really admire your talent for being able to rejuvenate and thrive in that place where birds don't. So, I have no doubt about what you say, but as far as I know, most of the quality of the amethy stone you mine is inferior, and even very few can be about the same quality as ordinary amethy. And you've got the mined amethys stored in the warehouse, hey, don't you have found a home yet?" the Count asked with a smile on his cheeks, and with a tactful but annoying face.

Aaron secretly thought: It seems that it is not easy to get investment from these money-savvy guys. There are not many Ole gifts from Belifin. If it doesn't get investment from these bastards, Kingston's development will come to a standstill, or even go backwards. Once the capital chain is broken, the thriving Kingston will naturally revert back to the past, and the existence of the Ziying Stone Mine is already an open secret, and there is no guarantee that the powerful consortium will intervene.

"Well, that's right, the general situation of the mine is exactly what your Excellency said. But maybe you don't know that I've reached out to some potential players, right? I'm sure we'll hear back in the next few moments. As for the quality of the amethyzite you mentioned, it is really normal. Do you expect that a newly knighted fellow will have the resources to put in order and keep the mines running at the same time?

Everyone in the hall looked at each other and nodded in agreement with his statement. It is true that with the guy in front of him who has just obtained the title of baron, it is impossible to maintain the mining and operation of the mine normally in either aspect. Just from the minecart, laying the tracks, recruiting miners, salaries, etc., are all links in the capital chain that are in great demand.

According to the news from the subordinates, there were only a few hundred miners in the mine of Arun, and there were only less than 10 mine carts, and the other facilities were even more dilapidated. If you want to dig out high-quality amethyst with such a team of miners, it may be a bit of a wild talk.

"Well, my dear baron, if you can contact the big dealers, then I will take out 100,000 Orray shares, and as for the dividends of the output and the specific division of labor in management, we will discuss it in detail at that time. Anthony was the first to take a stand.

"We mean the same thing as Mr. Anthony. As long as Your Excellency can be sure that there is news of a big acquisition, we will also come up with some funds!" followed by the earl, and the rest of the old nobles also made their statements.

"Thank you, generous gentlemen, and your eyes will be rewarded handsomely!" said Aaron.

Later, Aaron said that he would send someone to tell them as soon as the news came back, and then left Salz.

It's been a week since I returned to Kingston, and the resettlement of the refugees with me is roughly arranged. In the sudden influx of refugees, Zabas also fully demonstrated his ability to coordinate and coordinate, although Aaron's allocation of funds was very poor, he was still able to temporarily settle a large number of refugees through diversion and time lag in many inconspicuous links.

"My lord, this time we have taken in nearly 6,000 refugees, and although most of them are young and middle-aged, we in Kingston cannot provide enough employment opportunities for them. If we allocate money to help them, then our funds will be exhausted in half a month!" Zabas's face was very grim, and it seemed that there was nothing he could do about this problem.