Former Carol northeast frontier, Deciduous City.

Duke Yeluo's family has been in charge of the city since the founding of the Carol Kingdom, especially during its first lordship, when Decolia went from a military powerhouse to the largest city in the northeastern part of the kingdom. After more than 100 years of management and expansion, on the eve of the fall of the Carol Kingdom, Deciduous City has become the second largest city in the kingdom, second only to the capital city of Kefield in terms of population and size.

The current lord of the city, Duke Yeluo, is already over fifty years old, but this does not prevent him from becoming the most politically discerning patriarch in the history of the family. Ten years earlier, he had foreseen the demise of the Carol Kingdom. Since then, he has shifted all his attention to the construction and governance of Fallen Leaf City. Like the Li family and the Bai family, Ye Luo neither supported the eldest prince nor the second prince, and never participated in the struggle for the throne between the two princes. It was precisely because of this transcendent political status, and the proximity of Deciduous City itself to the borders of the kingdom, that the two princes were beyond their reach. So, in the northeastern part of the kingdom, Leaf Fall, has become the de facto ruler of this region for the past decade.

In fact, Duke Yeluo was unusually tolerant of his subordinates and commoners. Prior to the Homeland's control of the Lo Level, the region had one of the lowest tax rates in the entire kingdom. Unlike the rest of the kingdom, Duke Yeluo adopted a policy of "equal emphasis on agriculture and commerce". While reducing the tax rate for peasants, we should vigorously develop commerce. Since Deciduous City controlled the only access to the Kingdom of Basil to the Kingdom of Carol, it was possible to develop commerce in the area, and Duke Leaffall did just that. In terms of economic strength alone, the Fallen Leaf City area is already one of the richest areas in the southern part of the mainland, and this is also the proudest place in Duke Yeluo's life.

Although it is already a harsh winter, the market in Deciduous City is still very lively. After the failure of the Fengxiang Infantry Legion's siege of Fallen Leaf City at the beginning of this year, the strong defense capability of Fallen Leaf City relieved most of the civilians. Far from destroying the economy of the Fallen Leaf area, the war further boosted the local economy. Many wealthy merchants and nobles from the former Carol Kingdom fled to the area, bringing large sums of money to the area. The remnants of these nobles of the Carol Kingdom still fantasize about restoring the original kingdom, so most of them are reluctant to leave Fallen Leaf City and go to another country. The influx of these wealthy nobles directly stimulated the development of local commerce, and many merchants who traveled back and forth between Basr and Fallen Leaf City increased their purchases.

As usual, Duke Yeluo, dressed in white clothes, conspicuous golden hair, and a loving smile, patrolled the city under the protection of more than a dozen guards.

Every time he passed by those familiar streets that could no longer be familiar, looking at the pedestrians coming and going on the streets, Duke Yeluo always felt a trace of pride.

This is the city of fallen leaves, this is the city under my rule, prosperous, stable.

Looking at the stable and happy expressions on the faces of the pedestrians, Ye Luo felt comforted.

His decades of hard work have not been in vain, Fallen Leaf City can achieve today's achievements, and I believe that after his death, he can also face those ancestors who have passed away.

"Hello, Lord Duke!"

"It's the Duke!"

"It's so kind, it's like the old man next door!"

Greetings rang out throughout the street, and everyone rushed to pay their respects to Duke Yeluo. In the minds of these civilians, whoever can give them a stable life is their benefactor. It can also be seen from this that the prestige and good reputation of the Duke of Leaf Fall in the Leaf City area.

Walking into the teahouse on the street, you are greeted by the familiar smile of the shopkeeper. When Ye Luo was still the young city lord, this teahouse was already here, and the boss of the year had long since passed away, and now he is already a son in charge of the operation of the teahouse. And the current boss is already a father of four children, and I believe that in the near future, this boss should also retire.

"Lord Duke, I have reserved your place for you, please come with me!" the shopkeeper looked unusually courteous.

Duke Ye Luo nodded slightly to the guards behind him, and the leader of the guards ordered his men to disperse, and he also sat down at a tea table.

Turning his head, his face was still serene, and Ye Luo smiled: "Boss, you are so blessed." It is as if I saw your eldest son behind the counter settling accounts. It seems that it won't be long before you can retire, enjoy your old age, and hold your grandchildren. ”

The shopkeeper also has a brilliant face. Indeed, a month ago, his eldest daughter-in-law gave birth to a big fat boy, and he has indeed reached the age when he should retire.

The Duke teased. But when it comes to my sons, it's true that only this eldest son can help me. ”

"Your other sons are not bad, they should all be married!"

"Yes, yes, the second and third children all got married last year, and the youngest fourth is going to start a family next spring. Speaking of his son, the wrinkles on the shopkeeper's face seem to have faded a lot.

Seeing the happy expression on the shopkeeper's face, Duke Ye Luo felt a trace of bitterness in his heart.

Everyone in Fallen Leaf City knows that the Duke has never married in his life, and he is still single. Usually the style is rigorous, and there is no rumor outside. Although he is over 50 years old, he still has no children. This has also become a heart disease in the hearts of many people in Fallen Leaf City. I don't know who will inherit the position of the city lord after a hundred years of Duke Yeluo.

Duke Ye Luo went up to the second floor of the teahouse under the guidance of the shopkeeper, and as usual, sat in the seat near the window, and a pot of good "Holy Dragon Yuner" was already placed on the tea table.

"You go and get busy with you first, I'm fine alone. ”

With such an easy-going city lord, it is no wonder that he will be supported by all the people of Fallen Leaf City.

Listening to the duke's orders, the shopkeeper bowed down to the second floor and went down to take care of his business.

It's still early in the morning, and there's a mist outside the window. There was a light snow last night, and there was still a slight chill in the air. In such an atmosphere, it is indeed a pleasure to be able to make a pot of hot tea and enjoy it carefully.

Just when Ye Luo paid all his attention to the early morning scenery outside the window, an old man dressed as a civilian also went up to the second floor of the teahouse.

"Lord Duke is really a good Yaxing, I came here early in the morning to drink tea. ”

Hearing this voice, Ye Luo turned his head with a smile on his face and said with a smile: "Today's new tea, it seems that you are indispensable again." ”

This person is Duke Yeluo's tea friend, and in the entire Falling Leaves City, everyone knows that this old man is a close friend of Lord Duke. Both of them love tea, so they can be regarded as friends of the duke.

"Wouldn't it be tasteless to have good tea alone!" The old man heard that there was new tea, hurriedly walked a few steps, sat down opposite Ye Luo, and shouted loudly, "Don't bring a teacup again, otherwise I'll rob it." ”

The shopkeeper downstairs had already taken the new tea cup to the second floor at the moment, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, you won't miss your cup of tea." ”

Both of them are old people who are half a hundred years old, naturally different from young people, and tea tasting is originally a leisurely thing, so the two of them drink this pot of tea very slowly.

"Something on your mind?" the old man saw that Ye Luo was always looking out of the window between tea, as if he was observing something.

"The cunning rabbit is dead, and the lackeys are cooking. Ye Luo said softly.

"What!" The old man's hand holding the teacup shook unconsciously, and his originally dull eyes flashed in an instant, and then immediately returned to the original appearance of the old dragon bell. casually raised the teacup in his hand and took a sip on it to his lips to hide the drastic change in his eyes just now.

"I'm running out of time, the fox is about to do it. Duke Ye Luo's voice was lower than just now, as if he was talking to himself.

"Isn't there anything the Duke can do? Isn't there still 7,000 soldiers stationed in the city? With the strong city defense and topography of Fallen Leaf City, I believe that the current Basil is not capable of taking Fallen Leaf City in a short period of time. ”

Judging from the old man's conversation, he will definitely not be an ordinary old man in the market.