At last, the long winter came, and the whole of Atlanta shivered in the cold wind of the north wind. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

The imperial capital of Atlantus, Gast has been sitting in his chair for a long time, his brows furrowed.

It was a military meeting of the Imperial Palace, but the whole hall was as low and gloomy as this winter, and almost no one spoke. On the chairs on both sides, the ministers and generals tried their best to maintain a serious state, and their bodies were straight. I am afraid that any rude behavior of my own will attract the wrath of His Majesty Gast.

It is said that His Majesty Gast is becoming more and more moody, and several maids in the palace have been beaten to death because they accidentally touched their heads. No one wants to be the object of this majesty's anger.

Compared with the high-spirited people who had just ascended to the throne, His Majesty Gast was undoubtedly much older, and there were traces of gray hair on his young head.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has been conscientious and has been working all night on state affairs, and it is said that even the concubines of the harem are rarely pampered, and they have been complained by a group of beauties. But even so, state affairs are getting worse day by day.

At the onset of this winter, the front of the orcs had reached the northern bank of the Danube, far away from Atlantus. This meeting is now a way to negotiate a plan of defense.

The burial of the 200,000 army in one fell swoop can be said to be a squander of the elite soldiers in the country, and in such a situation, of course, everyone does not dare to speak casually.

Gast rubbed his head, and had to nod in pain.

"General Vincent, you're in charge of recruiting new soldiers, how are you doing now?"

On the right-hand side, a general in a red cloak rose in response, also with a look of embarrassment.

"Your Majesty, it's winter. There are quite a few people to recruit. But to be sent to the battlefield without training is tantamount to death. Not to mention, there is no armor and weapons are insufficient. ”

Every winter is a difficult day for the entire continent. Even in wealthy Atlantis, you can see homeless people lying on the ground freezing to death in winter. As long as they are given a bite to eat and have a place to shelter from the wind and rain, these homeless people will not refuse to go to the battlefield in order to fight for a chance to live.

However, the same problem arises, there is not enough food and armament, and you can't expect this group of outcasts to defeat the murderous orcs.

"So, Earl Parker, can your finance department squeeze out some food and money?"

His Majesty Gast had no choice but to turn his attention for help to an old minister on the right-hand side, who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"Your Majesty, it's very difficult, you know, in the first half of the year we have emptied the treasury and transferred almost all the resources we can to the north..."

The poor old minister's face was wrinkled like a bitter melon, and his voice became lower and lower as he spoke. Everyone understands that this is the scar of His Majesty Jiegast. It was precisely because of the thought of His Majesty Gast that he concentrated all his resources and prepared to deal with the Grand Duke of Heian, but unfortunately it ended up in the hands of the orcs. How easy is it to raise another batch now?

"Then raise taxes! Levy war taxes on the people!"

Gast waved his hand.

Earl Parker's bitterness intensified, and he bowed down and reminded in a whisper.

"Your Majesty, since the beginning of autumn, we have already increased taxes twice, and the people are miserable, I'm afraid there is not much left to support us!"

There was still one thing he didn't say, that is, the first two taxes had caused anger and resentment, and there had been sporadic revolts in the kingdom. If it is levied again, I am afraid that large-scale riots will be inevitable.

"What's there? Tell my people. If the kingdom is gone, what's the use of them having money to keep in their hands? It's not cheap orcs!"

Suddenly, everyone shuddered and didn't dare to say anything more.

"I'm afraid there are still some shortcomings, the people don't have weapons and armor!

For a long time, it was Earl Parker who relied on his old qualifications and had the courage to reply.

"Your Majesty!"

A young man at the end of the line took the initiative to stand up and salute his chest.

"The nobles of our southern provinces are willing to share your Majesty's worries! We are willing to donate a large sum of money and goods, as well as a large amount of armor and other equipment. Your Majesty is so right, if Atlantus is gone, what is the use of us lords being rich?"

This is the representative of the nobility of the southern provinces, Baron Marquis. It is said that he was the friend of His Majesty during his travels in the south, and it was under his thread that His Majesty came to an agreement with the nobles of the south, which helped Gast to seize the throne, so he was made a baron by His Majesty.

"Look, it's hard to see loyal ministers in the country!"

His Majesty Gast finally gave a rare smile.

But the crowd whispered. Since His Majesty came to power, he has been quite tolerant of the nobles of the southern provinces, and even acquiesced in the entry of their representatives into the central court, and gradually became bigger. Don't think that this baron is well-intentioned. As we all know, the South is commercially developed, and each of them is good at calculation, and if there is not enough benefit, they will not pay.

Sure enough, His Majesty Gast then asked.

"I will reward my loyal servants. Say, what do you want?"

It seems that His Majesty Gast also knows that instead of passively agreeing, it is better to take the initiative to propose, and he can also get a good name.

"O generous and great sir, we are all your people, what can we ask of too much, and it would be great if your majesty could give us some trade routes!"

Foxes will always show their tails. Sure enough, Baron Marquis was very cunning in making his request. Some trade routes? To put it mildly, you must know that some things that the state monopolies, such as salt, iron, and other materials, are monopoly industries, but once they fall into the hands of these greedy merchants, the consequences are unimaginable.

As soon as a few important ministers wanted to come up to oppose it, they were stopped by His Majesty Gast.

"Okay, that's it, let's go back and discuss it with Earl Parker! Don't mention it now, if you have money and food, then who will lead the army against the enemy?"

Obviously, the clever Majesty Gast is not unaware of the stakes, but when the time comes, he can only cut the flesh and mend the sores.

All the generals hurriedly lowered their heads, avoiding Gas's inquiring gaze.

Just kidding, 200,000 elite soldiers, plus a group of marshals and generals who have been fighting for many years, were all defeated by the orcs.

Who still has the confidence to lead the troops?

However, Baron Malquis, whose request was met, stood up again.

"Your Majesty, I nominate someone to take on this important task!"

Since the southern provinces have meddled in government affairs, they still want to intervene in the military?

Everyone looked sideways, all of them in shock.

"Oh, who is it?"

However, His Majesty Gast, who was in a hurry to go to the hospital, couldn't take much care of it, and he really came to be interested.

"Your Majesty, it's General Bogut. He's a famous warrior in our south!"

Baron Marquis was not in a hurry, smiled slightly, and pronounced a name.

Suddenly, everyone was in an uproar. (To be continued.) )