Rhodes saw a steady stream of refugees pouring into Blackhammer from the east. That's a refugee from Fort Watch......

A greenskinned invasion has had an impact that goes far beyond the destruction of the city, with displaced people surging like rivers north of Kislev. The northern gate is open, and the owner of the northern realm is in danger, although the watchfort is still there, but everyone knows that it has lost its original defensive ability. Needless to say, the Greenskin invasion, even if the Beastmen attack, they may not be able to withstand it.

Standing on the tower of the city, watching the ragged people enter the city, Rod's heart was extremely heavy. This time, Blackhammer Castle can also accommodate them, but such a scene is really uncomfortable. Most of the people who come here are strong people, some men and some women, but they rarely see old people and children. Rhodes knew that in the long winter, the weak could not climb over the vast no-man's land and settle in Blackhammer Castle. The grasslands and forests are merciless killers, and the refugees at Fort Watch have no food and not much to walk. So, you don't have to guess to know that most of the old people and children died on the way here. It's a road heaped with death.

The people who came to Blackhammer were the real survivors. They were lucky enough to escape the Watchdog massacre and survived the vast savannah. Come to Blackhammer Castle and seek a place to stay.

Rod asked Alves to arrange this. No matter how many people come to the Watchtower, they must be settled. If you really can't do it, open a warehouse and put grain to help them survive this winter.

In the past few years, the northern barbarian war, the Greenskin invasion, and the Erengrad rebellion have almost involved the entire northern border, which has also changed the original pattern of the entire northern border. The Watchtower, once the most powerful, was reduced to a wasteland by the Greenskin Invasion. The Erengrad rebellion caused Fracturestone Castle to change owners, and Ring Castle disappeared from the map.

The Black Hammer Fort, which was originally the weakest, grew up step by step, so that now the Black Hammer Fort is the most powerful place in the north. Bordered by Kislev Bay to the west and Errengrad to the south, the previously neglected geographical advantages are finally being concentrated.

According to the demographic report, the permanent residents of the entire Black Hammer Fort reached 20,000, and the floating population may be close to 25,000. There are also no statistics on the dwarven area of "Ironforge Fort". The combined population of the three is estimated to be nearly 30,000. At its peak, the Overwatch was a large castle with a population of 30,000, and now the Black Hammer has grown to take its place. As can be seen from the flow of refugees, most people choose to make a living at Blackhammer Fort, which only proves the fact that after the fall of Watch, Blackhammer has become the center of the North.

Rhodes didn't feel any joy because the pressure on his shoulders was even greater. At this time, the Black Hammer Fort is no longer the Black Hammer Fort that was in need of labor. Today, all walks of life in Black Hammer Fort tend to be stable, and it is difficult for refugees to find work in the city in a short period of time, and it may not be easy for them to get a job and food when they get to Black Hammer Fort in their imagination.

You can guarantee them through this winter, but you can't keep them like this all the time. Revenues and expenditures are in a dynamic balance, and there is no way to allocate funds from the coffers to feed the refugees. Otherwise, something will go wrong. Moreover, keeping refugees for long periods of time can exacerbate the discontent of other residents of the city.

Of course, Rhodes' concerns go far beyond that. After the slaughter of the Overwatch Fortress, the largest castle in the entire North is now the Black Hammer Fortress under his control. If one day in the future, Iron Sheet once again thinks that there will be opponents here, and he will make a comeback again with the army of green skins. Then, Fort Black Hammer is undoubtedly his first target.

The tragic events of the day of the destruction of Fort Overwatch are now vividly remembered. Rhodes didn't want a castle defense battle next year, or the year after. It wasn't a heroic feat, it was a destruction...... The third-level walls of Blackhammer Castle have not yet been built, and it would be a disaster for Greenskins to arrive at this time.

"Rod, there's something I think I need to discuss with you. ”

Alves came behind him, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke. Like Rod, the little dwarf had a gloomy face. It can be seen that he is a little tired from taking care of the refugees. This is not a simple resettlement, but involves a series of issues such as social security, people's mentality, and future planning. However, Alves came here, apparently not to talk about refugees, this is his business, he should deal with it, there is nothing to say.

"What's the matter, my dear Steward. ”

Rod turned his head and forced a smile. He didn't want to pass too negative emotions on Alves. After all, he has a lot more to deal with every day than he does.

"It's the Knights, I'm wondering, should we think about it from a different perspective?"

Alves whispered.

"What's the problem?"

Rod was a little puzzled. He didn't understand what Alves was saying.

"The Knights of the Sons of Ersun are very powerful, we all know that. But IMHO, its numbers are simply too small. It was not easy to train eighteen bear knights before, but after a battle, six were lost, and the number returned to the previous twelve bear knights. Alves returned to the room, poured himself a glass of vodka, and savored it, "The Bear Knight's combat prowess is unquestionable, but in this environment, with all due respect, you may struggle to raise a truly large-scale knight order. ”

Alves' words hit Rhodes' heart right. I do think so, the vision of the powerful Knights of the Sons of Ersun at the beginning of their establishment was to become a powerful organization like the White Wolf Knights or the Rick Guard, but now, Kislev is not peaceful, and the north is not peaceful. The number of bear knights was originally scarce, and after a bloody battle, the dead were killed, the wounded were wounded, and indeed, the scale and number of people were hard wounded.

"So, what do you think?"

Rod asked. A faint dark circle crept up his eye sockets. It's exhaustion that can't be hidden.

"My thoughts...... I think we should probably let go of the demands. It doesn't have to be a bear knight to join the Knights, all those who are willing to fight against Chaos and the Greenskins should probably be recruited and become a member of the Knights. Time is running out, Rhodes, the training and training process of the Bear Knights is very long, if we have ten or twenty years now, we can slowly wait for this army to take shape, but the current situation is that we don't have that much time. It is not known when the Chaos Crisis will come, but the threat of the Greenskins is at hand. Loosening the requirements for members of the Order would facilitate the swift mobilization of this force. ”

Alves took a sip of his drink and continued—

"All warriors, wizards, and assassins can join in, and let everyone use their talents and abilities in the army, so that the troops can be truly combative. ”

After listening to this, Rhodes only felt that his eyes lit up, and he did his best in everything he could, and that this was not the idea of the Knights of the Silver Hand? But there was no Silver Hand here, and the Son of Ersun was the Silver Hand of the Black Hammer Castle! As Alves said, it should not just be a title, but also a spiritual symbol. Inclusion brings together all aspiring and talented people. For Kislev, for the North!

......

Bretonnia.

"Your Excellency. ”

"Oh, thank goodness you're back. You're back unscathed! Thank you, gods......"

After the Battle of Mogul, Berto returned to his territory. Along the way, the peasants greeted the noble lord with no pretensions. They welcomed Berto and Tallenham back as if they were their own family. Tallinnam felt very comfortable, and this comfort and sunshine came from the heart, and he was happy to see the farmers laughing. Because he originally came out of the low-level commoners. Seeing civilians happy is Tallinnam's greatest joy.

Berto, too, the winter in Bretonnia did not stop his fiery enthusiasm. The knight lord greets every farmer. It's not Kislev, and it's not too cold in the winter, so every now and then there are farmers who go out to hand in the food they haven't had time to pay for the fall, or do odd jobs in nearby towns.

Berto's estate is not far away, and the fairytale castle looks even more fantastic under the light snow. It's like being covered in a snow-white coat, cold and charming.

Tallinnam felt very affectionate, and after half a year, he returned to Berto's manor, which was almost his home. Although Tallinnham is still an acolyte here, he has many privileges. For example, the privilege of free access to the lord's living room, such as the privilege of exercising in the lawn of the manor. These are things that ordinary minions dare not imagine.

Tallinnam waited, waiting for the moment when the hostess Anna greeted her with a smile. After all, Berto is now a hero, he saved the king. In Bretonnia, this is now known to everyone, to everyone. Berto should have been treated decently a long time ago. Tallinnam fought for his old lord.

However, the imaginary picture did not appear, and Anna did not go out to greet her, instead, she just sat in the castle hall, lazily reading a book, and tasting the fine wine from the foot of the gray mountains.