The hills rise from the snow-covered forest, isolated and abrupt, and the sound of strong winds blowing at the peaks can be heard for miles. This is the North, a place that has been hit by wind and snow for many years.

Unlike the lands of the South, the forests here are more like forests than trees. They are not dense, and in winter the leaves are all gone, and the heavy snow covers them, making them look lonely and lonely.

However, the ground under your feet is fertile soil, which can grow high-quality wheat and potatoes. Riding a war horse, Rhodes went all the way north, and as far as the eye could see, there was no man's land. These are his lands......

Since he was made an earl, he has several times more land than before, however, as you can see at this moment, most of these lands are uninhabited and belong to the wasteland. Rhodes knew that if it was to develop in the future, it would need a large population to fill Black Hammer Castle. Paradoxically, the Erlengrad Rebellion sent a large number of refugees across the country......

Riding his horse, Rhodes climbed a hill from which the outer walls of Blackhammer and the towering watchtower could be seen. After a year, returning to Blackhammer Fort again, this mood can be described as melancholy.

A year ago, he set out from Blackhammer Castle and headed for the northern camp with three hundred Norsca warriors. A year later, only two hundred and fifty of the three hundred Norsca warriors returned, and there was an additional group of like-minded partners and comrades-in-arms around him.

What's more, there is an extra artifact in his arms. The secret of the Soul Binding Dagger was only known to a few people who had gone deep into the tomb at the beginning, and it was this weapon that directly raised Rod's ability to a new level. This is also the reason why I am so confident that I will visit my daughter first and then return to the territory.

The frog at the bottom of the well in Laheim still thinks that with that little manpower and ammunition, he can turn against the enemy, and he doesn't know how much has happened to Erlengrad in the past year, and how much has happened to the whole of Kislev in the past year......

Rhodes had returned to Blackhammer on a ferry, unaware that the middle-aged man in his cloak and plain linen was his lord. Rod deliberately didn't say anything, and the fisherman inquired about the current situation of Black Hammer in the form of chat. After all, I haven't been back for a year. Directly identifying oneself may not be able to hear the most authentic side.

The development in the territory is very fast, but it is a free development without planning, and Muros is only a steward after all, and it is still difficult for him to rule the entire castle and manage the entire town. The messy houses were built on the north bank of the East Spring River, and because there were no bridges, the north side near Blackhammer Fort was prosperous, while the south side was hard to find any sign of settlement.

Pavilions, barns, warehouses, brothels, wooden houses, inns, market stalls, and mud-walled houses were scattered one after another along the riverbank. There were no fortifications, not even wooden walls or watchtowers, and the filthy streets were full of rotten vegetables and dead fish, and the stench of decay could be smelled from afar before they reached the shore. People are busy and running for life. To be exact, the race for survival.

Rhodes didn't blame them, after all, there were no more advanced ideas to guide them, and there was no lord with strong execution, and this was the result of the free development of most towns. Even the big cities of the empire next door. Because of this, Rhodes felt that the burden on his shoulders was heavier.

Without staying too long, with a few of his men, Rhodes rushed directly to the main castle. Due to the expansion of the town, the foreign population has almost doubled, and many people do not know the owner of Blackhammer Castle at all. Rod put on his cloak and hurried through the market to the gates of Blackhammer Castle. The guard wanted to stop and ask for clarification. But when they saw the face under the cloak, they couldn't help but immediately bow their heads, and were about to salute Rod, but they were stopped by Rod.

"Don't tell anyone. ”

Towards the two guards, Rhodes made a "shhh The guards quickly gave way, and after Rhodes entered the castle, they still gave him a big salute behind his back. The battle of the Beastman invasion two years ago is not clear to others, but the warriors of the castle remember it vividly, they know that it was the Lord of Blackhammer Castle who led them to resist the invasion of the beastmen, and without him, this castle would have been long gone. Twenty fifty thousand

Back at the castle, Rhodes went straight to Muros's room. Along the way, the veterans half-knelt on the ground and saluted, knowing that this was their lord, and this was their lord's usual style. Simple and close to the people. Without a single shelf, Rhodes greeted the castle guards one by one, and then went straight to Muros's bedroom. Yes, his bedroom......

Ever since Laheim's power swelled, Muros had been thinking about how to deal with this problem, and he couldn't find a good way to deal with it, and with all kinds of complicated affairs in the territory, he finally fell ill on the coldest winter night. So, he directly used the bedroom as an office space, even if he was lying in bed, many things had to be approved by him, and he conscientiously guarded the last hurdle for Rod.

"Rhodes...... Oh...... When are you coming back? Why didn't you let me know?"

The moment the old butler saw Rod, he had mixed feelings. He struggled to get up from the bed, and Rhodes hurried over and helped him to sit at the head of the bed.

"You don't have to get up. Rod sighed softly. "I just arrived, and I didn't worry about you, so I rushed over directly. ”

Muros looked at Rhodes with gratitude. You can see that there are still unmelted snowflakes on the face of the Lord of Black Hammer Castle, on his eyebrows, and on his beard, which proves that Rhodes didn't even have time to clean it, so he rushed over directly. The chief knight Virgil was on the side, and this scene was silently watched in his heart, for him, the forgetful Laheim and the lord of Black Hammer Fort in front of him were simply very different. That aristocratic guy can hire people for profit, give people benefits, and then he will also kill people for profit......

"Letter?"

Muros asked in a whisper.

"I read it, don't worry, I'll take care of Laheim's business. I brought him in, and I have a way to cure him. You have a good rest. I'm here to tell you that the Erlengrad rebellion is over, and I'll take care of the castle myself. You take care of the matter at hand in the next few days, and then hand it over to me. ”

Rod said calmly.

"Lord Rhodes...... I ......"

Muros was about to speak, but was interrupted by Rhodes -

"Rest assured, I am not dissatisfied with your work, on the contrary, I am satisfied with the results of your work. In the year I've been away from the territory, I've smoothed out Blackhammer Fort. At least, under your supervision and governance, there is no large-scale corruption of power, no serious corruption. Nor did there appear a large number of people dissatisfied with us. Rhodes took the jug from Virgil and continued, "I've just been away from Blackhammer for too long, and now that you're sick, I must manage the castle and govern my own territory. ”

"Thank you, Lord Lord......"

Muros coughed twice and said with difficulty.