In late autumn, when Northlands was snowing, Emperor Flor inside Imperial Capital also held a meeting with the great nobles.
Winter is coming, and every time Orcs went south, it was during this time, because Orcs needed to plunder human food and reduce its own population in order to survive the cold winter.
The invasion of Orcs has greatly increased the pressure on the empire, and the emperor also needs to be prepared to face the more terrible war that is coming next.
"In the war in the north, we will never allow Orcs to enter even one step into the empire's land!"
"We want everyone on the Norris Continent to see how powerful the empire is. We can replace the Church and become the leader of mankind. Under the great light, the future of the empire is as bright as Stars!"
The emperor's unquestionable voice echoed majestically inside the palace, followed by the emperor asking the nobles to send troops.
Regarding this matter, the nobles had no objections. They were already staunch opponents of the Church. However, based on this matter, some nobles still had many doubts.
"What should we do in the south? Although the Church has withdrawn its army, their missionaries still stay in Thousand Lakes Province to confuse your people."
The emperor already had the answer and said:
"I will make the believers of the will of light Dispel Dawn, the Church, not succeed."
"Where is West Sea?"
Grand Duke Mayers spoke, and many nobles looked at him, not understanding what the Grand Duke meant.
The emperor was silent for a moment, and then said:
"I will let Volvo re-establish a new imperial fleet and will not let those evil Sea Demon invade the imperial waters. At the same time, this is also a test for him."
One of the three Electors of the empire, no one knows who will eventually become the new emperor, but before that, the test of Electors is inevitable, because one of them will rule the most powerful country in the world in the future.
Grand Duke Mayers was silent for a long time and stopped talking. He wanted to obtain this qualification, but it was obvious that the emperor would not hand over the new maritime fleet to him. Even if it were handed over to a grand duke, Grand Duke Fleming's probability was greater than him.
"What if..."
A nobleman spoke, it was Count William. His skin was pale and bloodless, and he spoke with some doubts.
"What if Orcs is also more powerful than a hundred years ago?"
"Our fortress in the north may not be able to defend them. What will happen then?"
"Do you want to ask for help from the land of South?"
"Absolutely impossible!"
The emperor became furious and faced Count William, which was the consequence that the other party said.
"The Empire will not fail!"
"Even if the fortress of the northern province is breached, the empire will still be able to take back the land and will never ask for help from the kingdom that serves Dawn."
"William, don't forget your family's oath."
"I have not forgotten that William Family cannot become a believer of Dawn. We just want to know, His Majesty the Emperor, why you did not send Temple Knight Legion to Northlands."
Count William stared at the emperor and said almost questioningly.
Indeed, if Count Pascal of Danube Province is the most likely nobleman within the empire to take refuge in the Church, then the vampire count who is in charge of the last vampire army in the world is the noblest least likely to take refuge in the Church.
Therefore, he does not need to explain his political correctness, as long as he seeks interests from the aristocratic political standpoint, it is enough.
"Temple Knight Legion will stay at Imperial Capital to prevent possible war in the south."
The emperor gave a reason. Although it sounded reasonable, the nobles were not willing to believe it.
However, no one continued to provoke the emperor's majesty.
"Orcs is not what you said. They have become stronger after a hundred years. They are still the same as a hundred years ago."
The person who answered Count William's question was Count Clayton. He has the most say in this matter.
"I went to Northlands a few years ago. Except for the six Great King clan Orcs, I didn't see them. The remaining Orcs tribes are the same as what our ancestors recorded. They live in Northlands in a primitive way, and because of the cold weather, only a small number of Orcs can survive in the ice and snow."
"I also believe that Orcs cannot break any fortress in the empire."
The one who spoke was Grand Duke Fleming. This Grand Duke was the closest to the Emperor.
"But as far as we know, the fortress of Northwind Province has been captured once by Orcs. Isn't Northwind Province also the land of the empire?"
Indeed, the nobles had gradually begun to pay attention to that land because of the previous affairs between the kingdom and God of Light. Naturally, they understood through various channels that Northwind Province had once again suffered an invasion from Orcs, and Fragrant Mountain Plains Fortress had fallen.
"Your news has fallen behind. Northwind Province's war has ended, Orcs has been massacred, and the fortress has been recovered by Baron Ryan, and is now in the hands of the nobles."
Count Clayton looked at the other party, who snorted and smiled.
"Baron Ryan? He is really a heroic Baron. I heard that he is the son of your Clayton. Your father did not send troops to help him fight against Northlands's Orcs?"
The emperor Imperial Capital did not send troops or order to support Northwind Province. Naturally, the nobles would not do so, otherwise it would appear to be overstepping the mark.
But the topic has already reached Northwind Province, and no one can avoid it.
Some nobles looked at the emperor, wanting to know what the emperor meant.
Grand Duke Mayers conquered Northwind Province more than thirty years ago, but now, the emperor seems no longer willing to own the land of this empire.
At this moment, the nobles brought this matter up just to reduce the emperor's authority. Northwind Province was taken back from Grand Duke Mayers, and then lost in the emperor's hands. The records in the history books will be unfavorable to the emperor.
Everyone knows what the emperor means. In this meeting, the absence of any big nobles from Northwind Province is the best signal.
But no one could answer the question, and the meeting ended with the emperor's anger.
"Imperial Capital's meetings are like this. Every time, there are always some people's anger that leads to the end of the meeting. This is also the tradition of the nobles. They use this method to avoid their own unfavorable situations."
Northwind Province Thundercloud County, on the mountain peak, Ryan and Shaya communicated that they learned about the meeting that broke up in Imperial Capital a few days ago.
"If nothing else happens, the emperor will order a batch of resources to be dispatched to Northwind Province to avoid the negative reputation and nutrition that will appear on himself."
Shaya Marquis's Mother looked at Ryan and said this.
"So, there is absolutely no need for you to collect supplies for Northwind Province in the name of Marquis."
She didn't want Ryan to use her son's title. The Baron Ryan in front of her was much more cunning than she imagined. Moreover, this incident consumed Marquis of Northwind's prestige, but it was his Baron Ryan who benefited.
"That's not how you refused just now."
Ryan looked at the woman in front of him and forgot about what she had agreed to in her clamor just now.
"Didn't I think of a better way for you?"
Ryan nodded and then said:
"I want the food sent by the emperor, and the food donated by Marquis of Northwind from Imperial Noble cannot be less."
"The war is coming soon, madam. You don't want Master Marquis to grow up to be Wandering Nobles without his own land, right?"
Ryan looked at Shaya and said calmly. His words shocked Shaya with some confusion.
"The war is not over yet?"
"That's ridiculous, why do you think the war is over?"
"What we have faced before is just the tip of the iceberg among Orcs. Their real invasion has not yet come."
"Winter is not here yet for Orcs, ma'am."
Shaya was silent in shock. The previous Orcs invasion, the huge Orcs army even hit Thundercloud Mountain twice, this Marquis's Mother has witnessed the war between humans and Orcs, and also knows what price the nobles of Northwind Province paid after Fragrant Mountain Plains Fortress was breached to achieve the current outcome.
"Why are you so sure that Orcs will attack Northwind Province? They have already attacked once."
"Why?"
Ryan laughed, why is this woman so stupid at this time.
"Just based on my Frozen Earth Territory, among Northern Lands, do you think, Fragrant Mountain Plains encountered Orcs first, or did I encounter it first?"
The war that took place in Frozen Earth Territory was unknown to the nobles outside. When Ryan said it, Shaya also stared at him in shock.
"Madam, you are not a member of the Mayers Family, nor a member of Imperial House. From the moment Marquis of Northwind was born, you have become a member of the Northwind Marquis Family, and you are already a noble of Northwind Province."
After a while, Shaya finally agreed to Ryan's proposal and would donate materials to Imperial Noble in the name of Governor Marquis of Northwind to fight against Orcs.
"Count Pascal will agree. With the first noble to agree, things will be easier later, but he may have conditions."
Ryan said this, Shaya nodded.
"He has already contacted me and wants Gargoyle to serve as Church of Light's guard."
After saying that, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Ryan.
"You already knew?"
Ryan did not deny it, nodded and walked in the direction of Otherworld Portal. There was still his Gold Mine that had not been mined completely.
Northwind Province was briefly quiet, but Ryan did not dare to relax. He was taking advantage of this time to use various methods to hoard supplies. Otherwise, when the threat of Orcs broke out again, the nobles would not trade important resources to him.
Using Marquis of Northwind's name is only one part of it. In addition, Ryan also plans to sell Gold Mine's Forest Otherworld.
When Gold Mine is mined, it becomes Gold Coin, so we might as well sell it to get Gold Coin as soon as possible.
After knowing the approximate remaining storage capacity of Gold Mine, Ryan went to Count Winter Territory.
"You want to sell Gold Mine?"
That was Gold Mine. Count Winter looked at Ryan in confusion. The nobles were fighting because of Otherworld's mineral veins. Why did Ryan suddenly want to be sold?
"I need Gold Coin to repair Frozen Earth Territory's defense. Orcs's invasion always threatens my territory. If time permits, there is no way I can sell Gold Mine."
Ryan said helplessly. This reason made Count Winter unable to find the problem, so he nodded and asked:
"How do you want to sell it?"
"Food, I want food, as much as I can get. In addition, I also need a group of masons and metal ingots."
Count Winter thought about it and bought grain, which was necessary to cope with the war, but he could not sell too much to Ryan. As for the stonemason, this was not a problem. He leased it to Baron Ryan at a high price. The last metal ingot...
This thing is very cheap now at Northwind Province.
Not only because Northwind Province each noble has his own Iron Ore farm, but also because of the mineral veins discovered in Forest Otherworld, the nobles' warehouses are filled with metal ores that cannot be burned.
After discussing for a whole day, the two nobles finally reached a deal, and a large number of vehicles rushed from Count Winter Territory to Frozen Earth Territory.
Ryan, who sold Gold Mine, also had thirty Dovan of Gold Coin, which was the price difference after the transaction was completed. Ryan took these Gold Coin and went to find Count Soron. After reaching a similar deal with the count, other nobles no longer refused.
Another 200,000 was spent from his own pocket, a total of 500,000 Gold Coin was spent. Ryan gathered a large number of materials and craftsmen, which were all preparations for the Frozen Earth Territory fortress defense line.
Eventually, Ryan went to Fragrant Mountain Plains Fortress.
When he came here again, Viscount Landa came up to him immediately and asked him how the wealth here could be realized.
"Spices can be used to supplement the flavor of food, or they can be sprinkled on the body. If you find a group of men, there will be no gain in treating them as men."
Ryan said, and then made a deal with the viscount.
"I want half of it, and Northern Territory Merchant Guild will help you sell the spices to the land of South."
Viscount Landa unexpectedly did not bargain, and Ryan soon understood the reason.
"The number of Orcs in the north of the fortress has become larger and larger every day. I don't even know when they will launch an attack."
Only the nobles closest to Orcs can feel the threat of Northlands, and are constantly preparing for confrontation.
"Soon, maybe next time, it won't be like what we encountered before. Orcs will attack the empire in an all-out way, and the entire empire will be submerged in the haze of war."
Ryan said this. Viscount Landa did not doubt Baron Ryan's guess, but his mood became a little more solemn.
"If it were you, do you think you could hold this fortress?"
Viscount Landa was not so confident, he asked Ryan.
"I don't know, but if that day comes, I will definitely drag you nobles into the water."
Ryan laughed, Viscount Landa took a deep breath, he felt that he could do this.
"The number of troops here is still too small."
Ryan said this before leaving. When he entered here and led the army to sneak in, Orcs didn't even notice that this fortress is not small. It can accommodate one hundred thousand troops.
But now, the number of defenders in the fortress is less than 30,000.
Although this is already 80% of the amount that Northwind Province nobles can pull out, Ryan feels that with a squeeze, the nobles can still bring out more.
"Thirty thousand cannot be defended, but three hundred thousand can certainly be defended."
Ryan said meaningfully, and he gave Viscount Landa a suggestion.
After Ryan left, Viscount Landa thought for a long time and finally gritted his teeth and wrote a letter to some nobles.
We need people, not the army for the time being, but serfs, civilians, craftsmen, and those who have little fighting capacity.
Later, when the nobles reacted, they had invested too much manpower and material resources in the fortress and it was no longer possible to abandon it.
Ryan returned to Frozen Earth Territory. He still needed to purchase supplies from the two kingdoms to the east, but there was no need to go there in person. Northern Territory Merchant Guild would bring back the traded resources.
As for the inside of Frozen Earth Territory, everyone is preparing for the arrival of the war. Military fortresses in the mountains are being built nervously and orderly. With the help of Alchemist, these fortresses are mixed with a large amount of metal ore.
"The shooting range of the watchtower's giant crossbow will cover this place, and the troops in the fortress can also take care of the watchtower's location."
"However, we still need a road from here to Winter City and to Rhino Horn Mountain."
Brock told Ryan that the craftsmen could not guarantee that the army's supplies would not be completely destroyed. After hearing this, Ryan looked at the muddy road where a large number of people were walking, and after hesitation, ordered the road to be repaired.
In his opinion, this road is not necessary, and Frozen Earth Territory now does not have more people to devote to building roads.
Not long after, Borgeld also ran over.
"There are more and more Orcss in the north, and they are no longer just Werewolvess and Black Goat Orcss. There are many Orcss that we have never seen before."
It has been less than a month since Werewolves was defeated, and Orcs has once again flooded the north.
"Even so, you can't continue to lead Armored Bear now."
Ryan knew what Borgeld was thinking and rejected the other party's idea with words.
"The war will not disappear. When the defense line is completed, are you still worried that there will be no fighting?"
Borgeld left holding his breath, and Ryan returned to Rhino Horn Mountain to exercise his body.
"Sky Knight, if you want to move forward to a higher level, it's not that difficult, but it's impossible to become Saint Realm without hard work over time."
While exercising, Ryan was also thinking about whether there was any way he had not yet thought of to fight the upcoming war.