Leapfrog Development and the Arrival of the Mag'har
Preliminary census data from the Horde reveals several issues. Besides serious family problems, groups like the Orcs and Sin'dorei suffer from a severe gender imbalance, with a near-complete shortage of younger generations. These are issues that require attention. However, without these problems, it's unlikely they would be able to unite as one. 🌷🍧 🐊♨
Although the preliminary population count is complete, this population figure is not absolute. In addition to the existing races in this world, there is a Mag'har tribe of Orcs in Outland that has not been included in the count. Zul'ra also did not include the Kobold of Amani, the Ogres who follow Durotar, and Horde peripheral races of the tribes in the count. Otherwise, the number would be a little higher. But adding or subtracting a little won't make a difference, as those guys have a problem supporting themselves.
Regarding the population issue, Zul'ra, Thrall, Cairne Bloodhoof, and others discussed implementing a marriage law on top of the existing household registration system, forcing and encouraging men and women to marry, eliminating widows and single men and women, in order to increase the Horde of various tribes. However, this policy was defeated by the imbalanced male-to-female ratio. It was impossible to allow intermarriage between different tribes, so even this approach was not feasible.
Aside from the issue of gender imbalance, Thrall also expressed some dissatisfaction, because Zul'ra was now interfering in everything. Encouraging marriage, such a sacred matter, was one thing, but forcing it was another—what was this all about? What about him, the single Warchief? And what about that old geezer, Cairne Bloodhoof?
Zul'ra's marriage laws were put on hold, and the drawbacks of the Horde being composed of different races became apparent. Although the various races did not oppose intermarriage and integration, they did not encourage such unions and there was an invisible xenophobia, which was a natural rift.
Without a marriage law, Zul'ra had no choice but to turn her attention back to industry, encouraging the residents of the Crossroads settlement in the the Barrens Lands to grow cotton, and encouraging Ashenvale and Darkspear Islands to grow flax, castor beans, and other plants to provide sufficient raw materials for the Horde's textile industry.
Twenty-five years Dark Portal, it was a year of great change for the Eastern Kingdoms. Along the eastern coast of Kalimdor, countless stone fortresses of all sizes sprang up like the Barrens after rain in Durotar and the Barrens, and these fortresses were connected by roads made of solid earth or asphalt.
The main roads connecting Darkspear Islands to Orgrimmar, and from Orgrimmar to Thunder Bluff, have all been repaired, thanks to tractors and road rollers. The steam tractors deployed in the fields and the steam road rollers on the ground freed up a large amount of manpower.
With the improvement of transportation, all kinds of goods flowed out rapidly. The government used currency to purchase a large amount of crops, and the farmers who received income had surplus money to buy those goods. The circulation of money brought vitality to society.
The Orcs and Trolls gradually replaced their original animal skin clothing with comfortable, close-fitting textiles, and their diet was no longer limited to grains and meat, but also included snacks such as candy, biscuits, cakes, and fruits.
The street lighting system in Orgrimmar has also been initially completed and powered up, illuminating the city at night with a light that is enough to amaze the world.
Life is getting better little by little. The convenience brought by electricity and steam is intoxicating, but how could Zul'ra, who has seen the world, be complacent with such achievements?
While expanding in all directions, Zul'ra actively prepared for the railway project and vigorously sought scientific and technological advancements from the Gnomes, eventually focusing on radio to strengthen the connections Horde different parts of the tribe through this convenient means of communication.
In Thunder Bluff, Darkspear Islands, Orgrimmar, and Nightsong City, and in the settlements between these four main cities, communication antennas were erected. Before June arrived, an invisible communication network had already covered most of the central part of Kalimdor, and this network began to spread to Horde ships and warships, as well as to Northrend in the north and the Eastern Kingdoms.
Thrall and Cairne Bloodhoof were somewhat skeptical of Zul'ra's advocacy of radio and his persistent railway plan, but their skepticism was quickly put aside when guests arrived in Orgrimmar: a delegation of Mag'har Orcs from Outland.
After Thrall dispatched Saurfang and Drek'Thar, the Mag'har Orcs in Outland were successfully contacted. These self-proclaimed pure-blooded Orcs were dismissive of the new Horde, just as they were of the Old Horde, and therefore decided to send representatives to Orgrimmar to assess whether the New Horde was worth joining.
Thrall, Cairne Bloodhoof, and Vol'jin all extended a warm welcome to the Mag'har. Zul'ra didn't feel much, but he still pretended to welcome them, because he had received news that the Mag'har still had a population of about 200,000. These guys came from various Orcs clans of the Old Horde and were a great force.
The welcoming banquet unfolded in the Hall of Glory. Zul'ra, hoping to get to know the guests, joined in. However, he noticed that the Mag'har Orcs opposite him seemed uninterested in the Horde. Both men and women looked at everything in Orgrimmar with a scrutinizing gaze, and their reaction to the enthusiastic Thrall was lukewarm, even showing a hint of disdain.
Seeing the Mag'har's attitude, Zul'ra's already low enthusiasm immediately diminished. He simply stood aside as an observer, watching them talk with Thrall and getting a general idea of their appearances. However, to his surprise, the infamous Garrosh Hellscream was not among them.
The Mag'har delegation was led by two Orcs. One of them was Aggra, a rough-looking female Orcs with her forehead and sides shaved bald, leaving only the hair on the top of her head tied into a high braid.
Zul'ra knew that Aggra was Thrall's future wife, but at present, this female Orcs did not have a good impression of Thrall. On the contrary, she was quite contemptuous and even spoke to him in a somewhat offensive manner. Thrall could not communicate with her and could only communicate with another Orcs named Dranosh.
Dranosh is a tough Orcs with a much better personality than Aggra. He is critical of the Horde, but his interactions with Thrall are without any discrimination. He is an Orcs who gives the impression of being very generous and open-minded.
Dranosh has another identity: he is the son of Saurfang. After actually meeting Thrall, he showed a little respect, perhaps because he had heard about Thrall's deeds from his father. Orcs should respect Thrall because without Thrall, they might still be in slave camps or gladiatorial arenas.
Just as Zul'ra was observing Mag'har, to his surprise, Thrall brought Dranosh to him.
"Zul'ra, this is Dranosh Saurfang, he's Saurfang's son, and he wants to get to know you," Thrall introduced Dranosh to Zul'ra, pointing to the man beside him.