" Marquis Nicholas, I've heard your legends while I was still alive."
King Thoradin looked at Jiang Jie, his gaze quickly shifting to the divine sword on Jiang Jie's back. His voice carried a hint of emotion. " Emperor Thoradin made the right choice in entrusting Strom'kar the Warbreaker to you. Compared to Lothar, you have many shortcomings, but you also possess many strengths that he lacks!"
"Perhaps." Jiang Jie smiled but said nothing.
He had never met Lothar, didn't know what kind of person Lothar was, and had no interest in comparing himself to someone who had been dead for many years.
Lothar is good or bad is irrelevant to him.
On one wall hung maps of the Lordaeron and the Arathi Highlands. King Thoradin's gaze lingered on them for a long time before he suddenly said, "I am not a good king. I only know how to lead troops into battle; I know nothing of diplomacy or governance. Under my rule, Stromgarde is weaker than before, unable to even secure a single piece of territory, and unable to even eliminate the enemies around Stromgarde."
Jiang Jie remained silent.
On the map, the eastern region of the Alterac Mountains is circled in red. That was the territory that King Thoradin wanted to seize after World War II, but ultimately failed to obtain. His Majesty's diplomatic skills were indeed lacking, but the more important reason was that the Kingdom of Stromgarde at that time was far inferior to the then-powerful Kingdom of Lordaeron, so naturally, it could not be won.
Lordaeron gained the entire territory of the Kingdom of Alterac and was the biggest winner of World War II, while Stromgarde gained nothing but paid the most, which is very unfair.
But where in the world is there any fairness?
Comprehensive national strength is the true source of confidence.
Being backward invites aggression; being inferior to others invites bullying—this has been true since ancient times.
Ultimately, this whole affair stemmed from the late King Terenas's lack of integrity, which naturally left King Thoradin with a negative impression of Lordaeron. Jiang Jie, now a Marquis of Lordaeron, was therefore ill-suited to respond.
Prince Galin's body was brought to the palace, pieced together, and now lay before them.
King Thoradin's gaze swept over the corpse, and he said, "I wasn't a good father either. Stromgarde was threatened by Troll, Orcs, and Ogres. I spent all my time leading troops into battle and had no time to teach him. His mother died young... It's my responsibility that he's become like this."
Jiang Jie still didn't know what to say.
condemn?
Parricide is the greatest crime, deserving of utmost condemnation, but what can one condemn a son for in the face of the father of another?
comfort?
This king, once he embarks on a campaign, possesses an unwavering spirit and will far surpassing Arthas. With such a wealth of life experience, what can't he see through? He needs no one to comfort him!
"In any case, Prince Galin's body cannot remain here indefinitely; it should be properly buried."
Jiang Jie thought for a moment, then said, "The mausoleum needs to be rebuilt. The past kings cannot be desecrated. Prince Galin and all the fallen Stromgarde also need to be buried. Why not bury them all in the mausoleum, so they can continue to guard Stromgarde in the afterlife? This is their honor, a respect for the dead, and a comfort to the living... Your Majesty, this is a way to reassure the people."
Thoradin shook his head and said, "Building a mausoleum is time-consuming and labor-intensive; Stromgarde can't afford it now."
Jiang Jie smiled and said, "The world's best architects and stonemasons are on their way, and I think they'll arrive soon. It's just a cemetery; it can be completed in a week at most. Not only the cemetery, but the entire Stromgarde needs to be rebuilt, and the city walls need to be reinforced... This is not only a means to stabilize the people's hearts, but also a necessity to defend against foreign enemies."
When Jiang Jie returned to Lordaeron, he asked the Arcanist Doan for help to contact a certain Archmage in Ironforge and ask him to contact Brann and ask Brann to send someone to Uldum to mobilize the Earthen.
Nearly three months have passed, and the reconstruction of Uldum is almost complete. Many defenses have been restarted, requiring only a small number of Earthen to remain. Neither the Dark Iron Dwarves nor the Rockjaw Trogg can breach its defenses.
It's safe. Judging by the time, the Earthen should have already set off.
The Earthen are far more skilled in construction than the Dwarves. With them around, the entire Stromgarde will be rebuilt at an extremely fast pace. The city's geographical location is too important to be lost.
King Thoradin, of course, knew nothing of this. He assumed that Jiang Jie had managed to contact Ironforge and persuade the Ironforge there to come. So he stopped dwelling on the matter and continued, " The Arathor Cavalry has suffered heavy losses, and the Stromgarde guards are less than 30% of their former strength. Who will defend Stromgarde? You should know that if the Ogres to the north learn of the changes at Stromgarde, they could attack the city at any time."
"The arriving architects and craftsmen are the best guardians themselves, and the Fenris People's Army is on its way."
Jiang Jie said, "As for the Arathor Cavalry, they will definitely have to return to the Refuge Pointe to guard against the Orcs taking the opportunity to attack. The guard force also needs to be reorganized, which will take time."
Jiang Jie's arrangement was reasonable, and King Thoradin couldn't find any fault with it, so he nodded and asked, "What about the Syndicate?"
Jiang Jie took out the booklet that the Gnomes Archmage had given him not long ago and handed it to King Thoradin with a smile.
King Thoradin took it, flipped it over casually, then flipped it again, and the surrounding air began to grow cold.
Because this thin booklet contains thousands of names, all of whom are members of the Syndicate!
"Of course, it's impossible to kill everyone. Leave no one in the leadership alive, but there are other ways to deal with the ordinary members. The Lordaeron Assassin Corps are too few in number; these people have some skill, so we can absorb them."
Jiang Jie lightly, his voice calm yet tinged with murderous intent and bloodshed.
What right do the Lordaeron Assassin Corps have to recruit Syndicate members from here? This is Stromgarde, Stromgarde territory!
Neither of them mentioned the future of Stromgarde and Stromgarde, but they both knew very well:
There is no future.
Stromgarde will cease to exist, and Stromgarde will become part of Lordaeron, which is the best fate for Stromgarde.
The glory days of the Trollbane Family are over.
Even if King Thoradin's nephew were to return from Outland, he would not be able to obtain Stromgarde.
Lordaeron will not budge, neither will Calia or Marquis Lawrence, absolutely not.
"Where do you plan to go next?" Jiang Jie asked King Thoradin.
King Thoradin looked somewhat bewildered.
He didn't know where to go, or where he could go.
He still longs for the world of the living, but he cannot live in it.
Where could he go?
Jiang Jie suddenly said, "Your Majesty, you should know His Faol, right? And Alexei Barov?"
Faol Alexei?
King Thoradin nodded and said, "I know him. Faol preached in Stromgarde, and the Stromgarde Temple was built around that time. As for Alexei? That guy is a pathetic wretch, a pathetic wretch bullied by Terenas!"
Pathetic creature?
Jiang Jie shook his head and smiled; that description was indeed apt.
The Barov Family made significant contributions to the victory in World War II, yet ultimately suffered unequal treatment. Politics is always dark, and Patriarch Alexei was not unaware of this; but what choice did he have at the time?
He had no other choice; he had made the best choice.
Those who live in a fallen nation have no status; that's just how it is.
"You may not know this, but a portion of the Undead have broken free from the control of the Lich King and Arthas. They call themselves the ' Forsaken,' and His Highness Faol and Patriarch Alexei are Forsaken leaders."
Jiang Jie explained the basic situation of the Forsaken to King Thoradin, then asked, " The Forsaken are currently fighting the Scourge in Northrend, and may one day establish an independent Undead kingdom. Your Faol wouldn't want to be a king, though Patriarch Alexei is willing, but the Forsaken absolutely cannot fall into his hands. I think, perhaps you would be willing to shoulder this responsibility?"
The Forsaken?
Kingdom of the Undead?
King Thoradin's eyes lit up.
Who would willingly accept a life of loneliness?
Who doesn't want recognition?
If such a country truly exists, a country belonging only to the Undead, then wouldn't its remaining years be imbued with new meaning?
Even if there's no future, at least for now, we can go and fight against the Scourge. Isn't that interesting?
"When are we leaving?" King Thoradin asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Not now."
Jiang Jie smiled, a smile as warm as spring flowers, "There are still some things only you can do. After you've done these things, I'll send you to Karazhan... Someone will leave with you."