Powell and Johnson have lived for so many years, and they are well-informed people in other places, but if they go to Victor Hugo's government, they will become rubbish - they will look at everything.
It's strange, I've never seen it before.
The fortress outside Dense Fog Town is small in area, about fifty meters by fifty meters. The four corners are protruding in a diamond shape, and there are watchtowers, arrow towers, trenches, suspension bridges, barracks and other buildings inside.
Due to the use of explosives, foundation trenches and other projects were dug very quickly. Then came the construction of walls, and six-wheeled super-heavy carriages pulled thick tree trunks more than ten meters long from the Black Forest.
A pulley crane lifted the tree trunks upright and inserted them into the five-meter-deep foundation. Mud was poured into two rows of tree trunks three meters apart, and after compaction, they became the simple walls of the fortress.
Although this is not perfect, the advantage is that the construction speed is extremely fast, which can be said to be improving with each passing day.
The residents of Nongwu Town had nothing to do and crowded outside the construction site every day to serve as 'supervisors'. They had never seen such a fast construction method, and for the first time they wished they could work as coolies and work on the construction site to experience it.
Workers who work shifts take a break in Dense Fog Town. When they enter the town’s tavern, someone will buy them a drink. Everyone wants to hear stories about the construction site, even if it’s just to brag - but the imagination of some people’s bragging is not as good as the creations on the construction site.
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After arriving in Dense Fog Town, Powell had to change carriages and continue heading north, and had to rest in the town for a night. After being shocked at the construction site outside the town, he also couldn't wait to know what on earth was going on in Cold Wind City?
The bar was busy. When I pushed the door and walked in, I heard someone holding a wine glass and shouting loudly: "Come here, give the kobold a drink. I hope the fortress will be repaired one day soon, kill the Butch family, and kill those noble bastards."
This cry was echoed by the crowd, and a wave of voices rang out, "Kill the Butcher family, kill the noble bastards."
The toaster shouted again: "I have a dream. A dream that the roads in this world are extremely smooth, a dream that the tax rates of all cities are the same as those of Cold Wind City, a dream that there are no robbers, wild beasts and tax officials in the wild, a dream that carriages pull goods all over the Northland.
Every corner."
His voice was cadenced, and every sentence was greeted with cheers. The bar was full of enthusiasm, with each arm holding the wine glass high, and the smell of strong liquor lingering around, creating an atmosphere that would make you drunk without drinking.
When Powell and Johnson came in, they encountered this scene and were stunned.
Dudu squatted on his master's head and sighed: "It's over, the worst situation has arisen. I bet the person raising the glass to stir up trouble is the preacher from Cold Wind City. This is definitely building momentum for the war."
This sentence made the two of them think deeply, and they looked at each other with fear. The noble master never discussed what he wanted to do with the lower class, after all, the latter was also qualified to participate in decision-making.
But Cold Wind City is different...
Victor Hugo was accustomed to informing the public about what he wanted to do. He even took up the profession of a preacher and ran a newspaper. He repeatedly publicized and explained in order to let the people in his territory understand what was happening in his territory.
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The nobles thought this was meaningless, but it was of great benefit in opening up the people's wisdom.
People in the Northland are still very simple, and basically do whatever the lord says. Victor Hugo's reputation is surprisingly good. When he said that the nobles deserved death and the revolution was not guilty, the whole Northland would really respond.
If this speculation is true, it is not the territory of Cold Wind City that is being mobilized, but the oppressed, humiliated and abused strata of the entire Northland.
How big is this class?
It is better to ask the other way around, how much of the nobility and their dependents account for it?
10%? Impossible.
At most half a percent.
There are more than a dozen cities in the North, with a total population estimated at three million. It would be great to have one hundred thousand nobles. The rest are all allies of Victor Hugo.
It shudders!
A man jumped on the bar of the bar and shouted loudly: "Do we have a choice? No. We are overwhelmed by the loan sharks of the nobles, and all our hard-earned money is taken away."
The nobles made laws in their favor and deprived us of the last copper. They even ignored the facts and used the army to steal everything. Because their greedy desires will never be satisfied."
It was a cold day, and Powell was sweating all over. He hurriedly squeezed to the bar, grabbed a sober drinker and asked: "Is there going to be a war?"
"I don't know." The drinker shook his head cheerfully, "Don't worry, the guys at the bar just like to talk about this. Everyone is unhappy and complaining."
I am just joking?
Others may just be talking about it, but Victor Hugo is not like that. There is nothing he wants to do that cannot be achieved.
Powell went on to ask: "Who is the fort outside the town for?"
“Who else could it be?” The drinker sneered: “The Buchi family has blocked the trade route, and no food or cloth can enter the territory of Cold Wind City, forcing Sir Hugo to take action.
The tax officer of the Banshee Castle set up a blockade at the intersection outside the town. As a result, there was a sound of cannon at the construction site, and the person on the other side was scared to death and retreated. Hahaha... You didn't see the scene at that time. It's really ridiculous.
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If you take a step back in tax collection, we will take a step forward. Once the fortress in Dense Fog Town is repaired, it will be easier for Your Excellency Hugo to attack or defend and take the initiative. The Butcher family is just the opposite."
The words were spoken in a clear and coherent manner, unlike the words of a drinker. When Powell showed doubts, the drinker continued to laugh and said: "You only need to stay in the pub for two days to hear a bunch of arrogance from these famous fast-talking generals.
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These guys discuss how to fight the war every day and argue endlessly. In their eyes, Your Excellency Hugo should ascend the throne and become an emperor, conquer all regions and rule the entire world. But it is interesting to listen to their bragging."
Is it fun to brag?
Powell didn't find it interesting at all. The residents of Dense Fog Town probably thought that only their tavern was like this, but maybe all the taverns in the entire Cold Wind City territory were like this.
With the long-term propaganda, people really think that Victor Hugo should be crowned emperor. Thinking about the fortress that is being rapidly built outside the town, this is obviously a preparation for both propaganda and practical work.
This is a full-scale war mobilization!
It's over, what are the nobles of Banshee Castle thinking? They are still thinking about how to make money.
"Should we go back and remind the Butch family?" Powell felt that he was on the side of the nobles. But when he turned around and asked, Johnson shook his head directly, "Stop dreaming, who will listen to us?"
Dudu also muttered and added: "The life of a born smuggler depends on the noble lord's heart. If you go back and report it, the Butchi family will not thank you."
Powell was so choked that he lowered his head and had to give up the idea of being "loyal, brave and fearless".
The two stayed in Dense Fog Town for one night, and took a passenger carriage to Cold Wind City the next day. When they set off, they saw a heavy infantry group arriving in a carriage, preparing to protect the construction of Dense Fog Fortress.
A large number of wooden boxes were transported on the carriage, and the boxes contained the armor and weapons of the infantry. One of the untied boxes fell down during the transportation, and several half-plate armors fell out.
At least hundreds of people saw this scene, so the hot-tongued people in Dense Fog Town had something to talk about again.
Powell stared at it, and Johnson even exclaimed: "The enchanted half-armor. I sensed the fluctuations of the magic network, it is definitely the enchanted half-armor. This thing is precious!"
Victor Hugo is really rich. This is equipment for noble knights, but he actually gives it to ordinary hoplites. Oh my god, if all the boxes are filled with enchanted equipment, who can beat it?"