Standing above the city gate, watching the refugees in ragged clothes entering the town one after another, housekeeper Muros was in a terrible mood. Even if he was prepared in advance, the sudden increase in refugees was still a big problem. First of all, if he wanted to accept them all
, food consumption will increase. Blackhammer Castle is not a food-producing place. Before potatoes can be grown, food even needs to be imported. Secondly, a large number of refugees are pouring into the city, and public security is also a problem. The poor and down-and-out people
Can do anything...
Population growth is beneficial to the development of a place. In the case of natural growth, it can promote productivity improvement, increase the flow of goods, increase local tax revenue, and promote local development. However, a sudden large increase in population in a certain period of time is detrimental.
Because it does not match economic development, there are not so many jobs for them to find employment, and the originally limited resources have to be used by more people. This is why many local lords are unwilling to accept refugees.
But fortunately, Alves had predicted it and made Rhodes somewhat prepared. The town had set aside an area in advance for the refugees to live temporarily. Under the city wall, Rhodes had people set up tents, dig cesspits and
Drinking water sinks. People entering the city are first given a small bag of potatoes to solve the basic problem of food and clothing.
"I wonder how our old neighbors deal with these refugees? I'm worried that they are unwilling to take them in and will drive the refugees to us."
Looking at the refugees queuing up to receive food, Muros said worriedly. He had served three lords of Blackhammer Castle, and he had also seen many influxes of refugees during this period. Every time such a situation occurred, the castle would always be in chaos.
After a while, they finally couldn't bear it anymore and drove the refugees out of the city, leaving them to fend for themselves in the wild... Muros didn't want to see that scene, but Blackhammer Castle was not a welfare institution and had no obligation to support these refugees.
At least, every lord would not do that.
"Don't worry too much about this. I guess these are the last batch of refugees. Winter is coming, and in half a month, the North will no longer be suitable for human habitation. Without houses or caves, humans can only freeze to death in the wild.
No one will be stupid enough to run north at this time. Most people will go to Kislev City or further south, or directly enter the empire. There are very few going north. In addition, I
I believe that Iron Ring City’s expansion capacity is much stronger than ours. Even if Aubrey is unwilling to listen to his brother’s words, Iron Ring City still has many places to accommodate refugees.”
The north wind blew towards Rhodes, and he lifted up the thick manticore cloak. There were some snowflakes on his hair, which made him look a little out of character for his age.
"That's true...then, how do you plan to resettle these refugees? How long will you let them stay in the city?"
Muros asked next.
"forever."
Rhodes replied, with a confident smile on his dry lips.
"Raheim has signed an agreement with me to jointly develop the deep mine. He will provide sufficient funds, including the miners' salaries. Send all these refugees to work in the mine. We just need these laborers. But
Correspondingly, the number of guards will also increase. These people are all refugees, and most of them are extremely poor. If they are not managed well, things can easily happen."
"I see."
After Rhodes finished speaking, the old butler nodded with relief. It turned out that his lord had already prepared, and the development of the mine and the arrival of the refugees were absolutely consistent in time. In addition, the mine was an underground operation, so it would not
It is necessary to consider the problem of not being able to start work in the cold winter. As long as there is work, refugees are willing to stay, which can be said to solve the problem to the maximum extent. And make full use of it. I think of what Rod's father and grandfather did when they encountered this situation, and then compare it.
The old butler Muros couldn't help but admire the Lord of Blackhammer Castle in front of him for what Rhodes was doing now.
…
Erengrad.
"Tiers, you must stop letting the Moorish people enter the city. Allowing the followers of the God of Death to move on such a large scale will only plunge the city into chaos!"
"This city has been in chaos for a long time. Vampires have never been so arrogant and rampant in our land. How many people have to die before it ends? I have had enough of such bloody and terrifying days. Let Moore's followers enter the city to wipe out those
Bloodthirsty monsters, at least they won’t hurt humans, not our own people.”
"When did the believers of the God of Death become one of your own in your eyes? Those despicable, dirty believers of darkness must not be entrusted with important responsibilities!"
The turmoil in Erengrad finally reached the point where it could not be contained. In the municipal official residence, a fierce conflict arose between Aphra, a special investigator from Kislev, and Tiers, the mayor, over the way they dealt with vampire monsters. As
The queen's right-hand man, Aphra, firmly supports the Ice Queen and carries out her orders. However, the central and local governments are not always so harmonious. At least, Erengrad is not that close to Kislev. In many cases, Carter
Lina wasn't very clear, or could say it clearly, but she had her own plans. And the nobles of Erengrad obviously couldn't stand it anymore. They couldn't bear the fearful life every day, and let those unpopular dark believers go.
It's better to look for vampires than to hide at home and wait to die.
"They weren't once, but they are now."
In front of the frost witch Aphra, Erengrad's mayor Tiers puffed up his chest and answered reluctantly.
This made the Queen's Hand very angry. Aphra's face was livid, and she walked towards the alderman, the staff in her hand shining slightly.
"You should trust the Snow Queen, she will handle this matter, and she will handle it in her own way. The queen's people have entered the city to exterminate the vampires. More vampire hunters have also begun to gather,
It is not that simple to dispatch the army. You should know that each time the army is dispatched, a large amount of the treasury's financial reserves need to be consumed. Therefore, you should wait, sit at home and wait quietly until the night passes."
Aphra said, staring fiercely at Tiers with a pair of blue eyes. It seemed like a question, but also like an order.
But Count Erengrad, who should have been fearful, showed unusual calmness.
"The queen's people? The secret police? Everyone knows that the Snow Queen has people like this and that. They are all working for the queen and serving the queen. But I can't wait. Neither the common people nor the nobles of Erlengrad can wait.
If she can't even protect her own subjects, why should she be my queen?"
Tiers' words were full of rebelliousness and provocation. Aphra was shocked at first, and then felt something was wrong. She was Catalina's, and no one dared to do this to her. If she dared, it proved that this person was already prepared...
"Katrina is our queen. Even after our death, she will still be the queen of Kislev. There is no doubt about this!"
Aphra said angrily. Her staff was glowing, and the entire hall seemed to be enveloped in a cold air.
However, at this moment, a group of heavily armed witch hunters broke in from the back door of the hall. They were wearing various leather armors and holding hunting crossbows and torches, aiming directly at the Frost Witch in the center of the hall.
"It seems that you not only colluded with the Moore believers, but also colluded with the imperial witch hunters. I should have thought of it earlier, and you also contributed to the chaos in Erengrad..."
Aphra instantly understood that the seemingly weak mayor of Erengrad in front of her was ready to rebel. Maybe the whole thing was a conspiracy from the beginning? But Aphra didn't know because she didn't investigate at all.
There was no chance of going down, and there was no hope of reporting to Catalina. In front of them were a dozen heavily armed witch hunters, all holding demon-hunting crossbows. This weapon is extremely powerful and is specially designed to deal with witches...
Aphra knew that no matter how powerful she was, she had no chance of winning when facing a dozen well-prepared witch hunters at the same time.