Tucker finally accepted Rhodes' conditions because he had no choice. The people of the tribe were hungry and cold, and longed for a place to recuperate, and Dragon Bone Harbor, their home, is such a place. Moreover, this home is now better than before.
Even better, they can live in sturdy houses made of wood and stone instead of the simple tents made of tents and animal skins before. At the same time, the dock can dock real large ships, and they can plunder robbed merchant ships.
Pull it directly to the shore without having to transport the loot bit by bit by boat.
Tucker knew that if he encouraged everyone to go north again, no one would follow him or listen to him. Everything was a trap set by the Kislev lord in advance. He wove a sweet net and let the tribesmen jump into it.
And, willingly.
In the cold winter morning, Rhodes walked out of the house wearing a thick coat and a manticore cloak. Looking at the tired and busy figures of the Norscans in the city, he knew that he already had this port town in his hands. What was next?
, it’s time to spread this mechanism to other tribes.
That morning, Rhodes called Tucker, the chief of the Hague Clan, and asked him to send two people to the Snow Wolf Clan's territory to tell the Snow Wolf Clan people what happened here and persuade them to surrender to him.
Gain the dignity of the defeated. Otherwise, the Kislev coalition will still pursue them until the tribe dies.
Tucker sent the envoy with uneasiness. He didn't know how the people of the Snow Wolf clan would view him and the Hague clan after surrendering. Is it a wise choice or a coward's choice? He didn't know how other tribes would view him.
.But now that the matter is over, the so-called self-esteem is no longer important.
After waiting uneasily for a week, the envoy came back. And with the people of the Snow Wolf Clan, the hunter wearing wolf skin told Rhodes that they were willing to agree to the conditions, but they could not agree to the tribute. The reason was that the Snow Wolf Clan did not
They are not pirates. They do not live by robbing passing merchant ships. Instead, they rely on their own strong bodies to hunt wild animals and make a living. Rhodes believed what the messenger said, because during the entire battle, there were very few people from the Snow Wolf clan, and most of them
Wearing animal skins, they fought bravely, and when collecting the spoils after the war, these people had the least amount of property, basically nothing except the animal skins.
Rhodes agreed to the Snow Wolf Clan's request, but in order not to make the people of the Hague Clan feel unfair, Rhodes required the Snow Wolf Clan to turn over a certain amount of furs every year to offset the tribute fee.
Several other clans are not so easy to talk to. The Thunderaxe clan has been too deeply corrupted by Khorne. The battle outside the dark forest was almost overwhelming. The territory has been abandoned. There are not many living people left. There is no point in occupying that barren land.
It was useless. Needless to say, the Blood Spear clan was completely exterminated... There were not many people left in the other two small clans, and they turned into birds and beasts and fled around. The territory is also in ruins, and will be completely destroyed by the wind and snow after this winter.
buried.
After dealing with all this, Rhodes led the large army on the road back to Black Hammer Castle. Behind him, Keel Harbor gradually turned from a small fishing village into a small black dot, and finally disappeared on the horizon. The Flying Giant
On the deck, Caroline rested her head on Rhodes' shoulder, watching the northern town gradually disappear from sight.
Three days later, Rhodes led the vanguard army back to Blackhammer Castle.
As soon as we got off the pier, we were enthusiastically welcomed by the people. Thousands of civilians stood on both sides of the Winter Spring River, like fanatic fans chasing stars, shouting Rod's name and Caroline's name. The crowds surged and the fanatical calls continued.
The guards pulled out two horizontal lines and formed a human wall to prevent the people from swarming up and approaching their lord. Children ran around in the crowd in order to see Rhodes up close.
And Rhodes greeted the civilians of Blackhammer Castle all the way. Even Caroline couldn't bear the frenzied scene. Three years ago, she was just a naughty little girl, a low-level frost witch, and she never thought about herself.
One day I will stand in the center of power and be admired by all people. It was Rhodes who made this become a reality.
The reason is also very simple. The lord's war is not just the lord's own war. Rhodes has connected the entire Blackhammer Castle people with himself through the banking system. Anyone who invested in the war before the war will get a share after the war.
The power of spoils of war. Those who lent money to Rhodes were all eager to win the war so that they could share the benefits. They were even more worried about Rhodes' safety, because no one wanted their creditor to die.
On the Lord's Street, soldiers from Blackhammer Castle and Heidelberg marched hand in hand. Rhodes and Caroline rode war horses and slowly entered the castle gate. There was no triumphal ceremony, but it was more vigorous than a real triumphal ceremony. Caroline was already heated
The atmosphere was contagious, and a blush appeared on her face. The happiness and joy were self-evident. Rhodes finally understood why, as a frost witch, Caroline's mood did not change much after she advanced. When the environment changes a person, when the surrounding people
When everyone is in high spirits, individuals will not be so emotionally cold.
"Old friend, you have won another battle. Congratulations, undefeated Rhodes."
In the castle, Alvis stood up straight, first welcoming Rhodes' return with the respectful attitude of a courtier, and then hugging Rhodes with the friendship of a friend. His height is only half of Rhodes, and the master of Black Hammer Castle is not tall at all.
do not mind.
"Rhodes is undefeated, isn't he?"
Rhodes said with a smile.
"Yes, once, you were defeated. In the Secret Word Castle. I heard that, I heard that."
Alvis laughed. He did not participate that time, because at that time he was still the manager of the Iron Ring Castle. During the Battle of the Dark Whisper Castle, the White Bear Lord Rhodes was defeated by the Vampire Lord and disappeared. People thought he was injured.
He went into hiding again. However, when he returned two months later, he killed the vampire lord. No one knew what happened during this period. Not even Alves himself knew, and Rhodes remained silent about the matter.
. He also tentatively asked Caroline, who had the closest relationship with Rhodes. However, Caroline only said that she was also injured at the time and was recuperating at a farmer's home. Rhodes took the other three people with him.
Another place. Alves knew that it would be bad if he asked more questions. But the curiosity always existed.
"The banquet is already being prepared and will start in two days. The theater will be open for free and there will be a large bonfire and fireworks show. The workers in the city will have a day off the next day. The salary will remain unchanged."
Alves said.
"Okay, I don't worry about you doing the work."
Rhodes answered with a smile, and then went straight to the room of his former butler Muros. He wanted to tell the good news to the old man who had assisted him in the past. According to Lyanna, Muros' condition was getting worse day by day, and he didn't know whether he could still survive.