Heart of the Castle

Chapter 311 Fatal Rumors, Relocation of the Leaders
In the Viscount's castle, no one knew exactly how many people tossed and turned and couldn't sleep that night.However, near dawn, a group of people dressed as tramps quietly slipped out from the castle's side door, and several of them wore the robes of lesser clergy known as traveling priests.

These people didn't gather together to act. Not long after leaving the castle, they dispersed in twos and threes, rushing in all directions.

When Flandara's golden face hung high in the sky, rumors had spread in every village, farm, and manor in the former Viscounty of Lane, like a fire on the wasteland, burning to cover the sky and cover the sun, The people who burned were terrified.It just so happened that even the last oats had already been harvested, and under the intervention of the Viscount Castle's order, no tax was collected in any form, so the farmers' homes piled up yellow-orange oats and other cold-resistant grains.People who no longer worry about how to survive the winter now have the most leisure time to spread the news. Whether they are tenant farmers, homesteaders or farmers who raise pigs and sheep, they are all talking about the same problem with worry.

The benevolent lord, the brave and fearless anti-demon hero, the patron of the god of the earth-Master Levi Ston, is about to leave this territory and go to his fief-the vast wasteland north of the Sealand River.

It's not a good place.The land north of the Dusk Forest is not fertile, but it is generally south of the Xilan River, where they can barely make a living. Grange farms are mainly concentrated in this area.As for the north of the Sealand River, it is said that there are uncultivated wastelands and forests everywhere. In the deep winter, the cold wind blowing from the extreme northern wilderness penetrates to the bone marrow, and even the most solid house and the warmest firepit are hard to bear. Resist; what is even more frightening is the blizzard day and night, the snow rolled up by the wind can submerge the entire village. The god of death here is not wearing a black robe and holding a scythe, but is white and peaceful like an ice and snow angel.

The peasants in the northern border can be said to be hard-working, but there are still many doubts about the life there, but many young people are beginning to plan to follow Master Li Wei, because of his youth, his deeds and his Kindness attracts these youngsters whose minds are not yet frozen.The elders thought more comprehensively and were more hesitant, because the harshness of nature in the legend was terrifying, but in reality the whip in the hands of the lord was even more impressive.

Before the catastrophe came, the viscount had never taken measures that could be called good governance. No matter natural disasters or man-made disasters, the land rent and labor labor that farmers had to pay had never been reduced, and many families had experienced disasters. The pain of losing a loved one in the years, even in the years of good harvests, often can only be eaten.

However, none of these householders planned to leave at that time, because in the north of the Dusk Forest, Viscount Ryan was considered to be a treasure land with the most arable land, and the livelihood of the householders could barely maintain.Those places such as White Wolf Collar, Volcano Collar, and Oak Collar are more barren, and the life of the farmers is even more impoverished.

Levi Stern's good governance can be said to have raised a glimmer of hope in the hearts of these farmers. Even the ice and snow in the northern border could not extinguish this enthusiasm.The only thing that made them hesitate was that these news were still rumors after all. If they had gone to the north of the Xilan River earlier, wouldn't it be terrible if Master Li Wei's fief was not somewhere?

In the evening of this day, in a farmhouse near the Dusk Forest, the farmers who had encountered the visitors of the Earth Temple gathered together to discuss.

Night was approaching, and at this time of day, the farmers would probably have to go back to their simple farmhouses and fall asleep comfortably.But now they are all having trouble sleeping and eating because of the rumors. Many older people have worries on their faces, while younger faces are filled with expressions of excitement and anxiety.

There is a heavy earthenware pot on the firepit, and the oatmeal porridge boiling in it is exuding a strong aroma of wheat, and there are large pieces of black bread on a large wooden plate next to it.This is a meal that will definitely cheer you up on an ordinary day.Not only the bread and oatmeal are quite generous, but there are even some salted fish and bacon for dinner, but now these farmers don't even look at these meals.

This kind of meeting started from hearing rumors in the afternoon and has continued until now.Children and women are not eligible to participate, and they are all told to stay in their rooms and not to come out, while the men are yelling at the top of their voices, and people keep offering their opinions, but few people can not be disturbed finished.

The noise continued until Papa Ruhr knocked his pipe vigorously by the firepit a few times, and the dark red embers and ash inside fell into the firepit together, and several dazzling sparks burst out.This voice silenced the farmers, because Papa Ruhr was not only the oldest and most prestigious among them, but also had the reputation of a wise man.

The responses of the farmers did not make Papa Ruhr show a satisfied expression, because the old man was full of fierce ideological struggles and couldn't pay attention to these things at all.Although he has already made a decision, the future, which is as unclear as a cloud of fog, inevitably makes him a little uneasy.

"I've been listening just now, and everyone's words are very reasonable. Everyone can see and remember Master Li Wei's kindness. If you follow him, the burden of labor and land rent will be very light." Ruhr Dad's opening remarks made many young farmers look happy, because it seems that this old man, who has always been known as a wise man, is more supportive of following Master Li Wei's decision to leave here.

But after Papa Ruhr said these words, his voice became lower and lower, "But have you ever thought about how we will live there?"

"Continue to farm." The strong young man named Adang said in a muffled voice, "We have plenty of strength, and we are all good at farm work. Besides, there is so much land in the north, are we afraid that we can't find a place to farm?"

"From the Sealand River to the north to the border of the Heihe River, you don't even know about this area, but I went there once when I was young." Father Ruhr shook his head and said, "There is a wasteland except for the forest. There are not many people, and there is not much reclaimed land."

"Then let's reclaim it ourselves." Adam suggested, "It's not a troublesome thing to build a few simple shacks. The endless trees are just the materials, and the kind master Levi will be very happy to help us. .”

"Master Levi's help?" There was a hint of sarcasm in Father Ruhr's tone, but he immediately realized his slip of the tongue, and his tone softened, "Of course, Master Levi is indeed kind, but he can't How much help has he brought us." Every wrinkle on his face was full of bitterness, "reclaiming wasteland, building houses, and taking care of livestock, none of which is something that Master Li Wei can help us with. And although the land has not been completely frozen yet, But the weather is already quite cold, as long as there is a slightly heavier snowfall, there will be nothing to do before next spring."

Adam lowered his head, looking downcast.Although this young man is impulsive, he is not stupid. Of course, he can hear that Papa Ruhr's words are indeed very reasonable. Master Li Wei's kindness does not represent everything, at least not before the north wind blows and the earth is frozen. They built houses and cleared the land necessary for next spring's plowing.

The farmers began to whisper to each other again, and Papa Ruhr patted Adam on the shoulder to express his comfort, and then raised his voice and said: "We are all peasants, the land, and only the land is our foundation and our strength. Please Everyone must keep this point firmly in mind, as for the new lord, I heard that he is a big man from the capital, so he shouldn’t do anything to us poor peasants..."

"Is anyone here? Is there anyone here? For the sake of the supreme Father God, a devout believer is tired and thirsty, and he is in trouble!"

A somewhat desolate voice came in from outside the farmhouse, startling all the farmers.

"There's someone out there!"

"What is it for? Let's go out and have a look?"

A few young boys moved the fastest, their hands had almost touched the door panel, but at this moment, Papa Ruhr yelled in a low voice.

"Hey lads, dude, don't fall for someone!"

This word reminded several farmers, and soon they were arming themselves with reaping sickles and threshing flails, and pushing open the heavy doors of the farmhouses.

There is silence outside, because the winter is approaching, even the insects that can often be heard are gone, a round of silver moonlight hangs low at the end of the horizon, the moonlight is as cool as water, and the shadows of the farmhouse and the fence are stretched very long , and at the same time cast the shadow of the man standing alone not far from the door, at first glance he looked like a giant.

Ah Dang felt his tongue was a little stiff, and he even held his breath. He wanted to ask that person what he was doing with a loud voice, but the surroundings were completely silent, as if in a silent world, and his voice was also frozen inside the throat.

"Blessed benevolent Father God, I've finally seen people!" The guy suddenly let out a shrill cry, and then ran over, his short and fat body swaying from side to side, looking a little ridiculous.

"Bless you, Carggino, it's potato essence!" A timid farmer gasped, his body trembling.

But no one was afraid except him.

The man who came running from the moonlight was clearly a short, muscular little man, wearing a plain, khaki-colored robe that was about [-]% new, and a leather rope with obsidian as a buckle was tied around his waist.This outfit looks somewhat similar to the clergyman of the Earth Temple, but it seems that it doesn't fit very well, and it is tightly wrapped around the little man's body, which looks a bit funny.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Papa Ruhr's voice came from behind, and then the elderly farmer squeezed out of the crowd, looking at the guy who ran over.

"Praise benevolent Father God, please tell me, does this belong to the farm of Lord Knight Knight Templeton?" The short, stubby man did not directly answer Father Ruhr's words, but panted and asked.

"Praise forever, yes, this is the manor of Lord Templeton." Father Ruhr replied.

"Thank God, I didn't get lost." The short, short man let out a sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, "I am a cleric of the Temple of the Earth. Your Excellency personally baptized me. You can call me Babrupa, of course, many people are willing to add a pious adjective in front to express their admiration for me."

(End of this chapter)