Chapter 518 [0512] Year-End Summary of the North
In the spring speech, Lux made many promises, the most direct of which was that she would give this year's annual summary to all Forsbarrow people here at the end of this year.
And now, it's time for her to fulfill this promise.
Different from the previous times, this time the people who notified the people of Fosbairo to come to listen to the speech were no longer members of the Chamber of Commerce, but specialized clerks - these people had been trained for three months and were now basically able to I can write well and execute orders according to Lux's requirements.
Although these clerks are really just clerks and can only do things according to the rules, their existence itself represents a brand new order in Forsbarrow, a governance that is completely different from the traditional aristocratic family governance in Demacia. model.
And now, as the people of Fosbello gathered happily in the square, and some even started shouting Laxana's name, this governance model seemed to be good.
Like the previous Spring Speech, the content of Lux's Winter Speech is also quite easy to understand.
“Forsbarrow has gained a lot of people and a lot of changes in the past year.”
"I am honored to be a witness and see these changes in Forsbarrow."
"I think by now, everyone is used to the Archon and the Newport people, just like they are used to oat milk and kippers on the table."
The ingenious metaphor made the people of Fosbello couldn't help but smile - Lux's use of oat milk to refer to the Archon and pickled fish to represent the people of Newport was very interesting and appropriate.
Whether it’s the new arrivals from Newport and the sea fish they bring, or the law-enforcers who are gradually integrating into ordinary people’s lives and the milk they sell, these are things that many Forsbarrow people are familiar with. For this part of the changes , Lacus didn’t need to say anything, everyone knew it, so Lacus’s joke made almost all the Forsbarrow people present couldn’t help but raise the corners of their mouths.
Amid the smiles of the audience, Lux continued her speech.
"In addition to these new faces and new foods, Fosbairo has some changes that are not obvious at the moment but have actually taken place. These changes are what I have promised and are also the direction of Fosbairo in the future."
"The canal mentioned in Spring's speech has now completed the first phase of survey, and will start breaking ground along the old river channel this winter." Lux announced with a proud tone, "The soup basin has been Digging is done, the spoon is also ready!”
"The emperor who is in charge of the construction is also recruiting support staff. People who are good at cooking and organizing are welcome to join the construction team. After the speech, interested people can go to the clerk to sign up. In addition to good salary, those who pass the registration will Besides, you can also be the first to touch this spoon.”
"So far, Vero Village has successfully completed the planned content of the Spring Speech. The mineral washing and crushing industries have been taken back into our own hands. Many people in Seka Town, which once choked the neck of Vero Village, have Become a member of Vero Village.”
"After the spring of next year, the mine in Vero Village will expand its production scale and recruit miners. This is Mr. Gillam, the president of the Mining Association. Later he will introduce to us the specific conditions required to become a miner."
Gillam, who was named by Lux, came to the stage and waved to the Forsbarrow people in the audience with some restraint.
"In addition to the upcoming excavation of the canal and the recruitment of miners, I am honored to tell you that with the support of the herb collectors' guild, the Royal Master has completed the first phase of the artificial cultivation experiment of fragrant red suspense in an experimental environment. Artificial cultivation of fragrant red solanum.”
"In half a month, the experimental planting of fragrant red sage will be carried out in the newly opened nursery in the east of Forsbarrow City. The fence is now closed. Please do not climb over it. Violators will be punished by whipping. ”
"If the experiment goes well and the fragrant red mulberry sprouts successfully sprout next spring, then Forsbarrow will be able to cultivate northern spices artificially for the first time. Training on how to grow fragrant red mulberry will be carried out in the future, so stay tuned."
"In addition, the Fosbarrow Private Army will be officially renamed as the Northern Walker Corps from today, and the Fosbarrow Militia will also be reorganized into the Northern Walker Reserve. Those who are interested in joining the military can pay attention to the content of the reserve selection in the subsequent announcement. renew."
"..."
"..."
There is no content that makes people confused. Lux seems to be having a routine, showing the results of her work over the past year to the people of Forsbarrow. Comparing them with the promises she made in the spring, what stands out is a clear Clearly.
The Forsbarrow people in the audience also listened with great interest. Although Lux's speech covered many aspects, many of which they did not understand, there were also areas that they were involved in.
For the areas you don’t understand, listen to a story; for the parts you understand, you should raise your face and be proud.
In addition, although Lux's speech was very long, it was not lengthy. During the half-hour speech, the people listened with great interest. Even when other people came on stage later, many people had bored expressions on their faces. expression.
Finally, when the applause rang out, Lux's first winter speech was also a complete success. Since then, the new lord of Forsbarrow has successfully spent her first year.
When walking off the podium, Lux subconsciously reviewed her experiences over the past year.
When he first came to Fosbarrow, how should the people of Fosbarrow feel towards his new lord?
Is it fear? Worry? Disgust? Confusion?
Lux didn't know.
And now, what more is there in the eyes of the Fosbyro people looking at her?
Is it love? Is it belief? Is it support? Is it expectation?
But these are not enough to make Lux complacent. She subconsciously thought of Shurima and the Shurimans' memories of the Shurima Empire. The journey across the Great Sai Desert not only strengthened her will, but also broadened her horizons, making it difficult for her to be complacent.
Compared with the once prosperous Shurima Empire, the current Fosbyro people actually have no sense of belonging. What she has given them now, in addition to oat milk and pickled fish, in addition to cheap fur and mineral washing, is actually hope.
Prove hope with actions and condense ideals with hope.
Lux's mouth corners slightly upturned, she shook her head, and finally stopped recalling the past, but smiled with her lips pursed.
Fosbyro, the road is long and difficult!
……………………
It is not only Count Laxana of Fosbyro who has to summarize the year.
In Freljord, Ashe and Sejuani are also thinking about the gains and losses of this year beside the tribe's campfire.
For Ashe, this year is a year of great sorrow and joy.
Last winter, the Winter Claw's raid dealt a heavy blow to the Avarosan people, with many casualties and a large amount of supplies taken away. Relying solely on the city walls was not enough to completely resist Sejuani's troops.
Although the trade with Fosbyro brought a large amount of oats to Avarosan and successfully survived the difficult days of weaning the Enuk calves and Yukal calves, a large amount of fur also flowed into the hands of the Fosbyro people in the south.
These furs are undoubtedly not worth mentioning to the Avarosan tribe - if they are not traded with the Fosbyro people in the south, they may be used to decorate tents or to raise mattresses in the future. They are useful, but not completely useful supplies.
But in next year's trade, will the furs paid by Avarosa still be redundant supplies?
Ashe knew very well that the answer was no.
Even as the largest tribe in West Freljord, the amount of supplies accumulated by the Avarosa tribe was actually quite limited. It was okay for one or two years, but if the trade continued, the Avarosa tribe would sooner or later not be able to pay for enough furs!
Ashe's math was not very good, but she was sure that the furs of the Enuk calves and Yukal calves that survived the weaning period because of oats were not enough to exchange for the oats that fed them.
If the trade was to be maintained, if the Enuk and Yukal of the Avarosa tribe were to be able to survive the weaning period smoothly, Ashe had to find more supplies to trade with the Fosbyro people.
When this problem was placed on the Winter Claw tribe, Sejuani's response was to plunder.
For Ashe, her choice was to use tobacco and tea.
Use tobacco and tea to exchange for the extra furs of other tribes, and then trade with the Fosbyro people - this may be the best way without taking the tribe to plunder.
In Freljord, addictions can always relieve people's spiritual emptiness.
Ashe herself doesn't like these addictions. She doesn't drink alcohol, has no interest in tobacco, and only tastes tea.
But she knows very well that the Freljord people need this.
For many Freljord tribes, even if they face the risk of not having enough food in times of poverty, brewing is an indispensable thing, and tobacco and tea are always better than strong liquor that makes people drunk and fight.
I hope everything goes well.
……………………
Ashe is thinking about the resale and promotion of tobacco and tea.
On the Sangigra Plains, Sejuani is considering going out to rob again this winter.
After a round of hunting, the Winter Claw tribe returned to the Sangigra Plain to rest in the beginning of winter. In the past year, the Winter Claw swept a large area around the Sangigra Plain and absorbed a large number of elite warriors to join the tribe. The whole tribe was quite powerful. Even the ancient city of Laxtak heard about this tribe that claimed to be the successor of Serilda.
However, although the reputation is getting bigger and bigger, the life of the Winter Claw tribe has not improved.
Sejuani is very good at fighting, but she knows nothing about the operation of the tribe.
Take the battle last winter as an example: the looting last winter was not a failure in terms of fighting, but from the perspective of management, it was actually a loss.
The number of Winter Claw warriors who died in the battle was not many, but the production of the furnace households was greatly affected. As a result, although they did not lose, the Winter Claw had a much harder time at the beginning of this year.
The same was true for the subsequent sweeps. Many powerful warriors joined the Winter Claw, but the Winter Claw's territory was limited, and the supplies it robbed were also limited. The mismatch between the speed of tribal expansion and the speed of tribal productivity improvement directly led to the Winter Claw's increasingly difficult victory.
If it continues, the Winter Claw may not even be able to guarantee the most basic food. At that time, this situation will undoubtedly shake Sejuani's prestige and even her rule.
Although on the surface, she didn't care about sporadic doubts, in fact, Sejuani was very clear about the troubles that such a shake might bring. She replaced her mother and mastered the Winter Claw by winning the duel, but she also knew that before she launched the duel, her mother, Kojiya, had actually lost the support of the tribe.
Sejuani doesn't want to face the same dilemma.
In her opinion, the best way to solve the problem that the speed of looting materials in the tribe cannot keep up with the speed of population expansion is to start a war, a war in winter and win a great victory!
Starting a war in winter will eliminate a large number of warriors who are not strong enough, and a winter raid war can plunder a large amount of winter supplies, increase revenue and reduce expenditure, killing two birds with one stone.
So the question is, if the Winter Claw wants to go to war, who will it choose as the target of the war?
In Sejuani's opinion, if she wants to start a war in winter, there are two best targets, one is Avarosa and the other is Demacia.
The reason why the Avarosa people are taken into consideration is that Sejuani heard that they are living a more prosperous life this year. In this case, in order to survive the winter, the Avarosa people must have stockpiled a lot of good things.
In the battle last winter, Sejuani, who wanted to prove herself to her old friend, adopted a strategy of rushing thousands of miles to capture Frost Harbor directly; but this year, her goal has changed to a more realistic looting. If it is just for looting, then Ashe and her small warband may not be enough to stop the Winter Claw tribe.
As for looting Demacia, it is entirely because of Sylas's endless advocacy in the past year.
Now Sylas seems to have completely integrated into the Winter Claw. In the sweeps and looting this year, he has contributed a lot to the Winter Claw, so as a reward for the warriors, Sejuani is usually very happy to accept Sylas's suggestions.
For Sejuani, Sylas' biggest suggestion is to "attack Mithril City to the south."
According to Sylas, when he came all the way from Demacia to Freljord, he found a little-known trail. He took this road to leave Mithril City and enter the Freljord Plains.
If the warriors of the Winter Claw gather quietly and go south through that road, the Demacians will not be prepared at all!
Since they are robbing, they must rob the fattest ones. No matter how rich Avarosa is, can it be richer than Mithril City?
Two thoughts quickly flashed through her mind. Sejuani pondered over and over again. After a long while, she finally stood up.
"Go and find Silas to see me."
Karliya's small class·Ashe's network:
Because she is the "heir of Avarosa", Ashe cannot be said to be loved by everyone in Freljord, but most tribes still have good intentions towards her.