In February of the 3rd year of the Dark Gate, the earth was still frozen, and there was no sign of awakening. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

It's the hardest time of winter, it's still cold, but the food is almost gone.

On the northern continent of Lordaeron, the corpses of people who have frozen to death and starved to death can be seen everywhere. Because the weather was too cold, there was no need to worry about the plague, but the hard ice made all the people give up their plans to bury their companions or neighbors.

The nobles of Lordaeron celebrate their victory in the warm castle, and in the southernmost kingdom of Stormwind, Ryan and the little prince Varian inspect the territory.

Yes, in the cold wind of minus 5 degrees Celsius and light snow.

Because there were still remnants of orcs in the depths of the Elwyn Forest, Ryan had to travel with more than five hundred royal knights. Of course, there will be no shortage of paladins, priests, hunters, mages, and several rangers from the Windranger family.

Passing by the cemetery outside of Shining Gold, several frozen corpses leaped into Ryan and Varian's vision.

"What's going on?" Anduin, who was following Ryan's inspection, had a nameless fire burning in his chest.

There is no need for him to be angry, naturally there is an entourage to summon the mayor of Shining Gold Town with a panicked face.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but we didn't know you were coming on tour. ”

"I don't know? would that give you enough time to hide the body? King Ryan's words with a knife in them were even more majestic.

"Not so, Your Majesty. Please take a closer look, most of them are old men. The frightened mayor defended again and again.

Ryan looked at it, and it was.

"They weren't in good shape until they came back to Alwyn Forest. Everyone advised them not to come back, but they were stunned and said that they would die in their hometown. After more than a week on the ship, we tried to take care of them, and according to the instructions of Lord Marcus, we kept them near the doctor or the priest. It's a pity that none of them made it through. ”

The mayor's defense made Ryan and the others silent.

Hometown, which has a special sacred meaning for every citizen of the Stormwind Kingdom.

Thousands of years have passed since the kingdom of the king, and many people have never left their homeland in their lives. During the days when the Stormwind Kingdom fell, even Ryan himself wondered countless times bitterly whether he would have a chance to return to the Stormwind Kingdom, a land that had been passed down for dozens of generations.

In the days just after the fall, perhaps he and his people were still eager to return to the country. What if he dies in battle, and then all the warriors who are bent on recovering the country are killed in battle? What if it drags on for five or ten years, and the country is still not restored? How many people are left who are willing to support the restoration of the Stormwind Kingdom at that time?

The desire of the people, especially the elderly, to return to their homeland was something that Lane, Anduin, and even the young Varian could truly understand.

Ryan sighed, in the cold winter weather, this sigh formed an ice mist, extremely clear: "Mr. Mayor, I accept your explanation, but now, please take us to the place where the civilians gather." I will use my eyes to witness the fruits of your work and your loyalty to the Kingdom and your people. ”

"Of course!!!" the mayor wiped the beads of sweat that had begun to condense on his face, and hurriedly walked with Ryan to the town.

Since the town of Shining Gold had been used as a base for the Horde's assault on Stormwind and had been burned by Duke, many of the trees looked bare, either dead or had not yet grown back, despite the fact that more than a year had passed.

In a somewhat deserted town, Ryan was pleased to see a number of human-style houses standing in the town. A year and a half ago, the same location was full of disgusting, filthy, messy tents of the tribe.

"Father, there are so many houses here that look the same. Prince Varian shouted in amazement.

Ryan was also amazed, as a king, he only saw a report from Duke about how many houses had been built. For the internal affairs report, Lane has always looked at it with a watery eye. In Ryan's impression, it would be nice to be able to build a tenth of a house, and the rest of the people could have a sturdy tent.

Now it seems that Duke's report is completely true, without a trace of water!

"Thanks to Grand Duke Marcus's new building manual, we were able to build a winter house for each of the townspeople, a total of 1,120 households, before winter came. As long as there is a man in the family, even if he can't build a house, under the command of a craftsman, he can build a solid house with five or six people in a month. ”

Ryan, Anduin, and Varian were all taken aback.

They didn't know anything about building houses, but they had seen how carpenters and stonemasons had built houses in the past. You can't build a house in half a year.

Now what kind of efficiency is this?

The mayor first led the king and his party to the warehouse

Seeing a lot of timber neatly stacked in the warehouse, Ryan noticed that each log had grooves at both ends: "This is ......"

Mayor Mare: "Well, I don't know the specifics. Mr. Van Cleeff of the Brotherhood of Stonemasons explained a lot to me at the time. As long as you put the columns and beams marked with the specified number in the designated position on the flat surface, you can directly lap them up, and you can make the frame of the house with nails, and the house will not fall apart casually. Then cover the double planks prepared in advance, and a house is basically built. ”

"That's it?" Anduin was stunned.

"Well, there's no way to use the stove for heating, so I can only let the more idle woman build it herself. ”

"Take me to see it. Ryan ordered.

They didn't go far before they came to a civilian house on the edge of town. Knocking on the door of the housekeeper, the peasant greeted the king and his party in horror.

"Don't kneel, just stand and talk. ”

In this era of strict hierarchy, it was already a great gift for the commoners to see the king without having to kneel. If you want them to sit together, you won't dare to kill them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. The man said in unison with his wife and three and a half children.

"Are you a soldier on leave?" Anduin noticed the man's necklace. There is a rectangular sign on the necklace, which is the idea that Duke came up with - the military card. The badge marks the soldier's name, place of origin, affiliation, and meritorious service.

The man immediately stood upright, in a standard military posture: "Joseph Adams, Captain of the Fifth Platoon of the Third Brigade of the Fifth Infantry Regiment of the Kingdom, salutes you, Your Excellency Commander Lothar." ”

"How's this winter going?" Ryan asked with a smile.

"Thanks to St. Duke, we had a good time. Almost instantly, Joseph's face had changed color.

"St. Duke?" (To be continued.) )