Black Iron Crown

It was already March in the twenty-second year of the empire, and the snow in Fort Moreland gradually began to melt, but this process might take a long time.

The reclamation activities were also affected because of this. Although Goerborg was brought under Reiner's command not long ago, he followed Reiner's order and reclaimed farmland in the wasteland.

Reclamation in winter is not easy. It is necessary to clear away the snow to expose the hard frozen soil below, and then use heavy plows made of steel to plow the land, so as to turn a desolate frozen soil into a farmland that can be cultivated.

Due to the melting of the snow cover, the land was somewhat muddy, but in contrast, the permafrost also became softer.

Up to now, the newly developed land in Fort Moreland has reached about 10,000 mu, and the arable land that Leiner can directly control has increased by two-thirds to 25,000 mu.

It is estimated that next year his grain production can be doubled directly. This time is the most difficult. The melting snow makes the weather very wet and cold, not the dry and cold in mid-winter.

Even if there is a burning fireplace in Reiner's room, it won't help. The pervasive damp cold air unscrupulously penetrates from every gap in the castle, making Reiner's bed and bedding damp. , sticking to the body is very uncomfortable.

He has already paid a month's salary, and the day of the second salary will come in twenty days. He still doesn't know the situation of Sir Cod and the others, and when they will be able to come back. He really I don't want my salary to be paid after the date.

In the interior of the empire at this time, it was already the season of warm spring and flowers blooming. Although there was still a slight chill, at least the green had reoccupied the land, and weeds had sprouted on the slightly muddy land.

Sir Codd and others have already escorted the goods to the hinterland of the empire. They passed several prosperous towns along the way, but unfortunately, because it is the commercial city of the imperial family, not many people need these things, not to mention the situation of the empire. Nervous, almost all cities and castles are under martial law, so they can only give up selling armor there, march to the imperial capital of the royal family, and sell it here.

The old emperor's body became weaker and weaker, and the environment inside the empire became more turbulent. The major lords, including the imperial family, were expanding their military strength, so armor was naturally indispensable.

In the stable period of the empire, the price of a set of full-body chain armor was only about two gold coins, and even if it fluctuated, it would definitely be replenished for more than three gold coins, but now a set of full-body chain armor needs at least five gold coins.

No lord would sell armor, and strategic technicians like blacksmiths were strictly controlled. Before the coming storm, they must accumulate enough strength to protect themselves and ensure that they can obtain the maximum benefit.

Therefore, many people want to buy armor but can't, and the price of strategic resources such as iron materials has soared sharply at this time, but they can't be bought at all. Most of the large and small iron mines in the empire are located in the northern border, in the hinterland or other areas. The amount of iron ore is very small.

However, most of the large iron mines in the northern border are under the control of the royal family. Other lords who want to obtain iron ore can only buy them from the small northern lords. It is a large iron mine, but there are not many of them. There are dozens of large and small iron mines in the Northland, which span about 200 kilometers from east to west. There are a lot of iron mines in the hands of small lords.

And they are also willing to sell iron materials to those big nobles at high prices to earn huge profits.

At this time, it has been about a month since Sir Codd and others left Fort Moreland. They are now only about 20 kilometers away from the imperial capital, and they have the warrant and coat of arms of Rainer. It is the consensus of the imperial nobles to collect the toll tax of the nobles, at least no one has violated it yet.

Just near the imperial capital,

They felt the prosperity here. Although the business has shrunk somewhat due to the impact of the situation, the busy caravans nearby are still full of cars and horses, and they look very busy.

Sir Cord and Lumbare had never left Fort Moreland in their entire lives, and they faced the few residents of Fort Moreland all day long. They were very surprised at the grand occasion before them.

When they arrived at the street market outside the city walls of the imperial capital, they were even more surprised, like country bumpkins who had suddenly entered the city, looking around at the bustling scene around them at a loss.

But speaking of it, they are indeed bumpkins who have never been to the city. They have lived in the backcountry of the Northland since they were young, and they have seen such a prosperous big city.

Of course, the residents of this so-called prosperous imperial city are only 50,000 to 60,000, and the buildings are mostly ordinary houses. Apart from the royal main castle in the center and the palace and manor outside the city, there are no outstanding buildings.

If Leiner came here, he would probably scoff. The economic foundation determines the superstructure. The population of this huge empire does not exceed ten million. Even the population of the imperial capital is not as large as that of a county in the later Celestial Dynasty. If Leiner was here, he would not Sneering, but at least it will definitely not be like a bumpkin entering the city like Lumbare.

And the Scarlet Griffon Knights, headed by Sir Valas, were not surprised at all. After all, they were an army from a fantasy world. The camp where the Griffin Knights were stationed was much larger than the imperial capital in front of them. , they will not be shocked by this.

The same is true for the Sergeants of Moreland. As the decisive elite of the Rhodok Kingdom, they often guard the most important pass of the kingdom. They can be found in Veruga and even Fort Grain Ward.

However, it is worth mentioning that there are a lot of patrols in this city, and within half an hour or so of entering the imperial capital, they have already encountered two fully armed ten-man patrols.

And many caravans have been interrogated by them, and they have also been interrogated by patrols. After all, their group of well-equipped and seemingly well-trained outsiders are the targets they need to interrogate. Take it out and pass their inspection.

Many residents looked in a hurry on the road, no matter what they did, they finished it as soon as possible and then hid in their homes.

Sir Codd and the others couldn't help but tremble when they saw such a scene. It seems that the situation in the empire is indeed very complicated, and even the imperial capital has been put under martial law like this.

They found a patrol officer with Leiner's warrant. Before Leiner left, he told them to try their best to sell the armor to the royal family. The family is also a branch of the royal family, so it is estimated that there will be some preferential treatment.

Seeing that there was only one more iris flower in his hand and the royal family's coat of arms, the chief of the patrol team asked, "Where are you from?"

"We are the Moland family, a branch of the royal family from the north, and I am a member of the Moland family. The baron wants me to bring a batch of armor to the royal family for sale, hoping to do my bit for the royal family! "