The day after the rain stopped, Border Town buzzed with activity again. The square was packed with villagers, their chatter swirling as they waited for the Fourth Prince's speech.
To prepare for the public lecture, Roland had posted a notice on the bulletin board the day before, offering a free meal of wheat porridge and half a loaf of bread to anyone who attended the square. For the townspeople, this was essentially a complimentary lunch, which drew far more attendees than the execution viewing.
As noon approached, Roland climbed onto the elevated platform that had been set up.
Facing the dense crowd beneath him, he knew any claim of calm was self-deception. Though accustomed to interacting with computer monitors and merely applauding in meetings, this was his first time confronting a large-scale event requiring active participation.
But he had to step in. To keep everyone in Border Town, a full-scale mobilization was essential.
Roland waved his hand to quiet everyone down.
He had rehearsed this scene alone countless times, yet his lips still felt dry when stepping onto the stage. "My subjects, good afternoon. I am Roland Wimbledon, the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle. I have gathered you here today to deliver an urgent message!" "The envoys from Longsong Fortress arrived four days ago to oversee the ore delivery. As you all know, a tragic accident occurred a month ago when the northern slope mine collapsed. The mining operations remain incomplete to this day, resulting in only two months' worth of ore production last quarter." "I explained the situation to the envoys and requested they allocate sufficient provisions to Border Town, with the remaining ore to be replenished after winter. But they refused! There was no room for negotiation—they declined to provide more grain, just as they did two years ago." The crowd gasped in shock, clearly remembering the severe food shortage from two years prior.
"This winter is clearly worse than before. The astrologer at Graycastle told me it will be longer than usual, with the Dark Moon likely lasting over four months. That means everyone might face a two-month food shortage. Two years ago you lost 20% of your companions—some lost brothers, others children. How many more will you lose this time?" "No! Your Highness, save us!" someone shouted from below, followed by more voices. "Your Highness, please help us!" It seemed wise to prepare backup. Roland raised his hand to suppress the crowd. "Of course I won't abandon my people—none of them! You may not know, but the wheat and bread delivered to the fortress each year are not worth as much as the minerals they take away. At normal market prices, just two months' worth of minerals could buy six months 'worth of food! I've already sold the minerals to merchants from Willow Leaf Town. Their food ships will soon arrive at Border Town. Along with bread, there's cheese, wine, and dried meat! Enough for an entire winter's supply—everyone will be fed!" The square erupted in cheers.
"But this would mean severing ties with the Long Song Fortress. They won't shelter anyone anymore, so this winter we'll spend it in Border Town. Most have seen the sturdy wall being built west of Border Town. I know some worry about whether we can withstand the evil beasts 'attack. Let me tell you—these creatures aren't much stronger than the wild beasts in the forest. Though their hides are thick and their flesh tough, they can't scale walls or break stones. Those thick hides are just a bunch of pathetic targets!" "Tell me, my people: Would you rather hide in the fortress's huts and starve to death, or protect your families and children under my command, defending Border Town until the last moment? I promise that all townspeople who fight on the walls until the Evil Demon Month ends will receive twenty-five Silver Wolves as rewards. Those who fall in battle will have their families compensated with five Golden Dragons!" "Fight for Your Highness!" Under Tuo's guidance, the crowd shouted their vows to fight to the death. Seeing the rising morale, Roland promptly ordered lunch distribution. He didn't expect everyone to stay in Border Town—just half the people willing to remain would give him confidence to stop the evil beasts' eastward advance.
...
Perro had no idea how His Royal Highness had orchestrated his plans. When he relayed the news to the six Noble families in the fortress, all he got in return was a burst of laughter.
"You mean that naive Prince actually wants to ditch us and go it alone? Should I praise his audacity in rushing to repair the walls before winter sets in, or mock his overconfidence?" "Your Royal Highness's unparalleled bravery is common knowledge. When did the Fourth Prince gain such nerve? What a fool!" "True, he doesn't even have stonemasons. He's just stacking rough stones with wet mortar in between—once it gets too high, it'll collapse." "But this is a good thing. If he flees back to Changge Fortress, we'll have him at our mercy. If he dies in Border Town... we can end this farce sooner." The Duke, who had been lost in thought, suddenly spoke. "Pero, what's your opinion?" Pero froze momentarily, surprised the Changge Duke would ask his opinion. "Well, I originally wanted to maintain the monopoly. As long as prices stay 30% below market value, it's still a profitable business for us. But..." He quickly organized his thoughts. "Your Highness doesn't plan to let the fortress monopolize ore. His willingness to sell ore at 50% below market price indicates he intends to double production next year. If we can double output, we might earn more than ever. He also plans to produce and sell ironware himself—ironware is in high demand everywhere and easy to resell. But... those aren't the main points." "Oh? What's the main point?" "If he can hold Border Town, it would also be excellent news for the fortress. We wouldn't have to spend every year dealing with the evil beasts, which would save us a huge amount of money. The second benefit is that the vast land between Changge Fortress and Border Town will be ours. Whether it's for cultivation or settlement, it's a great option that could significantly alleviate the current overcrowding in the fortress." Perro elaborated on his plan, "And the Fourth Prince won't stay in Border Town forever. The Crown Prince's reign lasts only five years. After five years, we'll have a more prosperous Border Town, and then we can incorporate it into the fortress. Changge Fortress would become the kingdom's third-largest territory. So my suggestion is..." He glanced at the Duke and cautiously continued, "The fortress should send personnel to help Your Highness build the walls and assist in defending Border Town." "Good point," the Duke smiled, "but those are just merchants' ideas focused solely on profit." At this, he straightened up, his eyes slowly scanning the other attendees, his tone growing increasingly stern. "However, my current position isn't entirely based on profit. Why would I do business with someone beyond my control? Certain rules must be followed, and violations will be punished." Whether Border Town is thriving or in ruins doesn't matter. What matters is this: it's my turf, and no one—Prince included—should lay a hand on it.