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This year's Border Town is very different from previous years.
In previous years, after the Demonic Month ended, people had to wait for another month in the slums of the Longsong Fortress until the snow completely melted before they could set out on their journey home. When they returned to the town, they mostly saw a mess.
The houses that had not been taken care of for several months were dilapidated. Some of the not-so-sturdy wooden houses had already been crushed by the heavy snow. Some townspeople even had evil beasts hiding in their homes. Not only did they bite the cabinets and tables to pieces, but they also dragged straw and rags to fill the corners, obviously treating this place that could shelter from the wind and snow as their own nest. They often spent a week repairing the houses and replacing the moldy furniture. As for the lingering smell of decay, the residents here were used to it.
However, this year, Border Town was completely new. The snow was quickly swept away, and colorful paper flags distributed by His Royal Highness the Prince were hung at the door of the house. From afar, the monotonous and dilapidated town became colorful, with various flags mixed together, like a sea of flowers.
Everyone rushed to tell each other that on the first day after the end of the Demonic Moon, His Highness would hold a grand celebration ball in the square! Anyone can go, not only does it not require payment of coins, but it is said that there will be free food!
What is a ball? It is a social occasion that only the upper nobles can attend. Everyone has only heard of it from the knowledgeable merchants in big cities, but even they cannot participate in it. I heard from the merchants that it is not an event that can be invited just by having money. His Highness actually let everyone participate?
"Your Highness, it's not good for you to do this, right?" The chief knight dissuaded, "There is neither a band nor a lead dancer here, who will control the rhythm of the ball? Besides, in such a remote place, even the nobles may not know how to dance, and your subjects will only mess everything up."
Carter only went to a ball once when he was in the capital, and it was held by a marquis to celebrate his daughter's birthday. Elegant string music and passionate drum beats sounded alternately. The ladies danced to the melodious music, while the men showed their fast and powerful dance steps after the drums sounded, either spinning or tapping, combining their movements with the drum beats.
During the break, the servants carried drinks and snacks and shuttled among the crowd. The men looked for the women they liked. When the last piece of music sounded, they mustered up the courage to ask them out. The successful ones would have a romantic date in the bedroom or in the garden after the dance.
Carter sighed. Although he didn't get a date with the girl he liked when he was young, he had a fleeting romance with some noble ladies when he followed the prince. After all, in the dark, many ladies didn't mind having an extra cock to make themselves happy.
"Lead dancer? Yes," Roland ordered the militia to dismantle all the stone sculptures and gallows in the square, "Iron Axe and the militia are them."
"The Sand People?" Carter was stunned. As the captain of the musketeers, Iron Axe's performance in the Demonic Moon finally won the recognition of the chief knight, and the title of alien race was no longer mentioned. However, the other party was a Mojin after all, how could he know the etiquette of the mainland kingdom!
Roland smiled mysteriously: "Because I am not going to hold a ball in the usual sense, you will know when the time comes."
The preparations to be done are not much, mainly to remove the obstacles in the square and then build a pile of firewood in the center. Bricks were used to build a table next to the firewood pile for barbecue. Yes, this is the celebration ball that Roland came up with on the spur of the moment - a mixture of a bonfire party and a barbecue in the wild.
What to use to increase people's sense of identity with their place of residence has always been a question that the prince has seriously considered. Nationalism and patriotism are too profound for these rural villagers who have worked for the lord all their lives and cannot read a single word.
Only their wealth and relatives are worth caring about. The more backward, the more short-sighted. This is the law of the development of civilization. Civilization will eventually become as big as its thoughts. Roland deeply agrees with this.
However, this does not mean that spiritual construction can be ignored. The victory celebration is one of the transformation methods he has figured out.
In fact, he finds it difficult to understand why there is no celebration after the evil month. The annual invasion of evil beasts is just like a natural disaster. It is naturally worth writing about to defeat such evil.
So he decided to name the first day after the end of the evil month every year as Victory Day. All the territories belonging to him will not only be closed on this day, but also hold various celebrations. As long as it lasts for three or four years, it will become a tradition and be passed down in the territory. And the people will gradually feel that they are indeed different from the people under the rule of other lords.
Before noon, the square was crowded with people. The militia members lined up in a circle to block everyone from the firewood pile.
It seems that the free distribution of food is still quite attractive. At least half of the people in the whole town came, Roland thought. The only drawback is that the square is a little small after all. Except for the circle of open space outside the firewood pile, more than a thousand people are almost shoulder to shoulder, and it is difficult to have space for activities. He also saw some children climbed onto the nearest roof and looked into the middle of the square.
It was the first celebration, so it was bound to have some flaws. Roland thought it was about time, so
he went on stage to give a speech. This was his second time to give a public speech in the square, and he was much calmer than last time.
"My people, good afternoon. I am Roland Wimbledon, the fourth prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle." He still chose the same opening as last time, but the effect was completely different this time. Before he finished speaking, the crowd had already erupted in enthusiastic cheers, "Long live His Royal Highness!" "Long live His Royal Highness!"
Roland suddenly felt his chest warm. This time he didn't arrange any helpers. Seeing the spontaneous cheers from the militia and the masses, he felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction fill his heart.
When the shouts died down a bit, he pressed his hand down and said, "The Demonic Month is over. Thanks to the heroic fighting of the militia, the evil beasts have never been able to get past the city wall. Border Town defeated the terrible enemy at a very small cost. This proves that as long as we unite, we can gain a foothold here even without relying on the charity of Changsong Fortress! They wanted to threaten the town with food, and wanted to use hunger and severe cold to force us to surrender, but today's victory tells them that all this is in vain!"
"You're right, I never want to go back to that place!"
"Following His Royal Highness the Prince, we won't be hungry for a single day in winter!"
"Finally, we don't have to be blackmailed by them. Your Highness, please be merciful!"
Roland took advantage of the rising emotions of the crowd and continued to speak loudly: "Let us celebrate this brilliant and glorious victory. This is a day worth remembering! I declare that from now on, the first day after the end of the Demonic Moon will be called Victory Day! The celebration ball is set up for this purpose! My subjects, enjoy this day to your heart's content! Now, the ball begins!"
The torches were thrown into the pile of greased firewood, and the flames rose with a bang, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire square.
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Six marinated whole cows were transported to the bonfire by a cart - if it weren't for the militia escort, Roland suspected that the whole cow would be divided up by the enthusiastic crowd when the cart passed the crowd.
This was also all the inventory in his castle basement. Thinking that he would have no steak to eat before the next merchant ship arrived, Roland felt tears in his heart. In order to hold this celebration well, he had spent all his family's money.
The royal chef brought from the capital was only responsible for applying the ingredients and supervising the fire. The task of grilling was given to the six strongest men in the militia. An iron rod was inserted into the cow's mouth and placed on a brick platform next to the fire. The flames were burning fiercely, and the heat wave could be felt from two or three meters away. Soon, the skin of the whole cow made a sizzling sound, and the fat came out of the pores, emitting an attractive aroma.
Of course, everyone couldn't just sit there and wait while the meat was grilled. At Roland's signal, Iron Axe and a team of militia members came on stage.
Those gorgeous and complicated court dances are not suitable for such occasions. Without long-term training, even the essentials of the movements may not be remembered, let alone showing a beautiful dance posture. If you want to ensure that it is simple and easy to understand while expressing yourself to the fullest, the dance of the Sand People is obviously more in line with the tastes of ordinary people.
Iron Axe and his team members put their hands on their waists, one of their hands passed through the arm of the companion on the right, forming a ring-and-ring shape, and lined up in two circles around the fire. With the accompaniment - that is, several high and low horns sounded, they began to move in a clockwise direction. With each step, the other foot kicked forward and shouted "Ha Hey!"
"Is this what you call leading the dance?" Carter's eyes widened, "Is this also considered dancing?"
"Of course it is, and it's simple and easy to remember. The militia team only practiced for a quarter of an hour last night and mastered the steps," Roland said with a smile,
"Do you want to go up and try it?"
Carter shook his head and refused. He just felt as if something in his heart broke with a clang - goodbye, that beautiful girl who made his heart beat, goodbye, those slightly sad memories of youth.
The other militia members clapped their hands and followed the dancers' steps, with each round of kicks bringing a round of applause. The rhythmic rhythm inspired the crowd, and they all stretched out their hands to follow suit. As the applause grew faster and faster, Iron Axe and the team members spun faster and faster, and the human ring began to show signs of disconnection. Not long after, a team member accidentally fell, and then a group of people fell down with him, and the rotation came to an abrupt end.
The crowd was stunned, but the applause from the militia did not stop at all, but became like a storm. Iron Axe helped the fallen team member up and shouted to the crowd: "Do you understand? Anyone want to try? If you fall, it will be the end of the round! Everyone who joins the dance will get a piece of sweet and delicious honey roast meat. The longer you hold on, the more meat you will get!"
If the nobles and wealthy families invited them, the townspeople would not necessarily participate enthusiastically - subconsciously, they always looked down on the common people and regarded them as worthless, and it was common for them to go back on their promises. But when they saw the militia members, that is, the familiar villagers and neighbors, waving and cheering them on, they couldn't hold back.
With the first one, there was soon a second and a third. A new round of dance began again, but this time, most of the dancers were replaced by the public. Although the movements were simple, everyone enjoyed it, and with the honey barbecue as a reward, the participants all gave their best performance.
This was exactly what Roland wanted to see.
In addition to the barbecue, there were also bread, fish cakes, and beer, which would be distributed after the beef was distributed, and the celebration would last until the evening.
As the atmosphere became more and more heated, Roland instigated Carter and others to join in.
Seeing that even His Royal Highness had joined in, the people became more and more excited and spontaneously lifted Roland up. Others, including the witches, were also greatly welcomed, especially Nana and Anna. The former's healing ability saved countless lives, and now Nana is an angel in everyone's mind. Anna gained everyone's respect on the battlefield.
Due to Anna's participation in the battle, a large number of evil beasts were directly turned into ashes, which indirectly reduced the casualties of the soldiers and also won the respect of the soldiers.
This is what I pursue! Roland, who was thrown into the air by the people, thought so.