However, things took a turn for the better the next day!
The territory's guards reported that a man claiming to be Prince Arthas of Lordaeron had arrived at Hearthglen with a team!
The arrival of the Crown Prince overjoyed Tyran and the others. With such a weighty figure taking action, the food problem should be resolved quickly!
When Arthas and his team arrived in the woodlands outside Hearthglen, a large number of undead had gathered outside the valley's gate, estimated to be at least a thousand!
These undead included skeletons that had been dead for a long time, newly cursed fresh corpses, and those large, fat abomination types!
The Hearthglen guards at the city gate were fighting hard against this group of undead. After the dense gunfire, a plume of white smoke could even be seen drifting above the trees.
"It's the smell of gunpowder. Musketeers are attacking!"
There were some dwarves in Arthas's team, and Arthas's martial arts instructor was Muradin Bronzebeard from Ironforge, so he was no stranger to firearms.
A dozen years ago, only dwarves throughout the Eastern Kingdoms liked to equip this kind of firearm. Humans relied more on longbows and crossbows.
It wasn't until after the Orcish Wars that the high-ranking officials of various countries discovered that the Stromgarde army was equipped with a large number of firearms, and the advantages of firearms quickly became apparent. Therefore, this weapon began to become standard equipment in various countries.
Arthas quietly observed in the forest and soon discovered that a group of necromancers in black robes were secretly manipulating the undead army to attack Hearthglen!
"We'll go and kill that group of necromancers!"
Arthas made a decisive decision. As long as the necromancers controlling the undead were killed, these brainless monsters would naturally slowly disperse. Even if they didn't disperse, they would be easy to deal with!
"Be careful to protect yourselves!"
Before charging, Arthas turned to Jaina and said. He could see that the previous rest was not enough for the magic girl to recover her strength.
Arthas led the team forward at the fastest speed. The black-robed necromancers were casting spells with their backs to them. When they noticed the ground trembling, it was too late to escape!
Some of them forcibly interrupted their spells, but their bodies suffered backlash from the magical chaos, and they stood stiffly in place for a while, becoming sitting ducks!
The strongest of the necromancers was still casting spells with all his strength before Arthas got close!
"Quick! Arthas, interrupt his spellcasting. I felt a fluctuation in space. He's going to escape!"
Arthas heard Jaina's reminder and raised his eyes, locking onto the target!
Riding his warhorse, he smashed the chest of a skeleton with his hammer, then raised his warhammer and backhanded, smashing the head of a zombie, and then pointed remotely at the necromancer.
Arthas shouted loudly: "Hammer of Justice!"
The spatial fluctuations disappeared. Arthas and the soldiers swarmed up and killed all the necromancers in a few strokes!
When all the mages commanding the undead died, the remaining undead all stopped moving, spinning around in place. Arthas turned his head and began to destroy these corpses.
The squad leader in charge of the city defense discovered that living people were supporting them, and also cautiously cooperated to attack, killing the undead on the periphery bit by bit.
Soon the ground was covered with corpses, and all several thousand undead were wiped out.
"Who are you!"
Although the squad leader recognized the Lordaeron insignia on Arthas and the others, they had seen living people turn into zombies before, so they did not approach them.
"Good vigilance."
Arthas praised. The undead plague was bizarre and unparalleled. In this unclear situation, keeping a distance was wise.
"I am Arthas, Prince of Lordaeron. Quickly inform the lord of Hearthglen!"
"Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I will inform the lord!"
...
The soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield. They piled the remains of this group of undead together, then skillfully picked up dry branches from the forest and sprinkled them on top, and finally threw a torch on them.
Tirion Fordring quickly arrived at the city gate. This was the second time he had seen Arthas. The last time was at the Stratholme Cathedral, at the ceremony where the prince joined the Knights of the Silver Hand.
At that time, Arthas was the center of attention. Tirion only followed his father and watched from afar. Now, only a little over a year has passed, but everything has changed, and his father is also missing!
Although his mother told him that his father was dead, Tirion faintly sensed that his father was still alive through his prayers to the Holy Light, but he just couldn't show himself now.
"Tirion Fordring, lord of Hearthglen, greets Your Highness!"
After Tirion greeted him, he introduced his little friends to Arthas one by one.
Arthas focused his gaze on Tirion, Bridget, and Renault. Their surnames were well-known in Lordaeron. If nothing unexpected happened, when he ascended the throne in the future, these few should also inherit the titles of their families and swear allegiance to him.
But now is not the time to think about this. Arthas is more concerned about the plague situation. He eagerly asked:
"Do you have any grain from Andorhal here! Has anyone eaten this batch of grain!"
Tirion and the others exchanged glances. It seemed that the kingdom already knew how the plague was spread...
"Prince Arthas, we have not eaten the wheat and bread transported from Andorhal. Priest Maltz promptly noticed the plague hidden in it, and we destroyed this batch of grain as soon as possible!"
Tirion's words made Arthas breathe a sigh of relief: "This is really good news."
All he had encountered on the way from Tarren Mill were bad news. Now, there was finally good news in Hearthglen, which undoubtedly gave the exhausted Arthas a boost.
Tirion led Arthas and Jaina towards Mardenholde Keep in Hearthglen, and began to introduce the current situation of Hearthglen to the prince along the way.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees needed food, and faced with the constant harassment of the undead, they also needed the support of the regular Lordaeron army. This was still the case with a large number of refugees bringing their own belongings, otherwise even more material support would be needed!
Arthas announced the news that Kel'Thuzad was the spreader of the plague, and no matter what the final result was, Dalaran could not stay out of it.
However, as the two sides exchanged information, their expressions became even more serious!
The entire Westweald!
Only Hearthglen remained!