with Dean being scolded by his father until he could not hold his head up.
「我们是商人，你知道商人最需要的是什么吗？是稳定的秩序！是严格遵守的规矩！！」
「你怎么会愚蠢到收买人暗杀他？他是那么容易被干掉的吗？就算你得手，一个新晋贵族骑士被Don’t you think the palace will pursue the assassination? Don’t you know how many opponents we have waiting to get hold of us? How will you face the punishment of the palace?” Old Dean is almost dying!
Dean's mother hurriedly stepped forward to support the old Dean who was too angry to stand, and spoke out to save her son: "Isn't Dean also trying to eliminate an opponent as soon as possible? Besides, fortunately, news came from the North that the guy was not dead at all, and the people sent were not caught alive."
"But what was the result? As a result, that bastard bought all fifteen carts of goods from China to our allies! ! Do you know that according to my prior arrangement, that bastard will have all the goods in his hands, and he won’t even get a single copper coin? "How could I have a stupid son like you!!" Old Dean pointed at Dean’s nose and cursed.
Dean, who was sitting in the corner, was already blushing and jealous. Now he finally couldn't stand listening any more. He jumped up and kicked down the chair. He said bitterly: "Then let that bastard be your son!!" After that, he slammed the door and kicked over a servant who was delivering drinks.
Old Dean pointed to the door and shouted to his wife: "This is the son you spoiled!"
"What's wrong with my son? How is he any worse than others? Why are you so afraid of an inconspicuous little knight?" Dean's mother was still defending her son.
"Little knight? Do you know how many people he has killed in the past two years? Do you know how many gangsters have been nailed to the head on the southern trade road? Do you know how many desperadoes he has under his command? He is a dangerous opponent. Once he uses the sword, this kind of person will not spare his life. If we send people to assassinate him, won't he send people to assassinate us?" Old Dean has already guessed that Art will definitely take countermeasures next.
Dean's mother panicked when she heard that someone was going to fight with her family, "What should we do? How about we take the initiative to seek peace with that guy?"
There was silence in the room for a while, and Old Dean regained some composure, his dark eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Seek peace? Even if he is a gangster, my Dean family is not a fat sheep!"
……
“The Dean family is not a fat sheep, they have already started to take action. According to the news coming back from Tynets City in the past few days, the Dean family is gathering rangers and mercenaries in the name of recruiting caravan guards, and the most elite guards of several caravans of the Dean family have also been transferred back to the Dean family’s farm southwest of Tynets city and the Winchester Manor to strengthen defense forces. Moreover, Redoan also A secret message was sent that the Dean family is contacting several groups of bandits in the county, hoping that the bandits will serve as their hunting dogs. However, the bandits entrenched in the mountains have been frightened by us, and few bandits have responded to the Dean family. "
In the wooden castle in the valley, since Ron was seriously injured and did not return, the responsibility of external intelligence collection was temporarily held by Angus, who was in charge of military intelligence.
Att tore off half of the honey-smeared bread on the wooden plate on the table and handed it to Angus, who was sitting across from him. Then he picked up the remaining half and took a bite. He puffed out his cheeks and replied, "Look, it seems that the Dean family thought that our group of "violent bandits" would be reckless enough to directly lead troops to attack their farms and manors. Angus also brought the bread to his mouth, took a bite, and praised Lu: "The bread made by Mrs. Lottie is really delicious." "
"Thank you, sir and madam."
At swallowed all the chewed bread in his mouth and said: "It's just a few pieces of bread, it's not worthy of you saying thank you. Sergeant, how are you preparing the countermeasures plan?"
Angus put down the bread in his hand, came closer and replied: "Word came back from Simon. Starting from this morning, the border post has begun to block the road. All caravans and pedestrians carrying goods going north and south have been forced to return. Before the army completes the expansion and deployment to the border post, the caravan guards are temporarily stationed at the border to help the post block the border. In addition, I have asked Lusignan to patrol back and forth along the trade road with the sentry. Once the situation occurs, All robbers who cross the border will be detained."
At took a sip from his wine glass and replied steadily: "Okay, the matter of sealing the border has been reported to the county. Anyway, when asked, I said that it was investigated recently. There are many profiteers from the south who secretly collude with the bandits in the county to provide them with weapons and supplies, and I am going to send out troops to wipe out the bandits in the county. In order to prevent the southern businessmen from continuing to collude with the bandits, I must seal the border for a period of time."
Angus also picked up the wine glass and took a sip, and replied with some concern: "In this way, other dignitaries will also be offended, right~"
"Don't worry, I am only targeting the Dean family, and they are the only family transporting southern goods on this trade route. I have already given instructions to Simon. As long as the powerful people we cannot offend and the caravans that do not carry southern goods will be detained for a day and a half, they will be released." If they cut off my northern passage, I will choke their southern throat. I don’t believe they can carry the southern goods over Mount Carmel.”
“But will this anger the opponent? Their strength cannot be underestimated.”
“Yes, so we must be prepared to deal with the opponent’s swords, axes, spears and swords. How are we preparing for the expansion of the army and defense?”
"According to your arrangement, the second and third squadrons are stationed at the Boulder Town camp, ready to respond to the enemy's attack on Boulder Town or quickly reinforce the border outpost."
h "As for the new recruits, Odo has completed the basic training of new recruits. This batch of twenty new recruits who have completed the training are mainly war slaves (captives) who have performed well and obtained free status, and those who have obtained free status from the Lane Manor. The rescued serfs, in addition to a small number of young and strong refugees and peasant soldiers of the Guard, are more powerful than the refugees previously recruited. Otto thinks that a dozen of the best recruits can be selected to be incorporated into the first squadron, so that the first squadron can regain its combat effectiveness as soon as possible under the leadership of several veterans. In the past two days, Otto has been training the miners and laborers you returned from the northern belt this time. "
"As for the establishment of the fourth squadron, I think it can be postponed because we are about to face a crisis. In order to ensure the core combat effectiveness of the army, I think the veterans of the second and third squadrons should not be transferred. The new recruits who are preparing to form the fourth squadron can be separately formed into a temporary team and assigned weapons and armor and transferred to the Boulder Town camp to assist in defense."
Yat did not rush to answer after hearing this. According to the original plan, after trying to open up the trade route on his way north, he would return to the valley to reorganize the army again. In addition to rebuilding the first squadron, he would also build a fourth squadron.
But now he is facing a crisis that may break out at any time. Veterans with combat experience in the legion must maintain the best combat effectiveness at all times. Moreover, Ron, who he originally planned to be the captain of the 4th Squadron, has also been left in Lucese to recuperate. There is neither a leading veteran nor a suitable officer, so now he can only try to get through the crisis in front of him.
"Yesterday I discussed with Odo. The reorganized First Squadron will temporarily have Colin as the squadron leader, and the remaining surviving veterans will serve as squad leaders, combat team leaders and other positions. As for the Fourth Squadron, it will not be newly established for the time being. The ten recruits to be incorporated into the Fourth Squadron will be temporarily organized into the Fourth Squad and treated as combat soldiers. Andrew, the combat team leader of the Second Squadron, will be transferred out to serve as the captain of the Fourth Squadron."
"Reorganize the First Squadron." The squadron and the temporary fourth squadron are stationed at the Jushi Town camp. The 2nd and 3rd squadrons and the crossbow squad are transferred to the border outpost. The border is where they are needed most. "
"In addition, you tell Odo and Cooper to increase the training frequency of the Valley Guard. Once the order is given, the Valley Guard will immediately go to the Beiguan Army Fort construction site. I am worried that the opponent will bypass the Jushi Town camp to harass our Valley Knights."
"Yes, I have written it down."
h "Okay, you and Odo will complete the reorganization as soon as possible, and then garrison Boulder Town and the border outpost. Odo will sit in Boulder Town after completing the training of the latest batch of recruits, and you I am specifically responsible for the border outpost. In the past few days, I have stayed here in the valley to personally arrange the food supplies for the border outpost and the garrison in Jushi Town. We may be in isolation for a while, and I must ensure that the army has no worries."
Angus picked up the honey-smeared bread on the table and stuffed it into his mouth, then turned around and left the office.
After Angus left, Art shouted toward the door: "Felix, get ready and accompany me to the valley in the afternoon. I want to personally supervise the collection of grain taxes and the purchase of farmers' surplus grain in the valley."
Before the struggle with the Dean family is over, Art can no longer send people out to collect grain on a large scale. He must be prepared to rely solely on the food produced in the valley to maintain an increasingly large situation. Fortunately, this year's grain harvest in the valley has been bumper. In addition to paying the agreed taxes, farmers can also exchange their surplus grain for coins...
……………
In July, the southern border outpost.
A garrison and outpost stood up more than a hundred steps apart. The camp was surrounded by a fence with pointed wooden stakes on four sides. Six military tents of different sizes were set up in the camp. The sound of soldiers fighting and training in the open space of the camp was loud. There were two soldiers wearing armor and holding spears standing guard at the gate of the camp.
On the commercial road in front of the outpost more than a hundred steps away, the roadblock has been set up on the stone bridge over the stream. The entire garrison at the outpost was dispatched, either to intercept and search passing pedestrians and merchants in front of the roadblock, or to patrol up and down the stream under the leadership of the commander.
The refugees who stayed here for a rest in the past also noticed that the atmosphere was getting increasingly tense. They packed up their tattered packages and left this place of trouble and trouble. Only a dozen young men who had registered as territorial residents were left here, who were still reinforcing walls, making horses, and digging traps for the army.
The southern border already looks like war is coming...