"I won't talk too much about the things in the palace. I'll tell you a little something now that you're here."
"In the past few months, I have sorted out the affairs of the entire Lucerne diocese. I found that the business firm that was responsible for purchasing religious goods for the entire diocese had a lot of tricks. I decided to change to several other businesses. Before that, I I also gave you a name to purchase religious goods. Now I give you an opportunity to turn this piece of parchment into a real cooperation. What do you think? "
Happy from the sky, Art stayed in front of Olof for a moment.
As a privileged class above the secular world, the church's wealth is astonishing, and being able to establish real trade relations with the church is the dream of many businessmen.
“Don’t be too happy too early. I said I’m just giving you a chance. If you can’t meet the requirements of the church, I will take back this chance. And I no longer intend to let one business monopolize the religious goods of the entire Lucese Diocese, so you are only responsible for Hewo for the time being. If you do well enough with the purchase of goods at the husband's cathedral, I will consider leaving the purchase of the monastery outside the city to you. "
"My child, you must grasp your strength in everything, whether it is doing business to make money or marching and fighting." Olof taught earnestly.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Bishop."
"You will go to the church deacon in a moment, and he will explain this matter to you~"
...
After returning to Besançon again, Art visited several other important ministers who controlled the palace council one by one. Except for the military minister and the palace justice, who took the time to meet Art in person, the other dignitaries did not meet Art in person. However, Art still gave a batch of valuable agate, spices, silk and other gifts to the stewards of several important ministers to forward them on their behalf.
Of course, this does not include Finance Minister Bernard.
In the next few days of waiting for the palace summons, Art did not rest. In addition to supervising the daily training of the army, he also took Angus and the guards to visit the competition grounds and gladiatorial arenas in Besançon and several surrounding cities.
Yat's personal martial arts skills are not very outstanding, so he does not specifically participate in the gladiatorial competition. Except for playing a bow and arrow competition at the competition ground in Besançon city, the rest of the time he leads people to lobby at the backstage of the competition venue.
That's right, Art wants to recruit talents from the arena. However, the targets of Art's lobbying recruitment are not the warriors who are active on the court, but those who are responsible for training and teaching behind the warriors.
Most of them are veterans who have been injured or retired from the army. Some of them have served as soldiers in the Palace Guards, and some have fought with the mercenary legions all year round, but had to withdraw from the battlefield due to their age or being unfortunately seriously injured in a certain battle.
These people are either too old or disabled. Compared with those who have lost their limbs and become beggars, they are lucky enough to be able to get a bowl of leftovers in the arena and gladiatorial arena, so their salary is similar to that of ordinary laborers. So when Art proposed to hire them to join the army as instructors and explained the generous treatment, these people didn't need to say much at all, they immediately packed up their things and went to the military camp to register.
After leaving the gladiatorial arena, Ron, the captain of the guard, looked confused, "Master, if you really want to recruit experienced warriors into the army, you can directly recruit those gladiators or mercenaries. What can these old guys with missing arms and legs do?"
"Furthermore, you can enjoy the treatment of soldiers and receive a monthly salary of eighty pfennigs. This is already the military salary of our combat team leader. Is it too high? I have inquired and found that these people only take care of themselves and only receive a monthly salary of sixty-five pfennigs." They have abilities beyond the reach of ordinary people, otherwise they would have become beggars on the streets. "
"Next, we will face a new round of military expansion. Whether it is officer training or recruit training, we need people with rich combat experience and good teaching skills to serve as instructors. It is one thing to possess personal bravery and combat skills, and it is another thing to be able to teach bravery and combat skills to others. "
"After I return to the valley this time, I will establish an officer academy. In the future, all those who want to be promoted to officers must receive training in the officer academy before they can take up their posts."
With the promotion of titles, the necessity of opening an officer academy is getting higher and higher. Art plans to separate an officer academy from the parish school attached to the church to train military command and combat talents, and expand it into a military academy when the time is right in the future.
"Sir, doesn't our parish school have the role of training officers? Why build another officer school?" Ron was puzzled.
"Although the parish school is currently responsible for cultivating military personnel, it is also a place to train civil affairs system administrators. I need a school dedicated to the military."
"Oh. Now we have recruited two of them, should we recruit more "instructors"~"
"Continue to recruit! I have already given instructions to Tridok and Reyek, and they are also recruiting a group of people through those former mercenaries. The old mercenary entered the army. "
stayed in Besançon for a week. Due to the complicated process, the palace promotion documents were delayed, but Atko couldn't wait any longer.
After returning from the east, the more than one hundred soldiers under Art's command were removed from the temporary first company of the Palace Guards. Since they did not belong to the palace army, they could no longer accept support from the palace.
The amount of food and grass consumed every day by more than 150 people and horses is huge. Moreover, this is a city of goods, and the price of food and fodder is soaring. Art is not short of money, but letting the army act like gold-eating beasts here every day is not something Art can support.
Hence, Art decided to stay in Besancon with his bodyguards to wait for the palace audience, and let the army return south first.
At the end of April, the Art army, which was heading north to the east, finally packed up and set off, led by Odo and Angus, on its way back to the southern valley.
Army Adjutant Odo entered Art's military tent to report on the army's logistics and miscellaneous affairs, and replied: "My lord, Master Felix has been sent to Lucesien and lived in Selangover Monastery. We have left a soldier to take care of Master Felix, and the southern goods shop Kennai in Lucesien city Steward M was also a member of Master Galvin, and he has taken over Master Felix. With them here, you can rest assured that other seriously injured soldiers have also been arranged to enter the monastery. We will donate holy blessings to the monastery according to your request. After they recover from their injuries, they will be brought back to the valley."
Matt nodded and asked, "Where is the sergeant major?"
“The sergeant major set off first with the sentries and a few baggage soldiers. According to your arrangement, they went to the castles, fortresses and villages along the way to recruit bankrupt farmers, miners, laborers and craftsmen, while I took most of the infantry south along the north-south trade road. We will be in the town of Tyniec County. Let's meet up and return to the valley together. "
"Okay, you can proceed as planned and go back to the valley to make repairs first. The rest will be decided after I come back. Go ahead and do your work."
"Yes!" Odo took the order and left the camp.
As soon as Art picked up the wine glass and prepared to take a sip of wine, Ron opened the curtain, "Sir, Uncle Lawrence has arrived in Besançon."
At quickly put down the wine glass, "Quick, bring Lawrence in."
Ron turned and left, and soon Lawrence, who had a thin face and dark skin, walked into the camp.
"Sir!"
Lawrence was about to salute, and Art quickly stepped forward to support him, "Lawrence, thank you for your hard work!"
"Sir, the hard work is nothing, but I'm afraid that I didn't do a good job and couldn't share your worries." Even his speech was different after he became a businessman.
"It's a embarrassment for you to suddenly pull you out to run a caravan even though you were doing so well at Beiguan Army Fort." Art comforted him.
“Sir, the hard work is secondary. The main reason is that I have never been a merchant. Before, I only worked with Salt to help suppress the situation. Suddenly I was asked to accept a large-scale caravan. I am terrified every day, for fear that something will go wrong and cause trouble for you.” Lawrence said it right. It's a matter of fact. He was originally just an ordinary farmer. He was selected as the deputy captain of the Valley Guard because of his outstanding performance in opening up wasteland with Scott and the old housekeeper. He then became the deputy steward. Then he went out with the caravan several times and was promoted to the craftsman's steward after returning to the valley.
Whether it is farming or building a military fortress, Lawrence can do it with his extraordinary hard work, but when he is suddenly asked to become the steward of a caravan, Lawrence, who can't even read a few words, really feels extremely strenuous.
“Sir, you were in urgent need of establishing a southern caravan, and Manager Salt had to leave to go to the south. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and take over the northern caravan. However, for more than half a year, I have been operating the caravan with great care every day, but the income of the caravan has still declined. Therefore, after returning to the valley this time, you should choose someone else to manage it. Manage the caravan, I'd better go back to build the military fort or farm the land~"
At saw that Lawrence didn't seem to be modest, and considering that running a caravan does require a lot of experience in business, he nodded, "Okay, I promise you, after this period of time, I will find someone to replace you. But you have to support me during this period of time."
"I originally planned to build a shop in Besançon, but I stopped building it for the time being due to other reasons. However, Count Baldwin's steward recently found me. He wants to expand the size of the shop and establish business relations with us. I agreed. You should find time in the next two days to go to the grocery store next to the tailor shop at the gate of Nancheng to discuss with the steward. In the future, our southern goods will be supplied to them."
"Sir, our southern goods can only be transported to Lucesne, and we can't go to Besancon."
"Don't worry, I have already reached an agreement with them. They will go to Lucesne to receive the goods themselves. You just need to make a reservation for them. As for the price, reduce it by one-tenth according to the market price. "
"Yes! I understand." Lawrence replied.
"In addition, how did you go about recruiting the second group of orphans to enter the school?"
"Sir, we have recruited thirteen boys around the age of fifteen. According to your requirements, they are all physically strong and mentally agile. We have also recruited four or five clerks and traders who are proficient in paperwork. These people can join the caravan or stay in the civil affairs in the future."
"Excellent!"