At the beginning of November, the cold began to hit the valley barony.
The door of the stone house in Beiguan Army Fort was closed, and two sentries stood at the door. No one was allowed to approach the stone house.
In the house, red charcoal was burning in two iron basins, adding a bit of warmth to the cold room.
Just on the long wooden table used for waterboarding a few days ago, seven temporary commanders of the "Task Force" headed by Ron and Stanley gathered here to discuss in a low voice.
This temporary task force was formally established in less than two days with Art's full support. The number of the task force was thirty-two, with one captain, two captains, and five six-man squads; the soldiers were all personally selected by Ron and Stanley and received Art's officers were reviewed one by one. Among them were elite soldiers who had experienced many life-and-death battles (including two squad leaders and one squadron leader), newly recruited bankrupt citizens who were familiar with urban life and layout, and the hunters and crossbowmen of the crossbow team were also important members.
"There are four difficulties and key points in this mission: lurking in the city, tracking detectives, surprise attack and escape retreat."
After speaking, Art pointed to the city layout map of Thorne City that he drew with a carbon rod on the wooden table. "This is a simplified diagram I drew after asking a few soldiers and locals who had been to Thorne City to dictate it. Those people were not indigenous citizens of Thorne City, so this map is also very rough, but let's deal with it first."
Att picked up a thin stick leaning on the wooden table and pointed at the table. The layout map on it said: "Sorn City is the provincial capital of Thorne Province. It has six city gates and two water gates. There are more than 6,000 people in the city... Our mission target is hidden in a large mansion of a wealthy merchant near the Water Gate Free Market in the North City. The mansion is surrounded by high walls, and the surrounding market is densely populated. There is an endless stream of business travelers and various people. There are four Assassin's secret posts around the mansion..."
Att briefly analyzed the urban structure of Thorne City and the land and water passages around Thorne City for the commanders who participated in the operation, so that the officers who participated in the operation would have an idea.
"The place where we are going to fight is a densely populated city, and our opponents are also killers who have received strict training and are proficient in various conspiracies, so your task force must also undergo corresponding special training."
"Today's task force The training mission is to infiltrate. Ron and Stanley will lead half of the task force soldiers respectively. Ron is responsible for infiltrating and Stanley is responsible for defense. The target you are fighting for is the knight sword on my waist. The location is in this stone house. If the knight sword is still in the stone house tomorrow morning, Stanley will win. Otherwise, Ron will win. "
"These two days have also given you some skills in disguise, cover, infiltration, and setting up contact points. Go down and discuss how to sneak and defend yourself!"
"Remember to keep it secret, even the soldiers of the task force should not tell them the ultimate purpose of the trip until the last moment!"
"Yes!" Several commanders responded in unison and left.
As soon as the task force commander walked out of the stone house, Odo came to the stone house to report to Art.
"Sir, the salary you offer for squadron-level officers is enough for a group of people. In just one day, seven people applied for your newly established ideological and political officers. Five are from the military and two are from civil affairs."
Matt tilted his head and glanced at Odo, and asked with a smile: "Are there really people in civil affairs? Didn't you tell them that the ideological and political officers will follow them to the battlefield and they need to be able to write a little bit?"
Otto replied: "The recruitment conditions are very clear. First of all, the ideological and political officer needs to have a mother-like loving heart and be able to solve problems for the soldiers like a priest; secondly, the ideological and political officer must have a smart tongue and be able to guide the resentment and separation in the hearts of the soldiers so that the entire legion can be united; finally, the ideological and political officer needs to know some basic cultural knowledge. Writing ability. "
out out out of hand?
In the barracks of the regiment commander of Beiguan Army Fort, Art was lying on a lounge chair cushioned with bearskin, holding a wooden wine glass filled with Welsh beer in his hand, his eyes half closed.
A man in his twenties, with brown hair and a thin build, wearing cotton armor and a burqa, stood at the door. Art had not spoken for so long after entering the door, and the composure he had pretended to be at the beginning finally wore out. He began to feel a little awkward, and he didn't know where to put his hands, so he could only keep gently rubbing the burqa.
"What's your name? Which squadron are you from? Where are you from? What did you do before?" Art kept this guy indifferent for a long time, and started with a series of questions.
"Back to my lord, I'm calling"
"Answer well, I won't eat you." Art said casually.
The soldier took a breath quietly and replied: "Sir, my name is Denis Orich, a soldier of the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd Company and 3rd Flag. I was recruited from the town of Green on the outskirts of Yona. My father was originally a bakery owner. I worked with my father in the bakery, and later Because my father concealed his income and paid taxes, the bakery was confiscated by the tax officer. I was recruited by Mr. Weitz. My family was once rich, so I also entered the church and studied theology for a year, so I also know some words..." This guy said that he had lost his temper and wanted to continue.
"Stop! I asked you before I could answer." Art stopped this guy from rambling.
Dennis quickly shut up.
Matt raised his head and glanced at the soldier, "You are so thin, how did you get recruited into the legion? Did you bribe the recruiting officer?"
After hearing this, Dennis waved his hands repeatedly, and then touched his flat belly with some grievances, "Sir, I was not thin at all when I left Green. Lord Odo took us non-stop from the province of Yona to the southern border. He didn't catch his breath and immediately started the recruit training again. The recruit training almost never stopped from morning to night every day... As a result, I ~"
When Art heard it, it turned out that this guy had been tortured into a human shape in the past month or two. He coughed lightly and said, "Since you have been deeply poisoned by the cruel training of the Welsh Legion, you must also understand the dissatisfaction in the hearts of the soldiers. Then tell me how to make the soldiers willingly accept the cruel training of the Legion."
Dennis thought that Art was testing some of his Bible teachings or writing skills, but he didn't expect to ask such a difficult question directly. If he knew how to make soldiers willingly accept cruel training, when he heard about the selection of recruiting this ideological and political officer, he wouldn't have squeezed his head and broke through the squadron leader's obstruction to apply.
But now the problem has been placed in front of him, and if he doesn't say something, there will definitely be no chance.
Dennis's eyes turned up and down quickly, just like his father flipping bread in the oven. "Sir, I think that if you want the soldiers to be willing to train, you have to increase the military pay, so that they have to grit their teeth and endure the training for the huge military pay."
Matt nodded, non-committal.
"Is there any more?" Art asked.
Seeing that Art was still asking, Dennis came up with another idea, "Military pay can lead the soldiers, but military law can drive them away. If you want the soldiers to obey the training without slacking off, then add military law punishment. If everyone is slow in training, military law will be severely punished, and the road out will be blocked. On the contrary, if you are slow to train, you will be severely punished by military law." There are dense forests and wilderness all around, and you can't run away even if you want to. "
Art opened his eyes. This guy was able to quickly think of two methods that were indeed effective when he suddenly asked the question. It was considered good, but the answer was far from the result in Art's mind.
"Dennis, I remember this name. Go back and wait for the news."
Matt did not get up, but waved Dennis to leave.
Dennis left Art's barracks uneasily.
As soon as Dennis left, a second wretched soldier walked in. The tall and strong guy shrank by half as soon as he walked in. A flattering smile appeared on his face, and his gapped yellow teeth protruded. He looked like he was good at taking advantage of the citizens. He didn't know how this guy got in. Art took a glance and didn't want to look more.
The first impression is really important. Maybe the guy who came in just wanted to express the highest respect for Art, but Art failed to enjoy this respect.
亚特不待这个家伙进门站好就直接问道:「士兵每日训练艰苦，对我多有抱怨，你有什么好办法让士兵们心甘情愿地接受这份艰苦？」
「啊？」这个家伙刚刚进门，还没来得及直腰便当头一问，懵了。
This guy was fully prepared for this recruitment and selection. He was prepared with flattery and bragging, but he just came up and started, and he didn't react for a while.
"Answer me." Art said with his eyes closed.
Man, you are the messenger of justice and the incarnation of a hero sent by God to the world. The soldiers have endless awe and love for you and the officers, and they have absolutely no objection. I often tell the guys that the only one left in the world is the Baron who is willing to treat us untouchables with such kindness and love..."
"Okay, you can leave." Art said with his eyes closed.
This guy is too tactful. Even though Art has pointed out the problems in the army, he insists on saying that they don't exist - a traitor. Such a person is definitely not suitable for the position of ideological and political officer.
The hunched guy was suddenly interrupted, and he was still confused. He thought that none of his words offended the baron, so why did he dissatisfy the baron.
"Lord Baron?"
"Okay, go back and be your soldier, train hard and make more military exploits!" Art still said a few words of relief.
"Yes, sir," the bent guy touched his head and turned around to go out.
The next three were veterans and squad leaders of the army. They all knew that there were signs of uneasiness among the legionnaires, but these guys were mediocre in eloquence and ability, and could not come up with feasible solutions to the problems in the army. Art could only encourage them to leave with a few words.
"Next!" Art shouted toward the door.
A shadow flashed at the door and immediately shrank back.
Odo, who was in charge of recruiting ideological and political officers outside the door, raised his hand and slapped the guy who came back, "You weakling! Weren't you very bold when you applied? Why don't you dare to go in now!"
“Lord Odo, I’m a little scared, or forget it, I’ll go back to being a farmer~” This guy has never seen such a noble person as the baron. Although he is usually smooth and eloquent with the peasants and untouchables, he suddenly has to face the supreme ruler of the territory, and he has stage fright.
"What kind of place do you think this is? You come and go as soon as you say?" Odo was a little angry. Art asked him to be responsible for recruiting ideological and political officers. As a result, no one can really satisfy his master.
The guy with stage fright collapsed with a plop and begged repeatedly, "Sir, Sir Odo, I, I lied to you, in fact, I can draw my own name~"
It turned out that this guy was a farmer and idler who went bankrupt because of laziness. After wandering to the city of Yona, he met someone who came to recruit...
"How dare you lie to me!" Otto was a little angry and kicked the guy lying on the ground, causing the guy on the ground to scream.
At heard the noise outside, he no longer had the intention to lie down on the chair. He stood up and walked out of the room with a sullen face, and saw Odo teaching the lazy man a lesson.
"Okay, send this waste to the construction officer for a month of training."
"Odo, let's leave the matter of the ideological and political officer as it is, wait until I come back to discuss it." Art no longer wants to waste time on these speculative guys.
"Sir!"
A voice stopped him from turning around and raising his feet. Art turned his head and looked back at the crowd of spectators.
A middle-aged man in his thirties walked out of the crowd. He was wearing a gray-black barrel-shaped coat with a thin cold-proof cloak, and a pair of sheepskin short boots.
This set of clothes seems to be a bit old, but it has obviously been carefully washed by the guy wearing it. The most rare thing is that this guy's hair and beard have also been shaved recently, and the whole person looks very neat and capable.
At rarely saw this kind of person among civilians. He turned back and looked at the middle-aged man up and down.
The middle-aged man walked up to the lazy man who was kicked down by Odo and blocked the road without stepping over him. He leaned over to help the lazy man, patted the dust on his body, and said comfortingly: "Man, you should thank the Baron. "You should have been imprisoned as a slave for lying to the lord, but the baron was kind and generous and asked you to go to the builder to atone for your sins. You must remember this lesson and be a down-to-earth person." He helped the guy on the ground aside.
Seeing this guy continue to walk towards Art, he stretched out his hand to stop him, "Dennis, your Excellency has already said that the matter of the ideological and political officer will be postponed for further discussion. If you are really serious, you can come back next time."
Odo had a good impression of this guy, Denis, and reminded him to wait until Art is in a better mood before accepting the selection.
Dennis wanted to give it a try, but after hearing Otto's dissuasion, he said no more, "Well, if Lord Baron needs it, please tell Lord Otto to let me know. I will wait for your summons in the village." After that, he turned around and prepared to return to the crowd.
Matt became interested, "Dennis, wait a minute, what did you do before?"
Dennis smiled lightly, turned around and replied unhurriedly: "Dear Baron, I used to be a small businessman."
…