In the Beiguan Army Fortress, Art alone called Pats, the captain of the fourth flag of the second company, who repeatedly emphasized the advantages of the super spear phalanx at the military meeting last night, to the barracks to talk. Art did not say much and went straight to the topic, "Pats, starting from today, I I will give you twenty days to take your flag team to practice the spear phalanx. I have asked the garrison to send you weapons. The separate training ground for your flag team is in the wilderness outside, which is wider enough for you to use the spears. "Twenty days later I will let you have a field battle with Bangada's flag force to see if the spear phalanx is really suitable for the Welsh Army." With Art's approval, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely live up to your high expectations. But I have to make it clear to you that when the time comes, I will still need heavy armored infantry to send people to coordinate with my phalanx. It is impossible to win with just a single spearman."
Matt nodded, "Of course, I will also provide cavalry to Bangda's flag team when the time comes."
Pats thanked Matt again for the opportunity, then saluted and left the barracks.
The barracks fell silent, and Art picked up the quill and continued to draw the spear phalanx array diagram on the homemade "raw paper" in the valley. Below the array diagram, there were also written notes on the operation method of the phalanx and the coordination ideas of each unit.
Unknowingly, a long time passed, and Art was completely absorbed in it, until Ron knocked on the door and walked in.
"Ron, what's the matter?" Art raised his head and glanced at Ron, then bowed his head and continued writing and drawing.
"Sir, the Northland Eagle Eye has returned the news collected in April." Ron held several pieces of parchment rolled into strips in his hand.
“Read it to me.” Art said casually.
Ron put the roll of paper on the table, pulled out the first one, unfolded it, and read: "Eagle Eye of Thorne City: The Western Territory is stable in April, and there is no change in the frontier army. The Bishop of Thorne Province has removed his priesthood and has not been re-appointed yet. The Province of Thorne has recovered tax arrears over the years, totaling 25,000 silver marks (3.6 million pfennigs). There is no abnormality in Eagle Eye of the Western Territory."
At heard that Bernard's tax arrears collected by the province of Saone were only 3.6 million pfennigs over the years, and he couldn't help but cursed: "Bernard, an old bastard, controls the richest earldom in the county. How dare he spend such a small amount of money to send the palace? Even the extremely poor county of Tynets can spend one million, and the province of Saône is not ten times richer than Tynets!"
With a slight smile and a few words of sarcasm, Art ordered: "Send an order to the Eagle Eyes monitoring the Western Territory, asking them to pay attention to the movements of the Western Border Army and the private armies of the lords in Thorne Province, and report immediately if there is any movement. Continue reading."
"Yes." Ron picked up another roll of paper and unfolded it.
Hawkeye of Besançon: In April, there was no change in the palace, and the Marquis’s illness did not improve after two court meetings. Besançon and the surrounding cities will have a new exchange of goods at the Southern Merchant Company, and Earl Baldwin and a group of powerful merchants will occupy their seats.”
"Tell the "fat man" in Besançon to find a way to bribe the servants in the inner court. I want to know the health of the Marquis. Tell him not to be afraid of spending money. I will ask Kenem to send him a sum of money specifically to inquire about palace news. "
"Yes, sir." Ron wrote down Art's words.
"Let's continue."
"Eagle Eyes of the East: The Eastern Border Army has secretly expanded its troops. In addition to the two thousand garrison troops on the border to defend the Swabians, the number of troops in the Eastern Border has increased to 3,500."
"Baron Charis is the commander of the First Army of the Eastern Territory, leading 600 troops, stationed in Yona City. Sir David is the captain of his company."
Ron interjected and said: "The Eastern Territory Hawkeye collected the information through Sir David."
"Well, Herald Hawkeye, bring greetings to Sir David for me."
Ron nodded, "There is also news from the East. The southern goods transported from the southeastern mountains to Yona Province in late April have been accepted by the Southern Goods Guild of Yona Province. Baron Antayas's goods have gained a foothold in the East."
After hearing the news, Art stopped. Pen, "It's great. Being able to transport southern goods directly from the southeastern mountainous area to the eastern border can save half of the journey."
"I will write a letter and you will immediately send someone to the border post and ask the outpost to increase the supply to Baron Antayas. Let Simon tell Baron Antayas that he must continue to expand the trade volume of southern goods in the eastern border. It would be better if the trade route to Swabia can be opened."
"Sir, the relationship between the palace and Swabia has not yet eased, and the border is not passable. It is not that easy to make Swabian money, right?"
Art stood up from the armchair and walked around in a circle, "Ron, you underestimated the ability of merchants. Wherever there is money, there are their roads. And you have forgotten how the old butler transported the carriage we snatched in Swabia back to the valley?"
Ron suddenly realized, "You mean smuggling?"
"Smuggling is good, smuggling can avoid the border checkpoints, and it can also save a huge amount of transit tax."
Ron thought about it carefully, and it really made sense. Anyway, he has been taking risks all the way over the years, and he is not afraid at all of taking risks to make money.
"Is there any other news?"
Ron took out a piece of parchment covered with fire paint from the pile and handed it to Art, "Sir, this is the power behind the lords in Tyniec County that you arranged for Besançon's eagle eye to collect. It was provided by Earl Baldwin's chamberlain. It cost a lot of money. "
At took the fire paint and opened it. There were dense words inside, recording the families and power of the lords in Tyniec County. At a glance, he put it on the table. He had to calm down and study it slowly.
"Ron, now that the Northland caravan has temporarily merged to the south, the Eagle Eyes we deployed in the North have to rely on them to deliver the news, so the money spent by the Eagle Eyes has also increased a lot. I will not be stingy with the money, so the allocation used to support the Eagle Eyes has been guaranteed by the civil affairs as a priority."
“But you have to warn the eagle eyes everywhere. I don’t care about small money, but I won’t allow anyone to steal a copper coin from my purse behind my back. The eagle eyes are scattered all over the place and far away from us. You have to think about how to let them spend as little money as possible. "Sir, I will think about this matter, but as you said, the eagle eyes are scattered far away from my sight, and the cost of their inquiries and transmission of information is not fixed, so it is really difficult to control."
“Let’s give a warning first, and let them keep an eye on each other, as much as they can defend themselves.” Art stretched, then sat back in the chair, staring back at the spear phalanx diagram on the wooden table, and said intently: “Ron, I have decided to set up a bodyguard (an organization). The bodyguard is only subordinate to me, and has jurisdiction over the baron guards, task forces, and local eagle eyes. It is mainly responsible for security, intelligence, interrogation, and special tasks assigned by me.”
Yate had already discussed with several core commanders before setting up the bodyguard. With the expansion of Yate's power, it became increasingly necessary to establish a specialized baron chamberlain organization. The original bodyguard military law team was responsible for both guarding Yate's safety and also taking charge of the legion's military law. It was indeed somewhat powerful. Unable to do what he wanted, Art simply separated the military law team from the guards. Two guards who had been in charge of military law selected six soldiers and petty officers who were familiar with military law and had relatively dull minds to form a special military law team, which was attached to the legion command camp (organization) and under the jurisdiction of legion adjutant Odo. The elites left behind by the guards are specifically responsible for Art's safety, and will also form a reserve force on the battlefield with Art during wartime.
As for the task force, due to its outstanding performance since the Dean family heresy incident, this temporarily formed team was officially awarded the flag force level establishment. Stanley serves as the task force captain, Dawson and Oliver serve as deputy captains, one captain and two deputy captains plus four remaining transferred personnel and eight newly recruited "special talents", a total of fifteen people. Some of the task force soldiers are good at fighting in close combat, some are good at tracking and hunting, some are good at setting fires and poisoning, and some are even thieves who were originally bandits... In short, all of them are people with special skills.
"When you go down, think about how to straighten out the duties of this guard officer, and come and talk to me after you think about it."
"It's the master."
Ron did not leave after finishing speaking, and stopped talking.
"Is there anything else?" Art raised his head and glanced up.
"Sir, um~ I want to discuss a private matter with you~" The blush spread from the root of the neck to the top of the head...
........................
"Ron wants to marry Ollie? This is a good thing! Of course I agree." In the Lord's Mansion of the Valley Castle, Lottie heard that Ron finally proposed to marry Ollie, and quickly handed the little George in her hand to the wet nurse.
"It just so happened that Scott and Emma built a new house with a wood and stone structure in the wooden castle residential area. Ron and Ollie can live in it after completing their wedding."
“Hmm~ I remember that his family hasn’t bought any appliances in their new house. So, I’ll take out a sum of money from the mansion’s inner treasury and ask the workshop to make them a wooden bed, a set of tables and chairs, and a set of wool quilts. I’ll also buy Ollie’s wedding dress. Well, this can be regarded as a wedding blessing to them. "
Oli has been Lottie's personal maid for many years. Although they are different from master and servant, they have a very close relationship. Now she is very excited that Oli can find a home.
But Art's thoughts were a little different. He also thought it was a good thing for Ron to get married, but he was more concerned about the problems of other officers under his command. "Lottie, I have an idea."
Lottie stared at Art intently, waiting for the answer, "Didn't we mention holding a group wedding before? I didn't know that Ron would move so quickly. I was wondering if Ron and Ollie could wait first. There are several interesting military and civilian officials on both sides of the military and civil affairs. We can hold it together when the time is right. This will not only save trouble, but also make it more lively."
Just a guy."
"Okay~ I'll tell Ollie when she comes back later."
"Well, that's it." Art picked up the wine glass and raised it to his mouth to drink.
Lottie suddenly heard something, and her expression suddenly changed, "Art!"
Lotti asked with eyes closed, "Do you think so? I heard that Lombard lords still have the right to enjoy the first night of their subjects' weddings!"
At was choked so badly that he coughed for a long time before he could calm down.
"Who did you listen to? What's the matter? Besides, Ron and the others are all knights, not civilians."
"You mean you have to exercise it as a civilian?"
"That's right! I never meant that!" Art turned his head and coughed hard several times.
Lotti grabbed Art's sleeve, "Look at me! I swear you don't have this idea."
"Don't you know me yet? Am I that kind of person?"
h Even after giving birth, you still don’t believe me.”
“You swear!”
Art compromised, he raised his hand, “In the name of God, I swear!”
Lottie stared at Art for a long time until his scalp numbed.
"Okay, I believe you."
"Oh, that's right."
"But you must issue a pardon, declaring that the right of first night is permanently abolished in your territory."
"Huh?"
"I'll send it, I'll send it immediately~" Art was much shorter.
The look in Lottie's eyes softened for a moment, and she gently pulled Art's arm, "Honey, I knew you were the best."
Lottie glanced at the wet nurse who was holding little George. The wet nurse opened the door and left with the child in her arms.
“Honey, I asked Ms. Farnaz yesterday and she said that it has been almost two months. We can...” Lottie’s face suddenly turned red.
「这～那还等什么！」
............