In late December, in the border area between Besançon and Lucesne, the sun was shining high and the sun was warm in the sky.
A winding road winds between the rolling hills from north to south. Falcons soaring in the sky scream from time to time, looking for traces of prey. The leafless shrubs in the hills and the withered yellow grass in the lowlands whirred under the cold wind, startling the birds that were hard at work among them.
"Hit! Hit!"
A hunter-like young man holding a bow and arrow, wearing a cotton jacket, leather armor, and a sheepskin hat jumped up and ran quickly towards the prey where the arrow landed.
"Sir Ron, look!"
Ron inspected the two pheasants that had been hit by arrows. Even in winter, these wild animals can easily fill their stomachs and keep themselves fat and strong by relying on the grain scattered in the wheat fields after the snow melts. One of them was hit by an arrow in the abdomen, and the other was shot through the chicken's head with a sharp arrow. It was obvious that the arrow in his abdomen was something he had hunted.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Dawson, your archery skills are too accurate, you can hit the vital point of such a small target!"
Dawson smiled and scratched the back of his head, not getting carried away with his archery skills at all.
"Sir Ron, you have forgotten, I am a hunter."
"Amazing! Let's go, the master is still waiting for us to go back."
"Let's go!"
After saying that, Ron picked up the other hares hidden in the grass and Dawson and walked down the mountain.
………
In a cave on the leeward slope of a hill in the north of Lucesien Province, several other hunting teams have already returned. Cleaning the fur of prey and planning to cook a delicious barbecue meal over a campfire.
"Master!"
At, who was wiping the stainless steel knight's sword that had been with him for many years, glanced out of the cave.
"Go on!"
h Ron threw the prey to the soldier who was plucking the chicken feathers aside, and walked towards Art happily.
"Ron, you two have gained a lot."
Looking at the four or five hares and two plump pheasants on the ground, Art praised them.
"Sir, it was probably that guy Dawson who caught it. I don't dare to take credit for it."
After finishing speaking, Ron sat down on the stone next to the fire, tightened his woolen coat, and stretched his hands over the flames to keep warm.
"Dawson's archery skills are well-known in the legion. It's normal if you can't keep up with him."
Ron chuckled and turned to look behind him.
In the blink of an eye, Dawson had cut the hare's fur from head to tail, and obtained a complete rabbit skin, which he hung on the branch beside him. Dawson, a hunter by trade, never wastes anything from his prey. In his opinion, these are God's gifts, and if they are wasted, they will be punished by the Lord.
Others who came back early had already put the cleaned prey on wooden sticks and roasted it by the fire. After a while, the oil and water on the hare began to drip out, making a sizzling sound, and the cave was filled with the aroma of roasted meat...
"Here you go, sir!"
Ron handed a roasted hare to Art.
"Everyone should take the time to replenish their strength, take a short rest after eating, and then continue on their way."
"Yes, Lord Earl!"
Everyone replied in unison.
This time, following Art back to the valley was the re-organized Earl's Guard, composed of fifty people, which was formed on the basis of the original Chinese Army Command Camp Guard.
These people use the former Chinese Army Command Camp Guard as the backbone, absorbing experienced soldiers with outstanding combat skills. In addition, part of the task force led by Dawson has also been temporarily incorporated into the Earl Guard. They are very good at concealment and assassination, and of course they can also fight against submarines and ambush.
The count's guards were led by Ron himself, and they were all armored cavalry. Each person is equipped with long swords, chain hammers, broadaxes, crossbows, etc. according to the weapons they are good at. They are all equipped with fine steel daggers at their waists. Among them, there are many shield-bearing soldiers. The main task of these people is to form a shield formation to protect Atat when his life is threatened.
After eating and drinking in the cave, and resting for a while, the group hurriedly got on their horses while it was still early in the day, and ran all the way towards the city of Lucesien. Try to get there in the evening and have a good rest in the hotel.
………
It was getting late, and the north gate of Lucesien City was about to close. The soldiers standing on the city tower suddenly panicked when they saw more than fifty cavalrymen approaching the city gate on the commercial road in the distance. He hurriedly ordered the soldiers below the city to close the city gate.
At the gate of the north city of Lucesien, the city guard officer learned that when the Earl of Wales was passing by, he was blocked by something unsightly. He hurried over and opened the city gate himself to welcome Art in.
"Forget it, we can't blame them. We didn't say hello in advance, so it's not surprising that we were mistaken for bandits. However, I still thank you for coming to the rescue, otherwise my people might have to fight tonight. We camped outside the city."
"Thank you, Lord Count!"
"Let's go!"
hh Then the group of people rode towards the city.
After watching Art and others go away, the city guard officer turned around and cursed at the soldier who ordered the city gate to be closed.
"You bastard, it's not good to offend anyone, but you chose the one you can't offend the most! Do you know that this Earl of Wales is the Marquis' confidant, even our Earl of Lucerne has to give him three points..."
"If he hadn't been so kind today, you would have gone to see God!"
The soldier lowered his head and said nothing, his body was shaking~
………
The next morning.
In the south of Lucesien, even though it was still early, there were crowds of people in front of a hotel and it was extremely noisy.
There are several large iron pots standing at the door of the hotel, in which fragrant thick soup and wheat paste are cooked. A group of ragged refugees gathered around the iron pot with their families, smashing their mouths and swallowing saliva~
These people are the refugees and bankrupt citizens who previously lived in the south, as well as the surrounding farmers who have lost their land and unemployed craftsmen. After the war ended, they returned to their hometowns one after another or wandered around the city, hoping to find work to make ends meet and barely feed their families.
"Everyone, come here! Everybody come here!"
On the steps at the door of the hotel, a man who looked like an official opened his mouth to greet the increasing number of homeless people and beggars outside the door.
"Don't worry, everyone, everyone has a share of the porridge in the pot today. Listen to what I have to say first, and someone will share the porridge for you when the time comes."
“We were dispatched by the civil affairs officials of the southern province of Wales to recruit refugees in Lucerne. Any adult male under the age of forty can sign up. Once you agree to the conditions and are allowed to follow us south, you can take your family and live on the other side. In the tent, someone will lead you south to Wales. "
"Sir, will there be any land to farm with you when we go south?"
A young refugee in the crowd asked.
"This is what I'm going to say next. Our purpose this time is to recruit a large number of territorial residents to open up wasteland. You have also seen that during this war, Lucesien Province was not greatly affected. You will not get land if you stay here, let alone support your family."
"Our Earl's territory is different. Now we have a lot of land that needs to be cultivated and cultivated. Anyone who follows us south will get a lot of land, and the food produced in these fields is enough for you to feed your family. The remaining food You can also go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to exchange for the same amount of money.”
“Really?”
“No way!”
"Everyone, be quiet! Be quiet!"
The official turned his head and winked at a farmer-looking man next to him, and the man stood up.
"Look, this is the refugee we recruited in Lucesien before. When we saw him, this guy was as thin as a monkey. Look at him now, his physique does not look like a refugee, he is really a rich farmer in the village!"
The audience burst into laughter, and everyone was surprised by the change in identity of the guy in front of them.
"Everyone, this gentleman is right. I was originally a farmer in a village outside the city. After I lost my land, I came to the city to find a living before I met people from the civil affairs. If it weren't for them, my family would have starved to death on the street~"
"You see, this is the benefit of following us back to the valley - to be able to support myself and my family!"
The official continued.
"Sir, how dare we follow you south just based on your words."
At this time, another guy in the crowd asked.
"This guy~"
The civil affairs official was speechless for a moment.
"If you don't believe what he says, then do you believe what I, the Earl of Wales, say?" Why did you come without saying hello? If I had known that you were in Lucesien, I would have sent someone to pick you up." In the room on the second floor of the hotel, the civil affairs official said politely while pouring wine for Art.
"It's not your fault. We have just entered the city and are planning to stay in a hotel for one night before continuing our journey tomorrow. We never expected to meet you in the city. Sit down!"
"Thank you, Earl."
"You are fast enough. I just told Cooper to recruit refugees from all over half a month ago, and now you have arrived in Lucesien."
Yate is satisfied with the efficiency of civil affairs.
"Your Majesty, the old housekeeper convened a civil affairs meeting overnight after receiving your letter. On the third day, we took people to the north, east and south to recruit refugees who were returning home one after another. So far, the civil affairs have recruited more than 3,000 people and are sending them back to the valley in batches."
"Considering that it is winter, these refugees will definitely not be able to survive without food. A place to stay and a mouthful of hot porridge are what they desire most now. Therefore, it is relatively easy to recruit now. Once spring comes, it will be difficult to recruit."
Ate nodded with satisfaction.
The official continued: "If we follow the current trend, we will be able to recruit about 20,000 people by the beginning of spring tomorrow. This can basically ensure that the land that can be cultivated at present will not be abandoned."
Yat listened carefully and nodded in approval from time to time.
h "In addition, you can also recruit bankrupt hunters and craftsmen in the surrounding areas, and you can relax their conditions appropriately. Especially the craftsmen, they will be of great use to me in the future."
h "Yes, Lord Earl, I will give my orders immediately."
"Okay, you go down first. By the way, arrange food and accommodation for the guards. We will continue our journey tomorrow morning."
"Don't worry, Lord Count, I'll go right away."
……………
“Sir, the Count is back!”
Wal, who was training the county soldiers on the field, was overjoyed, and immediately led people out of the city to greet him~
………
On the road from Tyniec City to the Lord's Hall, Art walked towards the Lord's Hall surrounded by a group of people.
· Along the way, people cheered and shouted, and they were all happy for the achievements of the new earl.
Historically, Tyniec County has always been a barren land forgotten by many rulers, and the people here also have little sense of existence. After a succession battle, this small county suddenly became a new province of the princely state, which meant that the status of the people who lived and worked on this land increased...
After a while, the group walked into the lord's hall.
"My lord, you are finally back."
Scott, the station officer who had been waiting for a long time, came in from the door and walked quickly towards Art.
"Scott? Why are you here?"
"Report to your lord, the civil affairs people sent people out to recruit refugees some time ago. When they return, they will arrive in Tyniec first, and then I will make unified arrangements."
"That's it. Come and sit down."
"Thank you, Earl!"
After a few people had a brief conversation, Art invited Scott, Wall and others to dine with him.
"Ron, go and stay with your father. I'll give you a day off today."
Ron, who was standing aside, happily walked to Scott and sat down to eat together.
On the second day, Art, who had planned to leave the county and return to the valley, was forced to stay for one day because of the arrival of nobles and squires from all over the county. Antayas also came quickly from his territory to meet Art.
At took it and glanced at it, then turned to hand it to Ron beside him.
"Ron, I'll leave this matter to you, clean them up for me!"
Ron smiled sinisterly and said, "Master, don't worry." Ron led several members of the task force and several guardsmen, led by Antayas, to "visit" those poisonous people who had secretly opposed Art~
Along the way from Tyniec to the valley, you can vaguely see the land that has been renovated. The air is mixed with snow, and after melting, a thin layer of mist rises under the sunlight. On the hillside in the distance, the residents were plowing the land while it was dark, preparing to sow grain seeds at the beginning of spring to continue farming in the coming year.
While riding on the road, farmers would bow to Art from time to time. Then he walked towards the nearby wasteland with the farm tools on his shoulders, picked up the tools in his hands and went to cultivate the land that had just been granted farming rights.
From time to time, seedlings that survived the fire can be seen on both sides of the mountain trails, and the buds at the top of the treetops have grown vigorously despite the cold winter. These young shoots, just like the new province of Wales, gradually took root and sprouted after being baptized by frost, snow and fire...