In the lake basin, the bustling scene contrasts sharply with the increasingly cold weather.
A few months ago, the Ministry of Construction mobilized more than a thousand workers to spend two months expanding and strengthening the Nanguan Army Fort and the garrison camp in Hudi. At the same time, it also built a dozen simple huts for temporary residence in the two settlements in Lakedi.
At this time, the laborers deployed by the Construction Department had been repatriated, and nearly a thousand men, women, old and children resettled in the lake area were divided into ten groups by officials sent by the Tunnel Affairs Department.
Most people are responsible for reclaiming the wasteland around the lake and quickly sowing some oats, rye and vegetable seeds before the winter snow falls, hoping to have some harvest after the next spring; while other people are led by craftsmen to cut wood from the forests around the basin and build real permanent houses, cattle sheds, stables, fences, etc.
Under the organization of officials from various government ministries, everything was carried out in an orderly manner.
There are several wooden rafts dotted in the lake, and fishermen are dragging their fishing nets to catch fish.
On the west bank of the lake, a simple trestle was built near the garrison camp. A small boat loaded with cargo had just docked and was transporting bags of grain and several large bundles of short spears to the military camp through the trestle.
Near the trestle, Scott, the Minister of Government Affairs and Minister of Construction, led several government officials to loudly introduce the construction status of the lake land to Art.
…Sir, nearly one-third of the wasteland has been reclaimed. We don’t have enough farm tools and livestock. Snow is about to fall, and the rest can only be arranged after spring.”
Scott pointed to the docked boat, "This boat was built in the workshop area at the end of October. We lacked experienced shipbuilders. It took a craftsman with a good knowledge of shipbuilding and the carpentry workshop more than two months to build this boat. This boat can carry ten people at a time, or a full load of 4,000 pounds of cargo, which is several times that of a horse-drawn carriage. And going down the river from the workshop area can take as slow as one and a half days, and as fast as one day can reach the lake. The speed is It has also improved several times. "
shall shall shall be shall shall shall shall should should should shall be shall be be made;
Yate has previously led people to inspect this river that runs from north to south. This river has a large flow in summer and a wide water surface, which can accommodate slightly larger river cargo ships. However, during the dry season, part of the river bed is exposed and large ships cannot pass. Therefore, after the workshop submitted the ship design drawings, Yate chose to build a micro transport ship first.
"It is impossible to produce food here this year. The government needs to supply the more than a thousand soldiers and civilians in the entire lake area with food and grass supplies for more than half a year. Therefore, during this period of time, both land and water are moving, and the food, grass and baggage reserves are basically in place, and they are all stored in the garrison camp." Scott continued to report.
While talking, more than a dozen barrels floated towards the upper entrance of the lake. The nearby fishing rafts quickly moved closer to the barrels and "drove" the barrels toward the trestle.
“Sir, this is Welsh beer sent from the brewery along the river. These wooden barrels have been sealed and waterproofed, thrown into the river and floated downstream.”
"The Ministry of Commerce has set up a grocery store here. These beers are purchased from the grocery store and are mainly sold to the garrison on rotation and to the aborigines under Lord Christopher for drinking. Occasionally, some new residents with extra wealth also buy some."
Matt looked at the wine barrels getting closer and closer, and couldn't help but praise: "You guys can really think of a way. I have seen this kind of method in the Longxia Mountains, but I was too busy to think of it for a while. But the river is long, what if it runs aground or is stolen along the way?"
“My lord, the laws of Wales are very strict. Those who steal public property will be punished by being enslaved as slaves, or may have their hands chopped off or even beheaded. The residents dare not steal easily. And from here north to the workshop area, the government has set up booths along the riverside road every fifteen miles. In one place, two retired soldiers or old and weak citizens are assigned to serve as patrollers in each place. Their task is to patrol the roads and rivers every day. If there is a problem in their respective jurisdictions, they will be punished. "
Yate nodded clearly.
After briefly planning the construction of the lake land with Scott, Art looked at the increasingly wide road to the north and remembered Spencer, the former baggage minister of the Welsh Army who was demoted to the south a few months ago to be responsible for road construction. He asked: "What has our baggage minister who was implicated and punished by his subordinates been busy recently?"
As a confidant, Scott knew what Art wanted to know, "Sir, Brother Spencer was a little depressed when he first transferred to the Construction Department, but he regained his energy within a few days. He was born in the army, and he was heroic and dignified. The slave war criminals and hard laborers in the Construction Department who were responsible for road construction were managed by him. It is precisely because of the joining of Brother Spencer that our Construction Department was able to open the southern road embankment in advance."
At this time, Obote, who had just been transferred from the Stonehenge garrison patrol team to the Lakeland last month and was transferred to serve as the reserve regiment commander of the garrison and the commander of the Lakeland garrison camp, had just completed the field march training of the standing peasant soldiers.
After learning that Art had come to the lake in person, Obote, who had not yet returned to camp, hurried to the lake trestle to pay him a visit.
Obot is an old man from the patrol team. He has followed Art since he was a civilian patrol officer.
This person has mediocre combat prowess and a mediocre record. Over the years, he has been doing trivial tasks in the patrol team such as apprehending bandits and maintaining public security. Even if he occasionally gets the opportunity to be recruited to fight, he can only do side tasks such as escorting baggage, patrolling, or guarding the city and roads.
However, this person has a calm personality and is neither arrogant nor impetuous. Although he has been on the second line for a long time, he has accumulated profound skills in leading troops over the years.
Hence, when Art established a foothold in southern Wales and decided to form a reserve regiment and select the commander of the new army, he thought of him.
Although the reserve regiment is a peasant-soldier force under the garrison, it has become the front line and has many opportunities for fighting. It can be regarded as the main first-line force in the second-line army.
Obot trotted up to Art, stood solemnly, raised his fist to his chest, and said loudly: "Lord Legion Commander, trainee knight of Wales Province, reserve commander of the garrison regiment and commander of the Nanguan Garrison Camp, Obot salutes you!"
亚特也双腿紧靠、握拳抬胸回礼，「奥博特，预备团近况如何？」
「回军团长大人，预备团编制四百五十人，现有造册农There are 207 soldiers, including 80 standing peasant soldiers. "
"The eighty standing peasant soldiers have been trained for half a month and have begun to have combat effectiveness. However, the remaining registered peasant soldiers have too few training opportunities, so they can make up the number, and they have almost no combat effectiveness."
Obote smiled bitterly and said: "The main reason is that the tasks of reclamation and construction are too heavy. The young and strong people are exhausted from the daily tossing, and there is really no spare time to participate in peasant and soldier training." You have to work hard and train hard. If you don’t work, eat, or train, it’s hard to save your life.”
Obot also wanted to help the peasants and soldiers reduce the tasks of land reclamation and construction, but he was blocked as soon as he spoke.
"I transferred you, Obote, to be the commander of the new army, not to listen to your complaints. The task is entrusted to you. How to complete it is your own business. If you can't complete it, I will have to trouble you." Art's tone did not leave any room for negotiation.
Seeing that Obote was stunned, Art said again: "Let's do this. I'll ask the baggage department to provide sufficient material support for the reserve regiment, so that the guys can eat and drink well. In addition, your training allowance is slightly higher than other peasant soldiers."
"Don't thank me in a hurry, I will give you half a year Time, in half a year I want an army of farmers and soldiers that can be summoned, ready to fight, and can win! ”
Now that Art has made concessions, Obote did not dare to object anymore. He struggled for the last time and said, "Lord Legion Commander, I can overcome the rest, but I have one last request."
「说。」
「我想从威尔斯军团第一分团中抽调一些人～」
「丝～」亚特喉咙里发出了一声响。
"You still want to draw some people? If I can draw people from the combat division, what else do I need you to do!!"
"How many people? How many people can you do?"
"How many people? Any soldier from the first division can be qualified to be the captain of the peasant flag, how about I help you recruit all the officers of the reserve regiment?"
"This~ this~ Sir "The reserve regiment is also your army. I'll transfer two soldiers. Two soldiers are okay, right?"
Matt was silent for a moment. This is the southern border. The reserve regiment's peasant soldiers are very likely to participate in the war. It is also necessary to recruit a few experienced soldiers. "Okay, let's transfer a squad leader from the first division to be the adjutant, and then you can transfer two of your original subordinates from the patrol team to be officers."
"In addition, since the garrison of Nanguan Army Fort has to go to your barracks every month to rest and guard, you have to make use of them. If you use your camp to rest, you have to do something for you, right?"
When Obote heard this, he said, "Master, those guys are soldiers, and I am just the commander of peasants and soldiers~"
"What's wrong with the soldiers? You are also a company-level commander after all. Even if you are a peasant-soldier branch commander, you are also a company captain. The commander of the Nanguan garrison is only at the banner level, with a lower military position than you!"
"Lord legion commander, I feel confident with your words." Obote suddenly became a little more tough.
Matt stretched, turned around, closed his eyes, and breathed a long sigh of relief at the quiet lake, "If I could just sit by the lake fishing and blowing in the wind every day, how comfortable my life would be~"
"Sir? Do you want to fish?"
Att opened his eyes and turned to look at Scott.
"We have ready-made fishing rods."
"Hurry up, hurry up and get my set of fishing gear..."
"Hey, you guys have learned how to take some time off while you're busy. Okay, after running around for several months, I'm exhausted, so I'm going to take a break here with you these two days~"