Episode 110
“As expected, the Peretta family has requested to become a vassal.”
“It would be impossible to touch Percival or Rufman, right?”
“…First of all, it’s outside our territory, and all of their main forces already belong to the Second Prince faction. They dispatched troops as soon as the civil war started. It’s difficult to touch them.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll be satisfied with this for now.”
There was no intention of simply accepting Ferretta, who had already shown his teeth once, in exchange for taxes.
‘Slowly kills it and absorbs its entire power.’
Logan smiled contentedly as he imagined the future.
“This is already an accomplishment that is exceedingly sufficient. The previous lords will also be pleased.”
“I don’t know. They might be cheering us on to do more, saying it’s still not enough.”
“….”
Although the air became cold for a moment due to Padric’s dull joke, there was a friendly atmosphere in the lord’s office for the first time in a long time.
There are still unresolved issues, but they are still in the future.
All immediate threats could be seen as gone.
So now…
“It’s time to have that party we’ve been putting off.”
Everyone laughed at Logan’s words.
The war is over.
It was not something that could be said officially at a time when the entire country was in turmoil as a civil war broke out.
Therefore, it was a rumor that spread as an open secret.
McLane is no longer at war.
And, as if to prove the rumor, Logan gave a large sum of money to the knights and soldiers, and even held a banquet for the soldiers who participated in the war, allowing them to get enough rest.
Morale was soaring due to the recent victory, but in fact, the condition of the troops themselves was not that good.
There was little damage when occupying Bypros Castle, but the sacrifices made during the capture of Tomodo Castle were too great.
When compared numerically, the difference was even more evident.
54 out of 152 knights died. 98 people survived.
Out of 1,000 crossbow cavalrymen, 289 died. 711 people survived.
655 out of 1,532 infantrymen died. 877 people survived.
Moreover, it was impossible for the captured knights to convert, which was the most effective method used by McLane to expand his troops.
Although there were a very small number of knights who surrendered in Tomodo Castle, as long as their original lord was still alive and well, even if they converted, they would only be branded as traitors.
Of course, before that, he sent it to Roger Vipros to appease the Second Prince faction.
Therefore, it was even more necessary to praise the current victory and raise morale as much as possible.
So, in addition to the banquet for the soldiers, Logan prepared a separate party for the knights, who were the main force.
A party with great gifts.
“Lord Heinkel, please come forward.”
“insect!”
“In recognition of his contribution to leading the knights to victory in the war, a reward of 1 million gold and land worth the same amount are awarded.”
Everyone who was watching let out an exclamation.
Compared to the past, the amount of reward money was enormous and even land was not enough.
He shared the profits he gained from occupying a wealthy county with his subordinates generously.
‘It would have been better if the artifact warehouse was intact.’
There were no traces of the twenty or so artifacts, as if they had been taken away by the Bipros army.
Although it was a little disappointing, Logan smiled and continued to applaud.
“Confucius said he completely robbed the warehouse here.”
“Then what about us?”
“Oh, but it’s different from the leader level.”
Even as the knights said that, they did not let go of any expectations.
That expectation was soon met.
Although it was not at the same level as what Heinkel received, all knights received at least 100,000 gold in reward money.
All the knights were happy, but Eilen was the one who was most noticeably happy with the reward.
“Is it that good? The Floyd family isn’t that rich, is it?”
“It’s the first money I’ve ever made! And it’s such a large amount…”
“Ah…”
“There’s no chance for a woman to earn this much money in this country. This alone feels like my dream has come true. .”
Seeing Eilen with tears in her eyes, Logan could only smile silently and pat her on the shoulder.
However, it was not the knights who received the greatest prize at this reward banquet.
“The Golem Tower, which made the greatest contribution in the Tomodo Battle, will be given a prize of 10 million gold, specifying that the Golem Tower site within the current McLane Town will be permanently transferred to the Tower and no taxes will be levied on it.”
As soon as Padrick finished speaking, Clayton knelt down on the spot.
“Thank you. Golem Tower’s disciples will continue to work hard to turn their bones into powder for McLane.”
Clayton was so moved that he even laughed off the joke of the great disciple Greek, who asked why he was grinding up the bones of his disciples.
A reward equivalent to an annual grant of 10 million gold.
The ugly Magic Tower elder who was always strapped for money and forced his students to work hard was no longer there.
‘He is a worthy owner of a magic tower and an honorable worker who provides labor in exchange for generous compensation… Oh no. ‘I became a wizard.’
I felt uneasy for some reason, but anyway, Clayton was in the best mood.
“And we promise to compensate the families of all sacrificed troops twice as much as those who survived.”
Lord Padric’s final declaration also raised the surrounding atmosphere to its peak.
So the party that day continued all night long.
Everyone in attendance praised Logan and the McLane family every time they drank a drink.
“Long live McLane!”
“I will be loyal for the rest of my life!”
“Be loyal to the flame that will burn forever!”
At that moment, the morale of McLane’s troops soared to a point where it could not go any higher.
And Logan.
‘It felt so good to show off with someone else’s things.’
In front of the robbed treasure warehouse of Bypros, I raised a glass for the original owner who was not present.
* * *
That harmonious time had not long passed.
Logan once again ordered the recruitment of soldiers.
The Five Stars of Bipros. And then to Tethrone Sylvan McLane Castle and McLane Town.
It was a large-scale recruitment targeting the entire McLane territory.
“First of all, 2,000…?”
“Then they say they will select more in the future… hehe.”
“There are over 200 people from each of the nine provinces. Huh.”
“It looks like the finances are going to be all over the place…”
“Now, why are you so preoccupied? When Confucius tells you to do something, you do it! Now we’ve added more administrators!”
The administrators’ dissatisfied tone died down with one shout from Dwayne.
Fortunately, unlike Sylvan and Tethron, there were not many Bypros administrators who exploited the people’s livelihood.
Therefore, administrative manpower was not so lacking compared to the increased number of castles as it could be sent to other castles except Bipros, Tomodo, and McLane Castle and Town, which can be said to be the origin of the McLane family.
And since the entire process was entrusted to Dwayne, from the perspective of the administrators of the retreat, Dwayne’s words in designating the food line and workplace were no different from an absolute command.
but.
“But isn’t this standard a bit strange, Dwayne?”
“That’s right! A tactile test? What does this have to do with soldiers?”
“Moreover, the method is bizarre… this is outrageous…”
A situation that would naturally raise questions in a normal mind.
but.
“If you tell me to do it, don’t do it. There’s a lot of talk! Our Confucius is a God-given person! Just do it! Then everything will come true!”
The financial manager with the crazy eyes of a cult leader did not allow objections as long as the Archduke’s orders were given.
In the end, Gonggo, with its overwhelming momentum, attacked all nine castles that were now McLane’s territory.
However, contrary to Logan’s expectations, the response was not as enthusiastic as before.
* * *
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous if it were soldiers? The kingdom was noisy. There were wars here and there…” ”
That’s right. The whole country was in disarray…”
“But wouldn’t it be a little different if it were our lord’s army?”
“An army is an army, so what’s the difference? I can’t have my baby get caught up in a fight between nobles and die for no reason.”
It was a time when all kinds of ugly rumors were spreading about the war going on throughout the kingdom.
Even though the age limit was lowered than before so that all males over the age of 15 could apply, the number of applicants was far below expectations.
Funnily enough, the applicants from McLane Town, where Logan had put the most effort in, were the worst among them.
It was so difficult to filter out through testing that the capacity was barely reached.
Even so, there was an absurd background.
“They were worried that I would be angry, so they discussed it among the residents of the territory and forced me to recruit them? To match the number of people?”
“…Not all, but I think some are.”
“Ha…what is this…”
To Logan, it was just absurd.
If you were diligently trained as a soldier, there was a slim chance of rising in status.
When I realized that my expectations for that possibility were lower than my desire for immediate safety, I could only laugh.
Although the root of it was personal anger, the former independence fighter who risked his life and worked for something more valuable than life did not understand the psychology of ordinary citizens of the territory.
The situation was similar for the five castles belonging to the Bypros fiefdom, which were initially operating peacefully under relatively moderate taxes.
However, funny enough, more than five times the number of people gathered at Sylvan Castle alone.
Only the castle’s residents, who had suffered under tyranny and had just experienced stability under McLane, chose challenge over safety.
As a result, close to 3,000 candidates were tested, exceeding the originally intended 2,000, but the results were not very satisfactory.
There were only two soldier fitness tests that Logan devised.
In the first, pieces of wood are hung in all directions around the applicant, and the examiner randomly throws the pieces of wood at the subject.
All the subject had to do was stand still, blindfolded with a cloth, and dodge at the right time.
A test that tests your sixth sense beyond the sense of touch that feels the slightest breeze.
Although it was a piece of wood that would not cause much impact if hit, some of the victims were hit with the piece of wood without any intention of avoiding it.
“Are you not even trying to avoid harm? Why were you staring?!”
Even as an examiner, I would be outraged.
However, the results of the second test were more positive.
Intermediate knights who can freely use their skills will appear as examiners and wield wooden swords.
A test where you have to hit the wooden sword stopped in front of you that feels more dangerous.
It was a test to test survival instincts, but there were also many insincere test takers.
Of course, it should be scary, but there were people who closed their eyes and didn’t even want to see it.
As a result, the soldier selection test conducted over 10 days at the entire McLane territory only selected about 1,000 people, which was far below the expected standard.
Even though all those who fell slightly below the passing standards set by Logan were selected.
“Even though we lowered the bar, a thousand people? That’s all?”
“The important thing right now is the number of people who passed that strange test…” “
….”
“Hmm. Hmm. Sorry. Ah, anyway, it is reported that more than half of the test takers from Bipros Territory and Macline Town seemed to have no will at all.”
“Ha…”
This problem was more serious than it seemed.
This test was simply a crisis right in front of us. It is not a test to select soldiers to pass the exam.
In a larger sense, it is a test to select candidates who will become the pillars that will block the invasion of the knight empire in the future.
But it is because there is no cooperation like this.
‘It is difficult… should we postpone it?’
Now, one way would have been to roughly select soldiers, use them to their full potential, quickly calm the chaos in this country, and then spread the new standards throughout the country. However, even if
everything goes as planned, I don’t know if it will take a year or two. It wasn’t clear.
There were at most 7 years and a few months until the Imperial War.
Of those, 12 years could be the difference between thousands of knights being created or not.
‘…We have to do it right from now on.’
But even if they were forcibly selected and trained, there was no way those guys could withstand knight training.
It was a dilemma for which I could hardly come up with a clear solution.
But then.
“What are you worrying about? There’s a simple way.”
“What?”
Dwayne chuckled and suggested the method.
“Spend money. Those who pass the soldier test above the standard will receive a thousand gold. If it’s a family with a son, they’ll rush at you like a swarm of bees.”
1,000 gold. For ordinary residents of the territory, it was money that would change their lives.
“Ah…”
“Even if the 2,000 people you mentioned show up, 2 million gold will be enough. . It’s a small amount of money in our territory right now.” I
can’t believe the day will come when I’ll be able to say that 2 million gold is a small amount of money.
‘It’s something you’ll have to live a long life to see.’
When Dwayne, the financial administrator, is tap dancing to his inner joy.
“Is that going to happen?”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“Do you think the people who say they won’t take the test because it’s dangerous will move if we give them some money?”
“Heh heh. Didn’t I tell you? “There’s nothing that can’t be done with money.”
“No. But that’s…”
“God Dwayne. I advise you again with all my heart. Make sure to write it down.”
“What….”
“The only thing that doesn’t work with money is because it’s not enough. This is the truth! The truth! A truth more certain than any scripture!”
“….”
Logan nodded, overcome by his inexplicable spirit, but he did not truly believe those words.
Just a week later,
2,000 trainees passed the standard. Until I heard a report that there was an ‘extra’.
