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(First Update of the Day)
Chapter 237 "Win-Win"
The news of Du Wei's trip to "reward" the Northwest Army really spread like wildfire. Those who didn't know the truth of the matter would really think that the Northwest Army had made a great contribution this time.
Although the soldiers of the Tulip Family have some complaints in their hearts, Du Wei's power is increasing day by day. Moreover, he is highly respected in their hearts, so they can only endure it.
Du Wei spent two days to prepare a thick gift. The large silk banner that Alpha had sent his craftsmen to make was even more magnificent. Duwei had people set up a long flagpole. It was at least seven or eight meters high, and it was stuck on top of a carriage. It was pulled by four strong horses.
There's no need for too many people to accompany him. Only two hundred people were brought to the Northwest Army.
Some of the subordinates wondered if two hundred people was too little. Du Wei smiled and said: "Anyway, I'm going to their lair. They have more than a hundred thousand soldiers there. Even if I bring two thousand people, will it really be enough? If they really want to kill me, it's the same even if I bring twenty thousand people with me. "
Along the way, Du Wei swaggered his way to the Nuling Province in the east. Regardless of day or night, Du Wei would hang the banner on top of the flagpole and swagger his way through the villages and towns.
Especially after entering the Nuling Province, Du Wei deliberately slowed down his speed. In his mind, he was thinking that the Northwest Army must have already received the news of his arrival. He just had to wait for the other side's reaction.
Along the way through the Nuling Province, Governor Bohan didn't make an appearance, but he still ordered the local garrison to send out cavalry to protect Du Wei.
After the battle in Anglia City ended, Du Wei's aide Philip had already rushed over to Anglia City with a letter in tow. It was from Governor Bohan. However, Du Wei wasn't in the capital at the time so he didn't receive the letter. Thus, Governor Bohan ordered the troops to be sent to Du Wei's territory.
There was nothing else in the letter. Bohan is a smart man, and he knows Du Wei is also a smart man. Smart people didn't need to beat around the bush when talking to smart people. There was only one sentence in the letter:
"National affairs are the most important!"
Bohan believed that even if he didn't explain, Du Wei would understand his intention of sending troops across the border.
When Du Wei saw this letter, he couldn't help but sigh.
•
"Daren, if we continue forward, we'll be in the Northwest Army's sphere of influence." Philip sat next to Du Wei, looking out the window: "Speaking of which, I really feel helpless for Governor Bohan. Although he's a dignified governor, he only controls half of the Nuling Province. Not to mention being under the influence of the Northwest Army at all times, life is indeed difficult. "
"Oh?" Du Wei smiled.
Philip pointed out the window and sighed: "Duke, look outside … … To be honest, the more I study the terrain of the Northwest, the more I feel envious of Governor Bohan! Geographically speaking, the Nuling Province is much better than our Desa Province. At least they don't have to face the threat of the prairie people directly. With us at the forefront, their lives will be much better. In terms of land, the Nuling Province is also much better than the barren Desa Province. The population is also almost double that of the Desa Province. Of course, with your financial resources, you don't have to worry about money. Even if the territory's income is low, you still don't have to worry about money. But … … our biggest limitation right now is the issue of military strength! "
As Philip spoke, he looked at Du Wei's expression. Seeing that Du Wei wasn't dissatisfied with what he said, he felt relieved and continued: "Daren, our military strength right now is only around 20,000 people. I know you may be dissatisfied with General Longbottom's strategy … … But think about it, our territory's total population is so small. Even if we open up the recruitment, how many people can we recruit? Even if every household contributes their youth … … Not to mention that it's impossible, even if they can do it … … In fact, there aren't that many people! According to my and my brothers' calculations, with the population of the Desa Province, we can only recruit 50,000 people at most. That seems to be the limit! Our total population is only 800,000. Subtracting the elderly and children, we only have 300,000 strong men. Out of three hundred thousand strong men, we are able to take one in five. This is already a very high ratio! If it's any heavier, I'm afraid it will cause panic among the people below. It is absolutely impossible for the entire nation to be a soldier unless it is at a critical juncture where the family is destroyed and the people are killed. "
Du Wei nodded. How could he not know this fact?
With his territory's population base, how could it be easy to raise a Northwest Army of 200,000 soldiers?
"More importantly, we still face a big problem." Philip smiled bitterly: "Even if we want to recruit, we can't recruit more soldiers than the Northwest Army. My Lord, did you forget the wartime regulations? "
The Northwestern Army is located in the two provinces of the North and West. Although they have 200,000 soldiers, but people will eventually die of old age and new recruits will join the army.
And the source of soldiers for the Northwest Army is also from the Northwest!
According to the regulations, once every two years, the Northwest Army can recruit soldiers from the Desa and Nurin provinces to replenish the army's resources. The most headache-inducing part is … … The Empire has decreed that local governments and lords are not allowed to compete with the Northwest Army for soldiers! If a family has young men, then the local garrison army and the Northwest Army's conscription orders are issued at the same time, they will be given priority to replenish the Northwest Army!
In this way, the originally sparse population will have to compete with the Northwest Army for soldiers. Forcefully expanding the army is not a simple matter.
"That's why I envy Governor Bohan." Philip laughed: "The Nurin Province may be right under the Northwest Army's nose, but the biggest advantage is that the population there is twice as much as ours! [So, the number of potential soldiers they have is naturally much higher than ours! If we were in the Nurin Province, then according to my estimation, we would be able to pull up 100,000 soldiers. Even if the Northwest Army were to compete with us for soldiers, the Nurin Province's population is much larger, so the impact won't be too big. What I'm worried about now is … … My Lord, last year was not the year of conscription, so the Northwest Army did not bother us in this regard. But this year, they are thinking of conscription. When autumn comes, the Northwest Army will begin to send people out to recruit new soldiers. When that time comes … … it will be a headache for us. "
"I also understand what you're saying, but population is not something that can be increased at will. It takes at least 10 to 20 years for the parents to raise their children to adulthood. If we follow conventional means, it will take at least two to three generations for the population of the Desa Province to increase. Even if we encourage childbirth … … But if every family can't even afford to raise a child, who would want to have more children? " Du Wei shook his head: "Philip, I've been thinking about it for the past few days. I always feel that there are too many problems to face. The Northwest Army is clamping down on us everywhere …..
Philip smiled: "My Lord, I think we might as well get in touch with Governor Bohan … … Although you and him didn't have a good relationship before. But this time, I think Anglia City is an opportunity. Although Governor Bohan is a bit too greedy, but he is also a man who wholeheartedly serves the country. At least in terms of dealing with the Northwest Army and the prairie people, he is the same as us. We don't lack money, but what we lack is an army and a population! In this regard, Governor Bohan has enough people … … But he can't pull up an army. "
Speaking of which, Bohan is also not lacking in money. After all, he was smart enough to come up with the idea of an "auction". Although his ability to accumulate wealth is not as good as Du Wei's, he can still be considered an eccentric in the Roland Continent.
However, Governor Bohan is different from Du Wei. After all, he is only a local official and not a noble like Du Wei. Therefore, the difficulties he faces are even more!
The most difficult part is: Governor Bohan's garrison troops, money and provisions, can't be distributed by him. According to the Empire's wartime regulations, the military equipment and provisions of the Northwest Army must be uniformly distributed by the Northwest Army!
In other words, if Governor Bohan wants to spend money to raise an army, he must send the money to the Northwest Army and let them distribute it! In this way, it's the same as putting his neck in a noose!
Not to mention anything else, just look at the Big Ear City's garrison army. They are so poor that they can't even open a pot to eat. One can imagine how the Northwest Army would make a fuss about this "uniform distribution"! Bohan's problem is that even though he has money in his treasury, he can't directly distribute it to his army. Once the money is sent to the Northwest Army's camp, then it will be distributed … … That way, he can only receive 20-30% of the total amount, which is already considered generous by the Northwest Army!
In this regard, because Du Wei is a noble lord, the army under his command can be considered as the private army of the family. Thus, he has a lot more freedom than Bohan!
"Both sides might as well cooperate." Philip smiled: "You have the power to establish an army at will, not limited by the Northwest Army's money. And Governor Bohan has the population! If the two of you are willing to cooperate, then it's a good thing. "
Du Wei's interest was piqued: "Let's hear it!"
"For this year's Autumn Conscription, we can send someone to reach an agreement with Governor Bohan. We can send someone directly to the Nuling Province to recruit! In any case, the Empire's laws allow for cross-border conscription. As long as the local government agrees, all we need to do is report it to the capital's military high command. In this regard, with your connections in the capital, the military will certainly not stop us! "
"Can Bohan agree to us going to his territory to recruit?"
"That's the key." Philip's smile is very sly … … Even Du Wei can't help but feel that this originally simple young man has been by his side for too long. Even his smile is somewhat similar to his own … … Sly, insidious!
"We can exchange with him." Philip explained: "Bohan also wants to recruit more soldiers! Unfortunately, he can't afford to raise them. But we can! You can negotiate with him … … For example, we can recruit in his territory. If there are two battalions, then each family will have one. If there are two divisions, then each family will still have one! But … … "
Du Wei is also a smart person, so he immediately understood Philip's meaning. Not waiting for him to finish, he continued with a smile: "But, nominally, they will still be under the Tulip Family's name! The designation will still be the Tulip Family's private army. But in reality, half of the recruited army will still belong to Bohan, right? "
"Yes." Philip lightly said: "If Bohan doesn't feel at ease, then we can just ignore his army and appoint his own officers and leaders. We can also build a large barracks on the border with the Nuling Province and let the troops be stationed there. Aside from nominally being the Tulip Family's private army … … Everything else will be under Bohan's control. What else is there for him to be worried about? Right now, he can't expand the army because he is the local government. Expansion will be restricted by the Northwest Army, but we are different! "
"Good idea!" Du Wei wasn't stingy with his praise: "Philip, you are becoming more and more like an aide."
Philip smiled: "My Lord, this idea is not bad. But we still need Bohan's approval. From what I can see, Governor Bohan might even put forward some conditions. This Bohan is the kind of person who would pluck the feathers of a wild goose. Haha. "
"Let him pluck it." Du Wei smiled: "If he wants benefits or money, then I will give him some. In any case, this time Bohan lost a thousand cavalry because of me, so I owe him a favor. Besides … … Money, I don't lack money right now. "
Philip said: "Then … … This matter should not be delayed. My Lord, while we are in Nuling, write a letter and I will personally go to the capital."
Du Wei thought for a moment, then shook his head: "No! For this kind of matter, it's best not to leave a letter. If there is a problem in the future, it will always be a weakness. When I come back from the Northwest Army, I will personally go see Bohan. "
(There will be an update later. There are only a few hours left for the double monthly ticket event! Brothers who still have a monthly ticket, don't waste this opportunity.)
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