"Sir, I have a question …" Manager Hansk, who was the head of the statistics department, stood up. "To build a city wall that is more than 20 miles long and a river embankment that is close to 100 miles long, as well as to build a port and clear out the magical beasts in the Black Clay Swamp in our family's territory will be a long and costly project. How much manpower and resources will the family invest, and how will we allocate the resources? "
Loriste nodded at Hansk and pointed at the map of the Black Clay Swamp with a small wooden stick. "This is the family's future strategy. To achieve this goal, everyone will have to work hard. However, this plan will affect the family's prosperity and stability for the next hundred years. Once it is achieved, the family's territory will no longer be a remote northern border. It will become a base for humans to explore the wilderness and unknown areas.
This plan will have a profound impact on the family's development and expansion. The family is very determined to invest resources, manpower, and resources. We will support the development and construction regardless of the cost. No matter how long it takes, we must complete this plan. Now, Master Siroba and Mr. Sang Ben, please stand up … "
Master Siroba and the dark-skinned Sang Ben stood up from the back of the hall.
Perhaps it was because they were busy, or perhaps Miss Trish pitied Master Siroba's situation, but she found two maids for him. Due to the proper care, Master Siroba looked good. He no longer felt the fear and unease he had when he first saw Loriste. Although he was still a little uneasy, he was at least calm when faced with the many curious gazes in the hall.
As for Sang Ben, he had been selected by Miss Trish from the first batch of 2,000 slave labourers in the Kenneth Family. He had gained Lollister's trust in the construction of a series of fortified villages in the Plentiful Plains, as well as the city walls and residential areas. This was the first time Sang Ben and Master Siroba had attended a Norton Family meeting, so they were a little embarrassed under the stares of everyone in the hall.
"We have to thank Master Siroba and Mr. Sang Ben. Under the protection of the guard camp, they spent more than half a year doing a detailed survey of the Black Clay Swamp and the Blade Edge Mountain Range's estuary. During this period, their lives were in danger several times. But their efforts have helped us find the steps and methods to realize the family's future strategic plans.
From now on, we will set up a construction department, headed by Master Siroba, with Mr. Sang Ben as his assistant. They will be in charge of all the construction projects in the estuary plan. All the departments in the family will cooperate with them. " Laurist waved his hand and gestured for Master Siroba and Sang Ben to sit down. Now that everyone in the hall knew them, there was no need to stand there.
Laurist once again pointed at the map with his small wooden stick. "We plan to spend five years to control this Black Bog and build a solid foundation for the implementation of this strategic goal. This year, we will take a three-pronged approach. Look, the first path is from Crouching Ox hill to Turtle mountain. The main point of the path is to complete the initial construction of the Crouching Ox hill stronghold and complete the foundations of the city walls that stretch over ten kilometers to Turtle mountain. We'll clean up the region around Turtle mountain and establish a garrison.
The second path is through the centre of the Black Bog. We'll pave and fill in a path that leads to the highlands by the sea.
The third path is here, the Blade's Edge mountains. We'll excavate here and fill in the gullies and swamps between the Blade's Edge mountains and the estuary of the Blue Azure river. We'll fill in the reefs several dozen meters away from the sea and connect it to the bay. This will be where our clan's fleet will weigh anchor as they traverse the sea. "
Laurist shook his head with a bitter smile. "This plan requires countless manpower, resources, and the various resources of the clan, but as long as we take the first step and continue resolutely, there will be a day when it'll come true. Whether it's ten years or twenty years, we have to complete this strategic goal. As long as we have the estuary, we'll have a resplendent future! "
"Father Barlek, your mission this year is very important. Not only do you have to gather all the carpenters with shipbuilding experience to design and discuss how to build large ships, but you also have to go to the Black Forest to gather wood suitable for shipbuilding and dry it in the shade beforehand. Once we connect the Blade's Edge mountains with the highlands by the estuary, you'll have to find suitable terrain to build a shipyard and dock. I hope that by next year, we'll be able to use the bay to train sailors and the clan's soldiers. "
Father Barlek stood up and said resolutely, "Don't worry, my lord. I'll definitely complete this mission. I also hope to see the clan's fleet flying the Raging Bear's flag sail out to sea …"
Laurist smiled. "Where there's a will, there'll be such a day. As long as we work hard, there's no goal that we can't achieve."
Laurist's gaze returned to the map. "Everyone is clear about the clan's future strategy. Everyone also understands the plan to develop the Black Bog with three paths. In terms of safety, the War Chariot Battalion will be the main force to clear out the magical beasts, the Ironback Bay Crocodiles. The rest of the clan's armed forces will deploy all the Silver-ranked swordsmen and clan knights into small groups to protect the War Chariot Battalion.
As for the manpower arrangements for these three paths, the roads to the Plentiful Joy Plains in the clan's territory have basically been completed. I've decided to put the thirty thousand captives into the development of the Black Bog, excluding those who are mining and working … "
"Wait, my lord, there's something important you've forgotten." Steward Cordan, who was in charge of human resources, stood up.
"What is it?" Laurist asked.
"My lord, you said to the thirty thousand captives that you'll grant them freedom after three years of labor. In May of this year, their three years of labor will be up, and we'll have to release them …" Steward Cordan said.
"Ugh …" Laurist slapped his forehead. "I'm sorry, I forgot. Thank you for reminding me. Does this mean that these captives will only have two months of labor? "
"Yes, my lord, why don't we extend it for another year or two …" Steward Cordan said.
"There's no need. We'll definitely keep our promises. This concerns the honor of a noble and the clan's integrity. We can't go back on our words. Let the thirty thousand captives clean up the roads they're in charge of, and let them relax for the rest of the time. "Laurist said.
"But my lord, some of the captives' relatives have been moved here by us, and some of the captives have expressed their desire to stay in our clan's territory. They even hope to bring their own family members over. Some of the captives who have awoken their qi and are capable even hope to join our clan's armed forces. "Steward Cordan said.
"Then let's do it this way. Let those who are willing to stay stay. Let those whose families are here go home. For those who want to bring their relatives over, you'll be in charge of registering their information and see if you can help them. Now that the Plentiful Joy Plains has been stabilized, we'll treat these captives equally. Those who need a place to stay, those who need a farm, we'll help them find a job. Those who want to open a shop or factory, we'll give them a loan. We can't look down on them just because they were once our captives. Understood? "Laurist made his decision.
"My lord, what about those who want to join our clan's armed forces?"
"As long as they meet our recruitment age standards and have awoken their qi, we'll accept them. Those who are at the Iron rank can undergo three months of training in the recruit camp, and then be assigned to different military branches according to their specialties …"
"My lord, I was just about to report to you. From last year until now, over five thousand of the soldiers who were eliminated due to not having awoken their qi have already awakened their qi after training for half a year. They're all requesting to join the active forces …" Beruk stood up.
Laurist knew that although he required every soldier to be at the Iron rank, three quarters of the fifty thousand soldiers in the sixteen battalions hadn't reached this standard. Most of them were still at the Bronze rank. Thus, other than letting the commanders of the various troops arrange for these Bronze rank soldiers to undergo training every day to advance to the Iron rank as soon as possible, Lolist knew that even though he wanted every soldier to be at the Iron rank.
More than ten thousand soldiers around the age of twenty who hadn't awakened their qi had been eliminated when he was reorganizing the clan's armed forces. They were all arranged to undergo training in the recruit camp to awaken their qi. Who would've thought that in the blink of an eye, over half a year had passed and so many soldiers had awakened their qi?
After some consideration, Laurist felt that there was no point in letting these soldiers who had awakened their qi stay in the recruit camp. It was better to arrange for them to join the army.
"How about this," Laurist said, "The Chariot Battalion is more useful in developing the Black Clay Swamp. Add two more Chariot Battalions, making a total of five Chariot Battalions with fifteen thousand soldiers. We'll form a Chariot Corps. Gold Knight Mons Malek, you'll hand over the duties of the patrol squads in the seven central towns of Fengle Plains. You'll be the commander of the Chariot Corps. Dolles will be your deputy. "
The expressionless Malek stood up, "Yes, my lord."
Dolles stood up as well. He knew that he was only a 3-star Silver rank, and the three Chariot Battalions were no longer able to suppress the old foxes in the battalion. They were arrogant and would often grumble and grumble. Adding two more Chariot Battalions would be even more difficult for him. Laurist had transferred Malek, who was known as the Iron Mask, over to be the commander of the Chariot Corps. It was very likely that he had discovered these signs and wanted to clean up the discipline of the Chariot Battalion.
Thus, Dolles did not feel disappointed. Instead, he sincerely said, "My lord, I will definitely do my best to assist Knight Malek in managing the Chariot Corps."
Laurist nodded, "This is the first regular corps of the clan's armed forces. I have high hopes for you."
"Rest assured, my lord." Malek and Dolles stood at attention and saluted.
Laurist turned to Berounik: "If we can gather enough soldiers from the captives to form two battalions, assign them to the armored cavalry and heavy infantry respectively. However, they will have to undergo three months of basic training in the recruit camp and understand the rules and regulations of our family's armed forces before they can be assigned to active duty."
"Understood, my lord," Berounia replied.
Bofinger and Roth also stood up, "Thank you, my lord."
"The two of you, don't just sit around. Take a group of veterans from the army and have them serve as instructors in the recruit camp. They will assist Knight Berounia in completing the training of the new recruits. Especially Bofinger, your heavy infantry is currently undergoing ten-man team coordination training. It is very effective, and I am very satisfied. However, they still need more training to find out where they are lacking and improve. "
"Yes, my lord. We will do our best," Bofinger replied.
"Alright, back to the main topic. Since we are unable to use the manpower of the thirty thousand captives, we will begin to unearth the potential within the clan. I have ordered all of the armed forces of the clan to undergo three months of labor rotation every year when they are not on duty. They will be the main force in the development of the Black Clay Swamp. Be it the regular armed forces of the clan or the territorial garrison, they will all undergo rotation work. The garrison of every village and central town will be divided into two batches, and they will take turns to participate in the development of the Black Clay Swamp. As the regular armed forces of the clan, we will also have to participate in this journey that concerns the future of the clan, "Laurist said.
"My lord, why don't we recruit labor from the citizens of the Fengle Plains? We can easily recruit a hundred thousand free laborers out of the five hundred thousand citizens. We only need to feed them …" Terman stood up. He felt that it was very embarrassing to let the members of the Knights under him participate in this kind of development work.
Laurist's expression darkened. He looked around the hall, and then focused his gaze on Terman. "I hope that everyone understands one thing. In the Norton Clan, our armed forces are not the accomplices of the lord who oppresses the citizens, nor are they the masters who are superior to others. They should be the protectors of the territory, the dependants of the citizens, and even more so, the builders of the territory. They are the most precious and reliable force in the hands of the lord. Whether it is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, or a charge, they should be the most resolute executors.
Do you think that it is a disgrace to have you contribute to the prosperity of the clan? At this moment, I hope that no matter if it is the knights of the clan or the ordinary soldiers of the clan, you will all be the builders of the territory. In a few decades, you will be able to proudly point at the lively cities and fertile fields and tell your descendants that it was you who turned the barren land into what it is today, that it was you who paid blood and sweat to turn the Black Clay Swamp into a paradise on earth …
As your lord, I will stand at the forefront of all of you. I will work like an ordinary soldier of the clan, and contribute to the future of our clan … "
"My lord, don't say anymore. I was wrong. I will become the best builder of the territory." Terman sat down in shame.
"In fact, Terman is right. Many people think the same way. Why don't we enlist the citizens to do labor?" After a moment of silence, Lolist said, "It is not that we do not want to enlist the citizens, but the citizens who have just settled down in the Plentiful Plains cannot withstand such torment. Our Norton Family cannot just focus on the present. Everyone knows that we have just eradicated the Wave of Magical Beasts. Next, we will have to divide the fields and open up the wastelands, turning the Plentiful Plains into the clan's granary and resource supply area.
"Next year, we will have to collect taxes from the citizens who have settled down. Thus, this year, we are willing to suffer a little in order to give the citizens who have followed us to the territory a peaceful life. "In addition, other than criminals and captives, the Norton Family will not enlist the citizens to do labor. We can use the slack seasons to hire citizens to come and develop the territory. We will not use the name of labor to exhaust the hearts and resources of the people in the territory. This is my insistence as a lord … "
After a moment of silence, the hall suddenly burst into applause.
"My lord, thank you for your benevolence." Some of the knights of the clan who were born commoners like Bodefinger stood up and bowed to Lolist.
"Alright, the general policy has been decided. Now, let me talk about some of the arrangements for the clan's personnel. The seven central cities of the Plentiful Plains will have administrative departments. These administrative departments will belong to the newly established administrative department. The head of the administrative department will be Knight Shredder, and the vice head will be Butler Boris. Other than these seven central cities, Maple Forest Manor and Monolith Back City will also be under the jurisdiction of the administrative department. "
"Mister Camorra, please stand up," Lolist said.
The former Baron Camorra, who was now the deputy head of the personnel department, stood up.
"I will appoint Mister Camorra as the head of the clan's armaments department. From today onwards, the clan's civil affairs and armaments will be separated. The armaments department will be in charge of the storage and distribution of the clan's equipment, rations, and even the treatment and salary of the soldiers. Everyone knows that Master Sid has created a steel armor that is better than the White Lion Legion's standard equipment. Mister Camorra's first task after taking over the armaments department is to modify the equipment of the various battalions of the clan's armed forces. Please be patient, it will be your turn soon, "Lolist said with a smile.
"The meeting is adjourned. The heads of the various departments and the commanders of the battalions will stay for a while longer. Everyone will rest for a day tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, we will be heading to the Black Clay Swamp for the large-scale development. I hope that everyone will work together in the development of the clan's territory and contribute to the clan. "
"Yes, my lord!"
… …
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
