Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 120: There Are Thieves Coming from the Sea (6)
Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. First of all, I wish all my readers and friends a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Second, I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival during the three-day holiday! Third, thank you for your usual support, thank you!
In the city of Amundine, in the governor's mansion, Viscount Merri was sitting respectfully at the head of Earl David, listening to Earl David's words.
"Merry, I have conveyed the monarch's will to you. Please send someone to call this lucky young man, Balian, here tomorrow. I will hold a promotion ceremony for him on behalf of the monarch." Earl David said to Viscount Merry.
said.
Viscount Merri nodded and replied with a smile: "No problem, my teacher, as soon as possible, you can meet this lucky guy the day after tomorrow. He is an interesting person."
"Hahaha!" Hearing what Viscount Merrie said, Earl David laughed out loud, "Interesting person? What kind of interesting idea does this guy have?"
Viscount Merri stood up, poured a glass of wine for his teacher, and then explained: "He is the wisest among the low-level knights I know. Even though he only turns twenty in more than a month, he is comparable to
The middle-aged knights who lead the army are all shrewd and capable.
During the battle to recapture Maple Leaf Manor, if he hadn't turned the tide, I might have died under the ax of the Toba pirates.
Not only is he good at tactics, he knows how to train troops, but he also understands the rules. He is always very filial to me, and he has really helped me solve a lot of problems. He even took the initiative to give me a share of the credit for suppressing bandits.
In addition, his relationship with the Minister of Public Security is also unusual. The Sheriff of our direct county was appointed by the Minister of Public Security. This Sheriff is Balian's uncle. I think the purpose of coming to the Minister of Public Security is to make this little guy do things better.
You can let your hands and feet go freely."
At this time, the advantage of Balian's usual good manners in dealing with others was revealed. Viscount Merry said a lot of good things to Earl David, a visitor from the palace, openly and secretly.
After hearing this, Earl David touched his chin and nodded, "Yeah, that's interesting. Although we centrists don't have to get involved in the struggle between the north and the south, the will of the monarch is
We must carry it out.
You should be able to guess why the monarch assigned me to come to the direct county to hold a promotion ceremony for Balian this time, right?"
"I can understand this, teacher." Viscount Merrill replied, "The monarch wants both the northern and southern factions, as well as the centrist forces like us, to know that he has decided to go to war with the Valenti people.
He could promote Balian, a northern lord with military exploits, to baron, and he could remove the title of a southern or centrist lord without military exploits.
The monarch's purpose is still very clear, and whoever dares to oppose him in starting a war with the Valenti people will bear his wrath and punishment."
Earl David stood up and walked to the window on the second floor. At this time, it was raining lightly outside the window. Under the bright light of the rainproof torches in the courtyard, traces of raindrops falling like thin lines could be seen.
"Hey!" Earl David sighed, "It's easy to start a war, but it's hard to stop a war. I am opposed to starting a war with the Valenti people at this time. Our strength is not enough now, and the northern and southern nobles are fighting fiercely.
Now that the war has begun, the southern faction has responded passively. How much results can the northern lords alone achieve?
Now the Valenti people are very powerful, which can be seen in the battle against the Orians. In addition, their monarch has just become king, and the whole country is in an excited state of mind. They are eager to occupy half of our country in one battle.
The territory of the county, so that their kingdom will be more worthy of its name."
Hearing what Earl David said, Viscount Merrie was a little surprised. He asked tentatively: "Teacher, do you think that if a war breaks out, we Brick people may lose?"
When Earl David heard his proud student ask this question, he nodded and agreed, "Not only will he lose, but he will probably lose miserably. I received news on the way here that there are about four thousand Tuba pirates."
They have landed at Yangviksho Bay. Not only have they surrounded the city of Yangviksho, they are also plundering along the Karl River. Your direct county will be attacked soon.
And in the east, that Viscount Melkor crossed the Blue Mountains and started a war. Under attack from the east and the west, do you think that the passion of the leading knights in the north can fight on two fronts at the same time and defeat both groups of opponents?"
After Earl David finished speaking, he saw that his student was silent. He turned around and said with a smile: "The battle between countries should not only look at the short term, but also look at the long term. Now that the war has started, I'm afraid there will be no three."
We can’t stop for five years, we always have a chance to win.
Besides, the Toba pirates all come from the southern islands where there is no winter. How long can they stay here? I'm afraid they won't arrive for a month, so just prepare for the war."
Viscount Merri nodded and said happily: "Teacher, you are right. Oh, I forgot. The dinner should be ready now. Please go and taste the northern delicacies. I also prepared a pot of older wine."
Salion red wine, let’s have a good drink today!”
"Okay! You haven't been to Valombre very often in the past few years. We haven't had a drink together for a long time. Let's go and have a good drink tonight." Earl David happily took Viscount Merri down for a drink.
When Viscount Merri was a boy, he worked as a knight's valet under Earl David. Earl David was his father's good friend. Earl David gave him many things and helped him a lot.
Viscount Merritt, who had been away from his parents since he was seven or eight years old, not only learned a lot from Earl David, but also enjoyed fatherly love. After all, a teacher is like a father, so Viscount Merritt respected his teacher very much.
In addition, Earl David is the core figure among their group of centrist nobles and holds a high position in the court. Viscount Merritt's respect for his old mentor is even greater.
It was noon the next day. Balian discussed with Mark, Bess, Eomer, Barrett, Balin and other military and political officials all morning and came up with a feasible plan to deal with the attack of the Toba pirates.
Based on the actual situation of Nolandenburg, they should try to annihilate the pirates on the periphery. Of course, the premise of this assumption is that the number of invading Toba pirates is not large. As long as the invading pirates do not exceed 300, they will still be able to annihilate them.
I am confident that I can eliminate them in the field.
However, if the number of invading pirates exceeds 300, or even 500 or more, they can only adopt the strategy of luring the enemy deep while holding on to their territory, confusing the enemy while slowly weakening the enemy and sacrificing time.
, let these drag pirates destroy the territorial castle, surround the production facilities outside the house, and then look for opportunities to eliminate the enemy.
Using this strategy as the guideline to carry out the defense of Fort Norland, although it was mainly the strategy set by Balian, it was discussed by everyone after all, and it would be no problem for everyone to understand and implement it.
Now, Balian pays more and more attention to guiding his subordinates to think independently and discuss together, because a person's power is limited, and he can make his own decisions in the general direction. On specific matters, the people who are actually doing the work have to speak.
If you do everything by yourself and arrange everything down to the smallest detail, you will be exhausted, and the people below may not be satisfied.
After everyone finished the discussion, Balian didn't leave everyone for lunch. There was a lot to do. After the meeting, Balian asked them to go about their own business. There were only a few days left to hold off the pirates' invasion. Now
Every minute and second in the preparation phase is extremely valuable.
After everyone left, except for the attendant Bran, Mark also continued to stay in the conference room. It seemed that he had something to say to Balian. I don't know what it was, but Mark insisted on saying it so privately.
Balian glanced at Mark, then stretched himself, and then changed to a comfortable position and sat on the chair. He smiled and said to Mark: "Okay, everyone has left now, what do you want?
You can tell me now.
Oh, by the way, Bran, you go and guard the door, unless the wild dogs attack, otherwise you don’t want to delay my meeting with Butler Mark."
Bran nodded and accepted the order, then walked out of the conference room holding his sword. After exiting, he closed the door and stood guard at the door like a stone statue.
"Let's talk! There are only two of us left now. If you have anything to do, just say it openly. At this time, don't hide it." Balian said to Mark.
Mark nodded and said seriously: "Sir, do you know what our monthly military expenditure is now at Fort Norandenburg after including the cavalry?"
After hearing this question, Balian was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "I haven't calculated the details, but when I came back this time, I gave you a lot of money. This is what I earned in Yang Weixuo.
"
"Yes, sir, there is indeed a lot of money in the castle's coffers, and the income from soaps, painted pottery, etc. is also very objective, but do you know how scary military expenditures are?" Mark continued to ask.
Balian shook his head, "Just tell me quickly, Mark."
"Sir, just the salary plus subsidies, the Norlandenburg infantry regiment plus the militia regiment, reconnaissance regiment, and cavalry regiment, during non-war periods, are only five hundred dinars per week. If there is a battle, we will put aside the bonus.
, the salary and allowances alone cost 1,500 dinars per week.
In addition to food, drink, armor, weapons and equipment, as well as materials for war horses, we will spend about three thousand dinars every week starting from today's wartime state. If it takes only half a month for the pirates to come,
We will have to spend six thousand dinars.
If there are too many invading enemies and we hold on for a month and wait until winter comes, our total expenditure will exceed 20,000 dinars. This expenditure may not seem like much, but sir, you have to consider the impact of fighting on production and
The influence of trade routes.
In a two-month war with no production and no caravans coming in, our losses may exceed 30,000 dinars. If the enemy also damages our farmland, water trucks, etc., the losses will be immeasurable.
"Mark looked at his data in the notebook and said to Balian seriously.
Listening to the numbers that Mark said, Balian frowned and asked: "Mark, when you tell me these things, you don't want me to escape the war. You want to say that we are putting too many resources into the army now."
On construction?”
Mark nodded happily and said with a smile: "Master, I can't hide my thoughts from you. Indeed, we cannot escape this war with the Toba pirates. No matter how high the cost, we must continue to fight. This
There is no doubt about it.
Besides, with our current strength, we have nothing to fear even if we spend one or two hundred thousand dinars on a war."
Seeing Balian's appreciative eyes, encouraging him to continue speaking, Mark shook his head and continued: "But we have to consider the issue of long-term development. Now the military's production squeeze problem is too serious. In order to bring Fort Nolandenburg
The equipment for the six hundred soldiers of the infantry regiment and militia regiment was ready, and Hama and the craftsmen had been working day and night.
As for the research and development of heavy-throwing weapons and cavalry equipment that you ordered before going to Yangwei Shuocheng, we also rushed to complete it. If it were not for the gratitude to the master and the generous bonuses, these blacksmiths and cobblers would definitely not want to do it.
.
Our craftsmen are tired from working with the army, and they definitely don’t have time to produce hoes, shovels, nails, leather coats and other items. So we still have to pay high prices from passing caravans, as well as the city of Amondine and Fort Norma.
Go buy it.
In addition to these, the army occupies too much of the labor force. Our current territorial population is less than 3,000, but the number of the army exceeds one-fifth, and the main young and middle-aged labor force is busy with war matters.
Master, the purpose of what I say is not to oppose you. You must not dislike me because of this. I am also thinking about Nolandenburg. I am loyal to you. I..."
Balian waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking. Balian sat there, looked at Mark with eager eyes, and then solemnly said: "Brother Mark, thank you. If you didn't say these things, I wouldn't have done anything."
Notice, I didn’t expect that in a knightly territory like ours with twenty-five blacksmiths, the people have to buy their hoes and nails from outsiders. What a big joke!
Those knightly territories with only two or three blacksmiths in the territory can meet the people's living needs, but our Norlandenburg can't, it's ridiculous."