After a simple lunch, the Territory Council resumed.
The discussions that followed mainly focused on army issues; several Commanders of the army seemed a bit agitated, but the Civil Affairs officials, already aware of their positions, remained seated at the wooden table, watching the spectacle unfold.
Art picked up the water cup on the table, took a sip, and said, “The army has always been the core of the Valley.
In times of chaos, a sharp broadsword is more useful than a flexible tongue.
I have discussed the army’s development with several army Commanders, and the officers and Soldiers below have also debated it.
Currently, our army is by no means strong.
As the Sergeant has said, our army’s Soldiers can only barely be considered regular Soldiers of a legion.
Therefore, the army reorganization issues discussed today will continue to be adjusted by me later based on actual combat needs.”
“Alright, let’s first have Odo briefly explain the current state of the army to everyone.” Art nodded towards Odo.
Odo sat upright, picked up a piece of birch bark covered with circles and dots instead of words (Odo was not very literate), and said in a slightly magnetic voice, “My Lord, everyone, I will briefly introduce the army’s situation.
First, regarding the army’s personnel: Last summer, when we were conscripted to Besancon in the north, we brought thirty Soldiers.
During our garrison at Talburg, we had eight Soldiers killed or wounded in action, including two Combat Squad Leaders.
After withdrawing from Talburg, another Combat Squad Leader was injured and retired.
Currently, the two injured and retired Squad Leaders and two Soldiers unable to fight normally have been settled in the Valley.
One who recovered from injuries has returned to the army.
Now, of the original Patrol Team officers and Soldiers remaining in the army, there are twenty-three.”
“Before evacuating Talburg, the accompanying merchant caravan also brought seventeen young warriors.
After completing training, the army had forty-eight officers and Soldiers.
In Talburg, we did not mix new recruits and veterans into disrupted formations; instead, we selected eight excellent new recruits to fill the vacancies in the original Soldier squads, and the new recruits formed separate squads.
Soldier First to Fourth Squads and the Sentry Cavalry temporarily maintained their original Commanders without changes; the new recruits formed three squads, and their Squad Leaders are currently temporarily held by those outstanding farmer-Soldiers and freed prisoner laborers.
Among them, Soldier First Squad Captain Bass also serves as First Squad Leader and Second Squad Leader Colin; Second Squad Captain Kazak also serves as First Squad Leader and Second Squad Leader Weiz; Third Squad Captain is held by me, First Squad Leader Pattes, and Second Squad Leader Bangda; Fourth Squad Captain Tuba also serves as First Squad Leader and Second Squad Leader Keliduo.
New Recruit First Squad Captain Andrew, Second Squad Captain Obert (original Patrol Team veteran), Second Squad Captain Walker (original Patrol Team veteran), the new recruit squads have no appointed Squad Leaders.
Sentry Cavalry Captain Ron.
Quartermaster Spencer, overseeing five accompanying laborers.
Additionally, there is one Border Outpost, with a garrison of five men.”
“This time, the merchant caravan brought back twelve more young men.
We are currently conducting ten days of basic new recruit training.
These new recruits are physically robust and are all high-quality Soldier candidates.
Among them, the two newcomers named Lusignan and Klaus are very strong in combat; even Bass and I together cannot defeat them.” Odo had a good impression of these two newly joined mercenaries and specifically mentioned them.
“As of now, the army has a total of sixty-five officers and Soldiers, and five accompanying laborers, totaling seventy people.
All previously injured and retired Soldiers have been handed over to the Old Butler for resettlement.”
“Secondly, regarding the army’s weapons and equipment.
First, armor and weapons: after various allocations, war gains, and purchases, the current army’s equipped items and those stored in the armory combined are as follows—Armors include: six sets of iron armor (including iron scale armor, plate chain armor, mail, and some accessories such as coifs, gorgets, arm gauntlets, greaves, and faulds), twenty-two sets of leather armor (including iron-studded leather armor, double-layered leather armor, single-layered leather armor), twenty-one sets of cotton armor (long robe cotton armor, armed jackets, short robe cotton armor); three bucket helmets, eight nasal helmets, seventeen round-top iron helmets; eight iron-studded round shields, twenty-seven leather-covered round shields, thirty self-made wooden shields, six cavalry kite shields.
Weapons include: three lances, twelve long spears, forty-five short spears, ten javelins, seventeen long swords, twenty-five short swords, thirty-nine daggers and short knives, sixteen bladed maces, war hammers, and axes (hand axes, throwing axes), fifteen bows (horse bows, longbows), eight crossbows, and over two thousand three hundred arrows of various types.
Of course, many of these weapons and armors are damaged and need to be repaired by artisans before they can be used again.”
Art himself was somewhat surprised, as he usually didn't pay much attention to the army's armory equipment, looking at the dense birch bark in Odo's hand, full of twisted figures and numbers.
“Fighting is indeed faster!” Sitting at the table, listening to Odo read the detailed list of weapons and armor in his hand, Kazak couldn’t help but whisper to Bass beside him.
Odo’s voice continued, “Secondly, army warhorses and supplies.
Currently, the army has fifteen military horses (including saddles and accessories), of which five can be used as warhorses, and the rest can only be used as riding horses and pack horses; three four-wheeled iron-studded carriages, eight large and small military tents, fifty sets of polished leather cloaks, capes, and bedding and boots, three sets of cooking utensils such as bucket pots, and miscellaneous items issued to Soldiers have not been counted yet.
The army’s grain and fodder have now been handed over to the Wood Fort; the army does not retain separate grain stores.”
“Finally, the issue of military pay consumption.
Since the implementation of wartime salaries for the northern campaign last summer, the army has successively disbursed over thirty-five thousand fenny in military pay, rewards, and funds for purchasing weapons and armor.
Army officers and Soldiers retain a large amount of their military pay.
Upon returning to the Valley, the army resumed its peacetime salaries: new recruits receive seven fenny weekly, Soldiers ten fenny, Squad Leaders twelve fenny, Deputy Captains fifteen fenny, and Lieutenants eighteen fenny.
Accompanying laborers do not receive salaries, but their food and lodging are provided by the army.”
“Additionally, I will discuss the enforcement of military law.
From the beginning of the army’s northern expedition last summer until now, the army has punished a total of nine Soldiers.
Among them, two were flogged for battlefield retreat, four were flogged and detained for secretly hoarding war spoils, two were flogged for private fights within the army, and one (a Court conscripted farmer-Soldier) was executed for desertion.”
“My Lord, everyone, that is the current brief situation of the army.” Odo put down the birch bark in his hand and took a sip of clear water from the wooden cup in front of him.
“Good, next Simon will discuss the situation at the Border Outpost.” Art skipped over the army’s Commanders and looked directly at Simon.
Simon was very surprised; as a Combat Squad Leader who had been injured and resettled, Art had given him an important position when he was at his most desperate.
Although he could not fight on the battlefield like those Soldiers, he had always done his utmost at the Border Outpost.
“My Lord, the Border Outpost began construction in early summer last year and was fully completed by autumn harvest.
Including myself and Benjamin, there are currently five garrison Soldiers at the Outpost, one watchtower, two houses, one warehouse, and one stable, with one military horse.”
“From the time the Outpost was basically completed, we began collecting entry taxes from passing merchant caravans and peddlers.
However, most of those passing through the Outpost were refugees from Provence and small vendors from the north selling miscellaneous goods southward.
Therefore, in the past six months, after deducting the Outpost’s daily purchases of food and supplies and the disbursement of salaries, we only had a surplus of two thousand three hundred fenny in tax currency.”
“Every month, when Benjamin and I take turns returning to Valley Wood Fort to hand over the tax currency to the Old Butler, we also report the battle situations and important intelligence from various places in the north and south that the Outpost is responsible for collecting to the Old Butler, and he records them in a ledger.
Additionally, apart from a few refugees who tried to seize food from the Outpost last winter and were killed by us, the Outpost has not yet faced any major threats.
That is the general situation of the Border Outpost, My Lord.” Simon stood up, bowed slightly to Art, and then sat back down on the wooden chair.
Art took over from Simon, saying, “Hmm, Cooper has shown me all the messages you collected from the Outpost.
For the time being, pay attention to collecting news on the battle situations in Provence to the south and on the border between the north and Swabia.
The tax issue is not urgent yet.
Currently, there are wars raging in both the north and south, and trade routes are not yet clear.
Once the conflicts subside slightly, passing merchants at the border will gradually increase, and the Outpost’s tax currency will also increase.”
Art pondered for a moment, then said to Simon, “Simon, I am now adding a duty to the Border Outpost.
I will gradually strengthen the Border Outpost’s garrison forces and will also send officials to act as tax collectors.
From now on, in addition to collecting entry taxes, the Outpost will also be responsible for purchasing and stockpiling southern goods transported from the south.
The lower the price, the better; the maximum price must not exceed the market price of southern goods in Tinietz city minus transportation costs.
The purchased southern goods will be stockpiled at the Outpost, and merchant caravans will regularly come to collect the goods and settle the payment.
Anyone willing to sell one-tenth of their southern goods to the Outpost at market price will be exempt from entry tax.
Furthermore, the amount of entry tax will no longer follow the previous method of taxing by carriage; instead, it will uniformly be collected at a rate of one-thirtieth of the value of the carried goods.
After paying taxes, entering merchants will be issued tax payment documents with a seal.
I will have the army set up checkpoints on the way to Tinietz to inspect merchants who have not paid the full tax amount.”
Simon nodded in agreement.
Art then gravely surveyed the army’s main Commanders, pulled a piece of birch bark covered in writing from the table in front of him, and said to everyone, “Everyone, yesterday afternoon, I discussed various army issues with Odo and Angus.
During dinner, I also spoke with several Squad Commanders and the newcomers Lusignan and Klaus, among others.
I have adopted your good ideas and compiled a temporary outline for the army’s standing strength, Soldier organization, armament, Soldier training, and military pay.
Why do I say ‘temporary’? Because in my recent discussions with all of you, I found that everyone’s points were valid, and I also have my own ideas.
I cannot yet say which idea is the best.
These compiled ideas need to be tested in the army’s training and combat.
Of course, we will also continuously adjust and improve them based on the army’s combat needs in the future.”
“Now, I will first discuss the army’s standing strength and Soldier organization.”
“From this day forward, the entire army of the Valley Knight Territory will be divided into four parts: the Legion, the Patrol Team, the Outpost Garrison, and the Valley Guard.”
“The Legion is the core of the entire Valley Knight Territory’s army.
The Legion’s organization is as follows—
A Combat Squad consists of three Soldiers, with one non-commissioned Combat Squad Leader;
Two Combat Squads form a Squad, with one commissioned Squad Leader, who also serves as the Combat Squad Leader of the First Squad, totaling six Soldiers per Squad;
Two Squads form a Company, with one commissioned Company Leader, accompanied by one Quartermaster/Medical Officer and one Standard Bearer/Messenger.
The Quartermaster/Medical Officer and Standard Bearer/Messenger of the Squad are considered Soldiers and must participate in combat, totaling fifteen Soldiers per Company;
The Sentry Cavalry (Light Cavalry) consists of one Sentry Cavalry Leader, one Deputy Captain, and four Cavalry Soldiers, totaling six Soldiers.
All Sentry Cavalry Soldiers are strictly selected; ordinary Cavalry Soldiers receive the treatment of a Combat Squad Leader, the Sentry Cavalry Deputy Captain receives the treatment of a Squad Leader, and the Sentry Cavalry Leader receives the treatment of a Company Leader;
The Quartermaster Corps consists of one permanent Quartermaster, who receives Squad Leader treatment; one Medical Officer and one Clerk, who receive Combat Squad Leader treatment; and six miscellaneous Quartermaster Soldiers (non-Soldiers, equipped with short knives and daggers, with low salaries).
The Quartermaster Corps is primarily responsible for managing military supplies and salaries, transporting materials, providing Soldier accommodation, constructing camps, and treating wounded Soldiers.
The Recruit Squad does not usually have permanent officers.
The Recruit Squad Leader is rotated among the three Company Leaders, and Squad Leaders or excellent Soldiers rotate as instructors.
The Recruit Squad is mainly for recruiting and training newly joined young and strong individuals; only after completing basic training and passing the test can recruits be incorporated into the Legion and receive Soldier treatment.
Three Companies, plus the Sentry Cavalry and the Quartermaster Corps, form the Legion.
The Legion has one Commander and two Lieutenants.
The two Lieutenants oversee the subordinate armies and are separately responsible for military supplies, salaries, military law, intelligence, medical care, recruitment, training, and vigilance, among other duties.
Within the Legion, only laborers, recruits, Medical Officers, and clerks are not considered Soldiers; all other officers and Soldiers are Soldiers.
Given the combat capabilities and skills of our army’s Soldiers, and the various issues in supporting the army, the Legion will temporarily only fully staff the First Company and Second Company; the Third Company will only have a skeletal structure.
After this council meeting, the army will dismiss a group of Soldiers to join the Patrol Team, Outposts, and Valley Guard, or even be directly discharged as farmers and fort residents.
I will make specific arrangements for this matter later.
The salaries of officers and Soldiers at all levels in the Legion will be changed from weekly to monthly, with the following treatment: miscellaneous Quartermaster Soldiers receive twenty fenny per month, recruits thirty fenny, ordinary Soldiers seventy fenny, Combat Squad Leaders eighty fenny, Squad Leaders one hundred fenny, Company Leaders one hundred ten fenny, and Lieutenants one hundred twenty fenny.
All officers and Soldiers of the Legion will have their food, accommodation, bedding, clothing, weapons, and armor provided by the Legion.”
Art paused, then continued: “Now, I will discuss the temporary weapon and armor allocation for the Legion.
The weapon allocation for Legion Soldiers will be based on New Recruit – Light Infantry – Heavy Infantry – Light Cavalry – Heavy Cavalry.”
“New recruits will be issued a short spear, a wooden shield, and a cloak and cape set.
Wooden sticks will be used as weapons during training;”
“Light Infantry refers to all ordinary Soldiers in the Legion, equipped with a set of cotton armor (padded jacket or single-layer leather armor), a semi-circular iron helmet, an iron spear, a short sword, and a round shield.
Soldiers who can use bows and crossbows can be equipped with them and considered for training as archers/crossbowmen;”
“Heavy Infantry refers to Combat Squad Leaders and above, equipped with a set of double-layered leather armor lined with cotton armor or iron-studded leather armor (Company Leaders and above receive long-sleeved chainmail), an iron helmet with a nose guard, and weapons such as short/long spears, broadswords, heavy axes (heavy hammers, flails), and iron-studded hide-covered round shields;”
“Light Cavalry, meaning the Sentry Cavalry, will be equipped with one warhorse, a set of half-body chainmail or iron-studded double-layered leather armor worn over cotton armor (padded jacket), a hood lining, a throat guard, and a nose-guard iron helmet.
Their weapons will include throwing spears (javelins), cavalry swords, short-handled battle axes (throwing axes), and leaf hammers, along with a kite shield.
If any Cavalry Soldier has a preferred weapon, they may also equip it themselves.”
“I, Angus, Roen, and Lusignan will serve as Heavy Cavalry, equipped with heavy armor.”
“Other small items such as short knives, daggers, belts, and water skins, I will not list one by one.
We do not have sufficient stock of the above weapons and armor in our armory.
For now, priority will be given to veteran Soldiers, and full allocation will be made once enough weapons and armor are purchased or captured later.”
Art paused for a moment after speaking, observing the softly discussing crowd.
The weapon and armor allocation had been discussed and considered multiple times, and it had largely gained everyone’s basic approval.
Art gently tapped the table and said, “Alright, next, I will announce the appointments of officers at all levels in the Legion.”
As Art’s words fell, the room immediately quieted.
“Quartermaster Corps: Quartermaster Spencer, Medical Officer and Clerk positions are temporarily vacant, and Quartermaster Soldiers and laborers will be transferred from the original accompanying laborers.”
“Sentry Cavalry: Sentry Cavalry Leader Roen, who also serves as my guard.
The Deputy Captain position is temporarily vacant.
Sentry Cavalry Soldiers will be strictly selected from the Legion; it is better to leave the position vacant than to compromise.”
“Legion Lieutenant Odo, overseeing the Legion’s First Company, Quartermaster Corps, and Recruit Squad, assisting in the management of the Valley Guard, responsible for military supplies, salaries, medical treatment, recruitment, in charge of recruit training, and assisting with Soldier training;”
“Legion Lieutenant Angus, overseeing the Legion’s Second Company and Sentry Cavalry, responsible for military law, enemy intelligence, vigilance, and in charge of Soldier and Cavalry training.”
“I will personally serve as the Legion Commander, managing the entire Legion, and directly overseeing the Third Company, Patrol Team, and Outposts.”
The appointments and division of labor for Art, Odo, and Angus did not surprise anyone, as this arrangement had largely taken shape over the past six months.
What concerned them were the upcoming appointments.
“Legion First Company.
Company Leader Bass; First Squad Leader Colin, Second Squad Leader Keliduo.”
“Legion Second Company.
Company Leader Kazak; First Squad Leader Weiz, Second Squad Leader Pattes.”
“Legion Third Company is temporarily not fully staffed, Company Leader Tuba; First Squad Leader Bangda, Second Squad Leader is temporarily vacant.
The Third Company currently has no Soldiers.
Tuba and Bangda will first be responsible for Recruit Squad training.”
“Former Recruit Squad Leaders Andrew and Walker will be transferred to Combat Squad Leaders in the Legion.
Other Combat Squad Leaders will be chosen by the respective Company Leaders and reported to me for approval of appointment.”
The crowd was not surprised by these appointments, though some were puzzled by the two vacant positions.
Art noticed everyone’s confusion and explained, “The positions of Sentry Cavalry Deputy Captain and Third Company Second Squad Leader are reserved for the two newcomers, provided they can successfully complete ten days of recruit training and pass my test.”
Everyone felt relieved.
Art shifted his sitting posture and continued, “According to the above arrangements, excluding the Legion Commander, the three Companies and one Sentry Cavalry only require fewer than forty Soldiers.
However, we currently have over sixty Soldiers, so we need to dismiss a group of Soldiers.
Among these dismissed Soldiers, the more excellent ones will be sent to the Patrol Team, stationed at Outposts, or enter merchant caravans as guards or drivers.
Those who are slightly less capable will be sent to the Recruit Squad for another three months of training.
After three months, the better-trained Soldiers will be assigned to various posts, and those no longer suitable for being Soldiers will be handed over to Civil Affairs for placement and handling.
This matter is quite complex and will require time to implement gradually.”
“Outpost Garrison belongs to the army, receiving Squad-level treatment, stationed at the Border Outpost.
It will permanently have one main and one deputy Commander and four garrison Soldiers, with an additional tax collector.
Their main responsibilities include guarding the border, maintaining border security, collecting entry taxes, gathering intelligence, and purchasing southern goods.
The Outpost Commander is Simon, and the Deputy Commander is Benjamin.
One of the original garrison Soldiers will be retained, and the other three will be dispatched by me separately.
The tax collector position is temporarily vacant and will be recruited by the merchant caravan later.”
“Additionally, a Tinietz Court Southern Border Patrol Team will be established, belonging to the army, receiving Squad-level treatment, stationed at the Giant Stone Pile.
It will permanently have one Captain and three Soldiers.
Obert will serve as the Patrol Team Captain, and Soldiers will be dispatched from the army.
Their main responsibilities are to inspect passing merchants and travelers, gather enemy intelligence, report bandit situations, and maintain public order.
Of course, the newly established Patrol Team will no longer be the main force for suppressing bandits; the Patrol Team only needs to report bandit situations quickly by horse, and I will personally lead troops to suppress them.”
“Furthermore, the Valley Guard will be transferred from the original Fort Guard, belonging to both Civil Affairs and the army.
It will permanently have one main and two Deputy Captains, totaling three Captains, and one instructor.
Scott will serve as the Captain, Lawrence and Lynn as Deputy Captains, and Gerr as the instructor.
The Soldiers of the Guard will come from two sources—Soldiers who are injured or retired from the army but can still barely fight, and young and strong residents selected from the territory.
In emergency situations, well-behaved prisoners can also be conscripted into the Guard to fight, and those who achieve military merits can regain their free citizen status.
The Valley Guard has two main responsibilities: first, to ensure the stability of the Valley, including external defense against enemies and internal public order; second, to train the young and strong residents of the Valley during agricultural slack seasons.
In the future, the main source of Soldiers for the army will come from the Valley Knight Territory, so we must train the young and strong residents to at least know how to pick up weapons and follow me to the battlefield.
The three Captains and one instructor of the Valley Guard will no longer receive separate salaries.
Ordinary Soldiers of the Guard will only receive two fenny per day when participating in training or performing duties.
The weapons and equipment for the Guard’s Commanders will regularly include a short sword, a wooden shield, and a set of cotton armor.
Ordinary Soldiers will not regularly carry weapons and armor.
Weapons and armor dismissed from the army will be given to the Valley Guard for storage in the Wood Fort, and distributed to the assembled ordinary farmer-Soldiers during training and missions.
I reiterate, the Valley Guard primarily falls under Civil Affairs jurisdiction but is also subject to army dispatch.
In the future, externally, it will be said that they are villagers who spontaneously organized to prevent wild beast attacks, to avoid causing suspicion.”
Art closed the parchment in his hand, stood up, and loudly declared, “Above are all the military, civil, and personnel appointments for the entire Valley Knight Territory.
Similarly, in three months, I will adjust and formally appoint based on your performance.”
Everyone in the room stood up.