Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 915 - 21 Arrangements

Chapter 915: Chapter 21 Arrangements Chapter 915: Chapter 21 Arrangements Iron Peak County, Revodan.

In the winter of the 559th year of the Empire, the campaign of Iron Peak County against the Terdon Tribe has yet to receive an official name.

However, privately, the people of Iron Peak County refer to this ultimate battle as “The Battle of Blood and Mud.”

Over time, “The Blood Mud Battle” has gradually become a generic term for all the battles along the banks of Big Horn River.

Where exactly the name came from, no one can say for certain. A credible version is that so much blood was shed by both sides that the frozen solid farmland was turned into a swamp, thus it was named the Blood Mud Battle.

Regardless, on the afternoon Bard returned to Revodan, it was the first time Winters Montagne entered the Revodan garrison after the Blood Mud Battle had ended.

The duty guards stared intently at Blood Wolf as he approached them, even forgetting how to salute.

...

Similarly, as for Winters, the two-story building of the garrison felt somewhat unfamiliar. Among the people coming and going, there were many new faces, likely recently employed clerks.

Winters recognized the guard—he was from Shizhen, joined the army for the second time. But for some reason, he couldn’t recall the guard’s name.

It didn’t matter, though, because the guard recognized him.

“Who’s there?” Winters asked.

“Captain Bart Xialing,” the guard responded and then remembered to add, “Reporting!”

Winters nodded. The guard saluted with his hand, and Winters returned the salute.

Within the Iron Peak County Infantry Regiment, the units that were still fully structured had been sent to Manyun Valley, while those not fully structured were staying in Saint Town for recuperation. Currently, the only troops stationed in Revodan were from the second company.

After learning that the Centurion had appeared, Bart Xialing arrived at the garrison without waiting for a summoning order.

Now, the garrison headquarters in Revodan—a modest two-story brick building—was the true heart and brain of Iron Peak County, not the county office or the town hall.

The authority concentrated in the new garrison headquarters far surpassed that of the old headquarters during “Ronald’s era.” All military and administrative orders in Iron Peak County were now issued from the new headquarters, and the previously semi-autonomous system imperceptibly suffered a severe blow.

Winters had never worked in the garrison before, and thus did not have a designated office.

Bart Xialing knew this, so he hurriedly climbed the stairs two at a time and pushed open the door of the meeting room with a bit of nervousness, unsurprised to find the familiar cane on the table.

“Your Excellency!” Bart Xialing immediately saluted, shifting his gaze slightly to another person: “Lord Bard!”

“You came quickly,” Bard said with a smile, gesturing for the company commander to take a seat.

“Where is Commissioner Mason?” Winters asked.

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“He just left the city at noon,” Bart Xialing still stood: “Shall I go fetch Commissioner Mason?”

“No need.” Winters continued writing something: “You sit too.”

Bart Xialing then sat down, but not too deeply into the chair, leaving at least a foot between his spine and the chair back.

Seeing the company commander’s sitting posture, Bard didn’t say anything, just smiled.

“Shall I call two scribes?” Bart Xialing asked in a low voice.

Winters didn’t look up: “Don’t reveal the following content to anyone below the company level.”

“Yes.”

“I’m preparing to station each company in various towns for the winter,” Winters glanced at the company commander, “Second company goes to Hammer Fort.”

Knowing very well when to express what tone, Bart Xialing dropped his careful demeanor and asked earnestly, “Will the supplies still be provided by Revodan?”

Giving orders to the company commander, Winters never had to explain too much: “If conditions allow, try to raise supplies yourself.”

“Raise locally?” Bart Xialing stated candidly, “I’m afraid that might not look too good.”

“I’m not asking you to force a levy,” Winters stopped writing, “Each company will be allocated a small amount of land vouchers.”

“The ‘small denomination’ military merit certificates mentioned in the previous announcement?”

“Yes.”

“Will the farmers… accept this?”

“They certainly will,” Winters said emphatically, “as long as the county government allows anyone to ‘first cultivate, then submit certificates.'”

The meeting room fell silent, Bart Xialing stood up and asked, “You mean to say, allow farmers to demarcate and cultivate fields in the spring farming season first? As for the process of exchanging military merit certificates for land, it can be supplemented later?”

“Exactly.”

“I’m afraid this might…”

“Lead to countless acts of encroachment, the county government will suffer losses, right?”

Bart Xialing nodded.

“If it makes all the farmers in Iron Peak County think they have gained an advantage, then this matter is considered a success,” Winters spoke cheerfully, “Taking a bit of loss is nothing; if we really need to count, it’s still a gain overall.”

Bart Xialing pondered deeply but to no avail: “Besides locally raising supplies, are there any other orders? Your arrangements must have further implications, but I can’t quite grasp them…”

“Yes, and many,” Winters never played riddles with his subordinates: “The county government’s clerks will also be stationed with you in the towns. Their task is to census the population, survey the land, and you need to assist and protect them.”

“The county government? Where does the county government get the people?” Bart Xialing puzzled. As everyone knows, the Iron Peak County’s government is just an empty shell.

Bard, who had been silent, answered: “It’s tentatively arranged to be staffed from accounting schools, and some manpower will also be drawn from the farms to help.”