Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 916 - 21 Arrangement_2

Chapter 916: Chapter 21 Arrangement_2 Chapter 916: Chapter 21 Arrangement_2 “Surveying the land… Can accounting school students handle it?” Bart Xialing remained skeptical, “I’m afraid there’s not enough time.”

Isn’t it more convenient to directly dispatch clerks from the garrisons? Bart Xialing really wanted to ask this, but he acutely sensed some deeper implications, so he didn’t speak outright.

“Exactly because time is pressing, we need them to get familiar and train quickly,” Bard patiently explained, “The army has drills, and this year’s land inspection can also be treated as a drill.”

The Civil Guard Officer’s reasoning was very sufficient, Bart Xialing couldn’t find any reason to refute and could only nod in agreement.

Winters rubbed a small knife, “Including Revodan, Iron Peak County has seventeen towns. You and the county government staff will be prioritized to [North Eight Towns]. The current aloof state of Iron Peak County must end. North Eight Towns must officially fall under the jurisdiction of the county government, at least to the extent of ‘being able to bring up tax revenues’.”

“Yes!” Bart Xialing, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up, “It should have been this way long ago!”

But then he thought of something and asked with slight concern, “But… what about Shovel Port? Shovel Port might not easily accept our forces stationed there.”

...

“We will not send people to Shovel Port for the time being, I have other arrangements.”

“Yes.”

“Besides protecting and assisting the county government, I have other tasks for you.” Winters lowered his eyes to the documents in front of him, “I’ve seen all your requests for troop reinforcements. I don’t plan to openly recruit soldiers in Revodan, it’s too obvious—stationing in towns is a good opportunity. The specific plan… Commissioner Mason will prepare it for you.”

“Yes.”

“With the current organization, a company has a full complement of one hundred and twenty people.” Winters’s fingertips lightly touched the table, “By next year, that number has to become two hundred and forty.”

Bart Xialing was initially dazed, then suddenly understood and excitedly responded, “Yes!”

“And… many farmers can’t survive, so they run into the mountains and become bandits, robbers. [South Eight Towns], I took you to sweep through once. As for [North Eight Towns], we couldn’t reach it at that time. But now it’s different, since we’re going to collect taxes from North Eight Towns, we must also fulfill our duties to North Eight Towns, understand what I mean?”

Bart Xialing understood immediately and grinned, “To be honest, I’m more worried that there might be too few bandits to kill.”

Bard coughed lightly, “If it’s possible to kill less, kill less.”

“Yes!”

“The most difficult part about bandit gangs is not their combat power, but the fact that they have legs—they can run. Farmers who turn to banditry for food are easy to deal with. The difficult ones are those habitual criminals and bandits.” Winters looked at the map hanging on the wall, “I have prepared a place for them.”

Bart Xialing followed Centurion’s gaze, focusing on a town in the northeast of Iron Peak County—Shovel Port.

“You mean?” Bart Xialing asked tentatively, biting his lip, “A hunt?”

“The places most prone to harboring bandits are at the boundaries of two administrative regions. If the bandits and robbers of Iron Peak County escape into Vernge County or Mont Blanc County, then we can hardly talk about eradication,” Winters’s brow furrowed deeply without intention, “So it is necessary to be strict on the outside and lenient on the inside, don’t let any bandit escape Iron Peak County, drive them all to Shovel Port.”

“But…”

“I know what you are worried about, I’ve already decided.”

“Yes.”

“You know why I only wanted you at this meeting?”

“… Subordinate is slow-witted.”

“Among the twelve company commanders, you are the smartest and the most capable.” Winters placed the drafted memo in front of the second company commander, “What I’ve told you will not appear in the announcements, so I need you to personally go to Saint Town and Manyun Valley to convey the orders to the other company commanders.”

Bart Xialing jumped up, “Yes!”

Winters now felt an urgent sense of “must complete as soon as possible,” which made him unconsciously become stern. He realized this as he looked at the sunken cheeks and wrists of the second company commander.

“In terms of seniority, among the first batch of twelve company commanders, you are second only to Tamas. In terms of merits, Tamas is not even as good as you. Since Tamas became the first acting battalion commander, the second acting battalion commander should also be you no matter what. Until now, you are still the second company commander. You feel wronged, or blaming me, is understandable.” Winters, facing his most capable subordinate, said apologetically:

“Because I wanted you to be promoted through the standard procedure, not by direct appointment like Tamas—I set a very bad precedent with Tamas, so I want to correct it with you. But ultimately, it is not your fault, so I am very sorry.”

Bart Xialing’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something but, in the end, he could not utter any words. He raised his hand and saluted.

Winters returned the salute: “Let’s go, hurry to Saint Town and Manyun Valley. The specific deployment instructions I have already written in the memo, and the official announcement will be issued no later than the day after tomorrow.”

Bart Xialing nodded, turned, and walked towards the door. He had just touched the doorknob when he was called back.

“Another thing.” With too many issues to handle, Winters’ thoughts were somewhat muddled; he smiled and told the second company commander: “Pick ten people from your subordinates, preferably those who can read, understand arithmetic, are young, sharp-minded, or have demonstrated meritorious deeds and good character.”

Bart Xialing was stunned; he replied with a grimace, “Centurion, your requirements are quite high; where can I find ten young, literate, arithmetic-knowing, sharp-minded soldiers who also… have demonstrated meritorious deeds and good character?”

Winters also felt he might be asking too much: “As long as they mostly meet the criteria, or you can pick the ten soldiers that you think are the best.”

Bart Xialing’s second company currently had only seven centurions left; taking away the ten best soldiers would be akin to removing half of the company’s backbone.

“Are you preparing to form a guard?” Bart Xialing gritted his teeth: “If so, I’ll find ten no matter what.”

“That’s not it.” Winters’ eyes flashed with a fiery intensity: “I am planning to establish a specialized military school… let the other company commanders also pick ten people based on this standard.”

Bart Xialing’s emotions were complex.

Having not been a militia officer for long, Bart Xialing learned many nicknames of officers from the veterans of the Standing Army: leather boots, big white goose, officials…

These nicknames were ironic reflections of the arrogance of the Land Academy officers but also contained undertones of admiration and envy.

Bart Xialing now also barely counted as an “official,” but he knew in his heart: sweep through Iron Peak County, and there are only four true officers; there’s no need to list them one by one.

“A… military school?” Bart Xialing awkwardly asked: “When… when does it start…”

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Winters sighed: “At least two months from now. As for the graduates, they are tentatively supposed to serve as your assistants. Under the current circumstances, it is not possible to directly appoint them.”

Two months, Bart Xialing sharply caught the keywords. Considering the Centurion’s unusual behavior today, Bart Xialing couldn’t help but become suspicious.

He tentatively asked, “You haven’t appeared before today, and suddenly you’re assigning so many tasks…”

“My old injuries have recurred; I need to return to Wolf Town to recuperate.” Winters said expressionlessly: “After today, I won’t be able to appear in public for at least two months.”

Bart Xialing was seized by a huge panic; he rushed to the Centurion’s side, stammering anxiously: “Which injury? Isn’t your leg injury not a big problem? What is actually…”

“The official reason is this.”

“Then… what’s the actual reason?”

“I have to make a long journey.” Winters clenched his teeth and said resentfully: “Being used as a tool—hmph, I accept it. But at least, I want to see the hand holding the knife. The Red River Tribe invited me to visit, and coincidentally, I also want to visit White Lion Yasin.”

Bart, standing by the window, sighed deeply.

Bart Xialing was dumbstruck. His rationality wanted to stop the Centurion, but the words were so incredible that he didn’t even know where to begin advising against it.

“Don’t worry, I still have value, the White Lion won’t kill me.” Winters glanced at Bart Xialing: “Besides, it’s also time to dig out that lump of gold.”