Iron Powder and Spellcaster

With the existing warehouses in Rewardan, it is more than enough to meet the quota required by Maplestone City.

but……

"No! Damn it! Not even a grain of grain!" Andre shouted angrily: "Send a piece of paper here and you want us to obediently hand over grain and money? Next time he is going to die, do we have to pay him too? he?"

Winters fiddled with a knife: "I think, even if he hands over the food, Adams will still send troops."

On the matter of refusing to pay food, the six people reached an agreement without any discussion.

It’s easy not to pay food, but the question is what to do next?

The current situation can be described as internal and external troubles.

Outside, in Warnie County and Baishan County, at least eight groups of enemy troops are gathering.

Inside, the refugees are a powder keg that can explode at any time, and Gévaudan is also undercurrent.

Winters had no control over the northern towns, and his influence in the southern towns was based on the support of the manor owners.

As soon as the counter-insurgency troops arrive, Jevaudan will once again line the streets to welcome them, and the squires of the eight southern towns will quickly crawl at the feet of the new reclamation army.

In the final analysis, only the people of Wolf Town truly support Winters.

The rest are just idlers, and they will follow whoever wins.

In the battle to capture Jevaudan, they were eating too much. Before he had time to digest it, Legion's fist swung over.

The second person responsible for the current situation, Lieutenant Don Juan, said casually: "It's not that the Lieutenant Colonel and I didn't consider it. Empty the warehouse, make way for Jevaudan, and return to Wolf Town. If he wants to come, let him come."

"Retreat as soon as he comes, and occupy Gévaudan if he doesn't come. In this case, the worst is just the result of the original plan." The first person in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, was not in a hurry.

It is easy to eat but difficult to spit out.

Fortunately, a few people were not blinded by a small border town like Gevaudan.

Andre slammed the table and said viciously: "We can't occupy it, and we won't leave it for them! Burn Wodan with fire! Take away all the food, let's retreat to Wolf Town and Blackwater Town! Two hundred kilometers away Chidi, the supply line is enough for him! If you dare to come, eat them. Let’s break into Baishan County and Warnie County.”

Hearing this, Senior Mason couldn't help laughing: "We can't do this. Maplestone City has no intention of annihilating us at any cost this time. Not only can we not retreat, but we must fight. If we hurt them, we should be able to stay safe until next May."

The senior has been depressed since he came back today and was absent-minded in meetings. This is the first time he has laughed to his heart's content.

Andre was so angry that he laughed: "Why do you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mason held his chin and asked, "What's next May?"

"What?" Andre asked.

Winters had already figured out what Senior Mason meant: "The wheat is ripe!"

"It's that simple." Mason said matter-of-factly: "If I were General Adams, I would never launch a large-scale military campaign this winter. The Platoans fought against the Herds in winter because the wilderness roads are easy to walk in winter, and winter is The Herd herd is the most vulnerable season. In Plato, it's just the opposite."

Seeing that everyone else was listening intently, Senior Mason felt a little embarrassed.

He swallowed and explained: "Winter is suitable for defense, not for offense. If General Adams still has sense, next May is a good time for him to send troops. When the wheat is ripe, there will be less supply pressure. We abandon the city and retreat, and they They can cut our wheat. If we hold on, they will annihilate us.

Our soldiers were poorly trained and demoralized, and General Adams's troops needed training as well. Instead of rushing to attack us, it is better to train the troops this winter and send troops next year when the wheat is ripe. General Adams' financial resources, food reserves and troops are far superior to ours. No matter what we consider, time is on his side. "

"That's it." Senior Mason spread his hands and smiled awkwardly.

The conference room was quiet.

"Well said!" Winters slapped the table and cheered for the senior.

Slapping the table, knocking the glass, and stamping your feet are common ways for the Army Academy and the army to heat up the atmosphere. Winters didn't have a wine glass at hand, and stamping his feet was unseemly, so he could only slam the table.

Bud and Don Juan responded immediately, followed by Andre and Moritz.

Several people banged the table, making a rumble that was as rapid as the sound of horse hooves.

The soldiers and clerks on the first floor looked at the conference room on the second floor without knowing why, and those who didn't know thought that the officers were demolishing the house.

"We are the clay pots, and Adams is the porcelain bottle." Winters sadly quoted the teachings of a senior: "Porcelain will not touch the clay pot."

Moritz lowered his eyes and sighed softly.

"A shrewd guy like Adams is definitely not willing to bite the bullet and try to kill us all. In my opinion, he is planning both ways. If we are vulnerable, he will take advantage of the opportunity to take back Gervaudan. If our clay pot is indeed a bit hard, He will wait until next year and bring out a hammer to hit us. This winter's actions can at best be regarded as a drill."

Winters made the final decision: "We cannot give up Gevaudin!"

Now that the purpose has been clarified, the next step is to formulate a battle plan around it.

Winters brought out an unfinished large-scale map that he had drawn based on Lieutenant Colonel Jessica's atlas.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz suddenly remembered something and said to Winters: "In that case, there is someone you need to meet."

"who?"

"Of course he's the one who came to deliver the message." Lieutenant Colonel Moritz took a sip of the water in the cup: "I caught him."

Winters went to see the messenger from the new Reclamation Corps.

Don Juan, who stayed in the conference room, enthusiastically put his arms around Senior Mason's shoulders: "Senior, we are inseparable from each other. We should drink together more in the future."

Mason and Winters have a close relationship. Juan also fought alongside Winters and was Winters' direct senior.

But Don Juan and Richard Mason were really unfamiliar with each other.

Mason was born in the artillery department, while Juan was born in the infantry department. The two had only one level of alumni relationship.

In addition, Huan Tian is of a gender and is too lazy to get close to others, so the two cannot be said to be close friends.

Juan's sudden enthusiasm made Mason uncomfortable, and he nodded repeatedly.

Juan joked: "You might as well count them. The three of them are all cavalry. The cavalry takes up three votes at once. Our infantry section and artillery section must unite to get the three votes to form a strategic balance with them."

Mason returned to his sullen demeanor and nodded absently.

"What troubles are you encountering? Can I help you share your worries?"

"Alas." A bitter smile appeared on Mason's face: "It's nothing."

"What's the matter? Tell me."

"I took some time to go back to the ranch today."

"Pasture?" Juan frowned slightly: "Then what?"

"Damn it Ronald!" Mason's voice was trembling, and the grief and anger in his heart could no longer be suppressed: "My breeding pig! I really don't know which bastard got into the belly! Ah..."

…

In the garrison prison, Winters met the messenger of the new Reclamation Corps.

To his surprise, the person who came to deliver the letter turned out to be a school official.

The other person was leaning against the wall and taking a nap, as if he was not in a damp and dark prison, but just taking a nap in the living room of his home.

Seeing Winters coming, the colonel greeted him calmly: "Good day, Captain Montagne."

Winters has never seen the other party, and presumably the other party has never seen him.

"What should I call you?" Winters asked.

"Major Stibel Zoltan." Major Stibel said with a smile: "There is no need to salute, otherwise I will have to return the salute."

Winters nodded.

"I wonder if you have received the official document from the legion headquarters." Major Stibel changed into a more comfortable sitting position.

"received."

"It's good that I received it. Even though I didn't hand it over to you in person, my mission has been completed." Stibel said with a smile on his face: "Then what is your answer?"

Winters dragged a chair over and sat down, and replied simply: "No."

"Captain Montagne." Major Stibel patted the dust on his trousers and asked slowly: "Do you want to be a warlord?"

"Warlord? Warlords want to separate themselves, exploit the people, and bet on opportunities. I don't want to be a warlord." Winters sneered: "In the new land, isn't the biggest warlord Kevin Adams?"

The air in the cell became three cents colder.

"In any case, General Adams maintained the order of the New Reclamation Province. He did not let the war burn to the New Reclamation." Stiebel sighed: "Do you think the people of the New Reclamation are miserable? You might as well go Look at both sides of the Ember River, which was once the richest land in Plato, and you will know what hell is on earth."

Winters didn't answer.

"General Adams is recruiting refugees to open up wasteland. He is making things develop in a good direction." Major Stibel looked at Winters sternly: "Pay the quota. If you want to play house in Tiefeng County, that's up to you."

"I won't hand over a grain of wheat or a spoonful of flour. If General Adams wants it, let him come and get it himself."

"General Adams blocked the flames of war from the new land, but you want to light a raging fire in the new land." Major Stiebel narrowed his eyes: "Do you know how many people you want to kill? General Adams so far The people killed will not even be as many as you will kill in the future."

"You don't have to tell me this! Without paying for blood, there will be no victory. You and I both know this." Winters looked directly into the major's eyes: "If my people are not willing to die for me, you will know it. If my people are willing to die for me, you will also know it. I would like to ask you, how many people are willing to die for General Adams?"

Stibel sneered and sighed: "It seems that I can't convince you."

Winters said nothing. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Major Stiebel's left thumb pressing his ring finger.

Winters' body felt as if he had been plunged into icy water, and the hairs all over his body stood on end.

Almost without thinking, he instantly entered the spell-casting state, launched the lysis technique with all his strength, and poured all the "magic power" into Major Stieber's head.

With a "bang", Major Stibel's skull was torn into pieces.

Blood and brains splattered all over Winters.

Moritz, who was guarding outside, heard a strange noise and rushed into the prison.

The sight before him was unusually cruel: the messenger's skull was torn into several pieces and hung on his shoulders. The smooth brain was exposed, but only half was left. The deceased's heart had not stopped beating, and red fluid was pouring out from the arterial sections.

And Winters stood motionless in front of the body.

"What's wrong?" Moritz frowned and walked to the body and began to examine the deceased.

"This person." Winters picked a piece of meat from his cheek: "Maybe he is a spell caster."

"How can you tell?" Moritz touched the hidden pocket on the corpse's jacket, trying to find the casting materials.

Winters made a gesture—pressing his left thumb on his ring finger, showing it to Lieutenant Colonel Moritz.

His gestures are standard spell gestures for Alliance spellcasters.

Moritz stopped and frowned even more.

Winters no longer uses gestures to cast spells, because he only fights with two spells and there is no need to add gestures. What he now pursues is speed and explosive power.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz didn't even need gestures to cast spells. He only used one spell to fight.

Perhaps it was Winters' slight speed advantage that saved him just now.

However, he is not sure now whether the other party is a spell caster.

Moritz saw through Winters' thoughts and said in a deep voice: "No need to worry, just kill him. If you do the right thing, you would rather kill him by mistake than give him a chance."

General Adams was destined to receive no reply from Captain Montagne.

Perhaps the lack of an answer is itself a clear answer.

Civil war is not only devoid of any warmth, it is even more cruel than pure fighting between ourselves and the enemy.

Major Ronald's warning was quickly verified by Winters.

…

…

Although the fire has reached the edge of the boots, things still have to be done the same.

The top priority right now is dealing with the refugee camps.

On the second day after the official document from the legion headquarters was delivered, all the refugees outside the city were finally screened, registered, and placed in sixteen small camps according to their place of origin.

Holding the thick register, Bud suddenly asked Winters and others: "Do you know what the Domesday Book is?"

Religious issues have always been Winters' intellectual blind spot.

But even others don't know what the Domesday Book is, and they just think it sounds scary.

"About five hundred years ago, a king ordered an inventory of all manors, tools, livestock and people in the country, measured the area of ​​all grasslands, pastures, farmland, forests and fish ponds in the country and estimated their value."

Bud said slowly: "The final results were compiled into a book, which is the so-called "Domesday Book". Its real name is actually "Land Tax Survey Book". But because the inspection officials sent by the king were as severe as the Doomsday Book, It got its name, so people called it the "Domesday Book."

Bard spoke very seriously, and Don Juan and Andre listened carefully.

"Guess how many years the Domesday Book has been used by nobles?" Bard asked again.

"A hundred years?" Andre asked tentatively.

"No, it was five hundred years ago, and the Empire is still using the Domesday Book." Bard's rough fingers rubbed the thick spine of the register: "This is our Doomsday Book."

Statistics that took a lot of time and energy showed that the total number of refugees outside the city of Jevaudan was 22,173.

Among them, 6,873 are males over 16 years old, accounting for 31%;

There are 8,869 women over 16 years old, accounting for 40%;

There are 6,431 children under the age of 16, accounting for 29%.

This booklet represents 22173 mouths waiting for food and 22173 hungry stomachs.

However, it also represents 22173 bifunctional working hands.

The key is how to get them back into production.

"The population has been counted." Winters slapped his knife on the table and announced proudly and excitedly: "Next, we will give them farmland!"

"The land?" Bud closed the page of the book, his eyes cold and firm: "Not! Not even an inch of land!"

[Part of the error before the assessment, Pliskin should be a tobacco merchant, not a sugar merchant]

[Regarding the proportion of men, women, old and young among the refugees, reference is made to the "Poverty Survey" conducted in the English city of Norwich in 1571]

[To put it simply, in the sixteenth century, the population of various countries increased dramatically, and the number of refugees also increased greatly. The government regards refugees as a scourge and a breeding ground for crime, so "poverty surveys" have been conducted in various places to solve the problem of refugees]

[Although the real national census was not implemented in Britain until 1801, the systematic registration of population information by British local governments had been initiated as early as the 16th century]

[Further back, it can be traced back to William the Conqueror's "Domesday Book"; the Celestial Empire also had a similar statistical system, namely the Fish Scale Atlas, and the prince's "Transparent World" tells the past and present life of the Ming Dynasty's archive system]

[According to survey data, the total number of poor people is 2359, accounting for 22% of the total population; 525 males are over 16 years old, accounting for 22%; 860 females are over 16 years old, accounting for 36%; the rest are 16 Children under the age of 926, accounting for 48%]

[This book appropriately adjusts the proportions of the three parts of the population to make it more suitable for the current situation of the newly cultivated land - the medical conditions here are poor and the child mortality rate is very high. Women also have to work like men, and there is no cheap alcohol, so the difference in life span between men and women should not be too big]

[Final adjusted proportions: men increased to 31%, women increased to 40%, and children decreased to 29%]

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