Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 155 Mobilization

   War cannot begin without clinking gold and silver.

  The old Duke of Lothair once said bluntly to his son-in-law, the Holy Muro Emperor Richard IV: "There are three things needed to start a war, money! Money! The third is money!"

   With periodic financial bankruptcy, Richard IV lost his best generals and all his lands south of the Shady Mountains.

   But in essence, money cannot be used directly in war.

  Gold cannot be used as gunpowder, and silver casts into weapons and armor. War needs money because money can buy war resources.

Brother Reid once told Winters: "The most murderous weapon in the world is not the sword, but the mobilization."

   At that time, Winters didn't understand, he just thought it was the old magician's trick.

   But after seeing the ordinary people in Horse Head Town waving war bonds, and listening to the old friars dissecting how the Republic of Palatine raised war funds one after another.

  Although Lieutenant Winters Montagne still did not quite understand the word "mobilization", he felt a kind of horror from the bottom of his heart.

  The military history course of the Luyuan Academy reveals such a truth: war is a game for a few people, at least until the pie is divided.

   The war between kingdoms and kingdoms is actually a war between kings and kings.

  The common people had to pay taxes and serve in the king's war, but it was a last resort.

  No one wants to go to war for free. Some people don't believe it, so they don't pay the army, and they end up miserably in the end.

  The payment of taxes, military service, feudal obligations, etc. can still be regarded as a kind of property of the king, and in essence the king is still using his private property, his treasury to support his wars.

   So too much taxation, too much corvée, and too much exploitation of vassals lead to overthrow, which is also a kind of bankruptcy.

   Therefore, the dynasties and empires that were dominated by population, wealth, and culture, but were destroyed by the barbarians that rose up in the remote areas, all admired them;

  Rich countries and bankrupt royal families are not uncommon;

  In terms of population, land, and wealth, the Duchy of Firthland is not worth mentioning in front of the Holy Empire, but in the end it was the "traders and pawns, rabble" that the emperor called the last laugh.

   In the final analysis, war is not about how much gold, silver, and population to rule, but how much gold, silver, and population can be mobilized for war.

Among the    republics, Palatu had the second-lowest population, and was far less wealthy than Veneta, the Provinces, and Vine.

  If she was still the Principality of Palatu, years of expeditions would have caused the Grand Duke's head to move—either by the Hurds or by the Palatians.

   But her territory is the largest, and it is getting bigger and bigger.

   Where did the Republic of Palato come from to fight the war?

  Answer: Borrowed.

  It is common for monarchs to borrow money for wars, but their essence is still private lending. Borrowing objects are limited to wealthy merchants, churches, knights and bankers.

  Most of the time there is borrowing and repayment, and occasionally the debt is delinquent.

   Thirty years ago, there were royalist rebellions in Palatu, and the Hede cavalry attacked outside. The Republicans were trapped in the castles, and were busy holding public trials and sending people to the guillotine.

   Faced with the mess of lack of people, food, and most of all money, General Ned pioneered another way of borrowing to raise military funds: special war bonds.

  [Note: Ned Smith was a general at the time]

   These bonds are small in denominations and are open to anyone to buy.

   There is no collateral, and it is expected to be repaid with all the proceeds during the war, including the private property of the nobles that has not been paid off, the seizure of future battles with the Hurds, etc.

   sounds like a wolves with empty hands, but perhaps that's why bonds are so cheap.

   A bond of four silver shields was sold for only one silver shield—and even then there were few buyers.

   Then Ned Smith had a small victory and seized a knight's home.

  Valuables, property, houses…all trophies are listed for sale at low prices, but only bonds are allowed to buy.

  Because it can be exchanged for real goods, people gradually began to buy bonds, but the price of bonds with four silver shield denominations rose to two silver shields.

   Then Ned Smith won another moderate victory, looting the house of an earl.

   The spoils of war are handled as before, and the price of bonds with four silver shields on the market has risen to three silver shields.

Soldiers under   Ned Smith gradually began to agree to pay their salaries in the form of bonds—at market prices, of course.

  The bond buyers became shareholders, and the military became associates.

  War becomes a business, or a gamble.

   Every Platonic who buys bonds prays to Ned Smith for more victories and more loot.

   After the eighth victory, General Ned announced that all bonds would be repaid as a unit after the war was over.

There are two reasons for   : First, during the war, the largest real estate in the spoils could not be sold for a price; secondly, he wanted to continue investing the chattels in the spoils into the war, which was equivalent to using the profits to expand his business.

   The decision is a major blow to bond confidence, but Ned Smith has a backer.

   "Open bond free trading".

General    Ned also announced that in order to allow bond buyers to recover their investment, the "Bond Exchange" of the Castles was established.

   If you don’t want your bond, just take it to the trading floor and sell it. Maybe it's a loss, maybe it's a gain, it all depends on your ability.

  The world's first [Bond Exchange] was born three months after the birth of [War Bond].

   Through this financing method, Ned Smith mobilized money from ordinary people such as artisans, merchants, and maids, and turned it into war funds.

  Through this method of financing, Ned Smith turned a small group of people fighting against another small group of people into a war between the Republic of Palato and another small group of people.

  No one wants to serve for free, but everyone who buys war bonds is volunteering for the war.

  …

   "Wait, what if the battle is lost? The bonds will be gone?" Winters frowned and asked the old magician.

   "It's very simple, just don't lose." Brother Reid laughed: "Don't forget, that's Ned Smith! The invincible tough guy!"

  …

   The one-year war ended, the royalists were purged, and the Hurds fled. The Republic of Palato was officially established and became the third member of the Senas Union.

  The bonds issued during the war were all repaid at par, and Ned Smith took off the "Special War Bond Exchange" and returned to the province.

   He got news that Richard IV was about to go on a personal expedition.

   This time, the emperor vowed to crush the rebels completely.

  …

"This is mobilization, the ability of a country to put resources into war," the old monk said slowly: "A war between countries is like two clumsy drunkards wrestling. If the strongest man can only use 10% of his strength, You will also be knocked down by weak guys who can do half of their strength.”

   Winters pricked up his ears.

"The grossest mobilization is to mobilize manpower, military service, corvée, your militia; the more sophisticated mobilization is to mobilize money, and there is money, and there are people, as Ned Smith did, and taxation; onwards? I? I don't know. I'm afraid it is to dedicate all resources to the war and cast the entire country into a weapon."

   "How to cast?"

   "If you want to cast the whole country into a weapon, you have to be united. Huh, the human heart?" The old monk sneered: "The human heart is the most difficult thing to predict in this world. I really can't think of how to control the human heart."

   Hearing this, Winters couldn't help but sarcastically: "The people in the convoy are about to treat you as a living saint, and you still don't know how to manipulate people's hearts?"

   "You can't learn things before and after life, even if taught." The old friar tapped Winters **** the head: "If you have the skills of Ned Smith, you will be invincible."

  …

  Cross the turbulent boundary river from the pontoon, and there is no road under your feet.

   There is a vast space between heaven and earth, and only vague ruts are printed on the vast field to guide the direction.

  The horses were foaming at the mouth and striding hard, while militiamen armed with muskets and spears walked beside them, helping to lift the wheels out of the mud from time to time.

  More than 200 carts meandering in the wasteland, and unknowingly pulled into a long queue of more than two kilometers.

  The person in front often just climbs a **** or goes around a mound, and then disappears from the vision of the person behind.

   Winters patrolled back and forth to ensure the marching order. Any malfunctioning carriages would be quickly towed out of the queue to be rescued by Second Lieutenant Bud, who was in charge of the tail-sweeping.

   Crossing the boundary river is equivalent to leaving the Republic of Palatu in a legal sense, and everyone is somewhat nervous.

  Fortunately, there were no dangers along the way, except for the rear wheel of a carriage that fell off.

   Tension subsided quickly, and fatigue poured into the body.

   Marching is extremely tedious labor, in fact, walking non-stop. And the lieutenant colonel strictly forbids his subordinates to put weapons and sundries on the cart.

  The militiamen were carrying thirty or forty pounds on their backs, walking on the wasteland with one foot deep and one shallow foot, thinking only of rest.

  Lieutenant Colonel Jesska strictly controlled the marching rhythm, and every time the hourglass flipped twice—about an hour—the team could take a break.

   It was not until noon that the lieutenant colonel ordered the bugle to sound the long rest.

  …

   The "buffer zone" between the Hurd tribes and Plato has existed since ancient times.

   For hundreds of years, the two sides have been at war and peace. Whenever the Hurd people are hit by disasters, they will go to Palatu to fight the grass valley. When Palatu is strong, he will also send troops to conquer the Hurd tribes and plunder livestock and slaves.

Historian Bonnie Seifer put it this way: "The Palatu people were essentially agrarian, catholic Heards. Even in the eyes of the uneducated Monta Mountains, the Palatu people were too savage. "

   The Herd tribes were reluctant to go nomadic in the pastures near Palatu, and the Palatu people did not dare to settle near the Herder tribes, and finally formed a zone of no concern.

   Until thirty years ago, when Marshal Ned signed a peace treaty with the three major ministries of Hurd.

   even stipulated in written form that "two hundred miles here, the Palatu people do not cultivate, and the Hud people do not herd livestock", and the buffer zone has a formal legal basis since then.

  According to Ned Smith's vision, maintaining distance may be the best way to avoid military conflict.

   But the fact is exactly the opposite of what he thought.

  [Note: In 526 of the imperial calendar, the butcher Arlean was defeated and killed. The following year, the Duchy of Palato was in civil strife, and the royalists and the republicans attacked and killed each other. Hurd Khan "Xibanjue" took the opportunity to invade the east, and Ned Smith led the Allied Army to defeat it, killing Juye Khan in an array.

  …

   "No wonder you have to choose winter to send troops!" A voice came from a distance: "This rotten land is a little easier to walk in winter. When it rains in spring and summer, the ground must be full of mud, and the cart can't move at all."

  I didn't see him, so I heard his voice first, and it was Lieutenant Andrea Cellini. Second Lieutenant Cellini is currently recognized as the No. 1 voice within the Jesska Brigade.

   However, there are also rumors circulating: Although it is not obvious on the surface, Lieutenant Montagne's anger can be loud enough to frighten people to death.

   Chasing its source, probably when a certain wolf town militia was intoxicated with wine, vividly told the story of a second lieutenant who "scare the giant bandit Ivan to death with a roar".

  Andre strode towards Bud and the others, rubbed his hands together and laughed and asked, "Berrion, what's for lunch today?"

  Budd, Reverend Kaman, and Reverend Rhett sat on the ground with a large canvas under them.

   Several people were waiting for the food, and Bud came over from the end of the convoy on purpose.

  Since Bellion was transferred to order, more and more people have lunch and dinner with Winters.

   "The main course is slow-cooked pork knuckle, sir." The chef with the wok replied, "There is also a creamy vegetable soup, but the bread is from yesterday."

  Bérion lifted the lid and steamed pork knuckle simmered in sugar and sauce. The meat that has been stewed all the way is soft and juicy, and the bones are removed with a light stroke.

   "Have you been to the camp ahead?" Winters jumped out of the carriage with a basket of bread: "Is it early enough to come back?"

  Andre stared at the pot and replied casually, "How long does it take to go back and forth for 20 kilometers?"

   During the conversation, the people around the iron pot began to divide the meat, and Berian returned to the carriage and brought out another pot of miscellaneous vegetable soup.

   Brother Reid took a sip and sighed in admiration: "Mr. Berrian, with your ability, I think it is more than enough to be a chef for the emperor."

   The blacksmith smiled and said nothing.

   "Which emperor's court have you been to? Madman Richard's? Oathbreaker?" Winters couldn't help but retorted.

   As a soldier of the Republic with strong roots, Mr. Montagne is most disgusted by the descriptions such as "royal".

   "I've never been there, but that doesn't hinder my evaluation criteria." The old monk was content and unmoved.

  …

   The long break of the cargo team is also lunch time. Most of the people in the team are eating dry food, and it is best to add some pickles.

   The most important thing during the march is dinner, because only in the evening there is time to make a fire, and the other two meals are casual.

  Before Berrian was turned into a steward, Winters ate cold bread for breakfast and lunch in most cases.

   But since Berrian was in charge of the meals, Winterston could eat hot food.

  The blacksmith made a special kind of iron furnace. The stove is half a person high and made of pure iron. It is divided into upper, middle and lower layers:

  The middle layer is the combustion chamber, both firewood and coal can be burned;

  The remaining ash and **** fall to the bottom layer, and there is a small sliding door on the bottom layer, which can not only discharge the slag, but also adjust the ventilation to control the firepower;

  The top layer is used for pots, and there is a chimney behind the stove.

  The best part of this iron stove is that it does not leak open flames, and the wood will not be ignited by padding it with slate, and it can also control the burning speed.

   Berrian put the iron stove on the carriage, and when he set out in the morning, he cooked something and kept the fire low. Winters had hot food to eat during the lunch break.

   And, according to Winters, the iron stove was far more fuel efficient than a bonfire.

  …

  There is no dining table in the wild, so Winters spread a piece of cloth and sat on the floor, which was a bit like a picnic.

   "When I was around Gusa, I dreamed of drinking a hot soup." Bud said with emotion: "If there was such an iron furnace at that time, we would not be so hard."

   "Berion." Winters also echoed: "If you bring this kind of iron furnace to the sea blue to sell, keep you and earn a smile."

  Andre sang the opposite: "It's good, but you don't even look at how much iron the stove uses! Is it enough for ten breastplates? How many people can afford it?"

Winters immediately retorted: "Is cast iron and steel the same thing? Breastplates still have handmade money. The more iron you use, the better the materials. It's not a problem to use this furnace for decades. Spend one-time money. Buy something that can be used for a lifetime, some people in Hailan are willing to buy it! When I get home, I will install one in the study."

  The two Veneta people are arguing with each other, and Berian is just eating.

   He also sat in this small circle, and dined with the centurion and the priests—this was the special request of Lieutenant Montagne.

  The blacksmith refused anyway, but the second lieutenant insisted that "it's just for eating, and there are not so many rules of honor and inferiority".

   Winters didn't have much thought, but when Berian was initially transferred to the orderlies, he was prepared to serve him meals like a servant, which made him very uncomfortable.

   After a while, Winters' gendarmes Heinrich and Charles also rushed over. The two saluted first, and then sat down to enjoy the food.

   Soldiers in a ten-man team take turns to prepare food, but the gendarmerie is directly under the centurion and does not belong to any ten-man team.

   So Winters asked Charles and Heinrich to join him.

  Other officers may not accept it, but Bard, Andre, Reverend Kaman, and Reverend Rhett are not very concerned about the concept of inferiority.

   Everyone sat around eating and chatting together, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

   On the other hand, Lieutenant Colonel Jesska visited here and left without saying a word.

   The cargo team arrived at the camp safely. Winters and others had a dinner together as usual, and were seen by Lieutenant Colonel Jesska again, but Lieutenant Colonel still said nothing.

   Until the next night, the lieutenant colonel stopped the three second lieutenants: "From today onwards, the three of you will eat with me."

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   (end of this chapter)