Seventeen days after the battle of Jushi Town, Art officially formed an armed caravan at Valley Wood Fort.
The caravan was equipped with eighteen four-wheeled carriages and draft animals, fifteen armed guards who also served as coachmen, one full-time horse groom, one handyman, and three stewards (one main and two assistants), totaling twenty people.
The caravan guards were equipped with a set of black hooded robes without insignia, a short spear, a shield, and a choice of sword, hammer, axe, or bow and arrow.
They served as coachmen in normal times and as guards when in danger.
Caravan guards enjoyed the treatment of clerical staff, with a monthly salary of sixty fenny.
The horse groom was mainly responsible for feeding and managing the caravan's mules and livestock, also enjoying the treatment of clerical staff, with a monthly salary of sixty fenny.
The handyman was responsible for the entire caravan's food, lodging, and management of accompanying supplies, with a monthly salary of fifty fenny.
The caravan had three main responsibilities: its primary duty was, of course, to engage in trade and commerce to earn money.
Its secondary duty was to purchase weapons, armor, horses, and refined iron for the army, and to recruit urgently needed talents for the territory such as blacksmiths, craftsmen, and Medical Officers.
The last, hidden responsibility was to collect intelligence and gather information for Art.
Art was a Knight, and a Knight's duty was to march and fight on the battlefield.
To avoid secular criticism of a military noble indulging in commerce, the officially established armed caravan was registered under Baron Galvin, and the flag flown by the caravan was also Baron Galvin's blue-based, golden-sheep iris crest flag.
“Baron Galvin has replied,” Sartre, the caravan steward, said to Art, holding Baron Galvin's letter.
“He has allowed us to register the armed caravan under his banner, and he also plans to temporarily entrust us with one of the trade routes from Sap to Codor Province in the west.”
“My father-in-law is worried that I will offend the Dean Family by interfering with the southern goods trade on the Eastern Front, which is why he wants me to operate on the Western Front, but I have no intention of taking silver coins from my own family’s purse.
I have set up such a large operation and lost so many brothers for the sake of the Eastern Front trade route.”
The southern goods trade route in the three provinces west of Sap was developed by Baron Galvin over decades and was his life's work.
Art had no intention of taking from Baron Galvin’s plate, and furthermore, for Art’s territory, the Sap Western Front trade route required a detour along the northern border of Provence, which was a long journey and therefore not the optimal trade route.
“Never mind the others, how are the goods prepared?” Art asked.
“In the past few months, the caravan has been escorting goods for Baron Galvin to cover its tracks, while secretly acquiring southern goods from various parts of northern Provence through Baron Galvin's channels and stockpiling them at the Border Outpost.
Coupled with the goods forcibly acquired from northbound merchants by the Border Outpost in recent months, we have already accumulated fifteen carts of southern goods, purchased at a cost of thirty-five thousand fenny.
If they can be sold successfully, the initial estimate is that they can reach eighty thousand fenny, and after deducting the caravan's salaries and expenses, we can net over forty thousand fenny.
This is only the lowest estimate~” Sartre said, his eyes gleaming.
“You only acquired fifteen carts in over four months? On average, that’s less than four carts of southern goods per month.” Art’s tone carried a hint of reproach.
Sartre quickly explained, “My Lord, our acquisition of southern goods has been carried out quietly.
To avoid suspicion, we dared not buy in large quantities each time, so it has been slow.
Moreover, the current reserves of southern goods in various parts of northern Provence are not abundant, and fifteen carts are already our maximum effort.”
Art thought about it and agreed, “Alright, fifteen carts it is.
Once we open this golden river, we won’t have to worry about a lack of goods~”
“Have you handled the guards properly? Have you emphasized the potential dangers of this journey to them? You need to make it clear to them; if they want to withdraw now, it’s still not too late.”
“My Lord, I have already emphasized it to the guards.
Two guards with families have withdrawn, and the Old Butler and I have selected two strong young men from the Valley Guard Team to replace them.
Most of the remaining guards are a group of brave warriors recruited by the caravan from outside; they are all fearless.”
“Hmm, withdrawing beforehand is not considered desertion.
But if anyone dares to shrink back in battle, the sword in my hand is not only for enemies.”
“My Lord, I understand.
I will confirm it again.”
“Alright, you go prepare.
Tomorrow at noon, I will depart with a small number of elite Soldiers, accompanying the caravan.
We will first go to the Border Outpost to load the goods.”
After Sartre left, Art ordered Roan to call Angus to the office.
“Sergeant, I will be leaving the valley tomorrow to open up the trade route.
Once the Jushi Town garrison is stable, Odo will be busy recruiting and training Soldiers to prepare for expansion.
I am entrusting you with the important task of clearing bandits and stabilizing the county’s order.”
“This time, I will only take Roan, Felix, and his attendant.
Here in the valley, Odo will have First Company and Colin to help recruit and train new recruits.
I have already ordered Second and Third Companies to be temporarily under your command.
Lusignan and the remaining cavalry of the Sentry Cavalry will also be under your command.
All these Soldiers are given to you to suppress bandits.
I hope that by the time I return from my trip, you will have largely quelled the banditry in Tinietz County.”
Art lowered his voice and said to Angus, who leaned in close: “Sergeant, Leiduoan is a sharp blade hidden in the Secret Valley Jungle.
As long as his son is in our hands, we can control this blade.
You once said that we would need to do dirty work in the future; I think this blade is meant for us to do that dirty work.”
“This time, in suppressing bandits, you must fully utilize the information provided by Leiduoan, striving to eliminate several major bandit groups in the county in one fell swoop.
The old rule applies: kill the bandit leaders and hardened bandits, bring back those who are barely usable as slaves to the valley, and let Leiduoan take in the rest who can be killed or spared to strengthen his forces.
However, Leiduoan's power must not become too great; make him keep his subordinate numbers within fifty.
If Leiduoan performs well, after these few tasks are completed, let him quietly bring the relatives of his bandit Soldiers to the valley for settlement.
Additionally, have Leiduoan thoroughly investigate that group of Bastards who escaped from Laine Manor, and find an opportunity to eliminate that fat pig in the name of bandit suppression.”
“Understood, I have noted everything.
I will arrange it.”
The next day at noon, Art, accompanied by the recovered Roan, Felix, and one of his attendants, departed from Valley Wood Fort with the officially formed armed caravan.
Upon arriving at the North Pass Fortress construction site, Art had the caravan's empty carriages loaded with a dozen carts of pre-prepared timber.
This timber was to be transported to the Jushi Town garrison for them to construct and reinforce their stockade walls.
After the battle of Jushi Town, Art placed even greater importance on this exclave, Jushi Town, and therefore planned to have the Jushi Town garrison build the simple encampment into a sturdy Wood Fort, and also expand the number of stationed Soldiers to nearly a Company in size.
As night fell, the convoy of carriages and horses arrived at the Jushi Town garrison.
Odo and the Soldiers of Second and Third Companies were still temporarily stationed here, defending in place of the Patrol Team Soldiers.
The crippled Patrol Team would need to be reorganized by drawing Soldiers from the Wood Fort new recruit team and the Valley Guard Team.
Inside the military tent in the encampment, Odo and Obert, the Patrol Team captain, sat on low stools, listening to Art's instructions.
“Odo, in two days, Angus will come to Jushi Town to take over Second and Third Companies.
At that time, the external bandit suppression operations will be handled by him.
You will return to the valley and focus on recruiting and training Soldiers, and you will also be responsible for the reorganization of the Valley Guard Team.
I am leaving Colin with you as your deputy.
If you are really short-handed, you can borrow personnel from Angus or Cooper.
My trip will be short, twenty to thirty days, or long, one to two months.
When I return to the valley, I hope you will have basically completed the reconstruction of First Company and the establishment of Fourth Company.
Additionally, the Patrol Team and the Soldiers stationed at the Border Outpost will also be expanded to around ten people.”
Art emphasized the recent expansion goals to Odo once more.
After talking with Odo for a while, Art looked at Obert, the Patrol Team captain, who had been keeping his head down, not daring to meet his gaze.
“Obert, lift your head.”
Obert lifted his head slightly.
Art spoke to comfort him: “You have already been fined a month’s military pay for the desertion of the Patrol Team this time, and there is no need to blame yourself further.”
“My Lord, it is due to my poor governance that such Bastards and scoundrels appeared under my command.
I deserve the punishment.” Obert lowered his head again.
“Enough, stop nagging like a woman.
If you really blame yourself, then make sure Jushi Town is well-fortified and defended, and train your Soldiers to be stronger.
After this expansion, you will have more Soldiers under your command.
How to make them resolute and brave is what an officer should consider.”
As Art spoke, he remembered something else and asked the two: “During this expansion, the number of Patrol Team members will increase.
I plan to expand the Patrol Team into two squads of twelve men.
The two squads will take turns garrisoning Jushi Town and patrolling the trade route in the county.
The First Squad will be personally led by Obert, and the Second Squad will need a squad leader.
Do you have any good candidates?”
Obert thought for a moment and replied: “My Lord, Soldier Benson performed well in this defensive battle.
Although he is injured and still recuperating, his recovery should not affect his combat ability.
Could we consider him for the Second Squad leader position?”
Art recalled the name and asked Odo: “Benson~ Is he the fellow who was preparing to desert at Sap Fort back then?”
Odo nodded.
Art pondered for a while longer, then stared into Obert’s eyes and asked: “Do you know that this fellow once intended to desert?”
“I know, My Lord.
He even tried to persuade me to run away with him, but that was only the Benson of the past.
Benson performed well in the Eastern Front battle and in all subsequent battles.
In this Jushi Town defense battle, he even killed two bandit Soldiers.”
“Are you willing to vouch for this fellow?”
“I will vouch for him with my head!” Obert’s tone was firm.
“Since you, his superior, are willing to vouch for him with your head, then let Benson serve as the Second Squad leader of the Patrol Team after he recovers and returns to duty, enjoying the treatment of a Soldier Squad Leader.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“Alright, let’s continue discussing the rebuilding of the stockade walls.
I specifically brought a large quantity of timber here this time.”
