In the dense forest of the valley, the large open space next to the small wooden fence yard was now occupied by a wooden house built of logs and thatch, sixty feet long, twenty feet wide, and about eight feet high. Inside the wooden house, there were two rows of ground beds covered with thick dry grass, with a six-foot-wide aisle in the middle. At the end of the aisle, Old Cooper and Scott were discussing in front of a large clay fireplace.
"Old Butler, do you think this clay fireplace can withstand fire? It will surely crack in a few days."
"I added river sand and dry grass to the clay, and after baking it with a small fire, it won't crack so easily. Even if it does crack, we can just apply another layer of clay. Figuring the days, the Master and them should be back soon, and I need to finish this shack before they return." Saying this, Cooper threw another piece of firewood into the fireplace.
"Shack? Old Butler, if you call this a shack, then real shacks would have to be called pigsties." Scott truly admired Old Butler's ability; he had built a solid large wooden house in just over twenty days.
At this moment, Camille skipped into the wooden house and said to the two men squatting in front of the large fireplace: "Grandpa Butler, Dad, lunch is ready. Mom sent me to call you."
"Camille, go tell your mom we'll be right there," Scott said, pinching Camille's little nose.
Scott helped Cooper, whose legs were numb from squatting too long, stand up and asked, "Old Butler, they've been out for over thirty days, haven't they? Why haven't they returned yet? It's really worrying."
Cooper clapped the sawdust off his hands and smiled at Scott, saying, "Are you worried about your son? Don't worry, even though the Master is not old, he is very capable. Ron will be fine following the Master."
After speaking, he exited the wooden house and walked towards the small shed next to Scott's wooden house.
At the edge of the dense forest north of the valley's small house, the western foothills of Bore Mountain and the eastern foothills of Lamel Mountain converged, forming a dense forest Valley Mouth about a mile wide. To the south of the Valley Mouth was a dense forest, and to the north was a vast wasteland.
At this moment, the dense forest Valley Mouth welcomed its busiest day in hundreds of years.
A large group of refugees and several armed guards stopped here.
"Sir, is this our station?" Kazak asked, his face full of disbelief.
"If we go further in, it's the forest, but these outer wastelands can't be cultivated!" Lawrence kicked the wasteland beneath his feet; it was so barren that even weeds couldn't grow tall.
The refugees behind them also came forward one after another, staring blankly at the large expanse of dense forest before them, unsure what to say for a moment.
Art said to the group of people beside him, "Everyone, rest in place."
"Bass, take men to unload all the supplies from the wagons. Pull the wagons into the dense forest and hide them, remember to cover them with branches and dry grass. We will enter the dense forest shortly."
"Ron, ride my horse back to the Valley wooden house and tell Old Butler that we are back and to get ready."
Art issued commands to the people gathered around him one after another.
After resting for a while, Art stood on a protruding mound of earth and said loudly to the refugees sitting on the ground, "Pass through this dense forest, walk south for a little over half a day, and there, a new life awaits you."
After speaking, he jumped off the mound and came to his subordinates.
"I'll lead the team at the front shortly."
"Odo, you are still weak, ride the blue mule and follow behind me."
"Lawrence, find a few strong men to carry the grain and farm tools, and tell the other refugees to walk in the middle."
"Bass and Kazak, guard the rear of the team." After assigning everyone's tasks, Art began to direct the refugees into the dense forest.
The afternoon sun pierced through the dense jungle, torn into strands of light by the branches and leaves of spruce and red pine, casting them onto the unmelted snow piles in the forest.
Art walked among them, feeling quite at ease. Behind him followed a long line of people, all filled with both anticipation and apprehension about the place they were about to reach.
The group traveled through the dense forest for a full half-afternoon. When they rounded a low hill, a flat, open area appeared before everyone—in the open area, four thatch-roofed wooden houses were arranged from north to south. The northernmost was a yard densely enclosed by a pointed birch palisade, containing two wooden houses, one large and one small, along with a stable, sheepfold, and pigsty, resembling a miniature Wood Fort. Along the south wall of the yard, a wooden house about fifteen feet long and wide was built using the fence as its north wall. About sixty feet south of this wooden house was a long, low-roofed wooden house. To the northeast of the low-roofed wooden house was a simple kitchen supported by a few poles, with a stone-built stove inside. The entire flat area was also surrounded by a half-human-high fence simply constructed from wood scraps. On the gentle slope in front of the outer fence, winter vegetables like cabbage, radishes, and peas were planted. At the bottom of the gentle slope was a trickling stream, and a little further south along the stream was a large wheat field.
Under the setting sun, it emitted a brilliant golden glow, and everything appeared so quiet and peaceful~
Old Cooper and Scott's family were at the wooden gate of the outer fence, welcoming the return of the northbound team.
Thirty-odd people stood in unison at the edge of the hill, staring blankly at everything before them.
Odo had thought that the forest wooden house Art mentioned was just a low, dilapidated hunter's shack. He sat on the back of the blue mule, mouth agape, eyes wide, unable to speak for a long time. After a while, he turned to Art and asked, "Sir~ this~ is this your territory? Are you also a Knight Lord?"
Art was also stunned. When he left, Scott's wooden house was only half-built, but now it had become a miniature Wood Fort village. "Odo, this is my first time seeing this too."
"Ah???"
"Let's go, let's go home first," Art said, being the first to walk over.
Night fell, and the small wooden house settlement in the valley was brightly lit with fires. Large bonfires rose in the open space in front of the low wooden houses. Refugees sat around the fires, smelling the wafting aroma of meat and wheat from the kitchen. Children stared at the bubbling stew in the copper pot around the kitchen, while adults recounted their joy and happiness.
They were all wanderers who had lost their homes, and today they found the feeling of home again.
In the private wooden house, Art was carefully wiping his chainmail spread on his lap. Cooper sat on a low stool, reporting on the situation over the past period: "Ten days ago, Scott and I surveyed that land. We have already delineated several suitable plots for cultivation. Master, that's how things are at home. Also, all the refugees have been arranged into the newly built wooden houses. There are dry grass beds and fireplaces inside, so you don't have to worry about them getting cold. I've vacated my house for Odo and the other two, so they don't have to squeeze in with the refugees."
"For meals, I had Scott bring out all our remaining smoked meat. We stewed a large pot of meat broth with onions and cabbage. Tonight, every refugee can have a large bowl of meat broth plus a small piece of bread. Wheat porridge is unlimited."
Art nodded continuously: "Cooper, you have considered everything very thoroughly. How about this: in a moment, call Odo and the other two, Ron, Lawrence, and those refugee guards to this house. Then have Emma send us some food separately. I want to treat them well. You and Scott will have to work hard and take good care of the refugees outside."
"Yes, Master, I'll go arrange it now."
"Oh, and there's one more thing you need to arrange. It's too late today, so let's skip it. First thing tomorrow morning, take the new refugees to bathe in the stream, then boil water and scald all their clothes and bedding. I don't want them bringing diseases here." Note ①
"Master, it's so cold, I'm afraid no one will want to bathe in the stream~"
"Then I don't care. If the stream water is too cold, they can boil water themselves to bathe. In any case, everyone must wash thoroughly, including you, Odo, and the others..."
Art certainly didn't want this group of refugees to bring large-scale diseases here.
The night was very deep, but the joyful atmosphere continued. Around the huge bonfire, the refugees, full and content, sat together singing and dancing.
In the fenced wooden house, Art was clinking glasses and drinking with everyone at the wooden table. A large jar of fruit wine, brewed by Emma from wild fruits and mixed with strong ale, was almost empty, and everyone was slightly tipsy.
In the afternoon, Odo had a good sleep in Cooper's small wooden house and was now in good spirits. He raised his wine glass, hiccupping, and said to Lawrence sitting beside him, "Brother Lawrence, why don't you join the Master's Patrol Team? You performed very bravely that day, and the Master would surely be willing to recruit you."
Everyone stopped their wine glasses and looked at Lawrence.
Lawrence glanced at everyone sitting around him, then fixed his gaze on Art: "Sir, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint everyone. Like them, the only reason I picked up a weapon was to prevent my wife and children from being plundered by bandits. Compared to longswords and short spears, we prefer farm tools and plows."
"But if the Master ever needs me, I will put down my plow and give my life," Lawrence said very sincerely.
Art raised his glass to Lawrence and the few refugees who had participated in the escort, saying, "Thank you all for stepping forward. You are all upright men, and in the future, you will become the most excellent farmers."
Everyone raised their glasses and drank the fruit wine in one gulp.
The moon had already dipped to the treetops, and the banquet in the Unnamed Valley was nearing its end. Art led Odo and the others out of the wooden house fence and into the open space in front of the low house.
"Sir~"
"Master~"
The refugees all rose and bowed deeply to Art. Since the day their homeland was ravaged by war, they had wandered in foreign lands for too long, clinging to their last breath like wild dogs. They felt heartfelt respect and gratitude for this Patrol Officer who had brought them to this promised land.
Art walked to the center of the crowd, stood by the bonfire, his eyes sweeping over everyone, then said loudly, "Everyone, from today on, you are home! You are no longer homeless refugees. You can live in this Wood Fort for generations. You will be the freemen of this valley."
Art paused for a moment, then pointed south and continued, "South of here, outside the valley, there is a large expanse of fertile land waiting for you to cultivate, to sow, to harvest. As long as you work diligently and live honestly, I will guarantee you a stable life, free from worries about food and clothing."
A cheer erupted from the crowd; their greatest desire was a stable life and fertile land.
"Tomorrow, everyone will continue to rest for another day. My butler, Cooper, will arrange the rest of the matters for everyone."
A chorus of affirmation rose from the crowd.