By the time the Court's handling of the Wincheston Manor incident reached Tinietz, Art had already led the Patrol Team back to Valley Wood Fort.
Because of the considerable casualties suffered in Wincheston, Valley Wood Fort had lost its usual bustle; the wails of seriously wounded Soldiers echoed all day long, and the bodies of fallen Soldiers had just been interred. Upon returning to Valley Wood Fort, all Patrol Soldiers’ tightly strung nerves suddenly relaxed, followed by a very low mood.
“Master, the coffins and graves are ready. You can go preside over the burial ceremony,” Old Cooper said softly to Art, pushing open the wooden door.
“Good. Have the wounded been settled?”
“Master, the wounded have all been settled. Except for Simon, everyone else’s injuries are not too severe; a few days of rest with herbal poultices will suffice. However, Simon’s injury is likely not good; his left arm was almost severed and cannot be healed. To save his life, it will probably have to be amputated. I have arranged for him to recuperate alone in my small wooden house.” Cooper also felt sorrow for the Patrol Team’s casualties this time.
More than twenty days ago, before heading north to Tinietz, Art had brought these strong young men back to Wood Fort, and they were full of vigor. But after one outing, there was one death, one serious injury, and several others had fallen. Cooper had also experienced life-and-death calamities, but his mood was still very heavy at this moment.
The burial ground for the fallen Soldier was chosen on a flat piece of land on the eastern hillside of Wood Fort, next to the empty grave Art had personally buried a year ago.
At this time, the flat ground on the hillside was filled with mourners. Besides all the Soldiers of the Patrol Team, there were also Cooper, Lawrence, Scott, Bard, and other fort residents. Next to the grave was a thin wooden coffin hastily made by Old Carpenter Bard, and in front of the grave stood a cross headstone.
Art wore a full set of leather armor and a black hooded cloak, with a fine steel knight's sword hanging at his waist. All officers and Soldiers of the Patrol Team also wore unified black hooded cloaks and held weapons, standing behind Art. Art plunged his sword into the ground in front of the coffin, knelt on one knee, placed his palms on the sword hilt, and softly recited with his head bowed: “Almighty God, please open your arms and let this land receive the bodies of these valiant souls. The hero has departed; may his soul be reborn in the Heavenly Kingdom. Amen.”
“Amen~”
“Amen~”
The crowd behind him bowed their heads and made the sign of the holy cross, praying for the heroic soul to be reborn in the Heavenly Kingdom.
The crowd was not familiar with the fallen Soldier; they didn't even know his life story, so the part about praising his deeds was omitted. Moreover, there were no clergy here, nor a church, so Art personally presided over the simple prayers and mass for the deceased, passing over them quickly.
To embody the military character of the funeral, the fallen Soldier was dressed in a blood-stained black cloak that had just been issued not long ago. The coffin was also carried into the grave by Patrol Team Soldiers. After covering it with earth, all officers and Soldiers of the Patrol Team stood around the grave, shouting the battle cry: “Roar! Roar!! Roar!!”
A simple funeral concluded. Art returned to the wooden house and convened Odo and the other two, along with Cooper, Lawrence, and Scott, for a meeting.
“Sir, Ron is still asleep. Should we wake him?” Odo asked.
“He ran for seven days and six nights straight; let him sleep a bit longer.”
“Cooper, you first tell us about the situation in Wood Fort.”
“Yes, Master. First, let me talk about the wasteland reclamation. As of today, all the wasteland in Valley Land has been reclaimed, totaling one hundred and twenty acres of cultivated land, of which twenty acres are military farms. However, we previously lacked heavy plowing tools, so the wasteland was turned over very shallowly. I have already distributed all the land to the farmers as per your request. Regarding grain, Wood Fort previously had about six thousand pounds of wheat seeds in storage. Ten days ago, I led people to purchase four thousand pounds of wheat seeds from various places in Tinietz. Originally, these grain seeds were not enough for spring plowing, but you brought back another batch of grain seeds this time. The farmers have already moved all the grain supplies from the edge of the dense forest back to Wood Fort, with a preliminary estimate of at least eight thousand pounds. Now our wheat seeds for spring plowing should be sufficient, but these grains cannot sustain the people in the Valley until the autumn wheat harvest.”
“Regarding the fort residents, the three fellows you brought back last time have all been assigned to reclaim wasteland.”
“Regarding livestock, including the livestock you brought back this time, Wood Fort now has two warhorses, three plowing oxen, one packhorse, two mules, one large donkey, three pigs, and five sheep. The warhorses and mules belong to the Patrol Team’s military mules and horses.”
“Regarding farm tools and supplies, we have five oxcarts and horse carts, three heavy plows, fifteen sets of iron farm tools, and a large batch of ironware and cloth and other daily items. Additionally, the several large bags of salt you brought back this time truly saved everyone. During this period, Wood Fort was severely short of salt. I strictly limited the daily salt consumption, but everyone works hard, and without salt, they simply cannot get energized.”
“Regarding construction, during this period, another small wooden house and a simple storage room were built here in Wood Fort. Now that we have more grain and livestock, I plan to build a larger cowshed and stable in Wood Fort. Furthermore, a thatched hut has now been built on the gentle slope of Valley Land. Most of the farmers in Wood Fort have already moved to Valley Land for easier cultivation. Now, the Soldiers of the Patrol Team live in the large wooden house.”
“Master, this is the current situation in Valley Wood Fort.”
Art listened carefully; Valley Wood Fort was his foundation now.
“Cooper, now that we have plowing oxen, packhorses, heavy plows, and iron farm tools, it’s best to deep plow the cultivated land again, at least the most fertile land along the river should be deep-plowed once. Currently, we don’t have many grain seeds, so each household can sow half of their land first, and if we get more wheat seeds later, we can replant the rest. From the supplies, allocate five hundred pounds of grain, one iron-barred four-wheeled carriage, two warhorses, and two mules to the Patrol Team as military supplies. All other items should be stored in the Wood Fort warehouse under your allocation responsibility.”
“Currently, Wood Fort’s most important task is to complete spring plowing and sowing. After spring plowing and sowing are finished, Wood Fort must focus on two things: first, continue to reclaim wasteland. Our fort residents and farmers will increase, requiring more land to support them. Second, build roads from the edge of the dense forest to Wood Fort, and from Wood Fort to Valley Land. The road from Wood Fort to Valley Land only needs to be a convenient path passable by people and livestock. If the above three tasks are completed, you should lead everyone to build more wooden houses during the agricultural off-season, especially in Valley Land. In the future, new farmers, after being allocated land, will all move to Valley Land.”
“Yes, Master. You said you would increase the number of farmers in the future?”
“Yes, I will continue to recruit displaced people and continue to reclaim wasteland.”
Cooper nodded.
“Lawrence and Scott, you two must continue to assist Old Butler in managing all affairs of Valley Wood Fort.”
“Additionally, we now have more sufficient funds and grain. Cooper, you and the other managers in Wood Fort, besides performing your duties, must also help me manage Wood Fort’s affairs. Therefore, you should also receive a salary. Currently, money is useless in Wood Fort, but later I will arrange for people to purchase some daily necessities and simple goods from outside, so everyone with a salary can live better. Lawrence and Scott will be treated like ordinary Soldiers of the Patrol Team, receiving ten fenny per week; Old Butler and Odo will each receive eighteen fenny per week. Furthermore, Old Carpenter Bard has been very hardworking and diligent during this time, so he will also receive ten fenny. Cooper will be responsible for distributing salaries in Wood Fort.”
Upon hearing this, Cooper stood up and said, “Master, they can receive salaries, but I don’t need to.”
“Cooper, you haven’t rested since you started following me. You are now the Grand Butler of Wood Fort, and you have to worry about everything. I cannot let you sweat for me for nothing.”
Cooper felt a bit moved by Art’s words.