Elite New Recruit Squad, Horse Bandits Attack!

"Sir, are you listening?" Tommy and Claude noticed that Henry had drifted off and instinctively reminded him.

Henry came back to his senses and said, "Of course I'm listening. I was just thinking, isn't it a little too far to build the fortress's Subsidiary Village two kilometers away?"

Claude shook his head and explained, "Sir, we need to extend our reach farther out so that we can get a share of the Pioneering War. Every night, Captain Phillip leads the troops to station in the village to protect and supervise those serfs.

"As for this place, rest assured. The caravan guards and the guards Baron Pedro sent are more than enough."

Henry nodded, but he still felt something was off.

This was not some simple medieval world. Its productive capacity was vastly more abundant than that of the Middle Ages. But, but that did not mean those Foreign Races were idiots!

On the contrary, those Foreign Races possessed highly advanced ironworking techniques, and their other technologies were no worse. Farther east lay boundless lands waiting for the Empire to conquer, but the Empire lacked that capability now and could only swallow a large chunk every few decades.

Neither side had any right to condemn the other. Both were invaders. Whoever laughed last was the winner.

What Henry feared now was that before the Half-Orcs came to invade, the bandits within the Empire would arrive first.

"You don't know this, but on the way here these past two days, Bain and I ran into two groups of Horse Bandits and three groups of Bandits. We killed them all.

"That isn't a good sign. The King's legions have arrived near the great city on the Eastern Border from the Royal Domain. Those Horse Bandits and Bandits will definitely drift toward small places like ours."

After saying that, Henry took a pouch from his waist and tossed it over. Tommy caught it, opened it, and found some Su coins and a small number of silver coins inside. It seemed these were the spoils of war.

Bain nodded. Only then did Tommy and Claude notice how terrible the Retainer looked. His face was pale, and he was unwilling to speak. In their memories, Bain had always been cheerful wherever he went.

Henry smiled and pointed at Bain. "Bain has grown up. He's now a qualified cavalryman, a brave Warrior. He skewered three Horse Bandits with his Lance and sent those Bandits scattering with his Javelins. Haha."

Bain looked much better after receiving Henry's praise. He knew that his achievements had all been thanks to his Warhorse and armor.

Most of those Bandits and Horse Bandits had no protective gear. Armor against no armor was simply slaughter. Bain had followed Henry for two years and had even received systematic instruction at the Royal Knight Academy. If he still could not defeat such bandits, that would be far too embarrassing.

"Claude, go gather one hundred and twenty serfs. I'm going to train them. We don't need that many people chopping wood."

Claude accepted the order and left. He did not need to constantly remind Henry about matters such as where these serfs would be stationed or what level of treatment they required. He was the Steward, while Henry was the noble.

Tommy led Henry to the Temporary Residence, which was actually inside the Barracks. It would be noisy here in the mornings because it was near the enormous construction site, but it was very safe.

This was a proper garrison Barracks. The outer palisade consisted entirely of three-meter-tall Hardwood walls that had also undergone Fireproofing.

It was close to the tent camps of the caravan guards and construction workers. If danger truly came, they would suffer first, giving Henry enough time to put on his armor.

"Sir, I bought a batch of candles and blankets, as well as an exquisite dining table and writing desk. Your bed has three layers of cotton padding and a linen pillow. We do not have much money right now."

Henry inspected his own two-story brick, tile, and wood building in the Barracks and was very satisfied. He was also astonished by the Architectural Engineering of the Calradia Continent.

Only about ten days had passed, yet the construction speed was much faster than he had imagined.

"Not bad. I'm very satisfied. This is enough to maintain my dignity. Tommy, you did well."

Tommy smiled. As long as the young master... no, the sir was satisfied, that was enough.

"Tommy, I think you should get married and have children. You're much older than I am. Once everything settles down, give it some thought."

Tommy smiled awkwardly. Compared with getting married and having children, he preferred organizing internal affairs and counting Denars.

"Oh, right, Tommy. Have the Cook make lunch. I'm hungry. Prepare a portion for Bain too."

Bain was his Retainer, a Knight Reserve being raised to become an enfeoffed Lesser Noble, unlike a professional Officer such as Phillip.

"Yes, sir. Your Cook learned a new dish on the way here. It's a specialty from the Onela Region."

Henry nodded with a smile. His Cook always liked studying new dishes.

After Tommy left, Bain let out a sigh of relief and found a chair to sit in. He looked utterly exhausted.

He and Henry were more like partners than master and servant, but when others were present, Bain hoped Henry would be given sufficient dignity and authority.

"Bain, feeling better? You threw up the whole way."

"Sir, I'm much better. As you said, I'm now a qualified Warrior."

"You always have been, Bain."

Before long, Henry's brawny Cook, Oriana, brought out the food.

Oriana was from the Western Region. Henry had found her in a tavern in the Capital, because Oriana was skilled at preparing many different dishes.

Moreover, as a qualified cook, Oriana had broad shoulders and muscular arms. Put armor on her, and she would be a Warrior.

One of the dishes caught Henry's attention. He pointed at it and asked, "What dish is this? I don't think I've seen it before."

Oriana answered with a smile, "This is a new Onila specialty dish I learned. It's called Flame Roasted Meat." As she spoke, she placed the dish on the table.

Henry picked up a fork and took a bite. He was immediately drawn in by its unique flavor.

Henry praised, "Mm, it tastes really good! Oriana, your cooking is getting better and better. Though this flavor is somewhat like the Valandia Roasted Meat you used to make."

Hearing Henry's praise, Oriana revealed a happy smile. At that moment, she secretly glanced at Bain beside her. Their eyes met, and they both smiled faintly.

Henry noticed and could not help smiling. The two were close in age and neither held high status, so it was perfectly normal for them to have feelings for each other.

As for Henry? Please, he was a noble. Would a noble really develop romantic feelings for a Cook? Cinderella was an unfavored princess, not merely a servant.

"Bain, after eating, go wash the dishes with Oriana."

"Yes, sir!"

After the meal, Tommy entered and said, "Sir, the serfs have assembled outside. Claude has gone back to supervise the construction site. You know how concerned he is about the castle's security."

Henry walked outside and saw a sea of people. One hundred and twenty people was not much, but when they stood before you, you realized that one hundred and twenty people did not seem so few after all.

The serfs were so frail that they looked as though a gust of wind could knock them over. It was hard to imagine that these people were skilled at farming and logging. Their faces were filled with tension, fear, and dread. Every one of them kept their head deeply lowered, not daring to look forward.

Their expressions were haggard, and their eyes revealed deep numbness and helplessness. Long-term malnutrition had left their skin sallow.

Twenty Soldiers stood beside them. These were Henry's elite private troops.

At present, in the entire Calradia Empire, only the King could afford the luxury of abandoning Conscripts and relying entirely on permanently recruited troops.

Other local nobles still maintained three military systems side by side: standing private troops, Conscripts, and garrison Militia.

There were ten Veteran Shielded Crossbowmen. If these serfs made any unusual move, they could quickly unleash a volley, then remove their shields, draw their blades, and fight in close combat.

They wore two layers of armor: a layer of Chainmail and a layer of cloth armor. These serfs could not possibly harm them. The Nasal Iron Helmets they wore would leave the serfs' fists mangled.

The spears of the ten Veteran Spearmen were a full three meters long. They could swiftly pierce through two unarmored serfs, then use the One-Handed swords at their waists to carry out a slaughter.

The Studded Leather Armor and iron helmets they wore would still fill unarmored enemies with despair.

"Tommy, take those Soldiers and leave."

Tommy looked at Henry and advised, "Sir, you aren't wearing armor."

"It's fine."

After Tommy left with the Soldiers, Henry quickly opened the Total War panel and selected the Imperial New Recruit Squad from the available recruitable and trainable troops.

Please select personnel for training

Suddenly, Henry's viewpoint rose higher and higher, as though he had become one of the Gods looking down upon this land. His breathing quickened slightly. The rapid ascent of his viewpoint made him feel as if he were riding a roller coaster.

Select the one hundred and twenty serfs in front of me.

Are you sure you want to use 1 Overlord Training Point to recruit and train 120 Imperial New Recruit Squad members?

Confirm.

Payment successful

Henry's perspective immediately returned to his body. Before he had time to savor the sensation, he noticed that the serfs before him seemed somewhat different.

The serfs who had kept their heads lowered began slowly raising them. Though they still did not dare look directly at Henry, their expressions had changed noticeably.

The fear and dread were gone. Their expressions looked more like... reverence? It made no scientific sense, but Henry had already transmigrated and gained cheats. And now they wanted to talk to him about science? If it worked, then it was science.

Henry suddenly felt something foreign appear in his clothes. He discovered it was a book. Taking it out, he found that it was a Special Training Manual.

Henry found a stick nearby and shouted, "Attention!"

Time flew like an arrow, and the years passed like a shuttle. Time slipped away as swiftly as a galloping horse, and in the blink of an eye, a great deal of it had quietly passed.

A month had gone by so quickly that it was hard to accept. As construction progressed faster and more supplies were delivered, unfriendly eyes began appearing around them.

Phillip had already led the Heavy Cavalry to eliminate three groups of Horse Bandits. They had gained seven or eight ordinary horses, all of which had been sent to the Subsidiary Village to cultivate the land.

Those caravan guards had also voluntarily joined Henry's Patrol Team. If any of these supplies were lost, Henry would certainly demand an outrageous compensation, and their merchant employers would make them pay dearly.

Yet this still could not curb the bandits' greed, because they were already on the brink of starvation. Over the past month, the trade caravans and farmers they could rob had become fewer and fewer, which they found unbearable.

They could not understand why their luck was so terrible. They had fled the farmlands and ranches to live as fugitives, only to be told that the King's army had arrived? Was this some kind of joke?

Henry was currently wearing a full suit of armor and swinging a Greatsword. Terrifying sounds of air being torn apart rang out one after another, wave after wave, leaving people unable to breathe.

Henry's armor now had three full layers and weighed more than seventy pounds: a layer of Cotton Armor, a layer of Chainmail, and a layer of Heavy Scale Armor Chainmail. He wore an Overlapping Plate Warlord Helmet on his head, Noble Arm Guards on his arms, and Riveted Plate Armor Boots on his feet, like a heavy tank.

Henry's armor was worth at least four hundred Denars. Even in the King's legions, only the most elite Soldiers might have such equipment.

If Henry charged into an enemy formation, he would be an unstoppable Greater Demon.

Bain wore thick cloth armor and Chainmail, with a Tabard over them to indicate his status as a Knight Attendant. Henry's Family Coat of Arms depicted two crossed Knight Swords and a male lion standing atop a rocky mountain, with a white design on a red background.

Bain wielded his Footman's Double-Edged Spear with fierce momentum, and he did not seem much weaker than Henry.

Not far from them stood one hundred and twenty serfs. No, they should now be called the Elite Imperial Recruits.

Henry watched as these serfs became more obedient by the day, stronger by the day, and more loyal by the day!

In the end, Henry decided to show them some kindness. He gave each of them a set of Cotton Armor that cost seven pounds of cotton, a leather cap, a shield, and either a knife or sword. He also paid each New Recruit thirty Sou per month at market rate, while providing food and lodging.

This market rate was the military pay system established by the King for the standing legions. The private armies of other local nobles also used the King's standards as a reference for their wages.

For New Recruits, a monthly salary of thirty Sou was not low. Only Infantry who had fought bandits could receive a salary of fifty Sou.

The income of New Recruits and Infantry was higher than that of farmers and equal to that of workshop laborers. If a Soldier rose further in Military Rank, that would be a genuinely high salary.

As for Conscripts? Please, they had to provide their own weapons and Dry Food, all right? Wages? Forget it. If they won, they could take twenty percent of the spoils.

"Horse Bandits are coming!"

"Take cover! Take cover!"

"Guards, assemble!"

Henry and Bain both heard the commotion outside. After exchanging a glance, they immediately went to the stables, led out their Warhorses, and fitted them with horse armor.

"New Recruit Squad! Assemble!"

The New Recruits immediately formed up and waited for Henry's command. Bain waited for a long time without hearing Henry give an order and could not help becoming anxious.

But he could not urge Henry on. He was not an Officer but a Retainer. On the battlefield, he had no right to speak.

Henry leisurely counted the Armor-Piercing Arrows in his quiver before lifting his Noble Lance and roaring, "Shield Formation, advance!"

"Roar!"

After letting out a meaningless howl, the New Recruits immediately raised their shields and advanced toward the Barracks gate.