Troops Rotating In

After giving instructions to Zieg and Rodriguez, Victor went directly to the slave fleet to check on the condition of the slaves. Fortunately, probably because the agreement required that no one be missing, most of the slaves were in relatively good condition. Although they looked weak and listless, they did not seem to be sick or hungry, which showed that the slave traders still had some credibility.

Subsequent events proved the slave traders' credibility. The manager of the slave caravan who led the group met with Victor and explained that 71 of the 5,000 slaves had died en route due to disease and accidents, and that replacement slaves would arrive with the next batch.

It was only then that Victor realized why his father's negotiations with the slave traders had gone so smoothly. It turned out that the major shareholder behind this slave trading company was Great Oak Ridge. The scale of Golden Sunflower's purchase of slaves was not small, and it was reported to the company headquarters. After understanding the situation, Count Black personally approved it and ordered the slave trading company to be responsible for delivering the slaves to his door.

It's worth noting that they bought quite a few slaves last year, more than 20,000 in total. However, the slave traders last year didn't deliver the slaves to their door, resulting in the deaths of more than 400 people during the transport. Keep in mind that the slaves they purchased were mostly young and strong men, and one in fifty died during a ten-day journey. This time, the fleet was provided with enough food, which shows that the slave traders must have mixed in many sick slaves.

Victor owes Count Black a favor for this matter, which saved him from losing several hundred gold coins. Moreover, this preferential policy will continue if the Golden Sunflower Family continues to purchase slaves.

After Victor finished checking on the condition of the slaves, Marvin also arrived at the dock. During this time, he stayed in the Main Camp in Wood Fort Town with his men. Because the new recruits had not yet completed their training, although they were all officers, they had no one under their command and were jokingly referred to as a "lone force" within the army.

Marvin's troops finally arrived, and he was very enthusiastic. Victor saw Marvin Rodriguez Zieg. Victor nodded. Marvin's abilities were beyond question. He was Freemen and became the border battalion commander of Iron Birch Territory at the age of thirty, managing six or seven hundred men. He had more than ten years of military experience. He was both capable and had emotional intelligence. It was reassuring to entrust the garrison regiment to him.

Victor walked over and interrupted their conversation. "Marvin, you take these troops to the garrison first. Tonight, you bring the garrison regiment Detachment Commander to the Operations Staff Department."

"Yes."

The group quickly organized the troops to head to their base, Victor left after observing for a while.

That evening, Victor reviewed the intelligence reports from the Horseshoe Tribe over the past few days at the Operations Staff Department and received a report that the officers of the garrison regiment and the Second Regiment had arrived.

Indeed, Victor also notified Santos, the Regimental Commander of the Second Regiment, to come with his men.

When Victor arrived at the conference room, he saw that all the officers present were already seated. Victor waved to them not to stand up and sat down in the head seat.

"The main reason I notified everyone to come today is for one thing. As you have seen, the fleet today brought a troop. They were previously stationed in Golden Sunflower Territory in the eastern Boler County. This time, they are here to rotate to the Northlands to participate in the battle as planned."

At this moment, Zieg and Rodriguez stood up and bowed to everyone.

"This unit will also serve as the backbone of the future garrison regiment. The organization will be readjusted. These matters will be handled by the garrison regiment itself. Marvin, you already know the organizational characteristics of our Golden Sunflower Family's private army. After the garrison regiment's internal organization is adjusted, please provide me with a concise plan."

Marvin immediately replied, "Understood, Your Excellency. I will report it tomorrow."

"There's no need to rush. We can submit it once it meets the staffing requirements and everyone is satisfied."

Then Victor said to Santos, "Santos, as I told you before, the troops that will be rotated back to Golden Sunflower Territory this time will be sent by the Second Regiment. You should have made the arrangements by now."

"Your Excellency, as per your request, our Second Regiment will dispatch two detachments to carry out the garrison rotation mission. We intend to send the First Cavalry Detachment and the First Infantry Detachment, which will be commanded by the acting deputy Regimental Commander Foss, who will also serve as the First Infantry Detachment."

The Second Regiment currently has five detachments. Because the regiment has relatively few Cavalry, with only 600 Light Cavalry according to the established order, Santos simply concentrated them for use. In addition to a company of 100 Light Cavalry directly under the regiment, a Cavalry detachment, namely the First Cavalry Detachment, was established. The remaining four detachments are all pure infantry, namely the First to the Fourth Infantry Detachment.

In order to participate in the troop rotation mission, Santos specially replenished the personnel of these two units. The remaining three units have at least one-third of their authorized strength, but as long as new recruits are added and veterans serve as the backbone, they can quickly form combat capability.

Victor nodded to Foss: "Foss, you've always been the second-in-command, but this time you're leading the army alone. I think you're capable of it. Do your best. The safety of Golden Sunflower Territory is in your hands. But even so, you can't neglect the training of your troops. They are all experienced veterans, and they will be rotated back to the Northlands in the future."

"Your Excellency, please rest assured, I Foss, will do my utmost."

"That's settled then. The Second Regiment should go back and prepare, organize the troops to be relieved, and return to Golden Sunflower Territory with the fleet after it has finished unloading."

"That concludes today's meeting. Zieg and Rodriguez, you two can discuss the precautions regarding the defensive rotation with your colleagues in the Second Regiment. Today's meeting is now adjourned."

Victor dislikes long meetings and endless reports; his approach to meetings is all about efficiency.

After the meeting, Victor left the Operations Staff Department directly and returned to his villa, where Chairman Vitri had been waiting for a long time.

When they returned to the villa, Vitri had already finished dinner. Upon seeing Victor, he praised the White Sugar and flour, believing that these two foods had a bright future and would surely become necessities for nobles and Freemen. He hoped that Victor would entrust these two commodities to the Gorn Trading Company Guild for management, assuring Victor that he would not suffer any losses.

Victor also praised Vitri's business acumen, but he could only express his regret that the two products had already reached a cooperation agreement with the Iron Birch Family and could not be handed over to the Gorn Trading Company.

Vitri was devastated when he learned the news, and when Victor explained the cost and estimated selling price of the two items to him, he was even more heartbroken.

In the end, he could only console himself that he still had the Two Rivers Territory iron project in the Mesopotamia. He asked Victor to take him to survey the iron ore mine and Steelworks as early as possible the next morning, as this was the only way to improve his mood as soon as possible.