Recruitment Plan
After arranging the construction of two small fortresses in the territory with Supervisor Boon, Victor left Victor Stone Castle and went directly to Number One Bastion in the western part of the territory.
Foss is stationed here with an infantry detachment of the First Regiment of the Golden Sunflower Territory. In Victor's previous expansion plan, Ron will lead the remaining three detachments of the First Regiment south from the north after next spring.
However, after Victor returned to Golden Sunflower Ridge, considering the defensive needs of Golden Sunflower Territory, he issued an order to Foss to expand the army before accompanying Alex to Green Oak Territory.
Victor plans to set up a Golden Sunflower Garrison Regiment in Golden Sunflower Territory, with an initial planned strength of about 1,200 men, comprising two detachments, with Foss serving as the regimental commander.
In this way, after Ron leads the First Regiment of the Golden Sunflower Territory into battle, the Golden Sunflower Territory will have enough strength to defend itself.
However, Victor's expansion plan has now changed, because Alex has also handed over the defense of Green Oak Territory to Victor, and put the border guard battalion under Victor's command.
The unit already has 900 men. At Alex's request, Victor can reorganize the battalion in any way he wants. Victor plans to split the border guard battalion into two detachments.
Then, the garrison regiment of Foss was expanded by a detachment, and together with the two detachments split from the border guard battalion, a new Garrison Regiment was formed, specifically responsible for the defense of the two territories.
Given the small population of Green Oak Territory, only about 100 people, Victor no longer recruits soldiers from there. Instead, he plans to recruit about 700 serfs as laborers to join the Garrison Regiment as logistical support.
According to Victor's new conscription plan, the newly formed Garrison Regiment will have five infantry detachments with about 2,500 to 2,800 men, plus two directly reinforced Cavalry squadrons with 300 to 400 cavalrymen, and a logistics detachment with 700 men, totaling 3,500 to 4,000 men. With the support of two large fortresses and five or six small fortresses, they will be able to defend the territory.
After all, the Duchy's Direct Legion under Grand Duke Mora had not yet completed their expansion. The Duchy's Direct Legion stationed in eastern Sextus County consisted of only two regiments of the Fifth Legion, totaling no more than six or seven thousand men. Even if such a force were to be deployed in full force, it would not be able to take down Golden Sunflower Territory.
Victor arrived at Fort Number One before noon. As soon as he arrived, he saw new recruits training in the open space on the side of Fort Number One. Victor estimated that there were three square formations, about 1,000 people in total. It seemed that Foss's recruitment was progressing very well.
He didn't linger outside the fortress, intending to go directly inside to find Foss.
The guards quickly let Victor pass after verifying his identity, but Victor's personal guards were unhappy about it.
Victor looked at the indignant guards behind him and understood why they were so angry.
He turned his head to them and said, "The main reason why I appointed Foss as the person in charge of guarding the Golden Sunflower Territory in the south is that he is a very serious person and always does things in a methodical manner."
Although he may not be as quick-witted as the other Regimental Commander, his serious personality makes me feel at ease entrusting him with these relatively important but not so flexible tasks.
As you can see today, Foss manages his troops very strictly. The soldiers at the gate didn't let us through directly; instead, they checked our identities before allowing us to pass. This strict military discipline is one of the reasons why I feel comfortable entrusting him with the defense of my territory.
The guards understood what Victor meant and quickly changed their attitude. Victor was pleased to see that they understood the importance of strict discipline.
This group of guards was the third batch of guards around him. Many of them were platoon leaders and Squad Leader. Their combat skills and abilities were not bad, but they had not yet completed their full officer training and had no concept of managing a larger army. Victor also hoped to use this kind of practical education to help them understand these things better.
Just as Victor entered the fortress, Foss was already waiting in the Drill Ground inside.
"Your Excellency, you have worked hard. If you wanted to see me, you could have simply sent someone to inform me. There was no need for you to come in person."
Victor saw Foss and immediately dismounted to walk up to Foss.
"I mainly want to check how the conscription is going, and the follow-up plan needs to be changed. I want to put more responsibility on your shoulders."
"Ah, Your Excellency, how about I first give you an overview of the conscription situation?"
"Sure, we have plenty of time, we can take our time."
"Then, Your Excellency, this way please."
Foss led Victor directly up to the fortress walls.
The view from here is excellent; you can see directly into the open space on the side of the fortress and the new recruits training there.
Standing on the city wall, Foss pointed to the new recruits in the open space and introduced them to Victor: "Your Excellency, as you have instructed, I am to recruit 1,500 new recruits, of which about 1,200 will be the backbone of the garrison regiment in two detachments, and the other 300 will be supplements to Regimental Commander Ron's First Regiment."
The recruitment plan has now been completed. All of these new recruits were recruited from the existing serfs on the farms of the territory. Considering that the new serfs in the territory did not yet have a sense of belonging to the territory, they were not recruited from among them.
This batch of new recruits is expected to undergo five months of training, from which 500 will be selected as regular soldiers, and the rest as Auxiliary Troops.
After listening to Foss's introduction, Victor was very satisfied. He could even distinguish between new and old serfs as soldiers, which showed that he was indeed a qualified military commander.
"You've done a good job with the recruitment, Foss. I have a new task for you."
"Your Excellency, please give your orders, Foss will do his utmost."
Victor nodded. "Before returning to the Northlands, Alex Iron Birch handed over all power to me in the Green Oak Territory, and the Iron Birch Territory guard battalion currently stationed there is also under my command."
As you know, I need to return to the Northlands before winter arrives. Considering the possibility of attack on these two territories, there must be a commander who can take full charge of the military forces in these two territories, and you are the most suitable candidate in my opinion.
Foss looked surprised, both at the fact that the Viscount had earned the trust of the Iron Birch Family and at the fact that the Viscount would entrust him with such an important task.
"Don't worry, I chose you because I believe you can do a good job. As for the defense forces, you can rest assured. I have already formulated a new defense plan, and I have arranged for Steward Boon to build new fortifications. He will also do his best to provide you with logistical support."
As for the garrison, I plan to have you expand the conscription to around 2,000 men. At that time, with the addition of the troops under Battalion Commander Holmes of the Iron Birch Territory Border Defense Brigade, you will have 7 detachments and 5,000 men for the defense of the territory.
However, two of the squads will need to be handed over to Ron after he goes south, while the remaining five squads will form a new Garrison Regiment, with you as the Regimental Commander and Holmes as the deputy Regimental Commander.
Are you confident in your ability to do a good job as a Regimental Commander?
At this point, Foss naturally wouldn't refuse; it was a sign of the Viscount's trust in him.
"Your Excellency, I will do my best in the recruitment and training of soldiers, and I will definitely defend the territory and live or die with it."