Announcing the Mobilization
"... In summary, the combat units we have formed in this expansion have all been trained. Currently, the Two Rivers Territory includes a total of 4 directly subordinate regiments with a total of 3,000 men, a garrison regiment with 3,000 men, and an independent mixed regiment composed of Black Pine Territory and Stream Territory with 4,000 men, for a total force of 4,000 men."
In addition, there are Logistics Department consisting of a transport regiment of 5,000 people, a medical detachment of 300 people, and an engineering detachment of 700 people, for a total strength of 6,000 people.
The Golden Sunflower Territory has now formed two directly subordinate regiments with a total strength of 7,000 men.
That concludes the report.
After Saruman finished his report, he bowed to Victor and the others before returning to his seat.
The meeting room was quiet this time, with no one discussing it privately. However, all the officers seemed particularly excited. After all, even if the combined forces of the other two companies were removed, the territory of the Two Rivers Territory alone could gather the military strength of nearly a legion. Everyone here was a veteran of the Revolutionary Army, and they all knew how terrifying this scale of force was.
Moreover, the troops in the Two Rivers Territory are by no means insignificant; they are even superior to the Duchy's Direct Legion.
These officers knew all too well that more than 70% of the soldiers in the four directly subordinate regiments were regular army soldiers, and the proportion of regular army soldiers in the garrison regiment, as the garrison force, was also more than 50%. These well-equipped and well-trained regular army soldiers added up to a considerable number.
Even though the remaining soldiers in the army and the transport regiments in the Logistics Department units were Auxiliary Troops, they were still far superior to the Serf Soldiers of the Noble Legions in the duchy in terms of equipment and training. They were not much different from the standing armies of some minor nobles.
With such an army size, coupled with the Golden Sunflower Family's powerful weaponry, they could truly run rampant.
"Everyone has done a great job during this period. I have basically visited all the detachments, and all of these units are trained in a very good manner. This is inseparable from the efforts of everyone here."
However, everyone should know that the total population of our territory is only about 200,000, and one-seventh of the territory's population and one-third of the able-bodied men have joined this army.
Normal production in the territory has been affected. Many of your lands, including those of your soldiers, are difficult to cultivate due to a lack of labor. As far as I know, much of the land allocated to you has not been fully cultivated.
These officers were all at the rank of Detachment Commander. They had served in the military for a long time and made many contributions. Even the least capable officer owned several dozen acres of land.
However, private slavery is not allowed in the territory. If you want to cultivate the land, you either have to do it yourself and your family, or you have to go to the Department of Civil Administration to hire official indentured slaves or hire other Freemen.
Most of the officers and soldiers were able-bodied laborers from their families, but because they were on leave for training, they were unable to help with household chores. In addition, these officers did not come from good backgrounds, and some were even former serfs. They were unwilling to hire indentured servants or other Freemen.
Therefore, most of the land owned by many officers was left idle, and they strongly agreed with what Victor said.
"We could have created our happy life with our own hands, but now we have to pick up a sword."
I know many of you may not fully understand why I've built such a large army; some might think I'm ambitious and militaristic.
Many officers were surprised to hear Victor say this; thank goodness, they were all absolutely loyal to Victor and would never have thought that way.
At this moment, Victor took a deep breath, and his voice gradually became louder and louder. "But I, Victor, do have ambitions, and I do have ambitions to realize in forming this army."
I want to bring a happy and healthy life to all the people in my territory, so that the elderly are cared for, the young are supported, and everyone can have enough to eat and wear.
But now Grand Duke Mora won't allow me to do that. He ruthlessly suppresses us nobles who once stood on the opposite side, and he's also exploiting the people of our territory.
When I returned to the mainland last year, I saw that many noble territories had been crushed and bankrupted by Mora's policies, and countless innocent people had died of hunger and cold due to lack of food, and were sold into slavery.
I don't want this to happen on my territory, and I will never allow it!
What about you? Would you allow something like this to happen?
Your land has been taken from you, your happy lives shattered, and your wives, daughters, and parents enslaved!
As soon as Victor finished speaking, deafening shouts erupted in the conference room, "No!" "Absolutely not!" "Kill them!" "Your Excellency, lead us to fight them!"
Victor looked at the agitated officers before him and sighed inwardly. He didn't want to use such methods, as it would only make these mid-level officers in the territory blindly obedient.
However, he had no choice but to clarify his side's righteous stance within the military, as this would help improve the army's cohesion.
"Now that our army is strong and well-equipped, it is time to raise our voice throughout the Grand Duchy of Vera and resist the Duchy's oppression of us."
Now let us use our swords to carve out a space for our families to survive! No one can stop us; we are invincible!
Victor drew his sword, raised it high, and shouted at everyone.
"Absolutely invincible!" ×N
Everyone, including the Regimental Commander, stood up and shouted in response. Seeing this, Viscount Marcus and Baron Brown also stood up and joined in the shouting.
After a while, Victor put down his sword and finally stopped. Once the others had stopped shouting, Victor began to deploy. "I hereby announce that all units shall begin to break camp and depart for Sea Song Town the day after tomorrow to prepare to board ships."
As previously planned, the garrison regiment remained in Two Rivers Territory to lead the militia.
Lodan, your Logistics Department has already transported the supplies to Sea Song Town. The transport regiment will board the ship last, while the medical and engineering detachments will board first. You are responsible for coordinating the process.
Sodoma, Knight Jack, and Blox, prepare your fleets to set sail.
This time, give our new icebreakers a try; we're confident they'll deliver a satisfactory performance.
Also, Sodoma, take the Wavebreaker and head out to sea as soon as possible to join the Iron Birch Family's ocean-going fleet. According to Count Colt's letter, they have already left their home port.
..."
Victor assigned the tasks one by one, and each officer who received a task stood up and saluted to indicate that he accepted the mission.
The whole process lasted for more than ten minutes, until Victor finally finished deploying.
He began by saying, "This time, I have prepared generous rewards for everyone. You can tell your soldiers that every soldier who participates in this operation will receive 10 acres of land, and the rewards will be doubled depending on their merits. Everyone's wartime allowance will be three times the normal allowance!"
"Whoever kills or captures an enemy Regimental Commander or viscount will be granted a life knighthood and 500 acres of land; whoever kills or captures Legion Commander or Count will be granted a hereditary baronship and 50 square kilometers of land; whoever kills or captures a false grand duke will be granted a hereditary viscountship and 300 square kilometers of land."
Upon hearing this, everyone cheered with joy, and no one cared that Victor was just a viscount who dared to bestow the title of independent noble.
Marcus was shocked. It was truly unexpected that Victor was so confident in his promotion to high-ranking noble.
Marcus then remembered that Victor did indeed have close ties with the Iron Birch Family. Seeing the cheering officers and the military force they represented, he gradually suppressed his ulterior motives. With such a powerful army, wouldn't the Count's title be within his grasp?