Army Expansion

Lyon and Thorsten were in slightly better shape; their cavalry had mainly been engaged in the final stages of the pursuit, and their injuries were relatively minor, but their exhaustion was hard to conceal.

The infantry commanders, Brendan, Richter, and Roland, fared much worse.

Brendan's left arm was still splinted and slinged across his chest; Richter had a large bandage wrapped around his chest; Roland's right leg was injured, and he sat down stiffly, a hint of suppressed pain flashing across his face from time to time.

Looking at his wounded but determined subordinates, Karl felt a complex mix of emotions—gratitude and heaviness.

He cleared his throat and began to deploy the next military arrangements in a calm voice. "Gentlemen, you have worked hard. We have defended our homeland, but at a heavy cost."

His gaze swept over the crowd again. "The primary task going forward, without a doubt, is recovery and rest. Routine military drills and combat patrols will be significantly slowed down for the time being."

"The top priority right now is to ensure that all our wounded brothers receive the best possible treatment and rest, so that they can recover their health and regain their fighting strength as soon as possible. Medicines and food should be prioritized for the wounded soldiers' camp."

He paused, then continued, "All soldiers who are uninjured or only slightly wounded will be deployed to the reconstruction of the territory starting tomorrow, assisting craftsmen in repairing damaged city walls, collapsed houses, trampled farmland, and clearing battlefield ruins."

"During this period, all soldiers' pay must be paid in full and on time, without a single penny being delayed or withheld! This is what they earned with their blood and lives; it is Carnford's most basic promise and respect to them."

At this point, Karl's tone became exceptionally serious and solemn, his eyes fixed intently on Brendan: "However, rewarding merit and punishing wrongdoing is the foundation of our Carnford army!"

"Brendan, you will take the lead in this matter. Together with Richter and Roland, the three of you should draft a detailed and fair list of post-war promotions and rewards as soon as possible."

He clearly stated the principle. "The primary principle is that all soldiers who survive this battle, regardless of their specific achievements, will be promoted at least one rank, as long as they persevered to the end and did not desert!"

"This is a basic commendation and affirmation of their perseverance and fearlessness in the face of sacrifice. Everyone should know that the Lord has seen and remembered their loyalty and courage!"

"Based on this," Karl emphasized, "We will further promote and reward each individual based on their specific performance in battle, such as the number of enemies killed, whether they were wounded, the severity of their wounds, whether they volunteered for more dangerous tasks in critical moments, and whether they demonstrated command potential, etc.!"

"Especially for those brothers who have distinguished themselves in battle or have been seriously wounded and disabled, the rewards should be exceptionally generous to ensure that they and their families are worry-free for the rest of their lives! I want every surviving warrior to receive the honor, status, and better treatment they deserve! We must never let heroes shed blood and tears!"

He then turned the conversation to future plans, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "As for the replenishment of new recruits, we cannot wait, nor can we afford to wait. The plan remains unchanged; we will continue to use the previously effective dual-track system."

"From the refugees and eligible young people, select a group of outstanding individuals with good physical fitness and strong will to be directly added to the main combat force corps, led by veterans, to quickly form combat effectiveness; the other group will be incorporated into the militia system, engaging in agricultural production in peacetime and assisting in the defense of the homeland in wartime."

"The specific selection criteria, training syllabus, and grouping plan will be jointly discussed and formulated by you and your team based on the actual situation. Once the new population is added, recruitment and training must begin immediately without any delay."

"Carnford needs fresh blood to replenish its losses, and it also needs to show existing veterans clear promotion paths and hope for the future in order to maintain the army's continuous fighting capacity."

Brendan, enduring the throbbing pain in his left arm, was the first to reply in a deep voice, "Understood, sir! Clear rewards and punishments are essential for maintaining morale and boosting the army's spirits! Rest assured, I will immediately begin work on the list, and will work with Richter and Roland to carefully verify the battle reports and records, draft a preliminary plan, and submit it to you for review."

Richter, enduring the dull pain in his chest, nodded heavily, his voice slightly hoarse. "I will coordinate the allocation of manpower for the reconstruction based on the casualties and current situation of each team, ensuring efficiency and fairness."

Despite the excruciating pain in his right leg, with veins bulging on his forehead, Roland added, "Rest assured, sir, the care of the wounded and the recruitment of new soldiers can proceed simultaneously. We will reorganize the troops as soon as possible and restore their basic structure and command system."

Lyon and Thorsten echoed, "The cavalry suffered relatively minor losses. We will resume daily patrols and reconnaissance as soon as possible to help maintain order in the territory and guard against any remaining Sauron stragglers."

Karl nodded, pleased with everyone's response. "Alright, get the details sorted out as soon as you're done. Meeting adjourned. Everyone, take some time to rest, especially those of you who are injured. Don't push yourselves any further."

As he watched the crowd leave the meeting hall, some supporting each other and others staggering, Karl felt a wave of dizziness and exhaustion wash over him, and he almost lost his balance.

He braced himself against the table, shook his slightly dizzy head, and prepared to find a room in the castle, quickly wash up, and then collapse onto the bed, hoping to temporarily forget all his troubles, stress, and extreme physical exhaustion through sleep.

However, just as he was about to turn and leave the meeting hall, a messenger strode in, bowed respectfully, and reported, "Sir, a messenger from Fran City has arrived outside the castle. He looks travel-worn and claims to have brought an urgent letter from Earl Rochefort."

Karl's heart skipped a beat, and his drowsiness vanished instantly. An urgent letter from Fran City? At this sensitive moment? He immediately ordered a messenger to bring the messenger.

Soon, a soldier, his face showing signs of exhaustion from a long journey, wearing Fran City uniform and armor splattered with mud, was led in.

He knelt on one knee and respectfully presented two letters sealed with thick parchment with both hands.

Karl noticed that the two letters had different Wax Seal seals on their envelopes. One was clearly the lion emblem of the Earl of Earl Rochefort, while the other... was Charlotte's personal seal, which he knew all too well and which carried a faint fragrance—an elegant lily pattern!

His heart skipped a beat, a premonition mixed with anticipation, trepidation, and even a hint of unease welling up inside him.

He suppressed the strong urge to immediately open Charlotte's letter, took a deep breath, maintained his Lord composure, took the letter, and waved for the messenger to go and get some rest.