Field Fort
"I'd better go directly to the plains to find him," Karl thought, also wanting to see firsthand the progress of the land distribution.
Karl rode out of the castle and galloped down the hill toward the vast Carnford Plain.
Under the warm spring sun, the scene before him invigorated Karl.
From a distance, the once barren land has been marked with large, neat squares, like a chessboard, using lime.
In many areas, small wooden signs with names and numbers have been placed, and large numbers of refugees have gathered there. The area is bustling with noise, and everyone's face is filled with unprecedented excitement, anticipation, and joy, a stark contrast to their previous numb and desperate expressions.
Karl quickly spotted Edgar in the center of the crowd. He was surrounded by a group of refugees and several newly selected Organization Department officials, squatting on the ground, carefully gesturing and explaining something to a large map and markings, clearly confirming the boundaries of a certain field.
Despite the lingering chill of early spring, Edgar's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, but his gaze was focused, his tone patient, and he showed no sign of annoyance.
On some plots of land that have already been allocated and have had their land deeds posted, the nimble-fingered families of displaced people have already begun building their new homes!
They are building an extremely rudimentary shack using felled timber and collected thatch, barely enough to keep out the wind and rain.
Although these newly built shacks were much simpler and more shabby than the sturdy temporary housing built by carpenters in the Shantytown Area, the faces of the refugees wore smiles of satisfaction and peace.
Karl understood their feelings: there's no place like home.
No matter how nice the houses are in the Shantytown Area, the land isn't yours; you're renting it.
The sense of belonging, security, and hope brought by this barren land that truly belongs to me, with my name written on the land deed, and the small, dilapidated shack I built brick by brick that is still my "home," is irreplaceable by anything else.
They would rather endure temporary hardship than not take root in their own land immediately.
Karl led his horse and watched quietly from a distance for a while.
Edgar was clearly extremely busy. He squatted on the ground, patiently explaining the land boundaries to the surrounding refugees, and occasionally whispering a few words to the young official beside him. His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, but he showed no sign of impatience.
Only after all the division of this piece of land had been arranged and the refugees were happily taking their simple tools to "claim" their land did Edgar finally breathe a long sigh of relief. Somewhat tired, he sat down directly on the freshly tilled, still damp, field ridge to rest.
Seeing this, Karl led his horse over.
When Edgar saw the Lord arrive in person, he hurriedly tried to rise to pay his respects, but Karl quickly took two steps forward, gestured with his hand, and said gently, "Sit down and rest, Edgar, you must be exhausted."
As he spoke, he casually brushed the soil off himself and sat down next to Edgar on the edge of the field. The two of them sat side by side on the land in early spring, watching the busy and hopeful scene before them.
"How's the land redistribution going?" Karl asked, looking at the refugees in the distance who had already begun building their own shacks.
Edgar wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, his face weary but with a relieved smile, "My lord, progress is going very smoothly! Following the priority order, the first batch of land allocated to the elderly and wounded soldiers' families has been largely distributed. We are now working on distributing land to the displaced people, and nearly half of that has been completed."
He raised his hand and pointed into the distance. "However, as you can see, sir, most of the land allocated to the refugees is located in the outer areas of the Carnford Plain. This was a decision made after discussions between Mr. Morr and me. The fertile land inside the plain, near water sources and Tunbao, should be reserved first for future expansion of Tunbao and the resettlement of more important residents. After all, Tunbao are the core of our defense."
Karl nodded approvingly. "You've thought this through very well. Let's do it this way." He knew that land was the lifeblood of the land, and its distribution had to take into account both fairness and strategic needs.
Edgar then reported on another important arrangement, "However, the threat of Sauron Light Cavalry raids must be considered when settling the refugees on the outskirts. Mr. Morr has already made a detailed plan for this; he intends to strategically construct many small defensive fortifications in the fields and outcrops of these newly reclaimed areas."
He explained in detail, "One type is the Field fort, which is actually a very small fortress, perhaps only a little larger than an ordinary farmhouse. It is built of stone and rammed earth and can house a small squad of Musketeers and archers. These Field fort are scattered like nails across the vast fields."
"Once the Sauron light cavalry are discovered harassing, the peasants can quickly hide in the nearest Field fort, and the garrison can use the fortifications to hold them off. Although this cannot completely stop large enemy forces, it is enough to deter small Sauron harassing units from recklessly plundering our territory."
"Another type is the Beacon Tower, which can quickly detect enemy attacks and provide information."
"That's a brilliant idea!" Karl's eyes lit up; Morr's defensive designs always hit the nail on the head.
This "beacon tower + land reclamation" model can greatly enhance the survival capabilities of border areas.
Then, Karl's expression turned slightly serious, and he shifted the topic to the main purpose of the trip. "Edgar, there's something important I need to discuss with you."
He told Edgar in detail the results of his interrogation in the dungeon, about how Leon had sent at least seven spies to Carnford, and his decision to establish Intelligence Department directly under the Lord, with Richter in charge.
Edgar's face showed obvious shock and worry after hearing this. "Such a thing has happened! The Sauron have already spread their influence so far! And... there may be seven or even more spies hiding among us?"
The thought of such a huge breach in the territory's internal security immediately put immense pressure on the diligent steward.
Karl noticed his anxiety, patted him on the shoulder, and reassured him in a calm tone, "Don't be too nervous, Edgar. This is, after all, our home turf. The enemy lurking in the shadows is certainly formidable, but as long as we remain vigilant and establish an effective defense mechanism, they will have nowhere to hide. That's why I was so eager to establish the Intelligence Department."
He looked at Edgar and said solemnly, "The establishment of the Intelligence Department, especially the internal counter-espionage work, cannot be separated from your support and cooperation. Intelligence personnel need cover identities and may need to be placed in various departments."
"Even within your civilian staff, their operational funds and resource allocation must be secretly arranged through your administration. Most importantly, this must be kept highly confidential from the outset."
Edgar immediately understood what Karl meant and realized the responsibility on his shoulders.
He took a deep breath and nodded heavily. "Sir, I understand! Please rest assured, I will fully cooperate with Captain Richter's work! Just tell me how you need my assistance. Internal security is a matter of life and death for the territory, and I will not take it lightly!"
"Good! I'm relieved to hear that." Karl stood up and helped Edgar to his feet. "I'll have Richter discuss the details with you later. You can continue with your work and take care of yourself."
Watching Edgar's retreating figure as he once again immersed himself in his work, Karl felt a little relieved.
With the strong support of Edgar, the "chief steward," the establishment and operation of the Intelligence Department had solid logistical and coordination support.