Action Meeting (Part 2)

Among the knights of the Weissen Family, old Franz was the oldest and most experienced. When he was young, he followed Frederick's grandfather on campaigns, conquering the territory for the Weissen Family.

Time is unforgiving. Warriors can maintain peak strength for a long time, but if their power doesn't reach the level of someone like Richard Nahl, it will rapidly decline once the body ages past a certain point.

Franz had his son in middle age. Young Franz is in his twenties this year and spent the last five years traveling around various places, only returning to the Wessen Territory a few days ago.

Old Franz knew he was preparing to retire. Seizing the opportunity while he still had a voice in the family, he wanted his son to make an appearance before Frederick.

Although young Franz was the strongest of the younger generation in the territory, Frederick hadn't seen him for most of his life. Old Franz felt that his son was practically a stranger to the Baron.

Seeing that it was young Franz who walked up to the map, Frederick immediately said with a playful grin, "If you don't explain it well, from now on you'll be in charge of digging for bird eggs."

Old Franz immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It turns out the Baron still remembers my son.

Young Franz took the pointer from Richard Nahl, smiled slightly at Frederick and the others, and began explaining the plan for transporting the refugees: "The distance from Lohr Town to Weissenburg is about 200 kilometers. The first stop after entering the Wessen Territory is Hausen Town."

"I happened to travel this route on my way back this time. Along the way, we can set up a camp approximately every 40 to 60 kilometers. Besides Lohr Town and Hausen Town, we need to set up three camps along the way."

Then he pointed to three places on the map and continued, "The roadside here consists of farmland currently lying fallow. There are sufficient and clean water sources nearby, making it suitable for building camps."

"It takes a morning or an afternoon for a carriage to make a round trip between camps. We can transport people back in the morning and transport supplies forward in the afternoon."

Everyone in the meeting room nodded in approval. His consideration was very thorough.

Building a camp isn't as simple as finding a flat spot. First, you have to consider the water source, and second, you have to consider the landowner's opinion.

Setting up the camp in fallow fields has two benefits: first, the water sources around the farmland can ensure the camp's needs are met, and second, the manure from people and horses can fertilize the fields. The landowner won't object; in fact, they'll be hoping you drop more, guaranteeing a great harvest next year.

The distance between camps is also reasonable. Horses need to rest after pulling a cart for half a day, otherwise overworking them will injure their bodies.

"Each camp will be divided into five sections," young Franz continued. "One for entire families, one exclusively for men, one exclusively for women, one for orphans, and the last one for our people and horses."

"We might find some women to specifically care for the orphans."

Seeing how carefully he had considered everything, Frederick couldn't help but nod.

After young Franz finished speaking, Frederick said, "Excellent. The external transportation will be handled by you two, father and son. Old Franz will be stationed in Lohr, and young Franz will do more running around, responsible for the latter three camps."

"Jürgen, Lothar, Andrei," he then pointed to three outstanding members of the younger generation, "Each of you will be responsible for one camp."

"Does anyone have any issues with my arrangements?"

Old Franz has a knight's title and is a member of the noble family, making it much easier for him to handle interactions while stationed in Lohr.

Jürgen and the others are second-generation knights. As long as they don't court disaster, they will also be enfeoffed soon. The neighbors know these things and won't make things difficult for them.

Naturally, everyone had no issues with these arrangements.

Orr, sitting at the end of the meeting table, was a little surprised.

Having been a mercenary leader for so many years, he had seen all kinds of nobles. While there weren't many like Frederick, who took charge of the family at less than ten years old after a family crisis, these young lords usually had a trusted loyal subordinate or a major hidden danger effectively holding power, with the young lord just being a figurehead.

He initially thought it was the same with Frederick, but as the meeting continued, he realized how wrong he was. Frederick was giving orders like an adult, and everyone else seemed to take it as a matter of course.

Next, the administrator, Flick, walked up to the map. He was responsible for the work within the territory and would be stationed in Hausen Town.

Flick used the pointer to indicate the small triangles scattered across the Wessen Territory on the map, saying, "These places are the locations of the new villages. Currently, the refugees rest at the camp in Hausen Town for three to five days before proceeding on foot."

"The training for the village chiefs has been completed, and they've been assigned villages by drawing lots. How the actual work goes remains to be seen."

"It's currently the slack season for farming, and four thousand people have already been mobilized for preliminary clearing of the land and digging wells at the new village sites. The new villagers will live in tents first upon arrival, while simultaneously felling timber to build walls and houses and repairing roads."

"We stopped exporting steel last month, and the blacksmiths are currently making tools, which should be ready in time."

"We have also invited carpenters skilled in building houses from other Carpenters' Guilds. The first batch arrived yesterday."

"If all goes well, everyone can move into new houses before winter, and land reclamation can begin next spring."

Resettlement is complex, and Flick focused his report on the essentials: food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

After listening, Frederick said, "If there aren't enough houses, just squeeze in. How are the winter clothes looking now?"

Flick nodded and continued, "Cotton cloth and cotton have been purchased. Lord Basf has provided a lot of soles and Waterproof Cloth. We have gathered many people in the Wessen Territory skilled in needlework to sew clothes, cloth shoes, and tents."

"To help them work better, many temporary kindergartens have been opened in the city and towns to help look after the children."

Frederick asked, "Is the pay sufficient?"

Flick replied, "Part of the pay is in grain, and some want Steam Bread. Wage expenditure is not a problem."

"What about grain?" Frederick asked again.

Flick replied, "Currently, our grain supply is slightly more than planned, and it won't be a problem in the long run."

"Nina's steamed bun workshop is working overtime through the night making steamed mixed-grain bread. Students from Weissenburg University are helping to make concentrated soup. Both are being packed in bags provided by Lord Basf. Lord Manuel is leading his students to kill insects in the Steam Bread and concentrated soup."

"Lord Manuel says that after killing the insects, as long as the bags are not opened, the Steam Bread and concentrated soup will last for at least two months without spoiling. A conservative estimate is that they can last until next year."

"We currently have over eighteen hundred carts of various sizes in the Wessen Territory. Five hundred modified carts have been requisitioned so far."

At this point, Frederick said, "These carts should be grouped by region and organized into teams of ten carts as a small squad, referencing military structure. This will make management easier."

"Franz, you need to help Flick with this matter."

There were two Franzes here, one old and one young. For a moment, the father and son didn't know which one the Baron was addressing and who should answer.

Frederick grinned mischievously at young Franz and said, "Why aren't you being more proactive? If you don't get our administrator to nod, do you still want to get married?"

The meeting room was instantly filled with cheerful laughter.

Especially the younger generation; that whole group grew up playing together, and young Franz was their leader. Those guys were laughing the hardest.

Young Franz, blushing, accepted the task.

Frederick looked at Orr, who was sitting furthest from him, and asked, "Do you have any opinions on the conditions I've proposed?"

Orr put on a distressed face and said, looking very troubled, "Baron Weissen's conditions have stirred up a sea of blood over there!"

His words startled everyone in the meeting room. It's just a collaboration, how did people die? And it sounds like a big deal?

Richard Nahl knew exactly what this guy was like and feigned anger, saying, "Get to the point. The last time you talked about a 'sea of blood,' it was your wife chasing you around the village twice with an axe."

Orr shrank his neck amidst the laughter and said seriously, "Baron Weissen wants me to hire two hundred veterans as security officers, and the conditions are too generous. At the time, five or six hundred people wanted to sign up, and quite a few were officers."

Frederick smiled. His conditions for salary and land were standard, but the issue was that anyone who worked for five full years could recommend a young person to study at the Weissenburg affiliated school, and those who passed could attend Weissenburg University.

At the same time, he also revealed that Sword Saint Richard Nahl was the vice-principal of Weissenburg University and would teach the university students.

This was a fatal attraction for the mercenaries.

Orr continued, "I kicked out the ones who were just after food, and there are still five hundred left. I've brought them all for you to choose from."

Frederick thought for a moment, then said to old Franz, "Go pick out enough security officers. If the rest are willing, they can stay. The treatment regarding recommendations after five years remains unchanged. We'll be expanding the army next year."

The people of Wessen Territory weren't surprised by the army expansion. Heaven knows what kind of trouble the king would stir up next.

This matter was settled, and Orr began discussing the next thing: "Clearing out the Magical Beasts in the forest is a business, no problem. I can take it on. As agreed, all profits go to me."

Frederick nodded and replied, "Alright."

Clearing land is a struggle for survival between humans and beasts. Only by being well-fed can one have the energy to protect the environment and wildlife resources.

The assembly strength within Wessen Territory was extremely weak, so this job was perfect for the mercenaries.

"Gerd, Heinz, Bernd, Matthias, Stefan, Oliver, Michael, Miroslav..." Frederick called out the names of the younger generation. "Each of you will be responsible for one area, leading the mercenaries and hunters to clear out the Magical Beasts."

For the young people, this was a rare opportunity to lead troops.

After the major issues were discussed, everyone went over the details.

Before the meeting ended, Frederick solemnly promised, "I'll give the administrative office a few more gold items tomorrow. If the money isn't enough, sell them."

"In short, the wages for everyone involved in this operation must be paid in full."

"Not just theirs, but everyone – you and all the staff in Wessen Territory – will receive two extra months' salary this December."

"Next June, if the territory has stabilized, I'll give everyone another three months' salary."