Chapter 11

Xia Zuoyi had set the registration period to last more than half a month.

Once the notices about recruitment requirements and reduced taxes were released, there was no need to mention how excited and eager the commoners and slaves throughout Wasas had become.

After the initial caution passed, commoners and slaves from Fort Como began arriving in droves, one after another.

However, in the days leading up to the end of registration, the number of people coming from Fort Como suddenly dropped sharply.

The reason was that Count Bevis Elliott had ordered commoners and slaves forbidden from leaving the city.

When the knights tried to buy back slaves who had already registered for Wasas, several conflicts broke out with estate owners unwilling to let them go. In the end, Walk William stepped in and resolved the dispute.

It had now been nearly two months since registration ended.

In high spirits, Xia Zuoyi stood on a chair and leaned against the window, looking at the sea. His right arm had almost fully recovered and no longer needed to be suspended against his chest.

He took a sip of the lemonade Judith had brought him and said, "It's already too late for Bevis Elliott to realize it now. Those commoners and slaves who failed to register in time and aren't allowed to leave the city will only become even more envious and jealous."

Once the order forbidding people from leaving the city was lifted, more and more people would surely be desperate to come to Wasas.

He had said registration would close after fifteen days, but he had never said it would not reopen.

Wasas welcomed anyone who wanted to come at any time.

The commoners and slaves who registered as soldiers would come with their families.

After receiving a certain amount of financial assistance, they became self-sufficient laborers. Aside from building temporary housing, some were assigned to work in the salt-drying fields and on the refined salt production line.

The Thorn Merchant Association was established during this process and began selling fine salt grains that were cheaper yet of better quality.

As gold coins continued pouring in, the plot deviation value finally moved forward by one percent.

Xia Zuoyi could not help curving his caramel-colored eyes into crescents, a smile appearing on his face. He turned around, stepped onto the chair, and sat back down. "Judith, how are the houses at the foot of Mount Parr coming along?"

Judith said, "They will be completed soon, my lord."

New recruits had to train.

Xia Zuoyi chose Mount Parr as the location for new recruit training.

The commoners and slaves who became regular soldiers and reserve soldiers had not been idle during the registration period either.

The knights organized them to build the recruit dormitories at the foot of Mount Parr. Labor, timber, stone, and other materials were readily available. Commoners, especially slaves, were no strangers to such work, and construction progressed quickly and smoothly.

Ten days later, the dormitories were fully completed.

Walk William also sent the compiled record of soldier numbers to the castle.

There were 252 regular soldiers and 398 reserve soldiers.

More slaves than commoners had registered to enlist.

However, more commoners than slaves settled in Wasas.

On the Western Continent, small cities like Wasas and Fort Como generally had fewer than two or three thousand people. A large city having around ten thousand people was already considered quite good.

Of those, fewer than or just over a hundred were capable of fighting, including knights.

Reaching nearly seven hundred people during a registration period of just over half a month was an extremely remarkable number.

The foot of Mount Parr had completely changed in appearance by then.

The thorny grass and loose stones had been cleared away, excess trees had been cut down, and roads had been left open. Two three-story dormitory buildings stood neatly in a row. Beside them was a cafeteria that provided free meals, while public toilets stood farther away.

A large open field had been built directly in front of the soldier dormitories, furnished with many types of exercise equipment.

After two days of adaptation, Count Desinia would come to inspect them today.

The soldiers were led by the knights onto the field and arranged into formation.

The regular soldiers stood on one side, while the reserve soldiers stood on the other.

Mike Andrew stood among the reserve soldiers, listening to the quiet chatter around him.

"The commander of the regular soldiers is Knight Commander Walk William. Do you know who the commander of the reserve soldiers is?"

"Of course he's a knight too."

"No, no. This commander isn't a knight now, but he has quite the background."

"What background?"

"I heard he used to be the knight commander of the Kingdom of Gena. Because he committed some offense, he was demoted to a slave."

"Later, the count bought him in the royal city. Then he rendered great service during the bandit attack on Mount Parr, so the count first removed his slave status and then gave him the chance to serve as the commander of the reserve soldiers."

"I think it's only a matter of time before this lord becomes a knight again or is promoted back to knight commander."

Mike Andrew could not help asking, "Is he very formidable?"

He knew the speaker had originally been a slave in Wasas.

The man answered, "More than formidable. My father went to work in the salt-drying fields a few days ago and saw this lord spar with Lord Walk William from a distance. Guess who won?"

Mike Andrew thought it had to be this lord.

"This lord was slightly better."

Mike Andrew asked, "What is this lord's name?"

"Fernandi Edward."

Mike Andrew said, "Lord Edward doesn't seem to appear at the training camp much."

He had never seen him.

"This lord usually stays by the count's side. You'll see him today. He'll be responsible for our future training."

Mike Andrew still wanted to ask something else.

But at that moment, a knight struck the gong hanging at the very front of the field.

The knights responsible for supervising the soldiers hurriedly ordered them to stand straight and keep quiet.

Before long, a carriage stopped outside the field.

Count Xia Zuoyi Desinia was carried down from the carriage by his butler, Judith.

"Look! The man following on the count's left is Commander Fernandi Edward."

Mike Andrew looked as instructed. The man had a naturally imposing face, light brown hair and brown eyes, dark brown skin, and a handsome, powerful build.

Yet as he looked, his attention was drawn to the young count standing at the front.

Th-this was his lord?

Mike Andrew quietly covered his chest.

Xia Zuoyi was unhurriedly carried onto a tall stool by Judith. He waved at the sea of heads below. "Greetings, comrades."

Some people below had not reacted yet.

Others came to their senses and answered sparsely with things like, "Greetings, my lord," and "Greetings, Count."

Xia Zuoyi thought, This is what happens when training hasn't begun yet.

He gestured for Walk William, standing to one side, to read out the regulations the soldiers had to follow.

More than ten rules had been drafted for the time being.

They included the requirement for soldiers to pay forty copper coins a year for lodging and sixty copper coins a year for food. Throughout the year, the cafeteria would provide two free meals every day.

Soldiers would receive a monthly duty allowance of ten copper coins per person.

If they needed leave, they were not allowed to depart without permission, or they would be punished. Everyone had three chances to request leave each month. Their reasons had to be reported to the knight commander, and they could leave only after approval. Exceeding the allowed number of leaves would result in copper coins being deducted depending on the circumstances.

Soldiers were not allowed to provoke trouble or fight within the army. Once discovered, they would be dealt with severely. At best, they would receive a warning; at worst, they would be expelled from the army or even driven out of Wasas.

After more than ten rules had been read one by one, the commoners and slaves below began whispering among themselves.

Clearly, the benefits were obvious at a glance, but the punishments were also extremely severe.

Once Xia Zuoyi saw that they had discussed things enough, he clapped his hands. Walk William struck the gong beside him, and the crowd below fell silent.

Xia Zuoyi said, "I require all of you to memorize every regulation. This is an order."

"There are also several rules that need special explanation."

"Soldiers must train every day, then rest for two days after every five days. Three months make one quarter, and there will be an assessment every quarter."

"Each squad will consist of twelve people, three squads will form a platoon, three platoons will form a company, and three companies will form a battalion. Every quarter, squad leaders, platoon leaders, company commanders, and battalion commanders will be selected based on assessment results."

"The monthly allowance will be adjusted according to rank."

"A squad leader will receive fifteen copper coins a month, a platoon leader twenty-five copper coins, a company commander thirty-five copper coins, and a battalion commander one silver coin a month."

After Xia Zuoyi finished speaking, the crowd below erupted.

"What?! A battalion commander can get one silver coin?!"

"Even if I can't become a battalion commander, becoming a squad leader or platoon leader would still be great."

"I wonder what the assessment will involve."

Mike Andrew's heart burned with excitement. He wanted to become a battalion commander!

The gong was struck once more.

After the crowd below quieted down again, Xia Zuoyi said, "There will be passing standards for all assessment results."

"If none of you can meet the standard for battalion commander, then the position will remain vacant. The same goes for every other rank..."

He looked to his left and right.

Fernandi Edward stood on his left, while Walk William stood on his right.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Fernandi Edward will serve as the overall commander of the reserve soldiers, while Walk William will serve as the overall commander of the regular soldiers. The two of them will mainly be responsible for your daily training, with the other knights assisting."

"Three months from now, I will come here again to inspect the results of your training."

Fernandi Edward then read out the "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" that the soldiers needed to remember.

After everything was finished.

Xia Zuoyi spread his arms and was carried down from the tall stool by Judith.

Before leaving, he instructed the two men, "Make sure to train them into an organized and disciplined force, with uniform words and actions. Three months from now, I want to see a completely different spirit. If you can't do it..."

Walk William smiled and asked, "What will you do, my lord?"

Xia Zuoyi raised his little chin. "I'll dock your pay."

Walk William pretended to be frightened. "Wow. I'll definitely work twice as hard to complete the task my lord gave me."

I always feel like you're teasing me...

With a stiff little face, Xia Zuoyi was carried into the carriage by Judith and left.

After he was gone.

Walk William finally could not hold back his laughter. Seeing that Fernandi Edward still wore a stern expression, he could not help poking his arm.

"Don't you think the young count is absolutely adorable? I really want to hold him. Butler Judith must be happy every day."

Fernandi Edward said nothing. Silence was golden.

Walk William pressed on. "Don't you want to hold the count too?"

Fernandi Edward said, "...He is the count."

Walk William raised his brows and said meaningfully, "Oh, so you do want to."

Fernandi Edward said, "Since you have time for such nonsense, you should think about how to train them. Don't end up unable to select even one squad leader."

"Want to compete? I'm still very unwilling to accept losing to you last time."

"Fine."

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