Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 117: Thieves from the Sea (Part Three)

"Very well, Mark. Please provide your report on the recent situation in the territory," Berion said, signaling for Mark to begin.

Mark stood up, opened his notebook, cleared his throat, and said, "My Lord, esteemed colleagues, as of yesterday, the population of Nolandenburg has reached 2,600. During the two months you were away, we added 590 new residents, most of whom had worked here during the summer harvest.

After experiencing the fair treatment they received here, and having been informed of our policy for joining Nolandenburg before they left, they couldn't endure the cruel treatment from their own lords back home and chose to come and join us of their own accord.

Haha, it is just as you told me, My Lord: only by treating your people well can you earn their support; if you are cruel to them, they will abandon you."

As Mark said this, he looked at Berion with a smile, and those present also shared a knowing grin. After all, they were all people who had been treated well by Berion, and naturally, they understood this principle.

"Our territory now has 1,100 adult men, 1,000 young women, and 500 children under the age of thirteen. Our demographic structure is quite reasonable.

Currently, the number of our craftsmen exceeds one hundred, including apprentices. Specifically, we have thirty potters, twenty-five blacksmiths, twenty carpenters, fifteen stonemasons, fifteen leatherworkers, and fifteen wicker weavers.

Supported by these craftsmen, we have established one smelting workshop, one ironware workshop, one armory, one woodworking shop, one tannery, and one wicker craft workshop." Mark paused here, perhaps because his throat was a bit dry, and took a sip of water to compose himself.

He continued, "Currently, the workshops related to ironware and leather have been moved to the Nolandenburg fortress atop Wind-Cloud Peak. The other workshops and the local residents have been dispersed and settled in Greenhill Village, Oak Village, and the newly built Lily-of-the-Valley Slope Village, located not far from the Forest Lake. It is named so because there is a slope nearby covered in lilies of the valley.

During these past two months, due to the population increase, we have reclaimed another 1,000 acres of arable land. However, since we missed the planting season, we will only be able to sow crops after spring arrives next year.

I will continue to work hard with everyone to reclaim another 1,000 acres before the first snowfall, so that by the time of the spring plowing next year, we will have 8,000 acres of land.

In addition to reclamation and construction, as per your instructions, I have also prepared the food reserves. Aside from what we produced ourselves, I have purchased a significant amount of grain. Our granary in Nolandenburg now holds over 500 scheffels of grain, along with plenty of dried meat, sausages, and other provisions, which is enough to sustain us for over a year.

Oh, and my poor memory! Regarding your encouragement for families to engage in animal husbandry, I have also put great effort into that over the past two months. Now, every household raises chickens, ducks, and geese. Those with extra money have even purchased pigs, cattle, and sheep from us to raise.

According to my statistics, the number of chickens, ducks, and geese in Nolandenburg now exceeds 1,000 for each species. Every day, these poultry produce about 2,000 eggs. Since the civilians cannot eat them all, I have been purchasing the surplus to feed our infantry and militia brothers.

My Lord, as you said, the soldiers undergo intense training, so they must be well-fed."

After Mark finished, he sat down. Berion was the first to applaud, and everyone followed suit, which made the twenty-year-old feel a bit embarrassed.

Once the applause died down, Berion said with a smile, "Our chief steward, Mark, has done a wonderful job. During the two months I was away, he performed excellently, and I am very pleased.

Tur, make a note of this: after today's meeting concludes, reward our chief steward Mark with 500 dinars. Additionally, reward him with one of the handcrafted wool blankets I brought back from Yanvikshuo. You have worked hard, my good brother!"

After announcing these rewards, Berion stood up and embraced Mark. Mark was truly moved to tears. While he was pleasantly surprised by the generous reward, it wasn't enough to make him cry.

The real reason was that among everyone present, he was the first to report, the first to receive such a reward, and Berion had embraced him affectionately in front of everyone. This was a tremendous honor, signaling his primary position in Berion's heart; he was the closest of the close among the lord's inner circle.

Others looked at Mark with envy, seeing how highly Berion valued him, yet they still offered their applause and cheers in congratulation.

After Mark wiped his eyes and sat down, Berion signaled for Eomer to stand and answer. Eomer stood up and said directly to Berion, "My Lord, as for the situation with the infantry regiment, let Brother Bess report to you. I have primarily focused on the soldiers' drills, while the specific data and training status were all tallied by Brother Bess."

Berion gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Brother Bess, go ahead and speak. You are still the one who bears the heavy responsibility for the Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment."

Eomer thought Berion’s look was just joking, like when they were in the city of Vallombre. However, the immature fellow did not realize that when your good brother becomes your boss, he will certainly not treat you the same as before. While there may be favoritism, in matters of business, he would be strictly professional.

Bess, a sharp-witted man, read something into the look Berion gave Eomer. He stood up, looked at Berion, and said, "My Lord, allow me to report on the situation of our Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment on behalf of Brother Eomer."

Berion nodded, signaling him to continue.

Bess did not open his leather notebook, as he knew the data by heart, and stated directly, "My Lord, over the past two months, we have followed your instructions to complete the expansion and established the Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment. Aside from the brothers who participated in battles like the recapture of Maple Manor, we have absorbed elites from the militia. We now have a total of 100 combat soldiers, organized into four platoons.

There are twenty javelin-shield infantrymen, twenty crossbowmen, twenty halberdiers, and forty spearmen. Currently, except for the crossbowmen who are equipped with iron-trimmed leather armor and nasal helmets, everyone is equipped with brigandine armor and kettle hats.

By promoting outstanding veterans to serve as junior officers and non-commissioned officers, and after two months of integration and training, the new recruits have now reached combat readiness.

The loyal Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment awaits your inspection at any time!"

"Good! You have worked hard, Brother Bess," Berion said after the report.

Berion looked at everyone and said, "For a long time, I have been the commander of the Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment, and the position of deputy commander has remained vacant. Today, we can finally confirm it."

Berion stood up, and everyone followed suit, waiting for his appointment.

"I, the commander of the Nolandenburg Infantry Regiment, hereby announce: Bess shall serve as the First Deputy Commander, and Eomer shall serve as the Second Deputy Commander. Congratulations to you both."

Once the appointments were made, there was a brief moment of surprise, but everyone immediately applauded, congratulating the two key officers.

Berion knew they had assumed the military would be handled like the civil administration, filled with long-time confidants. After all, Mark was so young and yet the chief steward. While Mark was indeed capable, they believed it was primarily due to Berion’s trust.

By appointing Bess as the manager of the core armed forces—second only to himself—Berion surprised everyone, as most had expected Eomer, who once held the title of squire, to take the role.

One should hire both for loyalty and for capability. Eomer was undoubtedly a fine warrior—skilled and upright—but he was not a qualified officer. During the two months Berion was away, Eomer, despite being trusted, had essentially handed all responsibility to Bess.

In truth, it wasn't that Eomer had simply abandoned his duties, but rather that he had no idea how to train an army. Unlike Bess, who was a high-ranking member of a mercenary company with years of combat experience and a deep understanding of soldier training, Eomer had spent years as a guard in the palace. Although he served as a deputy squad leader, he had only led young nobles who were impossible to drill.

From the start, this had been Berion’s own wishful thinking. He had expected Eomer to shoulder the responsibility just as Mark had, but people are different, and tasks are different; one must think rationally.

His approach with Eomer had not only caused the man to lose face but had also sparked unnecessary speculation among the others.

After this matter concluded, Barrett, the commander of the militia, gave his report. Currently, the Nolandenburg Militia has 500 men in regular training. Of course, a significant portion are newcomers who have been training for less than a month; they can barely pull a bowstring, let alone fight.

The 500-strong militia is divided into five companies. The most combat-capable is the special company led by Gu Huiyang. Aside from twenty of his former subordinates, the rest are Nolandenburg militia recruits.

For the past few months, they have been sweeping through the forests, clearing out small bands of bandits. Constant combat, while resulting in some casualties, has forged this company’s combat effectiveness.

At the same time, through a strategy of replacing fallen or disabled former bandits with new recruits, the unit has become increasingly stable. Currently, fewer than ten of Gu Huiyang's original subordinates remain, and they are scattered across different platoons. The rest are Nolandenburg militia, managed by Tur.

The bandits and robbers in the forest south of the Karl River have either been wiped out or have fled elsewhere. The south bank has become a peaceful sanctuary. Furthermore, these anti-bandit operations have yielded significant wealth and grain.

Berion was very satisfied with the militia as a whole, especially with Tur’s performance. Not only did he achieve great success in eliminating bandits, but he also firmly maintained control over the company nominally led by Gu Huiyang. It seems that, barring true geniuses, most officers must be tempered by fire and blood to grow.

Once the military report concluded, Mark had Gamlin report on the construction of the security force. As the only armed force controlled by civil officials, Mark placed great importance on it.

Gamlin stood and reported, "My Lord, the security force currently has 25 men. Fifteen are stationed respectively in Lily-of-the-Valley Slope, Greenhill Village, and Oak Village. The remaining ten are stationed in the old Nolandenburg wooden fortress. Since that is where merchants primarily stay, it is the area currently most in need of security management.

The equipment of the security force is basically the same as the militia, though we generally do not wear armor. Currently, every five security officers have one archer, while the rest are equipped with battle axes and clubs, which is sufficient to handle common thieves and robbers."

"Very good, Brother Gamlin. You have done a great job, and I appreciate your hard work. Oh, and Mark, has the old wooden fortress been converted into a trade post?" Berion asked after acknowledging the security officer's contributions.

Mark hurriedly stood and replied, "My Lord, I omitted that in my earlier report. The Nolandenburg fortress atop Wind-Cloud Peak is now completed and fully decorated. You can move in today. We have already moved all the belongings from the lord's residence in the old wooden fortress.

During the two months you were away, the number of merchant caravans arriving in Nolandenburg increased. It did not seem right to leave those who bring us wealth sleeping outside or crowded into civilian housing, so I arranged for them to stay in the wooden fortress."