Chapter 234 Visitors

As soon as the sky became bright, Winters walked out of the military camp and went to swim in the river west of the town.

He first swam two rounds to warm up, and then began to try diving to the bottom of the river.

When he landed, he found Bud waiting for him.

"When did you learn to swim?" Bud asked with a smile while sitting on Winters' clothes.

"self-taught."

"Still practicing diving?"

Mentioning this matter, Winters's heart ached: "Our dear Lieutenant Cellini threw the Grand Cross into the river in a moment of excitement. I touched the bottom of the river, maybe I can find it back. "

"Why are you fishing for that thing?" Bud didn't care.

"What for?" Winters was furious: "That's gold! I don't want it, but I can exchange it for food! We should check Andre's family lineage. I really don't know what kind of Veneta he is! Such a big piece Gold, I threw it into the river when my brain got hot, and I had to get up early in the morning to fish it out.”

Bud laughed heartily, and there were some wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

He handed the clothes to Winters: "I have something to ask you. I heard that at the beginning of July, an assassin broke into the Army Headquarters of the Kings' Castle and killed Sackler. Was it you who did it?"

"Who spread rumors about me?" Winters was furious: "When did I ever commit an assassination?"

"Well, yes, that's good." Bard patted the assassin's arm reassuringly: "No matter who asks, it's enough if you can answer with this attitude. And..."

Bader's words were interrupted because Winters hadn't finished speaking: "I held a saber and fought in and out of the main entrance. How could it be an assassination? When have I ever done an assassination? I have always been fair and aboveboard in my work. !”

Winters suddenly remembered the Monta gang at Sea Blue Pier.

He repeated with a slight guilt: "When have I ever committed an assassination in Plato? When I work in Plato, I have always been fair and aboveboard!"

"Oh? Then you have carried out assassinations elsewhere?" Bud sighed.

"Then don't worry about it." Winters turned his head: "Anyway, I haven't done it in Plato."

"Did you survive?"

"I'm not a bad person. If he didn't stop me, why should I kill him? But it was dark at the time and no one could see anyone clearly."

"No one will admit your magic." Bard sighed heavily: "In my opinion, this matter will not end like this. However, the kings' castles are thousands of miles away, and even if they know that you are in Wolf Town, they are beyond their reach. Right now, there are more important things - are you developing land for the victims?"

"Yes." Winters pointed to the other side of the river, with a somewhat proud look on his face: "There is newly reclaimed land over there. They are landless tenant farmers and long-term laborers. I have wasteland, cattle, horses and plows, so it counts. It was an instant hit.”

Bard listened carefully and suddenly asked, "Do you know the recent news from Maplestone City?"

"I know nothing. Before I met you, I could only find out a few words about Gévaudin."

Bud smiled: "Maplestone City, I've been as busy as you lately."

"The New Reclamation Corps is also recruiting refugees to open up wasteland?" Winters raised his eyebrows.

But he quickly figured it out: "It's not surprising. If you don't cultivate the land, you will starve to death. Maple Rock City cannot give porridge to the refugees in vain."

"That's right. In Hailan and Drenthe, there are many ways to make a living, and you can even get bread from begging. But for farmers, if they don't cultivate the land, they will starve to death. This is the truth of their lives."

After leaving the land, people will gradually forget that food is grown from the ground - this was the case with Winters in the past.

"If you don't farm, you will starve to death." Two years ago, he did not feel as deeply about this sentence as he does today.

Tenant farmers and hired workers from all over the country fled, which meant that a large number of laborers were suddenly out of production.

The snow-capped mountains have not collapsed yet because there is still surplus food from last year or even the year before.

But sooner or later, a greater disaster will befall this land, because the farmers who are still producing simply cannot afford to feed so many mouths.

It's either famine or civil unrest, it's not a choice between the two, it's likely to happen both at the same time.

It was when Winters saw this that he tried to resume production. He didn't want to see famine or chaos, so he just poured water on the fire.

Bard lowered his head and fiddled with a few stone flakes in his hand: "Man-made military disasters were created to drive landless peasants away. Then they recruited victims and distributed land to open up wasteland. Since then, the Legion has become the largest manor owner of newly cultivated land."

"It's very powerful. It's worthy of holding the hilt of the sword." Bard raised his head and looked at Winters and said with a sneer: "But the Legion is the largest landowner in the newly cultivated land, and there is no difference between the left and right."

To open up wasteland for the refugees, Captain Montagne could think of this method, General Adams could also think of it, and he probably thought of it even more deeply.

"You mean, all of this was intentional?" Winters was surprised, but not surprised.

Bud stood up, walked to the river to float, and said calmly: "There may not be a plan, it's probably just a step-by-step decision. But things have happened, and we can only analyze them based on the results."

Winters thought hard.

Wolf Town is too small, too few people, not enough potential, and most importantly, not enough time.

There was no time for him to accumulate strength. The legion could tolerate officer corruption and incompetence, but it could never tolerate officer rebellion.

If the New Reclamation Legion stands firm, with just one punch, Wolf Town will be reduced to dust.

That's why he wanted Gévaudin.

If the Legion's strategy works, then I'm afraid, as Senior Mason said, Gevaudan won't be enough either.

Bud sat back next to Winters, using the stone as a chess piece, and asked: "Over and over again, the landless peasants have land, the legion has tenants, the yeoman or the yeoman, whose interests are harmed?"

"Lord of the Manor." It was too obvious, Winters' answer did not hesitate.

"That's why the manor owners in Five Mastiff Town, Blackwater Town and other places have chosen to strongly support you. They will give you money and grain if you ask for it, and they will also provide you with hiding places."

Bud smiled and picked up the black stone representing the owner of the manor: "They may not understand the deep game, but the damage to their interests is obvious. The long-term workers have run away, what land is there for the plantation? The land price has fallen, no Does it mean their property has shrunk?"

Winters nodded.

It was precisely because of the help of these "country squires" that his troops were able to appear and disappear southwest of Gevaudan.

In addition to providing supplies, manor owners can also provide intelligence. They have extensive local connections and information channels extending in all directions.

"But they are not enough." Bud raised his hand and threw the black stone into the river.

"There are too few people," Winters said softly.

After the victory of the Sovereignty War, the new republics outlawed all personal dependences - Hurd slaves were not considered human beings - this was also a precious legacy left by the old marshal's generation.

Although the manor owners of the newly cultivated land were very influential, they were only influential.

After all, they are different from those nobles in the old days who could recruit large numbers of farmers during wars.

"In my opinion, the New Land Reclamation Corps is on the right track. They should relax restrictions and recruit disaster victims to open up wasteland. Land prices will fall, but it has nothing to do with the Corps. If they can create a huge group of homesteaders, we will definitely not be able to defeat them. Still. Go back to Veneta as soon as possible, and I will do a small business with you." Bud smiled and spread defeatist remarks.

Winters tried to defend Veneta: "We Venetas...are not all businessmen."

"What's worse, if we fail, we won't even be able to do small business." Bard's smile became even hotter: "So we have to follow the route of the New Reclamation Army, and we have to go even harder than them. The steps have to be faster. Bigger, more determined, more thorough.”

"More determined?"

Bud pointed to the other side of the river and asked Winters: "It is now the end of August, and winter wheat will be planted in September. How many acres of land have you cultivated?"

"This...I really don't know." Winters really didn't know.

"With the few cows, horses, and hundreds of people we have, how many acres of wasteland can we cultivate if we are all exhausted? If we spread it out on everyone, we can barely make ends meet. It is wishful thinking to expect them to pay you food next year. ! There is no chance that there will be a great famine next year! Even if it can be cultivated, it will still be the worst land in Wolf Town! Because the good land has been bought long ago!"

Bud's voice became louder and louder, and his eyes became brighter and brighter: "But right before our eyes, thousands of acres of the best arable land... are being abandoned!"

Winters was horrified: "The land of each manor? That is their private property!"

"I know! We don't want to take it for free. We can give them some rent and let us lease their land! Then distribute it to the victims. Why don't the New Reclamation Army dare to do this? Because they are the owners of the manor themselves! We want to defeat them, We must follow their path, and we must go more resolutely than them!”

Bud already had a clue, and he patiently explained: "No matter how good the land is, it will become useless if it is left uncultivated for too long. It is also uncultivated, and the owner of the manor should be happy when someone takes care of the land for them."

"Then what happens in the future? You can't occupy it forever?" Winters asked, "Doesn't that mean they become tenants and long-term workers again?"

"The most important thing is to open up wasteland! Not all wasteland in the newly reclaimed land in the United Provinces has been reclaimed. There is still room for further development!"

Bud pointed to the wasteland on the other side of the river: "It's too late to open up wasteland this year! It won't even be late next year! Wasteland won't turn into cultivated land out of thin air. It takes time! Where will the time come from? We can only make up for it from existing cultivated land.

Farming the land during normal times and clearing wasteland during slack periods is what farmers have been doing for thousands of years. It's just that in newly cultivated land, this natural process is artificially suppressed. And we just need to rebuild it. "

Winters found Bud so eloquent for the first time.

"What happens in the future?" Winters asked, "Will the land be returned to the manor owner?"

"We'll talk about the future later. I think it can be returned." Bard's attitude was very serious: "As long as enough wasteland is reclaimed, the land can be returned to the manor owner. But by that time, it will be difficult for them to recruit enough people. tenant farmers and long-term laborers, unless there is an influx of new people, or until the population naturally increases."

"What if they don't agree?"

"Who disagrees?" Bud asked, and he smiled and asked again: "Who disagrees?"

"Yes!" Winters suddenly remembered Brother Rhett's words, and he laughed heartily: "In the final analysis, you still have to hold the handle of the knife. If you can hold the handle of the knife, all problems will not be a problem. Just go for it! Fight, I’ve never been afraid of anyone.”

…

Bard took over the reclamation affairs, while Winters concentrated on preparing to deal with Gévaudan.

As graduates of the same military academy, everyone is too familiar with each other, and things will definitely not end like this.

It was the sixth day after Gévaudin received the news of the "annihilation" of Bard and Mason's centurions - that is, September 21st.

Ciel is back, bringing the little lion with him.

The last thing Winters wants to see right now is a guest, but guests always come when he least wants to see them.

"Good luck, Batu." The little lion gave Winters a saber as a gift and hugged Winters affectionately.

In addition to the saber, the little lion also brought thirty horses, which were also gifts.

It had been a while since he heard the name "Batu", and Winters had a subtle feeling.

"Good luck to you too!" Winters gave the little lion a hug: "Is your brother okay? Is your...sister okay?"

"E'erlun? She's very good. My brother, he's very good too." The little lion replied casually: "He's busy preparing households and people recently, otherwise he would come here in person."

Winters' body instantly became stiff.

He gathered his emotions and asked as naturally as possible: "Oh? Make every household equal to the people? What do you mean?"

"It's just to create households and bring together the people." The little lion obviously didn't want to answer this question: "Just like you."

When a visitor comes from afar, whether according to the rules of the wilderness or the etiquette of Plato, he should introduce his family and friends.

Winters took the little lion with him and first went to the military camp to meet Bud, Andre and Mason.

Bud and Andre were still deeply impressed by the Hurd slaves on Red Sulfur Island.

Everyone was also very sad to learn about Winters' experience in the wasteland.

Then, Winters led the little lion to meet Anna, Catherine, Mrs. Mitchell, Scarlett and other female family members.

Although the ladies were surprised to see a "barbarian" visiting, they were still very polite to the little lion.

The little lion can speak common language and respects the women, but he has one faux pas:

When Winters introduced Anna, "This is my fiancée," he raised his eyebrows and looked at Anna carefully, which made Anna feel quite uncomfortable.

Winters' smile also became a little stiff.

The little lion sighed: "I know why Erlun lost."

The ladies were keenly aware of the subtle emotions in the little lion's words.

Catherine's almond-shaped eyes immediately stared at Winters. If there weren't still guests, she might have launched an attack on the spot.

Mrs. Mitchell shook her head helplessly, but Scarlett was a little confused.

Anna frowned slightly and asked the little lion with a smile: "Excuse me, who is Erlun?"

"He is my benefactor." Winters answered first.

"I'm asking - Mr. Yahaqi." Anna's smile became brighter.

This smile was all too familiar to Winters. The last time he saw this smile, he was slapped in the face - but now that he thought about it, it was not a loss.

"Excuse me, who is Erlun?" Anna asked again with a smile.

The little lion swallowed and replied seriously: "He is Winters' benefactor."

The matter is over for now.

When Winters left the Mitchell Manor, he flattered Anna and asked for credit: "I made you a very beautiful easel. I made it myself. The pine wood is light and strong, and can be carried on horseback." Go outside. I will bring it to you tonight..."

"You have to be careful, Mr. Montagne." Anna leaned on Winters' shoulder and said kindly: "I also brought the golden sword you gave me. If you are unfaithful, I will follow your instructions. Taught - stab hard."

After saying that, Anna kissed Winters gently on the cheek.

Winters took the little lion with him and fled Mitchell Manor as if he was running away.

Of course, the little lion didn't come to Wolf Town to visit friends.

He represents the White Lion with full authority and is here to discuss a business deal, perhaps a large one.

After the courtesy reception, it’s time to get down to business.

The little lion just arrived in Wolf Town in the morning and held a closed-door meeting in the military camp in the afternoon.

"What do you want?" Winters got straight to the point.

There were only Winters, Bud, Andre, and Mason in the big tent. No one else was there, not even a recordkeeper.

"What do you want?" The meeting was private and the little lion was very relaxed. He smiled bitterly and said, "I want everything."

Food, ironware, cloth, oil... Chihe tribe wants everything.

Hurd Wasteland is surrounded by mountains to the north and south, and to the west is a bitter cold plateau. Behind the plateau are mountains. There is only one exit to the east, and it is severely blocked by the Platoans.

The smuggling caravans going to the wasteland are either money-making tools for the powerful or spies of the Plato Army. Most caravans have both identities at the same time.

The Hed tribes knew clearly that they were spies, so they could only do business with all their might.

The little lion spread his hands: "The prairie produces nothing but grass; it lacks everything but grass."

There was some exaggeration in what he said, but it was generally accurate.

"The key is what do you have?" the little lion asked.

Winters' face turned red: "We have nothing. Wolf Town has nothing but farmland, and lacks everything except forests. But there will be some in the future."

The little lion sighed: "I can see it too, you are rebelling...what do you want?"

Bud and Mason smoked their pipes and said nothing.

"The Platoans you captured." Winters said without hesitation.

The little lion nodded.

"And horses!" Andre finally said what he was concerned about.

Mason said slowly: "Horses, cattle, sheep, we need all these livestock."

The little lion nodded again.

Winters simply took out his quill and settled the score for the little lion:

"Veneta has a saying, [Only gold can be sold thousands of miles]. Items with high profit per unit weight and volume can only be transported over long distances. Wolf Town produces nothing, and Tiefeng County only has a little handicraft industry. If your brother It is not appropriate to use Tiefeng County as a window for smuggling.

Tiefeng County is not directly connected to the pastures of Chihe Department. Transferring supplies from other places to Wolf Town and even Jevaudan, and then to the Red River Department, is equivalent to a big detour.

Shipments from Veneta and the United Provinces to Palato were usually carried by water. Originally, you have to go upstream and go around the land route, so the cost of goods will be pushed very high. Moreover, the road conditions in Tiefeng County are very poor, which will also increase the cost.

For goods with a low unit price like fabric, the shipping cost is already one to two times higher than the value of the goods themselves. If there is another detour, the freight may reach three to four times the price of the goods themselves. "

Winters concluded: "It must be produced and processed in Tiefeng County as much as possible, and then sent to the wasteland so that the price can be cheap. If the Akahawa Department wants to sell leather and other raw materials outside the wasteland, it must first be roughly processed and transported to the wasteland. After arriving at Tiefeng County, it will be processed carefully, and it is best to leave Tiefeng County as a finished product to be competitive.

I have sent people to reconnoiter the land route of [Tiefeng County-Veneta], if..."

Winters talked endlessly about business, which surprised Andre and Bud.

Senior Mason may not know it, but Andre and Bud know Winters well.

Winters Montagne, a man who couldn't even keep track of his accounts, never counted his money.

When he goes shopping, he doesn't even know how to bargain. He will give as much as others say. If it feels expensive, he will turn around and leave.

He has some knowledge of business simply because he has been exposed to it since he was a child, living in Hailan and Guitucheng.

But he has never been as eloquent as he is today.

Andre and Bud stared at Winters with questioning eyes.

Winters noticed the gazes of the two people. He coughed slightly and explained casually: "Miss Navarre told me."

"I understand what you mean. You want to open a furnace and smelt iron in Tiefeng County, and then sell it to us, exchanging people, horses, and skins. Isn't that what you meant when you told my brother about the iron mine?"

The little lion leaned back on his chair carelessly: "Actually, we also know that there is hematite in the Hanlan River. My brother also sent people to explore the mines upstream. The problem is that the grassland lacks iron smelting fuel and there are no blacksmiths."

"There is forest in the newly cultivated land, and there is a large forest."

"But according to you, the farther it is transported, the higher the cost. Have you considered how far it is to transport the iron ore from the upper reaches of the Hanlan River to you?"

Winters waited for the little lion to say his next words.

What the little lion said before was all about lowering the price, but what he really wanted to say was at the end.

"The white lion has a suggestion for you." The little lion sat up straight and said seriously: "You give the blacksmith you have to the Red River Department, if they really know how to open a furnace to smelt iron [Master Craftsman] .My brother is willing to help you redeem your captives."

The little lion looked at Winters and slowly emphasized: "It's not the prisoners in the hands of the Red River Department, but all the prisoners. Don't you want to rebel? These prisoners are all veterans. If you rescue them, they will be willing to fight for them." You die."

As soon as these words came out, Andre was a little moved. There were really too few veterans on their hands.

The Jessica Brigade belongs to the militia group and suffered heavy losses in the Battle of the Wilderness.

After returning to Plato, seeing that the superiors were still unwilling to disband the troops, many militiamen who had been recruited temporarily fled home.

In the end, there were only three officers and 47 soldiers left in the Jessica Brigade - all homeless and miserable people.

The three centurions brought back from Gevaudan were rebuilt using the old foundation of the Jezca brigade and new recruits recruited in Gevaudan.

Their combat power has not yet been tested, and Winters and others are not very optimistic.

There is only one piece of good news that is comforting: Gévaudin's troops are equally bad, or even worse.

Winters said nothing, but stretched out his hand to pour a glass of water for the little lion.

"I guess not, but it's not wrong to try." The little lion smacked his lips: "Even if iron ore can be mined, have you considered how to transport it to you? The distance is really not short."

Winters smiled, showing a row of neat teeth: "Water transportation."

The little lion's eyes narrowed.

"If iron ore can be mined, go by water. From the Hanlan River to the Jinliu River, the flow is downstream. The Jinliu River to Tiefeng County is a countercurrent, but you can use the slender method. I have seen trackers When it comes to pulling a boat, a dozen or so people can pull a big boat. You have enough animal power, so you can do it without people.

You, the Chihe tribe, also need to make some efforts, preferably by occupying the wasteland to the west of the newly cultivated land. Although I don’t know whose territory there is, it’s definitely not yours. Only by controlling the entire route can transportation safety be ensured. "

"Water transportation may be feasible, although it is still a bit troublesome." The little lion suddenly sighed: "But - the west of the newly cultivated land is no man's land. Do you know whose territory is the west of no man's land?"

Winters suddenly had an ominous premonition: "Who is it?"

"The one who warms the fire." The little lion looked complicated: "From the newly cultivated land to the west, across the no-man's land, and all the way to the Ete River in the west, it is all the pasture of the Terdun tribe."

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Winters walked to the bookcase without saying a word and came back with a map.

The map was spread in the center of the table, and several people gathered around it.

Senior Mason walked along the waterway with his fingertips and said, "If you go through the no-man's land, you won't go directly through the territory of the Teltown Department."

Winters also knew that he would not pass directly through the Territory Department's territory. The key was whether the Terden Department would stop it?

In the 100-kilometer no-man's land, Hurd's Qingqiu came and went like the wind. As long as the fire-warming person wanted to, he could reach in at any time.

If the person who warms the fire does not agree, this business may not be successful.

"It's still necessary to keep it a secret, as much as possible." Winters was a little annoyed. He gritted his teeth and said, "I must do this business. If Monkey Buttface doesn't agree, let him ask me for my saber first."

"Report!" Someone shouted outside the tent, interrupting the conversation of several people.

Winters put away the map, glanced at the little lion again, and got up and walked out of the military tent.

A sentry waited outside the tent.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"My lord, there is an officer from Gevaudan." The sentry replied in a panic: "I want to see you by name."

[This chapter says there is a map "Tiefeng County Map Version 1.03", it will be more intuitive if you look at the map]

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