Chapter 355: The Barren but Important Northern Territory

"Chief, I understand." Pigris nodded knowingly: "Most of the Yabod people's territories are mountains and there is little cultivated land, so they have to plunder. If we can trade with them, I believe we will be able to do so. The two tribes developed a deeper bond."

Maximus reminded: "You not only need to send people to negotiate with the Yabod people, but also send people to the territory of the Noriki people to express to the Noriki people our desire to establish friendly relations with them."

"Pygris." Capito said immediately: "You must find a way to get the Noriki to sell iron ore to us! Our weapons workshop in the Ofidilia area has been built, Aldi The iron ore provided by Yiren is no longer enough for our two workshops. If we can open up the purchase channel with the Noriki people, that will solve a big problem.

The iron ore produced there is of the best quality. After smelting the mature iron, there is no need to do more processes such as adding carbon. It only needs to be beaten to make hard iron.

Moreover, the Noriki tribe is relatively close to here. I heard from the craftsmen of Segostika that by loading the iron ore onto the ship in the Noriki territory and sailing down the river, you can reach Ofidilia. It is much more convenient than obtaining iron ore from the Ardie tribe. "

"The most important reason why we want to make good friends with the Noriki people is to get their iron ore. Don't worry, Capito, our Ministry of Commerce will definitely complete this task!" Pigris said confidently responded.

"Chief, now that we have defeated the Japods and occupied the territory to the north of Segostika, can our departments begin to take over and manage that land?" Volenus asked.

Maximus looked at everyone and said loudly: "The war against the Yabods is over, and the takeover of the land to the north can begin. You already have the experience of successfully managing here, and I believe you can more smoothly transfer the land to the north. Be part of our tribe!

I heard that the vast majority of the Segostika people who fled to us from the north are willing to join the tribe and become reserve tribesmen? "

"Yes, chief." Volenus responded: "We dispersed these fleeing Segestica people to the villages around Ofidilia for temporary resettlement, and let the villagers provide relief to them.

These refugees saw with their own eyes that their former tribesmen lived in good houses, received good land, and lived better than before. However, they themselves lived in fear every day and were now being bullied by powerful enemies, so they took the initiative to find the village chief. , asked to join the tribe..."

Maximus sighed: "Our hard work in managing this land has not been in vain! Now Ofidilia has become a role model for other Pannoni people, which makes it easier for us to take over the land to the north!"

Volenus asked softly: "Chief, according to our previous practice, our old people must be stationed and settled in these villages in the northern territory. Only in this way can the order of each village be stabilized and the people of Segestika be guided. To better integrate into our tribe, do you think we should transfer one or two thousand soldiers from the First and Third Legions to move to the new territory in the north?"

"The soldiers of the First Army and the Third Army worked so hard to move here from the Kupa River last year, and now you want them to move. Aren't you afraid of causing their dissatisfaction? You can't do this kind of thing!"

Maximus firmly objected. He thought for a while and said: "Let's remove a thousand soldiers of the Second Army from the Kupa River and let them move to the northern territory to stabilize our new territory. This will The Ministry of War will take the lead in this matter.”

"Yes, chief." Frontinus responded immediately.

Quintus said: "Chief, although we are prepared to negotiate with the Yapod people and have friendly exchanges with the Noriki people, after all, the northern territory borders Noriki and Yapod, and we should have corresponding measures. We have some defensive measures so that we won’t panic if something unexpected happens, so I suggest building a fort similar to Fort Cooper on the territory adjacent to Yabod and Noriki to protect our new territory.”

"The suggestion you made is very good." Maximus nodded and said: "But don't build a camp to avoid misunderstandings between the Noriki and the Yapod people. I think... you can build a small town on the northern border of the territory. It can not only play a defensive role, but also establish a market to facilitate trade with the other two tribes, what do you think?”

"It would be better to build a town." Volenus agreed: "Now there are many affairs in Ophidelia, and the town chief Cycrops is already overwhelmed. If we include all the villages in the northern territory, His burden is too heavy under the jurisdiction of Ofidilia. If a town is to be built on the northern border, then all the villages in the north should be under its jurisdiction, which will make management more convenient. "

Maximus put his hand on his chin, lost in thought.

Volenus observed the leader's expression, and then said: "I remember that the largest tribe in the northern territory of Segestika seems to be near the border, right?"

Frontinus took over: "Yes, that's right, that's the tribe of the Segestica leader named Zetilis. It is said that their village has very high wooden walls and trenches. It is known as the The northern barrier of the Segestica.

However, this time the stronghold was attacked by the Yabod people. The leader was killed in the battle, and many of the tribesmen also suffered casualties. Now this damaged stronghold has been recovered by our army. "

Volenus then said: "I think this village can be transformed into a new town for our tribe. This can greatly save our manpower and material resources."

Cornelius asked: "Chief, since a new town is to be built, who should be appointed as the administrator of such a town?"

Maximus solemnly said: "It is easy to build a new town, but it is not easy to equip it with enough officials. Just now Volenus said that Cyclops is too busy now, why can't it be too busy? ?

Because there are not enough officials under him who can read and calculate, he even has to bring in students from schools to help with the work. This is not only a problem for Ofidilia, but also for all our departments.

Regarding the candidate for the chief executive of the new town and how to equip the new town with enough officials, everyone should think carefully about it when they go back. We will hold a meeting to discuss this issue next time. "

Maximus paused for a moment, then looked at the chief officer of the Department of Etiquette: "Kephisophon, I have read the new tribal school textbooks you gave me the day before yesterday. The textbooks written this time are simpler, more practical, and more beneficial." Students learn to master, that’s right!

Now the main requirement of the tribe for the school is to cultivate a large number of students who can recognize five or six hundred words, write a simple article, and perform calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in the shortest time, so that they can Meet the record-writing needs of various departments, towns, and villages.

Of course, tribes also need scholars who can write beautiful articles and engineers who can build bridges and temples. We can select children with excellent grades and talents in this area from students for further education and training. Of course, this will take more time. and more energy, so if these students want to study, they have to pay more tuition fees, which cannot be too cheap to avoid dissatisfaction from other ethnic groups..."

Kephisuofeng said seriously: "Chief, after you told me last time, I have already figured it out. We are going to divide each school into two parts, one is the junior learning class, and strive to let the children of the tribe pass through. After two or three years of study, everyone will basically be able to read and count, and this textbook is compiled for them;

The other is higher-level learning, which is aimed at a small number of children with learning talents. We have not compiled teaching materials for them, but will provide special teaching according to their own characteristics. Their learning time will be longer and the cost will naturally be higher. More often, it mainly depends on whether the students' parents are willing to accept it..."

Mark and Sims thought for a while, nodded and said, "I think it's okay."

Kephisofon immediately said: "Chief, our Ethical and Education Department will implement new arrangements for several schools and ask teachers to write and copy this new textbook, and then teach students according to the knowledge in this textbook..."

"Uh..." Maximus suddenly thought: It would be too troublesome to ask every teacher to copy textbooks. If printing and copying can be done, it will save effort and trouble, and it will not be easy to make mistakes. By then, not only teachers, but also every student will If everyone has a copy, they will learn more efficiently. Now the papermaking workshop has been expanded and the manpower has increased. After two years of repeated exploration and research, the craftsmen are no longer in shortage of paper, and the quality is getting better and better. That is printing...

Maximus tried hard to recall the knowledge about ancient printing technology he had seen in his previous life, and decided to find a few craftsmen to conduct trial production first, and then implement it after success.

Thinking of this, he coughed lightly: "This is the matter of your Ethical and Education Department, you can just arrange it yourself."

"Chief, we are encountering a problem now and need your help." Kephisophon said.

"What problem?"

"Now there are many students in the school, but not enough teachers, especially teachers with high knowledge. I even invited several engineers such as Spukala from the Ministry of Works to work as part-time teachers in the school in their free time, but This still doesn’t meet the need—”

"I have been thinking about it these days and have come up with a way." Kephisophon said seriously: "We can send people to various Greek city-states to invite scholars who are willing to come to us as teachers. But now I am a teacher of ethics. Chief, I have a lot of things to do and I can’t leave, so I would like to ask the leader to send someone to do this!”