I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 242 Minor Reforms in the Military and Civil Affairs

"Sir, do you mean to build another arrow tower here?"

At the southeastern pass, Ryan stood with one foot on a stone, gazing at the road he had walked countless times.

The reason why Knightsburg has such an excellent geographical location is that it is surrounded by deep mountains and dense forests to the north and separated by the Agate River to the south.

The only passage to the south was originally a winding path in the southeast.

This is also why Berry's army arrived late—they had to take a long detour.

After all, he could lead a small private army into the mountains to hunt, but he couldn't command a hundred-man army to climb the mountain.

They might have already lost half their men before they even reached Knightsburg.
This was not because Berry's army was lazy; it was simply the case with all armies composed of serfs.

"Yes, just widen the base of the watchtower. We'll station soldiers there every day to monitor the situation on both sides of the river. After all, the watchtower is too high, so the ground view isn't clear; it can only observe the main force."

Ryan spat out the blade of grass from his mouth, pondered for a moment, and thought it was quite good. He then prepared to have Little Maiman bring people to measure the area. Just as he was leaving, Luc suddenly called out to him:

"How's the progress on the four private soldiers you were asked to select? Have you found suitable candidates yet?"

"Sir, including Hans, we're still short one person, but I'm sure we can get the rest soon. Don't worry, I'll definitely do a good job of selecting them."

As the manor grew wealthy, Ryan's attire became increasingly refined, and he was no longer recognizable as a former slave. The handsome man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Master, Miller has come to beg me again, hoping you can let him join the private army. What do you think?"

"Didn't you tell him about the private army?" Luke frowned upon hearing this.

"I did."

“Since you’ve already said it, what are you hesitating for?” Luke turned away impatiently and said, “His family are free farmers in Ward Village, why would they join some private army?”

Ryan nodded: "I understand."

Luke gazed at the distant white clouds and silently picked up a pebble.

As the operation expanded, the mixed military system, like that used in the defense of Knightsburg, became unsuitable for Luke.

However, Luke did not particularly like the existing military system.

Excluding mercenaries, the composition of medieval armies was simply: knights, free farmers, and serfs.

The knight needs no further explanation.

Free farmers were the main force of the army's infantry and archers: they had land and spare money, and when serving their lord's military service, they could choose to pay a shield tax or bring their own weapons to accompany the army.

Luc belonged to this social class back then.

As for serfs, they were just cannon fodder.

However, just as Berry dared not climb the snow mountain, such a hastily assembled army, under the patronage system, might be able to muster five or six hundred knights for a king, but in small-scale conflicts, it would be difficult to have any strong fighting power.

That's why Luke came up with the idea of ​​quasi-knights to divide the knights.

The quasi-knights, who have less power than knights but are wealthier and have higher status than free farmers, will gradually become the main force of Luke's army.

However, at present, Luke's only potential knights are Ryan and Jean.

Thus, Luke's squad of soldiers who had left their jobs became Luke's private army.

What are private soldiers?

As the name suggests, they are soldiers exclusively belonging to the Luke family, outside of all systems. Unlike knights and free farmers, they need to provide their own weapons and own land. Everything they have is given or bestowed by Luke.

Simply put, this was the case when Ryan Gil first joined the team:

They had no land and had to train every day, with Luke providing their equipment.
Miller was naturally unwilling and often used Hans and George as reasons to beg Luc.

Hans also owned land, but he frequently clashed with the villagers, so Luc confiscated the land and forced him to continue working for Luc.

As for George, that guy probably cares about the land but doesn't want to farm it. Besides, as a multi-talented person, it would be a waste for him to become a half-farmer, half-soldier.

Miller, on the other hand, had a lot of land. Even if he joined a private army, normally his family would still have to support a free peasant soldier when war broke out.

Does this mean Robert and Miller will go on the expedition together?
Unless, of course, Miller has a younger brother. Miller joined a private army, and his brother inherited the land. Of course, so far, among Luc's free farmers, only Miller and George have leather armor; the rest don't even have armor.

However, as the market expands, these free farmers with surplus grain will eventually accumulate wealth, and at that time, Luke will forcefully require each of them to prepare a set of qualified leather armor.

That's right, only armor; Luke didn't allow them to bring their own weapons.

The weapons will be produced and managed centrally by the manor, and will be distributed to them during training and wartime.

Only knights, associate knights, and private soldiers were permitted to carry weapons.

Yes, Jason's iron ore mine is finally on the right track!
Luke took some time to check it out recently. Although steel still couldn't be forged, with the iron smelting furnace and iron casting technology, farm tools were being made incredibly fast. Some free farmers were already inquiring about how to exchange their surplus grain for a permanent iron farm tool.

This freed up time for agricultural tool production, and even with some extra processing, weapons could be forged in earthen furnaces, producing an iron sword or a curved short spear in five or six days.

"Perhaps we could teach Jason the craft of making shields and combine them into an armory?"

Lost in thought, Luke passed by the newly built cowshed.

The cowshed was close to the stable. The cow, whose belly was slowly swelling from the blow, was being brushed by a female serf. When she saw Luke approaching, the serf, whose name she did not know, hurriedly stood up and stammered a greeting to Luke.

"Are you new here?" Luke asked, somewhat unfamiliar with the place.

"Yes, yes... Lord, my parents are clearing land on the south bank. Mary, Mary asked me to help her brush the cows."

Luc responded with an "oh," and in just over a month, four households had been established on the south bank. Each household was granted a four-acre reclamation right, and under Gil's supervision, they were given an axe and the right to build their own houses in exchange for Luc handing over an equivalent amount of timber.

Seeing that the girl was timid, Luc didn't frighten her and went straight back to the Deer Hall.

After the military arrangements were completed, it was naturally time to address the civil affairs.

Managing fifteen people is completely different from managing one hundred and fifty people.

For free farmers, Luke only needed to collect taxes from them and manage their daily disputes; he didn't need to concern himself with anything else.

However, the serfs, as a very special group, were essentially an industry for Luke and needed to be further subdivided.

Moreover, free farmers have some unique circumstances.

For example, Gil.

He was a free farmer, but he was also responsible for some supervisory issues (charcoal burning was now under the management of Rang).

“The supervisor can be handed over to private soldiers or loyal and wealthy free farmers to take turns in the role.”

"As for the serfs, logging, fishing, herding, weaving, pottery making, and charcoal making were all incorporated into their duties."

“Salt and iron, markets and construction teams were independent.”

In other words, serfs not only had to cultivate the land for themselves, but all of the above industries, except for very special ones, required serfs to work for free. In return, Luc would provide them with pottery, clothing, and food free of charge.

If a free farmer wants to own it, he has to buy it.

That evening, he sent his servant Eugene to summon Old Ek and the others, and told them the specific arrangements. After they each added their own details, the next morning, Luke had Ryan escort the Sol construction team to Tihar Village. Afterward, Ryan and his servant Byrne secretly sneaked back to Knightsburg.

Byrne was astonished by the manor; even the earl's sons had never seen anything like it.

If only I had such a manor.
Byrne's thoughts drifted, but he was quickly pulled back to reality by Luc's voice.

On the long table, Luke tapped a corner of the sheepskin map with his finger and said:

“George is back. He said there are no ambushes or traps at the moment, so it’s highly likely that this is indeed the way Joseph is going back.”

“Bishop Hugo also received a letter from Dijon saying that everything was going well.”

Luc raised his head and looked around at everyone in the room, from the determined Ryan to the murderous Jean, and then to the solemn Byrne.

He spoke softly, yet with a hint of ruthlessness:

"It's time to take down Berry completely."

(End of this chapter)