CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 249: DISADVANTAGES OF THE 20 NOBLE SYSTEM

Hearing these words, Gaius’s expression changed.

Capito exclaimed, "Leader, if we can’t intercept the Pannonian Army in time and they break into our territory, and then roam to the north bank of the Kupa River, destroying the workshops we’ve painstakingly established, especially the Iron Workshop, all our previous efforts would be ruined!"

Maximus remained calm and did not respond immediately. He paced around the wooden table, pondering as he walked back and forth, and suddenly said, "We cannot just wait for the Pannonians to attack; we should take the initiative and disrupt their attack plans!"

Flanitnus frowned and asked, "Leader, do you mean we should attack the Segestica Territory first without waiting for the truce agreement to expire?"

"Our Nix Tribe must keep promises to gain the trust of other tribes here!" Maximus shook his head, looking keenly at Flanitnus, and said in a deep voice, "What I mean is... Even if Segestica and Brochi plan to attack us from both sides after the truce agreement expires, their main camp is far from our territory and can’t immediately invade us.

On the contrary, we can immediately attack the Segestica Village adjacent to Westeni, forcing the Segestica people from the north to quickly come and engage us.

It’s estimated that by the time we’ve dealt with them, the southern enemy may not have reached the Kolana River yet. As we are on internal lines, our marching speed will definitely be faster than theirs, and we can completely block them before they enter our territory, and then defeat them!"

Internal lines... Quintus muttered the unfamiliar term Maximus used and quickly grasped its general meaning, praising, "Leader, this is a brilliant way to counter the enemy’s two-pronged attack!"

"This plan is indeed better than what I just mentioned," Flanitnus said sincerely, "But implementing it well won’t be so easy either."

Maximus smiled slightly and said seriously, "I’m just providing an idea. Since you both agree with it, spend time turning this idea into a feasible military plan. Also, consider the possibility that the Pannonians might concentrate their forces on one side or send part of their army through the southern mountains to invade our territory...

In short, you have to consider all possibilities of Pannonian invasion and devise countermeasures, and conduct targeted training for the tribesmen, as this is your Military Department’s responsibility! Only in this way can we be truly prepared when the Pannonians launch an attack!"

"Yes, Leader," Flanitnus and Quintus responded in unison.

Maximus continued, "Although this time it’s the Pannonians who are attacking, and we might mostly be fighting on our own land, consuming not much grain, it’s still best to prepare enough grain for 20,000 people to fight for a month... So if any surprise extends the war, we won’t panic. Gaius, after this autumn harvest, is our tribe’s grain reserve sufficient?"

Gaius did not immediately respond. He counted on his fingers for a while and then said, "If these 20,000 soldiers can each bring five days’ worth of rations, our grain will definitely last for a month."

Maximus turned to the only person in the room who hadn’t spoken yet: "Lebilus, can your Arms Department ensure the weaponry and food supply for 20,000 soldiers?"

Having held back a bellyful of words, Lebilus eagerly replied, "Leader, when we were in Italy, we had more than two legions, almost all equipped with armor and weapons. Later, after three times destroying the Roman Army, we obtained additional weapons and equipment.

Even though there were quite a few casualties among the soldiers on the way here, thanks to the Supply Camp’s help, all these weapons and armor were brought here intact. In the past few months, the Iron Workshop has repaired damaged armor and weapons and also crafted some new weapons...

Considering the armor and weapons owned by veterans and stored in the warehouse, it’s enough to equip three full legions, with enough left to provide shields and short swords for a thousand more people, although armor is slightly insufficient. Plus, regarding the 500 crossbow soldiers you just mentioned, Leader, our Arms Department can just meet the needs for 20,000 soldiers’ weapons and equipment.

As for the food supply, since the Finance Department has ample grain, transporting grain for the army poses no difficulty for the Arms Department. Our army’s stationing and operations should both be near the two ends of our territory, making short-distance transport inherently easy, and being along the Kupa River and Kolana River, water transportation is even more convenient and labor-saving.

This time, during the First Legion’s southward operation, following the fleet to transport grain, I deeply recognized the advantages of water transport. When the fleet returned to the tribe, there was even a small portion of grain left uneaten, and although our tribe currently has few ships, transporting multiple times should not affect our army operations.

Regarding food preparation for the soldiers, before engaging, we in the Military Department would like to seek your approval, Leader, to enlist some civilians for this task."

"That’s certainly no problem."

"I also wish to temporarily borrow someone from you, Leader, at the time."

"Acronis?"

"Yes, Acronis was always the head of our team’s kitchen before, and this time, our Arms Department could learn some experience from her."

"That’s also no problem. Anything else?"

"No more."

"Excellent!" Maximus praised, "Although the Arms Department was established late, Lebilus, this is your first time shouldering such a heavy responsibility. You’ve considered the issues very thoroughly, and I believe you will lead the Arms Department to meet the needs of this operation well."

Hearing Maximus’s encouragement, Lebilus was visibly excited.

Maximus looked at the others, "Does anyone else have questions about the upcoming war with the Pannonians?"

"Leader, I have a question regarding soldiers earning battle merits—" Flanitnus coughed lightly and said in a solemn voice, "I think there are some issues with the current Twenty Peerage System that might need reevaluation?"

"Oh?" Maximus raised his eyebrows and looked directly at Flanitnus, "Let’s hear it."

Flanitnus earnestly said, "During the Aldeans’ battle against the Otarlat people, some issues surfaced with the First Legion. After repelling the enemy’s left-wing charge, Fesaros ordered a counterattack, but the soldiers at the front did not immediately obey orders and were busy cutting off the enemy’s ears. The copper horn kept blowing, the officers kept urging, then they began acting.

After completely routing the enemy’s left wing, according to the original plan, the First Legion was supposed to quickly reorganize and continue advancing to attack the enemy’s center and right wing to win the entire battle. But the soldiers were preoccupied with killing routed soldiers to earn merits and completely ignored previous orders.

The officers couldn’t control them, and the First Legion scattered. If Fesaros hadn’t reacted quickly by daringly riding into the battlefield center, waving the flag, and reassembling the troops first... It’s uncertain who would have won or lost that battle.

After the battle, the Military Affairs Department’s subordinates found it troublesome to tally battle merits.

Firstly, it’s challenging to verify if the ears handed in by soldiers were obtained from direct combat or from killing routed enemies; secondly, numerous disputes arose among the soldiers over this, such as one soldier killing an enemy but not yet cutting off the ear, only for another soldier to do so...

The subordinates in charge of recording merits found it challenging to make accurate judgments on this, and soldiers fought over it, leading to disunity in the ranks...

The First Legion returned two days ago, but our Military Affairs Department hasn’t finished the commendation yet, and the subordinates are still troubled by this back in the office—"

Flanitnus hesitated, then emphasized, "Leader, the Twenty Peerage System you implemented indeed motivated the soldiers’ fighting spirit, allowing the First Legion to bravely fight when surrounded by numerous Otarlat troops and to achieve victory. However, it also caused soldiers to overly focus on earning merit for promotion, neglecting the officers’ orders, and even leading to disunity in the ranks. If we face powerful enemies in the future, these issues might cause us significant problems!"

Maximus listened impassively and asked, "Since you’ve noticed these problems, how do you think they should be solved?"

Flanitnus gathered his thoughts and stated ideas he had considered for a long time: "Leader, I think revisions should be made to the Twenty Peerage System concerning some merit evaluation criteria for the army and soldiers!

We could stop having individual soldiers cut enemies’ ears for merit, and instead award merits to entire teams. For instance, if a larger company encounters an enemy of roughly equal number and defeats them, the entire company could earn a medium merit, some soldiers in the company could each earn a small merit, and those soldiers in the front line engaging directly with the enemy could earn double small merits...

The promotion standards for tribesmen should also be revised accordingly, such as requiring two small merits to advance from ordinary tribe members to Second-class Tribe Members. This way, the soldiers in the aforementioned company would need to engage in one more victorious battle to merit a promotion, while those in the front who truly fought could be directly promoted...

If the company encounters a significantly weaker enemy, even if victorious, it would only count as a small merit; distributed among each soldier, it would only be half a small merit... If the company encounters a stronger enemy and still wins after a fierce battle, it would count as a great merit, and each soldier should earn a medium merit...

With these evaluation criteria, soldiers would focus on obeying orders and defeating enemies rather than busying themselves with cutting ears, and the whole team would become more united. For our Military Department, recording their merits would also be easier and less prone to errors.

Of course, for those brave soldiers who are the first to breach the enemy’s camp or kill the enemy leader, we would also record a great merit separately for them..."