CHAPTER 411: CHAPTER 289: RELOCATING THE MAIN CAMP

"Alright." Maximus was satisfied with Quintus’ statement and turned to another Chief Officer of the Military Department: "Lebilus, did the convoy from the Arms Department come with you?"

"Yes, leader, but they are at a camp near Lin Kou Village with the First Legion."

"Next, you need to bring the convoy to transport all the grain collected from each village back to this camp, and you also need to bring the weapons we previously seized from the Pannonian Army to this camp for storage, ready to arm our new Reserve Tribe Members, especially the Skodisqi people. With such a vast land, and several enemies around, relying on only two legions is not enough."

"Yes." Lebilus quickly responded, but after thinking awhile, couldn’t help adding: "Leader, the grain collected from the Segestica villages will definitely accumulate more and more, and by then we’ll need to build granaries, otherwise, it would be difficult to store for a long time."

Maximus nodded and said: "Granaries have to be built! But you need to make a plan first — when to build the granary, where to build it, how many to build... then bring it to the Political Affairs Hall for discussion before implementing."

"Yes." Lebilus relaxed.

Quintus also relaxed; he had just felt that the military force in the Segestica Territory was somewhat inadequate and had intended to bring it up later. He hadn’t expected Maximus to have considered forming auxiliary troops, which relieved him.

"Gaius, the grain transported back by the Arms Department, as well as the goods seized by the soldiers, including houses, will be managed by your Finance Department. You need to control the distribution of grain so that the people don’t go hungry while ensuring the grain consumption lasts until next autumn. Also, the allocation of houses and goods for new Reserve Tribe Members must be fair and reasonable to avoid complaints, or I will hold you accountable!"

"Leader, rest assured, I will do my best to accomplish the tasks you’ve entrusted!" Gaius readily accepted the order, then began to complain: "But the Finance Department already has few subordinates, and I still have to keep a few managing the Kupa River side. The grain and goods in Segestica are a huge number. We need to receive, count, verify, archive, distribute, and re-check... manpower is far from enough!"

"The distribution will be assisted by the Arms Department. As for the lack of personnel, I can’t increase the staff of the Finance Department temporarily; you’ll have to find ways to borrow people to help."

Maximus’ words woke up Gaius, who immediately looked toward Volenus.

Volenus quickly waved his hand: "Next, the Agricultural Department will also be very busy. We probably won’t have enough manpower either, no extra people to lend you."

Gaius smirked slightly and scanned others, naturally ignoring Capito. Then his eyes lit up: "Kefisofon, could you do me a favor and get some mathematically skilled children from the tribal school to help our Finance Department?"

Kefisofon thought about it and felt that giving the children such a practical opportunity was a good thing, so he said: "Of course, but the Finance Department must ensure their safety, and mistakes shouldn’t be overly criticized. They should be encouraged more, and their accommodation and meals need to be well arranged..."

"Rest assured! When the leader first formed the team, I often worked with children; I know how to take care of them." While making assurances, Gaius inadvertently showcased his experience.

Volenus suddenly spoke up: "Kefisofon, you also have to lend some capable children to our Agricultural Department!"

"Volenus, what do you mean! You wouldn’t lend people when I asked, and now that I’ve secured people, you’re here to fight for them!" Gaius immediately expressed his dissatisfaction.

"I’m truly sorry!" Volenus apologized: "I just remembered that the next affairs of the Agricultural Department will also be very heavy, and like you, we lack manpower, so—"

"Your Agricultural Department lacks manpower, so you come to snatch my people, isn’t that unreasonable!"

"How did the children from the tribal school become the Finance Department’s people!" After being reprimanded several times, the usually good-tempered Volenus flared up: "Moreover, there are so many kids in the school, and your Finance Department doesn’t need that many!"

"There are quite a few kids in the school, but not many who can write and count. You want to take them from my hands, that’s impossible!—"

"Enough, two department Chief Officers quarrelling over kids, what does it look like!" Maximus spoke sternly to scold them, which immediately silenced them.

Then Maximus looked at the Ritual Officer, his tone turning gentle: "The children from the tribal school are in such demand, which just shows, Kefisofon, how well you teach!"

"Leader, it was your foresight, guiding everyone to learn and valuing children’s education from the beginning, forming such a good atmosphere that led to today’s good results."

Kefisofon was not flattering but stating a fact, so Maximus listened comfortably and smiled.

Kefisofon continued: "This is a great exercise opportunity for the school children. I want to bring them all here to help the various departments work, which can also enhance their ability to apply knowledge, allowing them to grow faster... I hope the leader will agree!"

"Sure, let’s do that." Maximus readily agreed, and he thought further: bringing the children to work would also allow the Segestica citizens to see how much importance the Nix Tribe places on children’s growth and education, further increasing their longing for the tribe.

"Is the leader planning to build a school here, so that the children of the Segestica and Skodisqi citizens joining the tribe can also study?" Kefisofon immediately asked.

"Of course I have such thoughts, but today is not the time to discuss this." After answering Kefisofon, Maximus then looked at his trusted Agricultural Officer: "Volenus, your judgment is correct, the Agricultural Department will be very busy! The busyness will lie in land measurement and distribution!"

Starting tomorrow, you’ll need to organize personnel to measure the land of all the villages where the First Legion is stationed. Once a portion of the land is measured, distribute part of it, measuring and distributing simultaneously, so that the newly joined Segestica citizens and Skodisqi slaves can immediately benefit! But the land distribution targets are not only them, but also the soldiers of the First and Third Legions— "

Everyone was stunned.

Quintus quickly reacted: "Leader, are you planning to relocate the soldiers of the First and Third Legions to live here?

"That’s right." Maximus said seriously: "A permanent military presence is required here to defend against the Pannonians and stabilize the order of this land. But if soldiers who live on the Kupa River side are made to stay here for an extended period, it would consume grain and make them dissatisfied, so they can only be relocated."

"Even though they’ll be reallocated land and houses here, the soldiers of the First and Third Legions are unlikely to want to move here after working hard to cultivate their land and build their houses on the Kupa River side!" Quintus reminded.

Maximus was about to speak, but Volenus interjected: "I think the soldiers of the First and Third Legions would be willing, because after this war, all soldiers will be promoted for their meritorious service. Most of the veterans will become First-class Tribesmen, and a few can even attain Knight status. All new recruits will be converted to Official Tribe Members, and the tribe will need to allocate them a considerable amount of land. But now there’s no extra land on the Kupa River side—"

"Incorrect! Didn’t we just capture two Segestica camps and gain a lot of land along the Kupa River?" Quintus immediately objected.

"Those newly acquired Kupa River lands aren’t much, and don’t forget, Quintus, that the Second Legion, Fourth Legion, and the craftsmen and officials, who also achieved merits, will also receive new land upon their promotion, so there’s really not enough land there!"

Volenus seriously stated: "On the contrary, there’s ample land here, and when I arrived, I carefully inspected the soil. It’s even better than the Kupa River lands. It seems the Segestica people tended to their lands more meticulously. Furthermore, this area is vast, full of villages. The damage from wildlife on fields is bound to be less than that on the Kupa River side, and the roads here are also better.

Regarding houses, there are so many villages. If we assign the good houses to the veterans, to make them feel that there’s no drop in standard compared to their previous residences, they will surely be willing to move here as long as these advantages are explained to them clearly... Oh, also, considering they can harvest the vegetables and beans they planted after the autumn harvest, they can move the land on that side to others once harvested—"

Quintus, being focused on military affairs and not much familiar with agricultural matters, felt what Volenus said made some sense and could only say: "I hope so."

"It seems that everyone has no objection to the relocation of the First and Third Legions’ soldiers here. Actually, not only do they need to relocate, but also I, all of you, and the main house of the Nix Tribe, the Political Affairs Hall, and the nine departments must relocate here."

Maximus once again made a shocking statement, but this time, he didn’t wait for others to oppose him and continued: "If we just seek stability, we can continue to stay in Snowdonia, just like the Aldeans; if we want to continue to grow stronger, we should make this our Main Camp and quickly realize the annexation of the Segestica Territory before further expanding into other Pannonian Tribes’ territories... Which choice do you think is better?"

"Of course, make this the Main Camp!" everyone responded in unison. Without much consideration, their thoughts quickly aligned.