"Ron, as you commanded, I have sent someone to keep an eye on those Lombard bastards. Strange to say, those guys were supposed to eat and drink every day, and they didn't mind being locked up inside, and they showed no sign of trying to escape. It's eerily quiet. ”

In a room at the border outpost, the outpost officer was reporting to Ron about the group of Lombard merchants who had been held at the outpost a few days earlier.

Ron sat on a bench with his right hand resting on the table and his left hand holding a dagger.

"What else?"

"And~" The outpost officer scratched his head. "By the way, the leader is even more evil. In addition to eating, drinking, and sleeping normally every day, he also talked with the soldiers outside the door. Either ask where the soldier's home is, when he joined the army, or ask who else is in the soldier's family, and so on. According to the soldiers, this guy seems to be unusually interested in our Earl~"

"What?"

Ron jerked to his feet, causing the outpost officer to take two sharp steps back.

"Don't worry, Lord Ron, I've already ordered them to say nothing about Lord Earl." The outpost officer hurriedly explained.

Ron was silent, walking up and down the room. The true purpose of this Lombard merchant was repeatedly pondered in his mind. Once these people are really spies sent by Lombardy, then the situation of their own master must not be so safe. As Art's bodyguard, Ron didn't dare to be sloppy at all.

"You tell the guys not to talk to these people. Until you find out who they are, you must not let up. I'll go back to the valley and tell my lord. ”

"Yes, Chief Ron."

…………

In the valley of the wooden castle, Art sat around the table with Lottie and little George, enjoying themselves. The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped from time to time, and the whole room was exceptionally warm. At this time, it was dark outside.

In the afternoon, after Art finished his official business, he took little George and Lottie for a walk not far from the surrounding area, which made little George very happy. It was the first time since Art had returned to the valley that he had taken his family around the territory so leisurely. The family did not return to the wooden fort until it was dark, escorted by the guards.

"Ollie, go to the kitchen and take a look, is the food ready?" Lottie turned to Ollie, who was standing on the side, and commanded.

"Yes, ma'am, I'll go."

In a few moments, several plates of hot food were delivered to the table. Ollie poured a glass of wine for Art and Lottie, then stepped aside.

"Dear Lottie, I want to toast you with this cup." Art raised his glass. There was a slight surprise in Lottie's eyes.

"On the days of my expedition, you will be left alone in the valley to look after. I have failed to do my duty as a husband, I have neglected you and I am sorry for our children. ”

Lottie listened quietly, her eyes moistened. "My dear, I understand you. Now that I've become your wife, that's what I'm supposed to do. You just do what you have to do. ”

Art got up and kissed Lottie on the cheek, and the two of them drank it all. Little George next to him picked up the mutton on the plate and tore it up, completely ignoring the two people in front of him.

After dinner, Art sat on the chaise longue by the window with Lottie's shoulders around and quietly looked at the bright moon hanging high.

Not long after, there was a sound of horses' hooves not far downstairs.

"Ron, you're back~"

"Well, lead my horse to the stable, and let it be fed."

"Okay, don't worry~"

By the time Ron hurried upstairs, Art was already standing at the top of the stairs. "Come to my study."

"Yes, sir." Ron nodded to Lottie on the side.

…………

“…… That's the case, sir. In my opinion, these people are definitely not ordinary businessmen. ”

In Art's study, Ron said.

Art, who was sitting in the large leather chair, did not speak.

"On your orders, those guys were held in solitary confinement in the barracks. But they didn't show any apprehension or dissatisfaction for days, they should eat, they should drink. Especially the one in the lead, his face does not change and he is unusually calm. Ron told him everything he knew.

"Old~"

Just as Ron was about to continue, Art held out his hand to signal him to be quiet.

"Could it be that these people are my Wad. That bastard from Burley? If he had sent it, he wouldn't have come to me so blatantly. What are these people? Art muttered to himself, puzzled.

After a while, Art finally spoke. "Ron, you rush to the border post tomorrow morning and start interrogating them one by one." You don't need me to teach you how to do it, do you? ”

Ron smiled and said, "Master, don't worry~" The corners of his mouth showed a hint of sinisterness.

…………

To the south of the valley workshop area, the newly recruited lords under the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Tun Affairs are sweating and working under the command of the craftsmen.

After more than half a month, the newly cultivated land has reached several thousand acres. As far as the eye can see, along the banks of the river in the southern part of the Workshop District, some of these pioneers are cutting down bushes and weeds, while others are cleaning them up, piling up weeds and rotten leaves, and then burning them to ashes.

The rest of the people took farming tools to reclaim the exposed open space step by step, and then sifted through the rubble inside, and ploughed the land. After ploughing, the land has been leveled, ditched, and ridged, and it has turned from wasteland into fertile land.

At this time, it is spring, and the cultivated land will soon be sprinkled with grain seeds for spring sowing. By autumn, the southern part of the valley will no longer be barren, but a scene of abundant harvest.

In addition to the people who opened up the wasteland, the officials of the Ministry of Construction also led people to build a trade road along the valley river that could pass through three carriages at the same time.

Art had previously told Lawrence, the construction officer, to find the roadbed of the ancient trade road and build on it, which would greatly save manpower and material resources.

Therefore, the Ministry of Construction sent some people all the way south to explore the roadbed of the commercial road, and marked along the way. The rest excavated along the roadbed.

After half a month of construction, a two-mile long trade road stretches south from the workshop area, and the outline of the newly dug road is clearly visible from the heights.

While the roadbed was being excavated, drainage ditches about two feet deep were dug on both sides of the road. Avoid flash floods that cannot be discharged on rainy days and directly wash the road. The inside of the drainage ditch is made of stone blocks to prevent it from becoming soft and collapsing after being washed by rainwater.

While the people in front were digging, the back was also leveling the land and tamping the roadbed. Most of the gravel paved on the road surface is taken from the river, and craftsmen lead people to break it up and sprinkle it on the road, and then use tools to press it step by step.

…………

"Norman, when are we going to be big~" The guy named Hunter held the hoe in both hands and propped it on the ground, and beads of sweat continued to appear on his forehead.

Spit~

Collapsed Nose had just come up with another man carrying a wooden frame and glanced at Hunter.

"MD, as far as you know tired, aren't the guys all like you?"

The other two guys were also panting and wiping their sweat. Although the temperature is very low, after this toss, no matter how strong a man is, he will be tired.

"Norman, we'll have to find a way to get into the vicinity of the wooden castle. If we continue like this, not only will we not be able to complete the task, but we will have to put our lives on the construction site. Ouch~"

Joel pinched his waist after speaking, and sighed.

Ever since several people entered the valley, they had been trapped south of the Workshop District. Eating, drinking, and Lazar are all here, and there is no chance to slip away.

Yesterday, Collapsed Nose took the opportunity to have diarrhea and ran all the way to the north. As soon as he approached the workshop area, he was caught by soldiers on duty nearby. If it weren't for this guy's clever head, I'm afraid he would have been imprisoned in a concentration camp for serfs a long time ago.

To get to the Wooden Castle, you have to go through the Workshop District. Although it was possible to go back to the road north to the wooden fort by bypassing the workshop area through the dense forests on both sides of the valley, the various traps in the dense forest made several people dispel this idea. A few days ago, several people tried to pass through the dense forest, and not long after entering, the guy named Hunter Hunter discovered the anomaly. Several people had to return to the construction site unconsciously.

"Hey, it's really strange that you say this group of people, there is nothing in the south of the valley, why do you have to go to such a great trouble to build such a trade road?"

Fat Aref muttered to himself.

"Yes, you don't need to build such a good road to transport grain, grass and farm tools." Thin Joel chimed in.

Listening to the conversation between the two, the nose collapsed thoughtfully. "Could it be that this trade route leads to Lombardy?"

"Not good!" Nose Drop was suddenly startled. A few other guys hurriedly gathered around.

"This count wants to connect the Duchy of Lombard with the Duchy of Burgundy through this trade route! Could it be that ~" collapsed his nose and felt a tightness in his heart.

"You mean the Count intends to invade Lombardy through this trade route?" Hunter replied.

The other two's eyes widened. In their eyes, only the Lombard invaded other countries, and no one dared to attack the idea of the Lombard.

"Then should we send someone back to tell Count Vare ~"

"Hey, what are you guys doing there? Hurry up and get out of here, be careful, sir, I've deducted your wages for today!" ”

Several people hurriedly dispersed.

At night, two black shadows disappeared into the dense forest in the south under the cover of night~

…………

"Your Excellency!"

At the North Pass Fort, Art brought Ron and others to inspect the recent training of the legion, and by the way, to see how the recruitment of cavalry was progressing in Lusignan. As soon as he entered the hall of the lord of the stone house of the military fort, Lunicion, who had rushed to hear the news, appeared outside the door.

"Come in and sit."

"Thank you, sir!"

Seeing Lunision's radiant spirit, Art knew that all the newly recruited cavalry candidates were in place. He said, "Have you recruited all the recruits for the cavalry company?"

"It's all together, or you have a way, adult." Lunicion's face was full of excitement. "Now there are still people running to me asking if the cavalry company is still recruiting."

A few days earlier, Lunicion had been ordered to form a cavalry company of the Welsh Legion, which was responsible for recruiting a hundred cavalry. I thought it would not be a difficult task, but I didn't expect to recruit about 20 people for several days. This made it difficult for him, the captain of the cavalry company. Seeing that the recruitment deadline was approaching, Lunicion had no choice but to put down his subordinates and go to Art for help.

Unexpectedly, Art only used one trick to mobilize the enthusiasm of the soldiers. Art asked Lunicion to post a notice after returning to the Beiguan Military Fort. It is claimed that the lowest rank of cavalry in the cavalry company after that is also squad leader. The treatment of cavalry is increased by fifty percent on the basis of infantry. The reason is very simple, the training content of cavalry is more complex than that of infantry, and its combat effectiveness is also stronger than that of infantry, so it should enjoy high military pay and favorable treatment.

As soon as the news came out, those guys who saw the money enthusiastically signed up. In less than half a day, the number of applicants exceeded 300. After many screenings, only a hundred people remained. These men will serve as a new force for the cavalry company of the Wells Legion, increasing the combat effectiveness of the cavalry company.

"Now that the people are in place, it's time to start organizing them to learn cavalry theory. When the time comes, you will draw some officers from the original cavalry to teach them. I will also draw some high-ranking officers from the regiment who are good at mounted archery to teach them. ”

"Thank you, sir!"

"Remember, during this period of time, you have only one task, which is to pass on all the cavalry theory knowledge that you officers know to these recruits!"

"Rest assured, my lord, I will live up to your expectations."

"Good! It's up to them to perform. Once the lecture is complete, I will personally come and check what they have learned. ”

With that, Art left the Beiguan Military Fort with Ron and the others, and headed in the direction of the border outpost under the escort of more than twenty guards.

…………

"Tell me, who sent you? What are you here for? ”

In the temporary interrogation room at the border outpost, several members of the task force stood behind Deputy Captain Dawson, staring at the caravan guard in front of him, who was already tortured to death.

When Ron went to the border post to interrogate these Lombard merchants, he also brought several members of the task force, including Dawson from the Earl's Guard. Not only are these people adept at activities such as stealth and assassination, but they are also skilled in interrogating prisoners and the like.

The guy tied to the pillar was stiff-mouthed at first, refusing to say anything. After a moment of service from Dawson, he finally spoke.

"I say! I say! There was a cry in the voice of the caravan guard, and there was fear in the eyes. We are the people of the Dukes of Lombardy. After hearing that Flender had become the ruler of the princely kingdom of Burgundy, there were voices in the Lombard court to suppress Flender. Our mission is to come and find out the news and gather intelligence. I really don't know about the rest, please let me go~"

"Fart! How could you, a small caravan guard, know so much about the Lombard court? ”

"I~I~"

The caravan guards were spitting.

"Chief Dawson, I don't think this guy is lying." One of the task forces leaned in and whispered in Dawson's ear.

"I don't think so, if you just listen to his one-sided words, let him get by. When the time comes, it threatens the safety of adults, and our heads will have to fall to the ground! There was a hint of cruelty in Dawson's eyes. Then he took the red-hot soldering iron and walked towards the caravan guard whose body was trembling~

"Ah~"

As the soldering iron landed on the unlucky guy's lap, a burst of burnt smell of barbecue filled the entire room, accompanied by wisps of green smoke, and bursts of screams were heard from time to time~

"Say! Are you spies sent by the Lombardy to murder my lords? ”