Within a few days of returning to the valley, Art began to expand the cavalry regiment.

In the hall of lords on the first floor of the Wooden Castle of the Valley, Art sat around a table with Angus, Lusignan, and Jafar.

“…… I called a few of you here today, and I think everyone knows that. ”

Art, seated at the top, rested one hand on the table and the other with a glass full of wine.

Lusignan and Jafar, who sat down on either side of the long table, glanced at each other and understood.

A few days ago, Angus had already revealed to the two of them the good news that the legion planned to gradually expand the cavalry. After learning the news, the two were really excited.

Jafar, in particular, was intended to assist Lusignan in forming and training the cavalry. This means that Jafar, who was previously a mercenary, has the opportunity to become a high-ranking officer in the legion and gradually rise to the ranks of the nobility.

"The sergeant major suggested to me that a cavalry regiment of 500 men should be formed on the basis of the original cavalry. The proposal is good, but it does not take into account the actual situation in Wales. ”

Art took a sip of the wine and lowered the glass, wiping the juice from the corner of his mouth.

"Lunicion, you are a cavalryman. In your opinion, how much do we spend on a cavalry? Art set his sights on the skilled cavalry captain.

"My lord, the cavalry is also hierarchical. There were light cavalry, as well as heavy cavalry, and the equipment and horses of the two types of cavalry differed a lot. Take the weakest light cavalry as an example, a inferior war horse needs at least three or four thousand pfennigs. Combined with the equipment on the cavalry, it is estimated that one cavalry will cost six or seven thousand pfennigs. And that's not even counting the miscellaneous costs of feeding the horses later. A heavy cavalry would cost 10,000 fennigs, to say the least. ”

After hearing Lunicion's words, everyone gasped. I was surprised that it was necessary to spend so much money to train a cavalryman. Although Art had been mentally prepared and knew the money needed to train a cavalryman, he was still shocked.

"As you have heard, it costs six or seven thousand pfennigs to train an average cavalryman. If more than 300 light and heavy cavalry were added, it would cost two or three million finneys. That's the equivalent of decades of tax revenue in Tiniets~"

Comparing the cost of training cavalry with decades of tax revenue in the county, Angus and the others widened their eyes.

"But," Art paused slightly, glanced at a few people, and continued, "In the battle for the successor, we did make a big profit. The caravan also made a lot of money in the process of transporting supplies for the Liberation Army. But as you know, the immediate priority for Wales is to build territory and resume production. We need tens of thousands of pfennigs every week just to recruit the homeless and pay them for their wages. ”

Art laid out the current predicament.

"Even so, I'm going to take out a million Fennigh and add a hundred cavalry first. After everything is on the right track in the future, we will continue to expand and form a cavalry regiment. ”

Art finally made a decision. Angus had a rare smile on their faces.

"Next, I order~"

Several people then stood.

"In view of the current size of the cavalry, a cavalry company was formed on the basis of the original. Lusignnan was appointed company commander of the Welsh Legion Cavalry Company, and Jafar was appointed deputy company commander to assist the company commander in recruiting and training cavalry. The two of you are temporarily under the jurisdiction of Angus. ”

"Yes, sir."

"Besides, as soon as the horses and equipment are ready, proceed to select the cavalry seedlings among the legions. Teach the cavalry theory first, and when the horses are equipped, start training immediately! ”

"Yes, sir!"

In the afternoon of the same day, Yate brought in Lawrence, the chief officer of the Ministry of Construction under the government office. He was asked to send two hundred men from the Ministry of Construction to the meadows west of Fort Andermatt, and give them three months to build and deliver the training camp for the cavalry company as scheduled.

At the same time, Arte Flying Pigeon informs Salter who is heading to Northland. He was ordered to go to the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Galvin, as soon as he arrived in Besançon, and entrusted Galvin to use the convenience of the Treasurer Office to procure a hundred high-quality horses for the Welsh Legion in the Northland. In return, Art would pay a tax of 50,000 pfennigs to the Imperial Treasury in another form through the Continental Comptoir. Compared to a war horse, which can easily cost tens of thousands of pfennigs, these tens of thousands of pfennighs are nothing at all.

In addition, the Valley Weapons Workshop received a batch of orders from the army. The cavalry equipment that the valleys could produce on their own was handed over to the weapons workshops, which saved some of the expenses.

…………

Besançon, the capital of the Marquis of Burgundy, walks down the street and you can faintly see the walls on both sides of the street blackened by fire. Some of the houses that were burned down during the war and destroyed by trebuchets are still being restored, while some of the walls have been painted with a new layer of clay after the houses have been restored.

After the war, many of the residents who had previously lived in Besançon returned home. At this time, although the cold weather in the Northland is still unabated, pedestrians come and go on the streets. Almost all the shops on both sides have reopened, and southern goods from Provence and other places are still in demand. This was not only due to the continental trading houses of Arte, but also to the painstaking management of Flender, the ruler of the Princely Kingdom of Burgundy, in recent months.

…………

“…… Lord Marquis, this is the payment of taxes in the provinces in recent months, please take a look. ”

In the inner court where the Marquis of Besançon was located, Galvin, now Chancellor of the Princely State of Burgundy and Count of Códdor, was reporting to Flanders on the state of taxation in various parts of the kingdom in recent months.

Flender took the parchment and looked through it.

Looking at the data on the parchment, Flender suddenly frowned.

"Uncle, except for the fact that the Wells Province, where Art is located, did not pay the tax according to the share that should be paid, why didn't the palace minister pay the full amount?"

"This~"

Galvin struggled to speak for a moment.

Last night, Galvin's officials in charge of collecting taxes in the provinces were summoned by him to the Treasurer's Office. The Dutch of Lonxia, the provinces of Códor and Lucesinn, as well as the princedoms of Flanders, all paid their taxes in full. The province of Wales, which was under the jurisdiction of Art, had thus received tax benefits from the court, and was not in arrears except for the taxes due. Only the province of Jonne, where Prime Minister Poalwin lived, failed to pay his taxes in full every month. So far, eight hundred thousand pfennighs have been owed in taxes.

After learning about it, Galvin sent people to collect it many times, but Balwin sent it back for various reasons. Due to Balwin's power in the Hou Kingdom, Galvin never dared to have a head-on conflict with Balwin. If Flender hadn't suddenly mentioned that he would check the taxes in recent months, the matter would not have reached Flender's ears.

"Uncle, you are the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the Imperial Court, and it is your duty to collect the taxes payable by the provinces in full. Why do you allow the province of Jonah in the name of the Prime Minister to pay so many taxes, but you let him default! ”

Flender's tone was a little reproachful, and his deep eyes stared straight at Galvin who bowed his head and was silent.

"This~"

Galwin slurred.

"Uncle, isn't Balwin's status higher in your eyes than that of me, the Marquis?"

Flender asked.

"No, no! Lord Marquis, I didn't mean that. ”

Galvin hurriedly explained, his body trembling slightly.

"And what do you mean?"

Flender raised his voice.

"Lord Marquis, I have sent people to the province of Jonah many times to collect taxes, but the palace minister always finds various reasons to shirk and refuse to pay. Yesterday, the tax collector who had returned from the province of Jonah came to me to complain that he had been beaten by his men while demanding the payment of taxes from the Earl of Balwyn, and that he had been expelled from the house. He had to lead people all the way back in embarrassment~"

"What!"

Flender squeaked the glass in his hand and gritted his teeth. As the ruler of the Princedom of Burgundy, Balwin was challenging his authority.

"Lord Marquis is angry~"

Galvin quickly got up from his seat and exhorted Flender.

"Lord Marquis, Balwin is an old-fashioned minister, and his influence in this succession battle is not small. At present, Hou Guo's national strength is still weak, and he still needs to rely on him and his people, and now is not the time to turn his face with him~"

Galvin explained the stakes.

"Uncle, sit down. It's me who is too impulsive. ”

Flender raised his hand and motioned for Galvin to sit down.

After Flender had calmed his anger, Galvin continued: "Although Balwin underpaid 800,000 pfennigs, Arte's Continental Comptoir paid 200,000 pfennigs to the court this month. ”

Galvin smiled and stroked his chin.

Flender's brow loosened slightly.

"Art?"

"Yes, Lord Marquis. Now that the trade of Hou Guo has gradually recovered, the profits of the European commercial banks have also increased a lot. Previously, the general manager of the Eurocontinental Commercial Bank went to the Finance Officer's Office to clarify Yate's intentions at the behest of Yate. He said that Hou Guochu was in ruins, and he should take out 200,000 fennig from the profits of the commercial house and hand it over to the Finance Office for the resumption of production. Art is where he is today thanks to your kindness, and that's what he should do. ”

Galvin was generally proud of his good son-in-law's knowledge.

"Uncle, it's not easy for your son-in-law to know that I'm a marquis. If the counts of the provinces can share my worries and solve problems like Art and you, why should the Marquis of Burgundy have no hope of revival! ”

Flender sighed softly.

…………

A few days later, the director of the European comptoir arranged for the southern goods to be transported from Provence and other places to Besançon, and arrived at Galvin's mansion with 50,000 finnigs worth of gold coins.

“…… Say, Salter, is there something Yat has to ask you to come to me again? ”

When Galvin saw Salter, he glanced at it, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

"It seems that nothing can be hidden from your eyes~"

"Sit down."

"Lord Earl Xie."

After Sarter sat down, he said, "My lord specially sent me here this time to buy a hundred high-quality war horses and corresponding cavalry equipment through the palace finance office under your jurisdiction. ”

"Buying a war horse?"

Galvin looked puzzled. His son-in-law's mind is always too much for people to keep up with.

"Yes, Lord Count. Recently, my family plans to expand the size of the cavalry team, and specially ordered me to go to the Northland to buy high-quality war horses. But you also know that a war horse costs six or seven thousand pfennigs at least, and a slightly better one can cost tens of thousands of pfennigs. And cavalry equipment is also worth a lot. If my family buys it in the name of a private person, I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money~"

"That's why you think of me."

Before Salter could finish speaking, Galvin interrupted him.

Salter nodded repeatedly.

Galvin stood up and paced back and forth in the room, his mind contemplating the great burden that Art had given him.

"Okay, I'll take care of the horse gear."

After a moment, Galvin spoke.

Salter raised his eyebrows and thanked him.

"But~"

Galvin stopped and turned to Salt.

"I wonder what other difficulties the Earl has?"

"To buy horse equipment in the name of the palace, you definitely need to go up and down~"

Salt immediately understood what Galvin meant. He turned around and placed the 50,000 pfennig worth of gold coins on the table.

"It's still thoughtful~"

"The Earl has won the prize. My lord has instructed me to give you these coins to dispose of, saying that you must understand what he means. ”

Galvin laughed lightly, extremely satisfied with his son-in-law.

On the second day, Galvin instructed his men to proceed with the matter. Salter arranged for someone from the Comptoir to contact Lord Galvin at any time, and once the supplies for the horses were in place, they would be handed over to the Continental Comptoir for them to retrieve on their own.

…………

Back to the south, the Welsh Corps was stationed at Fort Beiguan. After receiving the appointment of Yat, Lunicion and Jafar began to select alternative cavalry from the legion.

On the training ground, soldiers who did not have combat readiness tasks formed a circle, and Lunicion, who was standing in the middle of the crowd, was announcing to everyone about the expansion of the legion's cavalry into a cavalry company.

“…… If you think you are eating the bowl of cavalry, go to Commander Jafar and register with him. Then we will select you according to the cavalry criteria, and once you enter the cavalry company, your status will definitely be different from now. Eat and drink spicy food every day, and the military salary you receive must be much higher than others~"

The soldiers were eager to try.

Lunicion intended to use the high salaries of the cavalry as a weight to induce these fellows to participate in the selection of the cavalry company.

After talking for a long time, only more than 20 people signed up, and most of the rest of the people around were watching the excitement.

Everyone knows that cavalry is not the same as infantry. Infantry only requires individual skills and team cooperation. In addition to these two items, the cavalry also needed to control the horses. Most of the soldiers in the legion were peasants, and they had not had much contact with war horses since they were young. It is really difficult to suddenly convert them from infantry to cavalry.

Under normal circumstances, if an ordinary person wants to be proficient in driving a horse, he needs to study for at least two or three months under the guidance of a special person. In addition, coupled with the fight on horseback and the fight with other cavalry, it will take half a year to really become a capable cavalry. And to become a good officer like Lunision and Jafar, it will take several years of experience, to say the least.

In this way, for several days, the two people in charge of recruiting cavalry were fully charged before recruiting more than 30 people. It's still far from the goal of a hundred.