In the last week of December, the defenders of Tarburg held a simple but solemn dinner to celebrate Christ's Mass. The crowd that had been idle in Tarburg for nearly half a month was looking forward to this banquet.

There was no need for Yat's arrangement, and as soon as it was dawn, the soldiers spontaneously gathered around Spencer, the army's baggage officer, and obeyed the dispatch of this "steward".

"Brother Colin, Chief Odo has given us permission to slaughter the last fat pig, and you will be responsible for the pig."

"Brother Weez, the toast in the room is running out, and we can't just eat wheat paste for dinner, so you guys will take care of some rye bread. By the way, there is a small bag of fine wheat flour in the baking room, and you can bake some white bread for the adults and the chiefs alone. ”

"Bangada, the sheep will be handed over to you."

"Andrew, well, you don't seem to have much to do, so go around and chop some dry wood and come back, Chief Otto said that you can make a bonfire in the clearing at night."

"The others went to clear the snow from the training ground, and then came to the room to help with the chores......"

Spencer arranged the work for everyone one by one.

In the inner fort of Tarburg, Yate is gathering several officers above the squad leader level to discuss the withdrawal of troops. According to the court's plan, a new army will come to Talburg next month to change the defense.

Yate sat on the main seat of the wooden table in the inner fort, looked at several officers, and said: "After the army of the change of defense takes over the fort, I will take a small number of soldiers to Besançon, and personally report to the deputy minister on the battle situation of the defenders of Talburg in the past six months, if it goes well, I should be able to cut the swallowtail behind the heraldic flag in Besançon." ”

"After evacuating Talburg, Otto returned to the valley with the bulk of his army southwest through Fort Andermatt, and handed over the personnel and supplies we had brought back to Cooper for resettlement. Until the end of the cold winter, the army should no longer have major combat missions, and after returning to the valley, all officers and soldiers will resume their usual military salaries, so that the army can rest for a while. ”

"You can also prepare for the army's meritorious service and military reward, list a rough plan, and wait for me to return from Besançon. After resting for a while, you still have to train, if the snow is too thick to train, then take the soldiers to help Cooper and them build the valley wooden fort, you can discuss specific things with Cooper. ”

"Okay sir, how many soldiers will you take to Besançon?" Otto asked.

"Sergeant Major and Ron, I'll follow me, and then choose ten elite soldiers who can ride horses with me, and you'll take the rest back to the valley."

"Leave the selection of soldiers to the sergeant major, and Ron will go to the stables and pick out a few horses that can be ridden and look stronger, and make up thirteen horses, and give all the other mules and horses to Otto to take home."

"In addition, I will give you another task, this task is not urgent, but you all have to think carefully."

Several officers sat up straight and listened attentively.

Arte paused and continued: "After returning to the valley this time, I will expand the army, and I initially estimate that the number of soldiers will be expanded to fifty in succession, and I will also ask the court to retain my position as the southern border patrol officer, and I will also set up a special team to patrol the southern border of Tinets County in the future." After you go back, according to the battles we have experienced in the past year, think about how to form an army and a patrol team, including the formation of soldiers' detachments, weapons and armor, military salaries and treatment of commanders and soldiers at all levels, soldier training projects, and many other matters, you should think about these things by yourself first and then discuss with each other, but I suggest that you discuss with your team leader and soldiers after you go back, learn more about what the soldiers think, and write down any good ideas. When I get back, I'll discuss these issues with you......"

Art spoke a little dryly, got up and came to the fireplace, picked up a copper kettle, poured a bowl of hot water and drank it, then turned around and continued: "Everyone, you have been fighting with me for half a year, I will not ignore the blood you have shed for the wounds I have suffered, and from this time on, we will no longer be unknown people hiding in the valley and dense forests......"

……......

As it gets late, a tall flame rises in the training ground behind Tarburg, the long-awaited Mass of Christ begins in the midst of Art's toast, the half-gutted and skinned fat pig is bubbling with oil on the iron grill by the campfire, the bone-in lamb with onion and fennel in a deep copper pot is steaming hot, and a laborer is pouring half a basin of chopped dried apples into the mutton soup. A long table by the campfire is filled with toast, roast pork, bacon sausages, chopped onions, apples, cabbage and more, and two round kegs filled with light beer sit on the edge of the table.

As the "high-level" figures of the banquet, Yat and several commanders did not eat alone in the inner fort, but distributed the white bread and honeyed roast that Spencer had specially prepared for the officers to all the soldiers and servants (including the freed slave farmers).

At the blazing campfire, Art was toasted round after round by officers and soldiers. Before the dinner began, Ron had already taken the sentinel to make sure that there was no danger around, and Art didn't have to worry about a sudden enemy, so he didn't refuse to drink.

Spencer, the head of Christ's Mass dinner, saw that the officers had already clinked glasses with Art, and walked towards Art with a large glass of light ale.

Art raised his blushing face and said to Spencer, who came to toast: "Spencer, this banquet you have organized is very good, you have worked hard in the past few months, and Otto has told me what you have done in the past few months." At the beginning, you didn't want to train, let alone go to war, I thought you were a lazy coward, and it seems that now I want to get to know you again. ”

Spencer didn't expect Art to have a good impression of him, he was a little excited, his right hand trembled slightly and raised his glass: "My lord, I was really afraid of dying in battle and tired from training, but now I feel fulfilled to do these odds and pieces, following an adult like you, it's worth it!" After speaking, Spencer took a sip of the wine in the glass.

Art also raised his head and took a big sip, put down the quilt and said to Spencer: "You can't get drunk yet, remember to have someone bring a pork and sheep soup to the brothers stationed on the outer wall in a while, they are very hard."

"Don't worry, my lord, I've already sent someone to send it to my brothers." Spencer replied.

"Uh-huh, excellent, excellent. Go eat and drink yourself. ”

Spencer turned around and toasted O'Doangus and Ron Bass one by one......

............

On the eighth day after Christ's Mass, the army that had come from Besançon to meet the garrison, led by a knight named Elsier Dia, arrived at the fort of Tar, consisting of more than eighty soldiers, including sixty soldiers (including forty legionnaires and twenty conscripts), twelve servants, and three wagons loaded with grain and baggage.

After General Art welcomed the army into the fort, a brief welcome feast was held for Sir Isir and several officers in the inner fort.

"Lord Asil, this military fort will be handed over to you to guard from today onwards, and now there is no hostile situation around Talfort, one is because it is winter, and the enemy army is inconvenient to move; The second reason is that we have already crippled the army of Biltenberg in the previous six months, and as long as Swabia does not draw troops from the Northland to besiege Tarburg, there should be no problem with the defense here. Art gave Asir, who was sitting on the main seat, a brief explanation of the military situation around Talfort.

Elsir was the second son of a high-ranking dignitary in the court, and he volunteered to come to Talburg after hearing about Art's exploits in Tarburg, hoping to establish a meritorious service here. A little-known apprentice knight can make a name for himself here, and Asir thinks that he is still a little better than the guy in front of him.

"Well, Sir Art, I know what you said, and now that I have taken over this fort, I will make it the strongest fortress possible, and no matter how many people those Swabian mongrels send, I will let them die in the city!"

"In addition, when my army rests in the fort for two days, I will take my warriors to attack Biltenberg, and the northern front is lively, and our side cannot be deserted." Asir's face was arrogant.

"Lord Asil, Biltenberg is well defended now, so it's better to be cautious~" Art was worried that this young guy was too arrogant and took someone to Biltenburg to force a bump, and kindly reminded.

Knight Aisir replied proudly: "A warrior should not be afraid of a strong enemy, if he intends to be weak in this military fort, then why should I go to such trouble to come here?"

"Uh~You're right~"

…….........

"Master, I think this guy is a little ambitious, and he can do anything about his posture and leading the army to attack Tebron." After leaving the Inner Castle, Ron whispered to Art.

"Alright, since he won't listen to persuasion, it's useless for us to talk more. You go and urge Otto to hurry up and put together the supplies, and we will leave Tarburg early tomorrow morning......" Art said and walked straight to the temporary camp of the army in the open space behind Tarfort, for the inner fort and a few wooden houses had been generously given to the new garrison.

Early the next morning, Arte took forty-eight soldiers, five servants, thirteen slaves, and two families of craftsmen and dependents captured from the southern estates, and drove the mules, horses, and cattle to the west, carrying supplies and agricultural tools. As for the stubborn enemy prisoners of war in the dungeons, Art handed them over to the newly arrived garrison, and these people did not expect to waste food on the enemy, and the good days of the prisoners of war were coming to an end.

Outside Talburg, the knight of Asiel took a group of officers to bid farewell to the Yater army, and before leaving, Yate persuaded Asiel to be cautious about sending troops to attack Biertenburg, but the high-spirited Aisiel did not care about Yat's words, and Yate had to wish them a new record in Biertenburg~

On the night of the evacuation of Tarburg, Art led his army into the city of Geraru, and Viscount Hereth personally hosted a simple dinner to see Ark off, and in order to thank Viscount Hereth for his help during the siege of Tarburg, Yat specially selected a set of fine silver cutlery and a few horses of raw silk from the captured booty as gifts to Viscount Herites, and Art also paid Hereth a high fee for the healers who treated the wounded soldiers of the army in the city.

Art's impression of this Viscount Herreth is not bad, although he is stingy, but he can distinguish priorities at critical moments, and it makes sense that this person can guard the southeast border for many years.

The army was divided into two divisions after a night's rest, with Otto taking the wounded men who had recovered in the city and marching southwest with most of the army back to the valley, while Art led Angus and Ron with ten elite horsemen to the northwest towards Besançon.