It was less than five days before the end of the year, and most of the Welsh Legion had just left Marsy Fort and were heading south.

This time, more than 100 people were added to the ranks, and these were the soldiers who were originally stationed in Fort Marsi. When the news was received that the army was about to return to the valley, the soldiers began to pack their bags and wait for the arrival of most of the men. They are looking forward to returning to the valley with the army to reunite with their families who have not seen each other for months.

The soldiers who had been wounded in the siege of Fort Marsy had largely recovered after months of treatment and recuperation. As soon as he heard that the Wells Legion had won a great victory in the city of Thorne, and that his lord had been made a Frontier Earl at this time, he couldn't help but be happy.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and dog ascend to heaven. As Yat's status was further enhanced, the officers and soldiers under his command would naturally be promoted and rewarded. Now that the fighting is over, we can finally return to the valley to rest. It is believed that the previous military exploits and battle rewards will also be distributed to the soldiers soon after returning to the valley. Everyone followed Art's birth and death, for nothing more than this.

Once the military reward was in hand, many soldiers wondered how to settle down in the valley. Use your bounty money to ask the craftsmen of the valley to help build a house of your own, and then marry a wife and have children, and live a good life.

In the middle of the army returning south, Captain Rig walked in the middle of the line with his men Hans and Burry. Rigge's horse was led by a guard behind him.

In the battle of Thorne City, Bury, the captain of the squad, can be regarded as "earning" a handful. According to post-war statistics, Bury killed the most enemies of all soldiers, reaching eight. Except for the two people who were killed during the siege, the rest were all heads captured by the enemy soldiers who chased and fled after the city was broken.

Combined with the previous "harvest" at Fort Marsey and the eastern frontier, Bury could receive a large bounty after the war.

"Burry, you've been doing well on the battlefield these few times, and I think you might be promoted to squadron leader."

Rigger, who was walking in front of Bury, analyzed. Burry couldn't help it. Hurriedly grabbed Rig and ran in front of him.

"Sir, are you telling the truth?"

Bury's eyes widened wider than bells. In addition to exchanging the heads of his enemies for bounties, Burry certainly wanted to move up the ranks. On weekdays, seeing that those officers who are higher than his position are especially respected, Burry's heart is always itching.

"I'm just speculating. You let go and talk as you go. ”

Burry immediately took his hands away and patted the dust on Rig's shoulder with a smile, looking flattering.

"Last time, the Chinese army commanded the camp and held a military meeting, thinking that those soldiers who fought very bravely should open up another promotion channel. They should not be restricted because they are not cultured and should be treated differently. I was the first to think of you~"

Burry scratched his head and was silent. Rig's words made him ashamed.

"You kid, is this so? It's like a different person. ”

Hans, who was on the side, saw that Bury suddenly bowed his head and was silent, and muttered a few words.

"Bury, like a man, look up!"

Rig glanced back and raised his voice. Burry slowly lifted his head, his eyes fixed on the other side.

"I know that as your commander, I have hurt your self-esteem. However, I am ugly to say that if you really want to climb up step by step, you will never be able to do without cultural time. You can't just rely on courage to fight, you have to use your brains. You can't be a squadron leader for the rest of your life, right? ”

Burry lowered his head again and said nothing.

"It has been said in the military council that soldiers who are brave in combat can hold the position of squadron leader at most, and if they want to go up, they must enter the officer academy to study. After passing the grades, he will be directly awarded the rank of flag captain. Now that the war is over, think about it yourself when you return to the valley. ”

With that, Rig stepped on horseback, glanced at Burry, and walked forward.

"Burry, Chief Rig is all for your own good, think about it yourself when you go back to the valley."

Looking at Hans as he disappeared into the ranks, Burry clenched the saber around his waist with a clatter. This is not because of the anger of the two, but because of hating yourself for not being angry~

…………

On the southern border of the Hou Kingdom, what was once a desolate and barren remote place has now become a province.

The whole territory of Tignac, including the Sapp and the valley region, now bears the surname of Yat and takes the name of the province of Wales. After years of hard work, the once unpopular Ranger expanded his territory from the valley to include the entire county of Tinets. Not only that, but it also has Fort Marsi, which is the main point of the western trade route of the Hou Kingdom, and the fortress of Bona, the western border fortress of the province of Saône.

A week after Arte was made Earl of the Frontier of the Vassal State, news reached the entire territory of Tignaz. When the leaders of the valley realm learned the good news, they rushed to tell each other, and their hearts were sincerely happy. That's exactly what you want to see. Because once the war is over, their relatives who are far away from the front line will return to the valley with the army to share with them the fruits of the victory after the war.

Months have passed since the last catastrophe in the valley, and the pain and fear of war still linger on the hearts of the people. But everything changed with the arrival of this good news. Because the war is over, the men will all go home, and the threats to the valley will be lifted. Naturally, the tension and uneasiness of the people of the valley were also alleviated a lot.

After months of hard work by the officials and lords of the civil administration, the valley and several estates directly under the Yate were restored to their former life.

All the unspoiled wheat fields have long been harvested and stored in granaries. The cultivated land has been tended and sown again, just waiting for the next year's harvest. The shortage of food has also been fully replenished with the help of the caravan, and no one will go hungry this winter.

In addition, the damaged Wincheston Manor has been restored to its original state. Not only that, but a number of low-rise houses were added around the main house for the lords who cultivated the land around Wincheston Manor. Now, in addition to the people who had previously belonged to Wincheston Manor, the civil administration has recruited a large number of displaced people and assigned some of the surrounding land to them for cultivation.

After the battle in the valley, the Beiguan military fort was seriously damaged. After civil deliberation, it was decided to rearrange the defense of the Beiguan Military Fort. Not only was the gate reinforced, but the perimeter of the fort was more than doubled. In addition, several tall forts were built inside the fort gate, which could accommodate more soldiers at the same time.

At this time, the valley had entered winter, and the lords who had been busy in the fields for a year could finally get a moment of rest.

Thanks to the unspoiled land and grain in the valley, this year was an unprecedented harvest. Although quite a few people died under the enemy's sword in order to defend the valley, which led to a decrease in the labor force of the valley. But under the reasonable arrangement of the civil administration, the grain that should have been collected in the granary did not rot in the ground or cheapen the animals that were often stolen.

A heavy snowfall the other day covered the entire valley with snow. The thick snow caused the beams on the roofs of many homes to break, but fortunately there were no casualties. The houses were renovated with the help of the civil administration so that the people would not freeze. In Art's territory, such a thing should not have happened.

After a heavy snowfall, the farmers in the valley who are good at hunting go into the mountains to hunt in groups within the limits of the civil administration. I was busy with things in the field on weekdays, but now that I am finally free, I naturally want to go to the mountains to collect some game for my family and improve my food. And you can also exchange animal skins for a little bit of money to subsidize the family.

Although the lords of the valley are not exploited and oppressed by the lords like the lords of other territories of the Hou Kingdom, in addition to ensuring that the family does not go hungry, it is also a luxury to want to eat some meat. I can only hope to go hunting in the mountains and forests and try my luck.

On the second floor of the mansion of the lord of the valley, the hostess Lottie was busy sewing a mink coat for her husband who was about to return, to withstand the cold winter of this year.

The mink skins were bought by Lottie from hunters in the valley, and they were all of the highest quality. Of course, Lottie didn't give the hunters any less money because of her status as a hostess. Instead, she bought the fur from their hands at a higher price. Maybe it's because of a good heart, maybe it's to set up a good image for her husband.

Ever since receiving a letter from his father, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at Besançon's court, informing him that the war was over once and for all, and that Art had been promoted to Earl of the Frontier of the Marquis, Lottie's mouth had not been closed. I smile every day, and I become more generous to the people around me. After all, she is now a countess.

"Madam, when do you say they will come back?"

Ollie, who was cleaning Lottie's fur, suddenly looked up and asked.

"Ollie, why do you suddenly care about the master?"

Lottie glanced at Ollie and asked deliberately.

"I~"

Ollie bowed her head and remained silent, her face shy.

"You damn girl, you're thinking about Ron's stupid boy."

Ollie's face turned redder.

"Don't worry, as soon as the lord and they come back, I will let him hold a wedding for you, so that you can become your wishful wife as soon as possible. lest you think crankily all day long, and your work is not steady. ”

"Madame, are you telling the truth?" Ollie suddenly looked up and asked, hearing Lottie's promise.

Ever since Ron's expedition, she has been thinking about her hero. Often in dreams, there are scenes of two people getting married. Seeing that her sweetheart is about to return to the valley, Ollie has been so excited lately that she can't sleep.

"When did I lie to you."

While the two were gossiping, there was a hurried sound on the stairs.

"George, how many times have I told you, when you go upstairs, the movement is quiet~"

As soon as Lottie finished speaking, a round head was already exposed.

"Mother~"

"Come here."

Lottie put down the work in her hand and hugged little George, who had grown a lot taller, in her arms. Although he didn't have his father by his side since he was a child, this guy was quite happy.

As the number of people increased, so did the number of children in the valley. As the only son of Art, Earl of Wales, George Jr. is unusually likable throughout the Vale. While partly due to his special status, but more so due to George Jr.'s approachable personality.

Although he was the only son of the earl, he never had that innate sense of nobility and arrogance. This is inseparable from Lottie's daily teachings.

When Lottie and Art first met, Art was just a poor Ranger. Despite his lack of money and status, Art's resourcefulness and bravery won Lottie's heart. Because of this, Lottie did not emphasize her noble identity to George Jr. too much, but focused on cultivating his courage, perseverance and wisdom. Teach him how to be kind to others and help the weak. Once you have these good qualities, you are more likely to be respected and loyal by others. Just like his father.

"George, your father is coming back, do you miss him?"

Lottie swayed from side to side with George in her arms, kissing his forehead from time to time.

"Mother, of course I miss my father. Don't you want to? ”

Listening to Little George's immature voice, Lottie's heart soured ~

…………

South of Besançon, the residence of the Minister of Military Affairs of the Imperial Court. Yat, who was lying on the chair in the study, kept rubbing the sides of his forehead, sighing from time to time.

In recent days, Yat has been moving around in many ways and socializing. He often drank until late at night, drunk to the ground, escorted back to the mansion by Ron and his guards, and fell asleep unconscious. As a result, I woke up the next day with a headache.

According to the time calculation, most of the Welsh Legion should be in the valley within two days. Officers and soldiers who have been on the battlefield for several months will be reunited with their families and have a good time.

But now as the Earl of Wales, Art can't help himself. In order to establish good relations with all parties in the court, strive for more benefits, and increase the strength of the territory, Art had to lobby and move around. In addition, the new establishment of the Hou State is waiting to be revived. As a military vice-minister of the court, he must give advice to Flender and consolidate the stability of the frontier. If you are greedy for enjoyment, you will be perfunctory, and you will not be able to justify it. That's not what Art did, either.

Yesterday, Flender summoned him to hear what the court's military lieutenant and Earl of Wales had to say about how the princely state should be governed in peace. Art did not answer immediately, but promised that Flender would compile some of his own suggestions in this regard when he returned, for Flender's reference.

Now that the situation has basically stabilized, the disputes between the various counts and nobles of the marquis about the fiefs have also been put to rest because Flender has not mentioned it. Everyone is trying to restore the production and construction of their own territory, and there is no energy left to argue about these things.

Art planned to leave Besançon after advising Flender and return to the valley to concentrate on his own territory and the Continental Merchant House.

Since leaving the valley, the affairs of the territory have been under the leadership of the civil governor Cooper, and the European merchant houses have been mainly managed by Salter. Now that the fighting is over, it's time to go back to the valley and recuperate.

Once the time is ripe, Yate will start another journey of his own~