When Johnson entered the inspection office to spy on the situation, Zhou Qingfeng was inspecting his real hoplites in the territory outside the city.

On the vast training ground, five hundred carefully selected soldiers were training in forged iron armor, thick iron helmets, and sharp spears.

Because of the continuous march of multiple queues, the sand on the site is flying repeatedly. The neat footsteps have repeatedly trampled on the ground, and it has become a solid plane.

The orders of the junior officers and the shouts of the soldiers echoed each other and spread in all directions. The officers and men were all sweating like rain and breathing heavily, and they were repeating boring training movements thousands of times.

The magnates of the Northland used only serf soldiers, and the knights had only a small number of armed attendants. Such a large cluster of infantry is rare.

Ranger Mahan was smacked at the intensity of the training, and he followed Zhou Qingfeng and whispered: "Your Excellency Hugo, you have trained soldiers as nobles. This ......"

"Isn't that good?" Zhou Qingfeng turned his head and asked. He specially called this ranger who likes to fight with a shield today, and let him see his hoplites.

"Of course." Mahan first affirmed, but then asked, "But how ......much does this cost?"

Spend?

Of course, the cost is huge.

In order to maintain its ruling system, the 'Harmony Chamber of Commerce' is desperately procuring food from the south. Recently, the food price in Cold Wind City has been rising, driving the food price of the entire Northland to rise.

The 'rich and strong leaders' have too many people who are out of production, and their own agricultural production is seriously insufficient, so they must rely on external imports.

Zhou Qingfeng can still hold on, after all, there is a lot of production in his territory, and there is no shortage of platinum coins. As long as the trade continues, it's fine.

But an army not only needs to be well fed and drunk, but also has a lot of equipment and consumables to supply. These are bottomless pits that have to be filled every day and every month.

This bottomless pit is too deep, and the 'rich and powerful leaders' can raise a standing army of several hundred at most, and those like the chengguan can only be regarded as miscellaneous.

On the training ground, hoplites marched in a neat formation in a row of ten and a line of three. All the soldiers were between fifteen and twenty years old.

All of the Rank and Ground Commanders have been trained by the Arcane Workshop and have at least the basics of elementary school. This is already a very literate army.

In order to build this armed force, the money spent is not tens of thousands. More often than not, there are large quantities of materials that are difficult to obtain.

Where do the supplies come from?

More than half of them came from digging the corners of the powerful people of Coldwind City. After half a year of digging, the foundations of the city's nobility were loosened, and only the lonely superstructure was left to quarrel in the council of the Winter Hall.

According to the information from other places from the 'Harmony Chamber of Commerce', the other powerful people in Coldwind City are also engaged in armaments, but they are already unable to hold on.

Families are facing an extremely strange economic situation, making more and more money, but their power is declining. This is like 'cutting meat with a blunt knife', which is extremely uncomfortable.

This switch is due to the rapid growth of the power of the 'rich and powerful leaders'.

Zhou Qingfeng stretched out his hand, and the palm of his hand was a magic gem.

"This gem contains the 'Shield Technique', 'Blessing Technique', and 'Demonic Weapon'. I'm going to give each soldier a ......"

Mahan interrupted in surprise, "Every soldier? ”

"Yes, every soldier." Zhou Qingfeng replied affirmatively.

It's not a matter of cost. It's hard to buy hundreds of magic gems that store three first-level arcane magic skills.

While the three spells won't last long, consider the attack of five hundred hoplites who have strengthened their attack defenses and even been blessed.

Unless the long-legged family in the strongest period is brought back, no one in Coldwind City can bear it.

"...... do you mean, Lord Hugo?"

Mahan couldn't figure out why he was calling. He only gave himself a task, and now it seemed that the task was not quite what he had expected.

Zhou Qingfeng opened his mouth lightly and sighed: "I heard Adrian say that you will always charge in front and retreat in the back in the team. Your bravery and composure are the strongest support of your companions. ”

This sounded like a compliment, but when Mahan heard this, his expression darkened, and he lowered his head and whispered, "No, it's not." I used to ......"

"I don't care what it was." Zhou Qingfeng patted Mahan on the shoulder, "Adrian said that if you want to take revenge on the nobles of Cold Wind City, you have to cut off a few noble heads.

I also wanted to find an infantry commander who was brave and calm, who could lead his men in the front and retreat. There aren't many people like that. You come to this position. ”

Mahan was stunned by this, "...... I?" Why me? ”

"Why can't it be you?" Zhou Qingfeng shrugged, "You can't let Todd do it, right?" That guy would only lead the 500 infantry with a plate axe and charge non-stop, either hacking the enemy to death or exhausting himself to death.

Military command is an art, especially directing infantry battles. It is not as fast as cavalry, less agile than an archer, and less powerful than a wizard. But hoplites, when used well, can sweep everything and destroy everything. ”

With Zhou Qingfeng's words, Ma Han's shoulders shook irrepressibly. He was forcibly restraining his inner emotions, but excitement overflowed from his countenance.

"Would you really like me to command such a team? I mean, it's a joke, right?

I haven't been in the province for long. For a person who is not of noble birth and has even had a stain. This must be a joke. ”

Zhou Qingfeng shook his head and smiled: "This is not a joke, I will issue you an official letter of appointment and inform everyone in the territory."

I will equip you with deputies and staff officers, arrange logistics. A 'scholar's touch' is indispensable to grasp the troop regulations and command norms. I invite you here today to ask for your opinion. ”

Mahan's throat became unstoppable, and he tried to keep his voice from distorting, but suddenly burst into tears, and even choked to the point that it was difficult to breathe.

"I didn't think about it. I used to be a coward, and I didn't step forward when my companions needed me. I was not able to overcome my fears, and I lost all my honor and dignity.

No, no, no, I admit it, I did think that one day I ...... maybe my efforts would be recognized. Maybe someone superior will accept me again.

But my efforts again and again were rewarded with ridicule again and again. I hate the nobles of Coldwind because they always look down on me. I know it's too utilitarian, but ....... ”

Ma Han is older than Zhou Qingfeng and about the same size, and he burst into tears when he was talking at the moment, crying like a child.

Zhou Qingfeng asked in a deep voice, "So ...... is your choice?" ”

Mahan simply knelt down on one knee and bowed his head and swore an oath.

"I, Alfred. Mahan, the outcast of the Thayer family, a wanderer who turned his back on glory, a man determined to wash away his shame and guilt. I'm willing to ask Victor. His Excellency Hugo offered his only loyalty.

I should be fearless, bold and upright, and I would rather die than give in. Your sword's point is where I am going. If I break my oath, may my soul have no place to belong, and when I die, I will be nailed to the wall, and I will be tormented forever. ”

The oath sounded like a stone.

A dream that has been going on for more than ten years is finally coming true today.

Zhou Qingfeng pulled Ma Han up and said in a deep voice: "I'm Victor. Hugo, in the name of the lord of the 'rich and powerful' lord, accepted Alfred. Mahan's oath and conferred the post of commander of his infantry regiment.

You can decide for yourself the name and flag of your troops, and you can tell anyone who deserves to report about this position. Regardless of your past, you have restored your reputation and glory.

The situation in Coldwind City is getting worse and worse. I don't want to go to war with any power. But the enemy will not sit idly by and watch me gain absolute superiority, so combat preparations still need to be done. Because accidents can happen at any time. ”

Ma Han got up, full of pride for a while, his face was ruthless, and he said categorically: "Your Excellency, don't worry, those rotten garbage in Cold Wind City can't be collected at all.

With such a hoplite, I can knock any nobleman out of the body. Unless my team dies to the last man, no force will be allowed to jeopardize your safety. ”

Zhou Qingfeng laughed when he heard this, and said, "It's not that serious." I'm not a weak scumbag. I was in command of a cavalry team myself. ”

Not far from the training ground, more than 100 light cavalry were galloping through the horses, and the wind was whirling. The equipment of this cavalry is more luxurious than the heavy infantry, the people are like tigers, the horses are like dragons, the hooves are rumbling, and the eyes of the people are shining from far and near.

Further afield, Healy is teaching a group of wizard apprentices arcane arts. Elves have a great talent for this.

Zhou Qingfeng has been strengthening his force, so he doesn't know who will be the first to jump out to sacrifice the flag.