"I trust your loyalty, but the vassals need to be able to help me manage my territory. Victor said lightly: "The family currently lacks stewards and soldiers, which of you can solve this problem?"

The village chiefs looked at each other, but it was still the village chief Morin who stood up, and he said stubbornly: "My lord, we have worked very hard. ”

"yes, you've worked hard...... Each of you only has one head and two hands, and forcing you to kill you will not solve the problem. Victor smiled and asked Lilia, "I now have more than 200 vassals, but there are still not enough people! Do I have a concursor?"

"Nope. Lilia shook her head and said, "Freedfolk will have to work for us for three years before they can gain the status of a vassion. ”

"Three years?" Victor sneered: "I can't wait three years! This year, during the water season, we will reclaim more than 100,000 acres of cultivated land, build five villages next to five streams and reservoirs, and dig canals to produce green bricks. By next year, construction will begin on the fortress...... Randall had to recruit at least 10,000 young and strong laborers to accommodate a population of 20,000. ”

"To manage such a large population, I need 300 stewards and 500 soldiers. Victor said loudly, "I have decided to recruit stewards and soldiers among the freedmen!"

There was silence in the room, and everyone, including Lilia, was stunned. In the concept of ordinary people, a vassal is a superior person, and only then is he qualified to become a steward and a soldier. If Victor appoints the lords, everyone can still reluctantly accept it, and the direct promotion of lowly freedmen is beyond everyone's understanding.

Nelson was the first to stand up and object, "My lord, I have no problem recruiting stewards, but recruiting soldiers among the freedmen...... This one...... To be honest, I can't trust them. If there was a fight, they would be the first to escape! I think it's still ...... You know what I mean. ”

This rammer is still fighting the idea of alchemy militia!

"Neither can the steward!" Lilia softly advised, "Victor, the freedmen will leave Randall's territory at any time, and we have no right to stop them." What are we going to do if the Freedman steward leaves quietly?"

"That's right. Alice said, "My lord, the freedmen are stupid and dirty, and they can't be trusted!"

Except for the monkey who cowered in his chair and didn't speak, the village chiefs also nodded in support of Lilia's claim, as if they had forgotten that they were also free people.

"Are you so sure the Free Folk will leave Randall's Territory?" asked Victor faintly, "Isn't the land and boar I allocated useless?"

Dean plucked up his courage and said: "My lord, although the wages we give are low, the free people still have no problem with food and clothing, and the housing does not need rent, and the pork is very cheap, and there is still income from the land for self-cultivation. However, I found that my hired men would rather save their wages without meat, which showed that they were ready to leave, because this was a pioneer after all. ”

"You're trying to tell me that a few vegetable patches and half a pig can't make the Free Folk face Ant-Man?"

Dean shrunk and smiled, a kind of acquiescence. Victor raised his voice and said, "There are always people who want to stay! We are going to find these people!" and after a moment of speech, he added, "But I will not give them land!"

The village chiefs were secretly relieved, they didn't want others to get the land when they became vassals, because the land resources were limited, and they always had to think about their future generations.

Xenophobia is a disadvantage of the vassal system, and this is one of the reasons why Victor wants to change, he continues: "Is there anyone else besides the nobility, vassals, lords, and freemen?

"The Church divides people into devout and shallow believers according to their beliefs, and according to the population structure of their territory, they divide people into registered and outcasts. To the Church, vassals, subjects, and freedmen are just titles, and they don't mean anything!"

"Thousands of years ago, the scholar Arya put forward the concept of vassals, subjects, and freemen according to the actual situation. Today, I also propose a new division standard based on the actual situation of Randall!"

Victor stood up and said with burning eyes: "As we all know, the Randall family was established two years ago. According to the tradition of three generations of canonization, none of you are vassals in the true sense of the word!"

"What is a vassal? Loyally protect the property of the lord, safeguard the rights of the lord, and never retreat even in the face of a strong enemy! This is a vassal! In the year 5643, Count Edurf was wanted by the church, his people were dispersed, and his vassals relied on the castle to fight against the church's army for three years, until the food ran out, no one surrendered to the church, and finally all of them were killed!"

"Can you do it? Do you dare to be an enemy of the church for me?"

"I can do it!" Nelson slammed to his feet and roared, "Anyone who dares to violate the dignity of an adult must first step over my corpse!"

The thunderous eardrums buzzed and stirred the blood in the chests of the village chiefs, who shouted loudly: "Swear to die for the adults!"

Victor nodded with satisfaction and said, "I believe you can do it, it's not because of empty oaths. When Ant-Man swept through Randall's territory, you fought alongside me and followed me back to the realm. It is because of your heartfelt support for me that I have given you the status of vassals. I, Viscount Randall, don't have three generations of vassals, but I have a group of supporters who are not inferior to them!"

"You are both my vassals and my advocates!"

"Everyone knows the situation in Randall's territory, and the Ant-Man army is still threatening the land. Victor motioned for everyone to sit down and said slowly, "So, I can't protect the family's territory with just you supporters. We also need supporters!"

"My lord, what is a supporter?" asked Lilia softly.

"Good question!" Victor smiled, "After the plague, you chose to stay in Randall and became my supporters." Today, the freedmen who are willing to stay in Randall are our supporters!"

"We need to recruit stewards and soldiers in the midst of support, these people are helpers!"

"Champions, helpers, supporters?" said Lilia, as if in her understanding.

Victor raised his voice, "In order to prepare for future crises, we will try to make the freedmen become the supporters of the family. This is certainly not a simple matter. However, it can be briefly described. ”

"Free people in Randall can provide food and clothing, accumulate wealth, have security, and have relatively fair promotion channels. But the most important thing is to make sure that their property is not violated!"

The main reason why the freemen lacked a sense of state and family was that the security of their property was not guaranteed. The lords launched war orders and forced requisition, and the freedmen bore the first consequences. After the war, the vassals still had farm fiefs, and the lords could still rent farmland, while the freedmen had nothing. In order to preserve the wealth they have accumulated with great difficulty, the freedmen often leave the land of right and wrong early, and Randall Territory faces this situation.

"I will issue decrees and notarizations before God to ensure that the property of the freemen is not violated, but of course only for the supporters! ”

As Dean said, self-cultivation and wild boar farming don't necessarily leave everyone. But there are always people who want to stay. Victor slowed down and continued: "It's very simple to distinguish these people, let them build a house and settle down!"

"For 30 gold soles, each freeman family can build his own brick house in each village, which is private property and is under my protection. In addition, I will pledge 10,000 gold soles to the church through a notarization before God, and no matter what happens to Randall, the owner can withdraw 30 gold soles from the church by virtue of the deed. ”

30 gold soles is not a small amount of money for a free people's family, and the bricks used to build a house are definitely not worth this amount, so anyone who can use this money to buy a property in Randall Collar has no doubt that they are determined to join Randall Collar. In order to dispel the concerns of the free people, Victor had no choice but to pay a lot of money to ask the church to come forward as a guarantee. Although there has been no response to Fr. Miller's report, the Church must definitely raise its hands to approve of this good deed, which can expand its influence.

"Free families who are willing to buy real estate are naturally our supporters. They also enjoy corresponding rights. ”

"First, private property is inviolable. Second, you can raise 6 wild boars every year and get two of them. Thirdly, family members are transferred to the registered population of the territory, and are given priority to be promoted to the rank of lord, and are protected by the family. Fourth, the right to participate in the selection of family stewards and soldiers, that is, to become assistants. ”

"The annual salary of the family steward shall not be less than 6 gold soles, and the annual salary of a soldier shall not be less than 8 gold soles, which shall be doubled in wartime, and the pension shall not be less than 50 gold soles, and in case of disability, the family shall be responsible for the support. ”

"What else would you like to add?"

Morin raised his hand and asked, "My lord, what if some people don't have 30 gold soles and want to become supporters?"

The village chiefs looked at Victor in unison, and during this time they had also attracted some freemen, and since there were so many benefits to buying a house, they were worried that they would miss the opportunity to promote their henchmen because of the problem of money

Victor smiled and said, "I can offer a loan, but this must be guaranteed by a vassal. The annual repayment is not less than 6 gold soles, which is paid off in 7 years, which means that I have to repay 42 gold soles to borrow 30 gold soles. ”

Lilia's face changed greatly, she quietly tugged at the corner of Victor's clothes, and said in a low voice: "Honey, we have to pledge 10,000 gold soles to the church, and we also have to provide loans to the free people....... how much does it cost?!"

"Don't worry. Victor patted Lilia's little hand and said, "This time, I will only give out 600 building places. Those with bright minds will naturally take advantage of the opportunity, and they are qualified to be facilitators. As for those who hesitate and miss the opportunity, they can only wait for the next time!"

The expressions of the village chiefs became subtle, there was no shortage of homesteads to build houses, no shortage of bricks, no shortage of wild boars, but the positions of stewards and soldiers were limited, and those who missed this opportunity were tantamount to losing their qualifications for promotion. The village chiefs began to secretly wonder if there was a little blood and pull some people to get involved.

Distant relatives are alien, and it is normal for people to be close. Victor had anticipated the village chief's thoughts, but was not prepared to intervene. On the one hand, the freedmen may not all have money, and he needs to recycle the money, and there is nothing wrong with the village chiefs being willing to contribute. On the other hand, it is almost inevitable to form cliques and factions, and as long as the system is perfect, the corresponding harm can be minimized. And the people who are favored by the village chief are still somewhat capable.

The most important thing is that Victor will adjust the personnel rights next, and the village chief led by Randall is destined to not be the emperor of the soil.

"Then let's move on to the next topic, about your duties......."