Chapter 1452 - 779: Reclaiming the Territory—Completion (2)

Chapter 1452: Chapter 779: Reclaiming the Territory—Completion (2)

"Furthermore, the newly reclaimed territory is in ruins and desperately needs revitalization, which has drained our energy. Hamlet no longer has the capability to start a new war."

Lance is very rational; when he seized Bastia City, the war had already ended, not only did he restore the territory, but also annexed quite a bit more.

However, conquering a place is not where it ends; it needs governance to control it, for instance, the issues in Bastia are not something that can be solved in a short period.

"Stop blockading or hunting those small tribes. If they escape, settle them, but if they cause trouble, deal with them directly. There’s still room in the sanatorium."

Although Lance abandoned the Earl’s plan to weaken the Barbarian Tribes, he did not relax his supervision over them.

Executing all of those ruffians might be excessive, but executing half will certainly leave some unpunished. Pillaging and plundering are their specialties; brutality and bloodthirstiness are their trademarks.

"Leave Boslake here to handle this matter; he has experience."

Suddenly, Lance looked up at the sky, stretched out his hand and said leisurely—

"It’s snowing..."

Grendel looked into the distance, and the snowflakes drifting in the cold wind seemed to be cleansing the blood and tears that have been shed on this land...

This year’s first snow arrived later than usual, but Lance completed his plans and restored the territory before the snow season arrived.

Lance delegated the issues of Bastia to his subordinates. After undergoing training, they have the ability to complete those tasks, progressing smoothly.

The worst Lance would do to those guys is to assign them road construction, rarely sentencing them to death unless their actions are particularly egregious.

However, the evil cult truly achieves "equality for everyone", which means almost none of the city’s bureaucrats and wealthy merchants are alive, saving a lot of effort on investigation and trial.

The primary task now is to ensure most people’s survival and try to restore production and daily life.

That means taking inventory and statistics, concentrating resources for allocation, first settling those people so that at the very least, no one will starve or freeze to death outside.

Then begin gathering citizens for work, such as cleaning the city, essentially just finding something for them to do, paying them with work instead of relief, gradually restoring Bastia...

These tasks are destined not to be completed in a short time, because Bastia is not only a city; its surrounding feudal domains also require improvement.

Regarding the Knight’s Domain or the Baron’s Domain, having officials responsible for grassroots management is insufficient; someone with enough local prestige is needed to collaborate.

Bruce fulfilled his promise, announcing the abandonment of Bastia’s inheritance rights, persuading those knights to cease resisting.

He did not stay and walked away, as if he had made some decision.

Lance did not try to keep him, nor did he do anything underhanded; he even gave him a horse.

This was quite generous for him; perhaps Lance was just curious about what reputation the Wandering Knight Bruce might earn.

With Bruce gone and all nobles captured, the public persona had to be assigned to Lawrence, who would be responsible for the matter.

Margaret remained there because she could balance Lawrence; this righteous child would indeed implement Lance’s will.

Concerning the army, a Commander was left behind along with five hundred Regular Army members, with twenty cannons placed atop the city walls.

Because the region is the boundary after reclaiming the territory, although the snow will block the mountains, until next spring when the snow melts, there won’t be much activity.

But there’s still a need to guard against Barbarian Tribe invasions, the spread of beastification disease, and even other noble lords.

Five hundred is certainly not enough, so a portion of volunteer soldiers will be recruited. Their treatment won’t be as good, but food and warmth will be assured, and there will be compensation if they die in battle.

This is Lance’s purpose to alleviate pressure. Previously, the steadily increasing treatment against the ancestor meant basic living security took a small part, with salary, subsidies, and training occupying the lion’s share.

Now Lance wants to tell them that evil has been eradicated, the territory reclaimed, and Hamlet is at peace.

Those unable to adapt or tired of fighting can retire, receiving a lump sum payment, priority on land allocation, and return home to the warmth and comfort of their families.

Of course, some soldiers retired to become officials or police; these people have received training, and Lance can’t bear letting that go to waste.

As for the remaining soldiers, they are turned into non-commissioned officers, supplementing treatment to normal reserve levels, then new recruits can be selected from among them for good performance.

In the chaos of forcibly assembling three to four thousand troops, only about one thousand may be retained as non-commissioned officers, while the rest are supplemented as new recruits, simply renamed as volunteer soldiers.

Not only in Bastia, but Lance plans to station troops in Ovando and the south as well; this will further divide the already small army, and later use these as the backbone to supplement new recruits.

Calculating, the reform may be completed by the time stability is achieved, the army size around three thousand, because the territory is larger, and more people are needed to defend it.

It doesn’t seem reduced much, but military expenditure is surely cut back, as the fundamental training costs for Musketeers are lower, though artillery also requires training.

Next, it’s necessary to recuperate, develop industry and commerce as well as technology, invest in infrastructure and development, not let the army collapse Hamlet’s already unhealthy economy.

Bruce might just leave, but Lance still must solve this headache.

The corresponding plans are continuously improved, the military reforms quickly completed, leaving those retiring applications signed by the lords sent back to the soldiers, freeing them from war.

They survived, but along the way, how many have been unable to see today...

"The army shouldn’t needlessly interfere with local governance, nor be reduced to gatekeeping city defense force, as this severely damages the army’s combat capability.

The local area should establish its own police station, resolve security issues on its own. We can assist in training personnel, or you can train yourselves by sending people over to learn..."

In that hall, Lance was dissatisfied with their demands; while a military-controlled state might maintain stability, it’s impossible to remain like this; the army has its tasks to do, must quickly adapt to the new round of military reform.

Lance still advocates for police handling security, in cities like Bastia and Ovando, there should be a division capable of cultivating self-reliance that can radiate to surrounding areas.

Because those towns might not have garrisons, security would be managed by the police.

But it’s evident small locales cannot cultivate a qualified police force, at best some militia training.

Thus, cities must take responsibility, Lance cannot allow the grassroots to lose control.

Regarding Hamlet’s law, many patches have appeared amid all sorts of chaotic cases along the way, but forming new laws needs time for consolidation and perfection, as many cases remain uninvestigated.

After reclaiming the territory, although Lance gained many resources and land, reaping the assets of those nobles, bureaucrats, and wealthy merchants, it also expanded areas needing management.

Digesting these is harder than warfare; fortunately, a large group of people has been cultivated, with shrewd, capable individuals finally promoted, relieving him from the headaches.

"I know everyone has connections, but when someone seeks your help, refuse; don’t talk about camaraderie from battle or any lifesaving gratitude, as if there’s real difficulty, won’t the organization provide assistance, without needing you to intervene?

Once more, I emphasize, regardless of your background, status, or how much merit you’ve achieved, anyone who abuses power for personal gain, misuses authority to harm collective interests, will not receive any mercy."

There’s a large batch of soldiers transitioning to officials or police, dispersed throughout the territory, involving politics, security, and economic sectors.

If they collude, it would be troublesome, Lance must knock some sense into them.

Lance is no longer a child; he knows people change, what merits one might have doesn’t equal whether they’ll do evil, never overlook humanity, only strengthened supervision truly saves them.

Drink from the golden cup with you, but spare no mercy with the white blade!