8mi Chapter 37 The Fruits of Diligence
Chapter 37 The Fruits of Diligence
It was evening.
The last rays of spring sunlight faded, carrying a hint of warmth.
After a day's work, the serfs should have been able to eat and rest, but twenty of them were left behind alone.
They stood in two neat rows in front of the lord's tent, fourteen male serfs and six female serfs.
Although I'm very tired.
But they all stood up straight, their eyes sparkling with trepidation and anticipation.
Accompanied by Carl, Richard slowly walked past the two rows of people, his eyes carefully scanning each face, trying to memorize their features.
These twenty people were the ones I specifically observed this afternoon; they were the ones who worked the hardest building the wall.
The dozens of unselected serfs watched from afar, whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with envy and curiosity.
because...
My lord is selecting special posts again!
Previously, Wade, Aaron, and others earned extra work points through their exclusive positions and could also participate in and use farmland or tools that had been blessed by the lord's magical power.
Unfortunately, there's only one available each time. Who will be the next person to be favored by luck and the lord?
Richard walked to the front of the line, stopped, and faced the crowd to ask a question.
Do you want to change your destiny?
The voice was very soft, yet it instantly excited the twenty serfs.
"think!"
"My lord, I wish!"
"I want to too!"
The responses came one after another, but they all carried a long-suppressed desire and determination, after all, the fate of serfs was basically predetermined from birth.
—Generations of slavery, never able to feed themselves.
Living to forty is considered a blessing from the goddess of light. Now that there's a chance to grasp at a straw to change one's fate, no one will give up.
...
Richard, seeing the fervor in their eyes, immediately poured cold water on it.
"Don't rush into making a decision, because it might come at a price."
talking.
He stood in front of a female serf and looked directly into her eyes.
"If I need you to take up arms and fight, to face death, would you still be willing?"
The words fell.
The serfs watching were somewhat taken aback.
Is the lord planning to conquer other places and preparing to send the serfs to the front lines as cannon fodder?
Other lords simply took the people away, gave them a wooden spear, and then had regular troops supervise them.
It's truly rare to see someone like your own father asking if you're willing.
but.
That's just like his personality.
...
The female serf Richard was looking directly at was named Catherine. She did not back down at all and responded loudly with a straight face.
"Sir, I do!"
"Even if it means going to the battlefield, I'm willing!"
Her gaze was extremely firm.
The sound was also unusually loud.
She firmly believed that the benevolent lord would never abandon her to the battlefield as cannon fodder.
Just look at Iraq.
If it were any other lord, they would surely have abandoned such a paralyzed serf who was unable to work, leaving her to fend for herself.
The lord not only healed Linor with precious potions, but also allowed her to focus on taking care of Ilara.
and so.
Even without combat experience and facing the risk of death, Katherina is willing to fight for her lord!
...
With her leading the way.
The other five female serfs also expressed their opinions.
"Sir, I'm willing too!"
"We can fight too, and we're definitely no less capable than other men. Please give us a chance!"
"Yeah, I'm stronger than some men, they might not even be able to beat me!"
Their eyes were full of stubbornness, fearing that they would be eliminated because of their gender.
Because of appearance.
They weren't chosen as maids.
Wade and the other two are men, and this time the lord has finally given women another chance to choose, so they have to seize it.
Their words caused the other male serfs to look on with displeasure, but no one dared to speak up on their own; arguing in front of the lord was definitely not a wise choice.
They could only straighten their bodies more and more, trying to prove their worth through posture.
Richard looked at the stubborn determination in Catherine's eyes, then glanced at the anxious faces of the other female serfs.
Suddenly I laughed.
"What's the panic? Since you're all willing, then you're all chosen this time."
Upon hearing this, the serfs watching were the first to lose their composure, and their whispers instantly grew louder.
"No way, they've all been selected?"
"This time they're not just choosing one!"
"Huh, does that mean they don't need to build the wall anymore? With twenty fewer people, the progress will slow down, right?"
The twenty serfs who were chosen were also surprised, but were then overwhelmed with immense joy.
Richard waved.
The scene quickly quieted down.
"I am preparing to form a militia. Your task is to assist the guards in protecting the security and order of the territory."
"We participate in training in normal times, and if monsters or foreign enemies invade, we pick up weapons and fight."
talking.
He raised the question that everyone was most concerned about.
"Becoming a militia member means receiving the same treatment as Wade and the other two. In addition to basic work points, you'll receive extra pay every day."
"There will be additional rewards for outstanding performance in battle."
"Don't worry, if anyone is injured and disabled, I will find a way to treat them. As long as someone is injured and bleeds for Qi Feng, I promise I will not treat them unfairly."
...
"willing!"
"We're ready to fight for chiffon cake!"
The twenty men shouted in unison, their voices filled with excitement. It turned out that the lord didn't want cannon fodder, but reserves!
Strictly speaking...
The army was divided into three levels. The first was the cannon fodder regiment, which was composed of serfs, death row inmates, or criminals, and was used to deplete or probe the enemy's fighting strength.
The second group consists of the lord's servants in reserve. Im and Owen were among the reserve members in the Wolf Army.
The third type is the high-level legion composed of extraordinary soldiers like Karl; these are the true armies.
Although reservists are also soldiers, they rarely go to the battlefield. Apart from daily training, they are only responsible for maintaining security and order in their territory.
They only need to cooperate in offense and defense during large-scale battles.
to be honest.
They need to take on the responsibilities of urban management officers, auxiliary police officers, firefighters, sentries, property management staff, violent debt collectors, and old gatekeepers all at once.
The army only intervenes when it encounters troublemakers that cannot be subdued.
Their excitement stemmed not from the possession of these rights, but from the fact that the reserves would only be selected from among the free citizens!
In other words.
They were able to enjoy the same treatment as free people, despite being serfs!
...
Seeing their excited expressions, Richard nodded in satisfaction.
Of the nine guards, seven had not yet grasped the power of life; according to the classification, they also belonged to the reserve force.
But this situation won't last long. After being force-fed large amounts of life-giving food, they will soon be able to enter the extraordinary realm.
and so.
He needs to prepare a reserve force in advance to participate in the security and defense of the future territory.
Although these people are still thin and weak, after eating meat paste with plenty of oil for a few days, their energy and spirit are already different from before.
Training them sooner will allow us to establish Chifeng's army structure sooner.
Once they have accumulated enough extra work points, they can be converted into free citizens on the spot, and subsequent training will then follow naturally.
They are all among the most hardworking and diligent people, and they deserve to reap the rewards of their fate.
...
Just then.
A rather tall and strong male serf raised his hand, his face showing some hesitation.
"master..."
"Female serfs are physically weaker, and they might be a hindrance in battle. Why don't we put them in charge of logistics?"
"Let us men handle the fighting."