usatvline Chapter 82 Full-Time Soldiers
Chapter 82 Full-Time Soldiers
Chapter 82 Full-Time Soldiers
On October 12, 1305, after investing more than thirty pounds, construction on several sites on the Isle of Holly was on track. This was because the timber and stone were all cut from Roger's own land, and the grain was taken from the manor's granary.
Roger had already named the two factories the First Saltworks and the Second Saltworks, which would respectively boil coarse salt and process refined salt. The two factories would be called the "Campbell Saltworks" (Note).
The martial arts tournament on Arun Island will begin in three days, and the autumn planting at the Milk House Manor's self-operated camp is basically complete.
Roger handed over all matters concerning the construction of Holly Island, which was now on track, to the grumpy face and the young horseman for assistance, while he himself, along with Marne Olaf and others, began preparations for the tournament.
In the lobby on the first floor of Milk House Manor, Roger was having dinner with his men.
Lately, all the key members of Milk House Manor have been running around and busy with the Holly Island project. One is in charge of timber supply, another is in charge of stone quarrying, one is in charge of supervision, and another is in charge of coordination.
Roger should feel lucky that the guys around him were willing to do their jobs well, even though theoretically the saltworks on Holly Island had nothing to do with them, and Roger didn't pay them any extra for building Holly Island.
After all the hard work, there was bound to be a reward. Roger had the plump cook prepare a sumptuous dinner to entertain everyone.
"For the tournament, the Baron has requisitioned two of our ships. After the tournament, Drywood Stick, Old Fisherman, and Little Henchman will take the fishermen of Ramlash out to sea in their Nol ships to fish."
"I've arranged for people to build two new fish-curing workshops in Ramrush using the leftover timber scraps from Holly Island. Although fish-curing is cheap, it's still more profitable than simply selling fresh fish and coarse salt, so it's still a source of income." The man with the bitter face chewed on some roasted meat and reported the fish-curing plan to Roger.
Roger had said that he would make any decision that would benefit the development of Milk House Manor, but he still couldn't help wanting Roger's affirmative answer.
Roger certainly would.
"Furthermore, the construction on Holly Island is on track, and I estimate that even with a slow and meticulous approach, it should be completed by the end of October. I've already calculated the wages for the craftsmen on Holly Island: the blacksmith earns the most, six pence a day; his apprentice earns two pence a day; the bricklayer and carpenter earn three pence a day."
'
Roger waved his hand, signaling the man with the sour face to just give the result.
"I've roughly calculated that the craftsmen's wages for the past two weeks are two pounds and seven shillings, with payments agreed upon every two weeks and again upon completion. The project is expected to last another twenty days, so in total, we need to pay the craftsmen five pounds and eight shillings."
"Of course, the artisans who were sent to the textile workshops are a different story."
Roger nodded. "These past few days, Baron John has been preparing for the tournament and has conscripted a lot of laborers. After the tournament, the autumn planting season will be almost over. We'll recruit another batch of idle farmers to work on Holly Island and speed up the construction. Both factories on the Salt Flats have stopped operating. We need to finish them as soon as possible and start them up before winter to produce the first batch of refined salt from the new fields and then trade it south."
Roger picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp. "Don't be stingy with the craftsmen's wages and food supplies. Add a meat meal every now and then."
"I have to find a way to keep these craftsmen."
The man with the bitter face looked up, his face full of surprise and doubt. "Master, keep them? What's the point of keeping them once the matter on Holly Island is finished? These craftsmen have nothing to do, and we still have to spend money and food to support them."
"Once the Holly Island factory is completed, I will immediately begin building two barracks next to the Milk House Manor. After the barracks are finished, I have other plans. There's plenty of work to do, and I won't be able to stay idle."
"Build barracks? For whom? Marne has his own house, and Olaf and Baldy have already been settled in."
Roger looked up at the increasingly gloomy sky outside the door. "The Baron wants me to restore my army as soon as possible. The farm soldiers on the manor are too weak. I need to recruit some more full-time soldiers."
"A full-time soldier?" The man with the bitter face didn't understand this new term, and the others all looked at Roger.
"Just like Olaf and the bald ponytail guy, they don't have to do farming except for fighting. I will provide them with food and pay their wages."
Roger's plan for off-the-job soldiers differed from the "military service fief" soldiers like Marne and Engels. They were professional soldiers who did not actually cultivate the land, so their expenses would far exceed those of the farm soldiers.
The man with the sour face fell silent. He had been punished for advising Sir Colin against waging war, so he had never been willing to discuss military matters.
"Remember this: tell them in advance that the Milk House Manor will also be building barracks, so they can focus on their work and not worry about having nothing to do."
The man with the bitter face nodded in agreement, but his tightly furrowed brows were filled with worry. At this rate of extravagance from his master, the Milk House Manor would go bankrupt in a few days. Suddenly, the roasted meat in his mouth no longer tasted good. "Master, the old lady is waiting for me to check the autumn grain accounts. I'll go now."
Just as the man with the bitter face left his seat, a servant or serf came in to report to Roger that Lord Gildonan had brought his grandson to visit the manor.
Roger had been so busy lately that he had almost forgotten about the old knight, so he quickly went to the manor gate to greet him personally.
The old knight and his grandson each rode a mongrel horse, followed by two servants who drove an oxcart loaded with beef.
The cart was half full of goods, including cheese and beer, and three sheep followed behind the oxcart. Most notably, four jousting lances protruded from the oxcart.
What you think about comes true.
Roger had to admire the old knight's gift-giving skills. Right now, he needed to practice riding a lance intensively. Arran Island hadn't held a tournament for many years, and they didn't usually have any lances for tournaments. Roger was thinking of borrowing a few from the Baron's Castle.
"Sir Roger, I've heard you've been busy managing the manor lately, and I guessed you haven't had time to make jousting lances. Luckily, I recently had someone make quite a few for me, and I've picked out a few of the best ones to send to you." The old knight, though riding a jack-of-all-trades, was full of energy.
"Sir Gildonan, are you also going to participate in the tournament?" Roger heard from the old knight that he intended to personally take to the field.
The old knight patted his chest and said heartily, "Recently, I've suddenly felt invigorated, and I sometimes even have to hold on for a while when I wake up in the morning."
This caused everyone to burst into laughter.
Roger finished laughing and glanced at the young man huddled behind the old knight. He had slender fingers, smooth skin, and a thin build. Most importantly, his eyes were shifty and he had none of the old knight's demeanor.
Roger suddenly understood why the old knight had dragged his aged body onto the field himself.
As the saying goes, better to be lucky than early. Before the banquet in the lobby on the first floor had ended, Roger immediately had the plump cook prepare two more dishes and invited the old knight and his grandson to take their seats.
The old knight ate his salt-braised meat with Campbell's Knight bread with relish.
Roger and the old knight were not close friends and had few common topics to discuss. Fortunately, the old knight was cheerful and not arrogant. He took the initiative to start funny topics at the banquet and was willing to chat and laugh with Mar and others, so the banquet was quite relaxed.
After lunch, the old knight took his leave, leaving behind his weak grandson who had been cowering at the edge of the table, and declared that Roger could beat and scold him as he pleased.
Roger was not satisfied with this weakling from the first moment he saw him; he had delicate skin and a coy, effeminate manner.
But one can't refuse a gift, and since the old knight brought over cattle, sheep, fine wine, lances, and equipment, Roger naturally felt embarrassed to refuse. He thought he would take the knight in and train him for a few days, and the weakling would eventually leave if he couldn't handle it.
Everyone rested or went about their business. Roger, having eaten and drunk his fill, decided to see what this weakling was really made of, so he called him to the study on one side of the hall.
Roger left the weakling aside and went about handling several routine matters, mostly concerning the Milk House Manor Court. The bitter-faced man had already compiled them into a book, which were nothing more than trivial matters such as a farmer's cow eating a tenant's vegetables, a serf wanting to get married and hoping for a reduction in marriage tax, or some tenants not fulfilling their obligations during the autumn plowing and planting season and needing to be punished, waiting for Roger to judge and decide.
Roger looked at the trivial matters with impatience, while the weakling stood with his hands clenched and his head down, not daring to breathe.
It's no wonder that this incurred Baron John's deep disgust.
"What's your name?" Roger finally spoke, having put down his quill pen, even though he already knew the weakling's name.
"Senan, Senan Gildonan." The weakling still kept his head down.
"Look up when you speak. Your father and grandfather were heroes, so how come you've become like this?"
"You'll be living in the stable from now on. I'll have the pockmarked stableman make room for you."
As a descendant of knights, even a squire should be distinguished from a servant. Roger could have arranged for him to live in a kitchen, a study, or at the very least, a hall or corridor. However, Roger deliberately arranged for him to live with livestock, hoping to provoke his anger.
Understanding anger is a way of preserving self-respect, which is a good thing. I guess this pampered little rascal is about to throw a tantrum.
But the weakling only looked up for a moment in surprise, then lowered his head again.
Roger was utterly disappointed. He wasn't even angry, he was so weak.
"Let's find a place to stay in the stable."
The weakling offered no resistance and turned to leave.
"Wait, I heard you always hide in your study. You really enjoy reading?" Roger recalled the old knight saying he liked to hide in his study, and assumed he must be able to read and write. If that was the case, then Roger would have to reassess his value.
"No, sir, I don't like those obscure symbols; I only like drawing."
Roger thought to himself, "Well, a man who should be wielding a spear and a sword has fallen in love with painting instead of reading and writing. This is not the Renaissance era, where painting is utterly useless."
"Can't you write at all?" Roger tried one last time.
"I learned a dozen or so Latin letters in church, but I haven't learned the others yet."
Roger sighed, rubbing his forehead, "I haven't even finished learning a few Latin letters yet, I'm giving up."
"Young stable boy, that's the guy sitting next to you just now. From now on, you'll work for him." Roger had no choice but to entrust this weakling to the young stable boy, hoping he could do some odd jobs.
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