Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 179 - 179 102 Barracks Construction and Troop Training

179: Chapter 102: Barracks Construction and Troop Training 179: Chapter 102: Barracks Construction and Troop Training On the eastern side of Selva, in the bustling logging site where young men swung their axes to fell the trees amidst creaking roars, Mr.

Brian Sr.

scanned his surroundings before turning to look at Leon and the others.

“Lord, how many soldiers do you need the barracks to accommodate for long-term garrisoning and training?”

“…Although I can only sustain a standing force of thirty men at the moment, I foresee that we will need to accommodate at least two hundred elite soldiers for daily living and training.” After estimating in his mind, Leon gave the old blacksmith a relatively redundant number.

Mr.

Brian Sr., knowing that the young knight before him might soon be granted a higher title, was not surprised that the future would require the power to independently command and lead an army.

Lifting his slightly limping step, Brian headed towards the direction of the river.

The group followed closely behind him, even passing the site where Olivia had killed Baron Dawson, circling around the woods on the east side for quite a distance before finally returning to the logging site.

“Your current envisioned area is too small.

A long-term garrison isn’t just a place for soldiers to sleep in the barracks.

Soldiers’ training requires much more spacious areas, separate cooking areas, storerooms, stables, medical camps, and defensive installations, perimeter spike trenches, walls, Arrow Towers…”

Recalling the familiar terrain and the climate of Selva through the seasons over the years, Mr.

Brian Sr.

pointed out a suggested location for his now officially serving Lord and gave an approximate estimation of the area.

Leon listened intently to his plan, and after a quick conversion based on the total area Mr.

Brian Sr.

suggested, the camp for two hundred soldiers was estimated to cover about 23 market mu, indeed nearly double the size originally envisioned by Leon and Azeryan.

“…With three villages minus the hands you’ll send to station at Longka, the remaining workforce of about a hundred people is more than sufficient, but we are short on construction craftsmen.

If you want to complete it quickly, relying on just seven or eight carpenters and a few roof workers to process materials and assist in construction, the efficiency is far too low.

I’m afraid as you said, we won’t be able to meet the approaching warfare timeline, and we’d have to abandon it midway.

And it’s not just carpenters, we also need a group of stone masons and livestock to transport building materials…”

Mr.

Brian Sr.

explained in great detail to the young people, simultaneously presenting a complete construction schedule and estimated costs.

Olivia watched her father, who spoke eloquently and taught everyone how to establish a military camp and train soldiers, feeling somewhat unfamiliar.

She had seen her father serious before.

But she had never seen him like this now, completely different from a commoner in demeanor and gaze.

Leon, who had always felt that the old blacksmith was no ordinary person, did not feel the same way as the young girl.

He focused on listening to Mr.

Brian Sr.’s proposal, realizing that to expediently complete the construction of the camp, besides hiring craftsmen from the local workforce, they would still need to recruit an additional dozen or so carpenters, at least ten stone masons, and some miscellaneous workers in nearby towns and villages.

The village lacked enough animal power; they needed to purchase five more oxen and five transport carts.

Fortunately, most of the timber and stone materials could be sourced locally around Selva.

Labor costs, buying ox carts, tools, equipment, and food supplies for all the workers…

The miscellaneous expenses totaled up, and to complete this fully-equipped fortress camp within just over two months, the total construction cost was estimated to be 146 gold crowns.

Luckily, this was a one-time expense, and they could afford it now…

Leon sighed, thinking about how quickly money comes and goes, and began calculating his finances.

The spoils of war initially obtained in Kantadar Gold Coins were completely spent after Azeryan was sent to purchase basic military equipment and food reserves.

Currently, he had only the 500 gold crowns Baron Eriv had burst upon him.

For everyday lives and livestock maintenance in the three domains, it cost 24 gold coins per month.

The newly recruited Heavy Guard and archers, these twenty-six full-time standing soldiers, cost about 36 gold coins per month for their salaries, food, and training maintenance.

The total long-term monthly expenditure was around 60 gold coins.

Now, it is February 5th in the year 673 of the Orland Calendar.

There are five months until the tax collection cycle of the three domains this year, around early July.

By July, Leon knew he would have only about 54 gold coins left in his pocket.

However, the income from the domains would naturally pick up then.

According to the statistics previously investigated and compiled by Azeryan, the total annual revenue of their three domains this year was approximately valued at 220 gold crowns.

So after the income of the domains in July, the funds could support them for over four months.

Even with the cost of maintaining the army and livestock, this could not yet achieve a balance of income and expenses.

However, even if nothing changes, they wouldn’t need to worry about money for at least the next eleven months, that is, until mid-January next year.

Of course, Leon was aware that once Baron Eriv’s army was fully mobilized and began to move, it was impossible that this year would pass without monumental changes.

Otherwise, why would he be so eager to recruit soldiers and establish a military camp?

…

By noon, except for a few workers left to rotate guarding the logging site’s materials, Leon and others dismissed the young workers to return to Selva for rest and lunch.