Chapter 39: Chapter 35: Militia Planning
"There’s an eel!"
Martin quickly bent down and grabbed the eel in his hand, gripping it tightly!
"I’ve got one too!"
On the other side, another slave shouted loudly, holding a thirty-centimeter-long eel in his hand that twisted and struggled, looking quite enticing.
"Quick, get a water bucket to store the eels! There must be more here, catch more and maybe the Lord will reward us!"
The slaves on the shore immediately sprang into action, grabbing buckets and jumping into the mud pit.
Eels have strong life force, and when their habitat dries up or the water levels drop drastically, they often burrow into the mud.
At this time, the eels’ metabolism slows down, entering a dormant state to survive the dry period.
When the water level rises or it rains, they emerge and become active again.
Of course, if there is an extreme drought, they will also die in the cracked mud.
The slaves didn’t understand these principles; they only knew that eels could often be found by digging in the mud.
And eels could be roasted or stewed to eat, paired with ale, it was a rare delicacy.
Martin and others were responsible for churning the mud, and the slaves on the shore jumped down to pick up behind them. Soon, they were about to fill a bucket, nearly thirty pounds.
"As the one who discovered the eels, the Lord’s reward will certainly include me, haha!"
Martin secretly rejoiced when he suddenly noticed a shadow much thicker than his thumb burrowing into the mud not far away!
A big one!
Without thinking, Martin dropped the shovel and rushed over, grabbing it directly and lifting it up!
"A big one! Over a meter long!"
Martin shouted excitedly, suddenly realizing this creature was twisting its body, its head lunging towards him!
"That’s a snake! Drop it!"
A slave shouted from behind, and Martin hastily let go, slipping in the panic and falling backward into the mud pit!
"Damn!"
Martin cursed angrily, but before he could get up, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his lower body!
He hurriedly looked down and suddenly saw a tail in front of him!
"Ah!"
...
...
"We’ll first expand the militia unit, those fifteen selected from the slave team last time will train with the militia under your guidance."
In the wooden house’s hall, Luo De was discussing future plans with Durant.
Luo De couldn’t just rely on Gang Le; training townspeople was most important.
"But they can’t neglect their work; have them train intensively two or three afternoons a week."
After thinking for a moment, Luo De added, "Those who participate in the training will get half a pound of meat at dinner on the day training ends."
"You determine the specific plan."
Initially, Luo De considered implementing military discipline reforms, but given their training frequency, he felt it wouldn’t be effective.
Two or three days a week of orders and prohibitions, and afterward, they would revert, making it futile.
Now is not the time.
Luo De didn’t have the financial and manpower resources for a full-time army yet, and could only prepare with a reserve militia.
After this year’s autumn harvest, Luo De was confident he could achieve it.
"Yes, my lord, I will have a detailed report for you starting tomorrow."
Durant nodded in agreement.
He prepared to leave but was stopped by Luo De.
Luo De glanced at the darkening sky,
"It’s dinner time. Stay and join us."
"Yes, Lord Baron."
Durant sat back at the table.
It was very common for a knight and lord to have dinner together.
Although formally a master-servant relationship, often they were more like friends and comrades.
Even after a lord got married, knights were often invited to the lord’s family banquet.
Durant didn’t think much of it until Avril arrived, followed by three silhouettes.
All women.
"Good evening, Avril... Miss,"
Durant stood up and bowed, a little nervous.
"Good evening, Sir Durant." Avril replied with a sweet smile.
Luo De gave Avril a nod of approval, poured her a glass of water, and added a spoonful of honey, saying,
"As I said before, being always alone isn’t good."
"Since Miss Avril is here, I’ve asked her to select these three young ladies for you."
Surrounded by men, Durant was never going to find romance on his own; Luo De had no patience left for him to stumble upon it.
The three in front spanned a wide age range, visually judged by Luo De to be from eighteen to thirty.
After a brief hesitation, Durant nodded, "Thank you for your kindness."
"Then please let Avril introduce them."
Luo De pointed at the young girl on the far right and said, "Let’s start with her."
Avril nodded and stepped forward to introduce:
"She is the carpenter’s daughter, Ruth, nineteen years old, hardworking, and has learned a lot of carpentry from her father."
Ruth nodded, nervously bowing.
"The second is Stella, twenty-four, a hunter, who migrated from the Black Stone Mountain Range."
"The third is Tyr, thirty-four, an ordinary but capable woman who lives with her father after her husband’s death, raising five rabbits, a rooster, and seven hens."
All three weren’t too thin, particularly Tyr, who was plump and seemed capable of bearing children.
Among commoners, being thin was seen as weak and unhealthy, unable to work.
Such women were not favored.
The prettiest was Stella the hunter, with a tall, over one-seventy figure that stood out among the three, not particularly beautiful, but with striking sharp green eyes.
Ruth had a rounded face, shyly bowed her head, nervously rubbing her hands, looking very honest.
After the introductions, Avril sat back beside Luo De, quietly asking Durant, "How do you feel? Any girl catch your eye?"
"They all seem nice."
Luo De rubbed his chin, somewhat immersed, nodding.
Just as he was about to comment, Avril tugged his sleeve and reminded him.
Luo De suddenly snapped back, "Of course, it mainly depends on you, Durant."
Unable to refuse Luo De’s goodwill, Durant began to seriously contemplate.
The room fell into silence.
Luo De couldn’t resist, actively suggesting, "Or you can find more opportunities to meet and talk with them later?"
"Good!"
Without hesitation, Durant immediately nodded in agreement.
Avril nodded, saying, "Since it’s already dark outside, shall Sir Durant escort these three ladies home?"
"Great idea," Luo De agreed.
"Yes, Lord Baron."
Durant took a deep breath, stood up, and forced a smile, looking at the three women and extending his hand,
"Ladies, please."
Durant was very gentlemanly, but his movements were also very stiff.
It made Luo De and Avril quietly chuckle.
After Durant left, Luo De sighed, "If I hadn’t intervened, Durant might really have been alone forever."
"The Lord should worry about such matters for his knight."
Avril nodded, tasting the honey water in her cup, continuing to stir.
Shortly after Durant left, Martha, the kitchen supervisor, came in to report that dinner was ready and could be served at any moment.
"Durant missed out; dinner now remains for just the two of us to enjoy together."
Luo De had initially planned for Durant to choose someone and for the four of them to have dinner together, but that plan fell through.
Avril took a small sip of honey water, nodding,
"This is great! This way, when Sir Durant picks his bride, I can still have a sumptuous dinner."
Dinner was soon served, the main dish being apple cinnamon honey pie and sweet barley porridge, accompanied by roasted venison with herbs, smoked herring, root vegetable stew, and rosemary snake soup.
"Snake soup?"
Luo De was momentarily surprised, asking, "Did the hunting team bring it back?"