Beside the low and pale fences, the branches of the summer oak trees extended beyond the barriers, with a few song thrushes perched on the new tender shoots, emitting sharp chirping sounds.

The glass-like sunlight shone on the backs of the war horses nibbling at the fresh grass, reflecting a lustrous, metallic sheen.

Mira's body swayed gently with the warhorse, and the luxurious short sword at his waist clinked crisply against his belt buckle.

This gilded short sword was inlaid with fine gems and silver reliefs.

This single purchase cost Mira a whole 12 gold pounds, and the three suits he bought added another 6 gold pounds.

This consumption alone took nearly half of the 40 gold pounds given to him by Grand Duke Moliat.

His companions all advised him to buy cattle, sheep, houses, and land back in his hometown, but Mira did not agree.

Good education and eloquence, handsome looks, combined with these status-revealing attires, were an entry ticket to the upper class.

Mira always thought judging by appearance was shallow, but couldn't resist the prevailing trend; he hated the smell of makeup but had to apply a little on his face.

Walking on the curved grassy paths, Mira was followed by four hundred North Foot Knights, walking alongside Busak, who came to greet them.

These four hundred Extraordinary Knights were called knights, yet they rode either donkeys or mules, and even if they had horses, they were short ones.

Just means of transportation.

Matched with these donkeys and mules were the knights' peasant-like beards and weathered faces.

As knights from Mountain County, they couldn't lounge in a manor indulging in food, drink, and play like knights from the plains.

Even as knights, due to barren lands, they had to go out to work as mercenaries to earn money, much like laborers.

Just that one was an industrial laborer, and the other was a military laborer.

They came here under the instruction of Grand Duke Moliat, to help the Salvation Army at Joan of Arc Castle.

Despite complaining about the lack of pay, under Moliat's authority, the North people cobbled together over four hundred Mountain Knights.

They set out on March 1st to support the Salvation Army, and finally arrived on March 11th, only to be told they were late.

The orders were gone, Joan of Arc Castle had been seized, and they couldn't even taste a bite of the spoils.

Luckily, the leader of the Salvation Army, Horn, was willing to accommodate them, so it was not a wasted trip.

The leader of this group of North Knights was Mira.

Mira was a Kush Knight from North County, whose ancestors, like Carl Black Knight's, were feudal Kush tribal lords.

Under the invasion of Falan and Leia nobility, Mira's great-grandfather had to retreat from the fertile plains to the barren and cold mountains.

Since then, flat fields became their sweetest dreams every night.

Looking at the endless fences, crisscrossing streams, and the wet furrows between the paddy fields ahead, many North Knights exhibited expressions of greed and jealousy.

"You're quite good at hiding those gold pounds, huh? Take them away!"

Mira's ears twitched slightly, and he lifted his eyelids to look in the direction of the voice.

Amongst a few fertile fields, in the woods shaded by trees, in front of a dark monastery, hundreds of monks and priests were driven out by the war monks of the Black Hat Army.

Earlier, the war monk, who shouted "take them away," was disdainfully tossing two smelly gold coins into a box on the side, pinching them with his index finger and thumb.

"This is Church property, and they have been convicted of aiding the devil. All assets are to be confiscated, and retrospective litigation will commence in the coming months," Busak said, shading his eyes with his hand.

"So many people, can they handle it all?"

The usually arrogant monks were all hanging their heads in despair or crying and pounding the ground, a sense of satisfaction welled up in Mira's heart.

"No need, just convict a few with lighter sentences, then rely on pointing out others to reduce sentences. With their help in the trials, it's quick, and besides, we have our legal scholar Marshall for review."

"Oh... hey, has His Majesty Horn said anything about the direction for confiscated lands?" Mira could feel the breathing of the North Knights behind him getting heavier.

Their homeland North County was a small plateau, having nothing but desolate grasslands and wild cattle.

There, a few acres of land were enough for people to fight over, let alone these fertile fields crisscrossed with paths.

"We are currently just in a custodial state, and His Majesty is quite troubled about how to handle these lands," Busak openly shared their current predicament, "These days, His Majesty has been summoning knowledgeable individuals from all over the Kush Territory to discuss the current situation, though in my view, probably it will still be a hundred-house system reform."

Mira didn't rashly inquire what the hundred-house system was, thinking it would make him look too deliberate in such a public setting.

To change the subject, Mira pointed to a small tent by the roadside.

"What is happening over there?"

Under the fluttering sun gear banner, he saw farmers lining up in front of the tent.

On either side of the line, black-clad soldiers holding long spears sternly scolded farmers who tried to cut in line.

"Conscription," Busak's voice took on a darker tone, "The previous battle was fought too fiercely."

Although they had captured the northern part of Kush Territory in Langsande County, the knights from the southern Jinhe Town Tbe Plain still eyed them covetously.

In early spring March, during farming season, and with famine hitting, Horn had no choice but to order another round of conscription.

Currently, after reorganization and tallying, the Salvation Army needed to recruit 1,028 new soldiers.

According to Hakuto's suggestion, it would be best to recruit an additional 2,000 new soldiers alongside filling the current vacancies.

However, taking away more than 3,000 fit young men from the surrounding areas all at once during the busy farming season would be too destructive to Kush Territory's agriculture.

Of course, conscription must proceed, just split into three phases, firstly recruiting reinforcements to fill positions.

The second phase would recruit another two regiments of 1,000 in April, and depending on the situation, decide whether to recruit a third phase.

After all, the Salvation Army was a standing army with significant financial pressure, so caution was necessary until the economy normalized.

"Do farmers willingly enlist?" Mira thought for a moment and understood, "Spring famine and floods, at least as a soldier, they have food, maybe even a salary."

"How much is their daily pay?" A Mountain Knight asked curiously.

"New soldiers earn 2 Dinars, veterans earn 4 Dinars."

Mira visibly stiffened: "How much did you say just now? Weekly wage?"

Mira wasn't the only one; the Foot Knights behind him all simultaneously perked up their ears.

"Not weekly, it's daily pay. Paid weekly, non-war time, new soldiers get 7 Dinars, veterans 14 Dinars, doubled during wartime."

"Oh? You mean they get paid even when there's no fighting?"

Mira exchanged a glance with his lieutenant behind him, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.

These Mountain Knights had to toil as mercenaries all year, risking their farm income back home, only barely scraping together over 10 gold pounds a year.

Sometimes, employers even delayed paying wages to the mountain folks, requiring them to cause public disturbances or even threaten to kidnap the employer to claim seven or eight tenths of it.

The Salvation Army under Horn, without engaging in warfare, could earn 6 gold pounds a year just sitting, not even counting any spoils.

Who really are the knights here?

"And compensation? Is there any pension?"

"If one dies in battle, a quarter of the monthly salary is dispatched as a pension, with a minimum daily subsidy of 1 Dinar, and children can attend the Vatican Royal School free of charge," Busak turned to answer the North Knight asking.

"...then, by that standard, I can do this job too."

"I'm a knight, no need for training, I could start as a veteran."

"One last question, where can I sign up?"

"You guys can't," Busak shook his head, "We're currently only recruiting soldiers from Kush Territory, with preference given to the Defensive Army and farmers."

"I can also be part of the Defensive Army, I can negotiate too."

"Watch your words," Mira scolded the Mountain Knight in a low voice, "Our liege is Grand Duke Moliat, you're being too disrespectful."

The reprimanded knight mumbled under his breath, "But isn't the oath yet to be sworn?"

Busak acted as if he hadn't heard their conversation: "We can employ you at the market price, weekly settlement with no delay. Meanwhile, stay garrisoned in Gray Furnace Town."

"Accommodations included?"

"Yes."

"Great!" The North Knights instantly cheered.

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