In the dimming light of the evening, Resarite’s eyes sparkled upon hearing the final words, his lips curving into a faint smile.

His face radiated confidence as he spoke, “Fear not, my lord. Once you’ve handled the logistical concerns, leave the art of war to me.”

Howard, hearing this, felt a surge of satisfaction.

He patted Resarite’s shoulder affirmatively and summoned Alonso with a gesture.

Alonso, with the swiftness of a hawk, dashed over.

Howard instructed him, “Alonso, go and fetch Vettel. I have matters to discuss with him.”

With Alonso off on his mission, Resarite took charge of the moment.

He ordered the soldiers to form orderly ranks, distributing weapons and armor.

A drill unfolded before them, the soldiers moving as one under his command.

Meanwhile, Howard embraced his responsibilities, understanding the need to embody the image of an exemplary lord at such times.

He stepped out from the shadows into the sun’s embrace, casting his gaze over the troops.

Resarite, with a hearty laugh, also emerged from the shadows into the sunlit arena, his brawny arms relaxed at his sides, exuding a sense of pride.

Shortly after, Vettel arrived, jogging briskly towards them.

Howard briefed Vettel on the situation and indicated that he should collaborate with Resarite to determine a budget for the military expenses.

Under Howard’s supervision, the two did not quarrel.

Vettel proposed a military expenditure of two gold coins and fifty silver coins.

Resarite expressed his satisfaction but couldn’t help inquiring, “Hmm? I recall that the spoils from the day we breached the city’s walls weren’t so abundant. Now, as we face autumn and winter, there isn’t much in terms of economic income. Where does the castle find such funds?”

Vettel, with a mischievous grin, enlightened Resarite about the matters related to their unique local products.

Resarite’s face broke into a knowing smile as he said, “Vettel, you have grown.”

Seeing Resarite and Vettel reach an agreement on military expenses without any heated dispute was a genuine relief for Howard.

He had harbored concerns about a potential quarrel between the two, especially in Vettel’s absence.

However, the amicable and constructive nature of their dialogue put his worries to rest.

With the issue of military funding resolved, Vettel departed from the training ground to visit Kenfa Village.

It was undeniable that Howard had previously overlooked the potential of Kenfa Village, once under the management of Patch.

But now, with the village surrounded by a plethora of business opportunities, its profitability was unmistakable.

Vettel’s journey to oversee the pearl fishing operations revealed his hands-on approach as the finance minister.

The shift in Howard’s perspective towards Kenfa Village, from an undervalued asset to a lucrative venture, mirrored the evolving dynamics of leadership and economic foresight within the realm.

Resarite, the Minister of Military Affairs, not to be outdone, turned to Howard and suggested, “My lord, now that we have resolved the issue of military funds, why don’t we begin recruiting additional personnel? I had initially thought that our castle’s budget could only support an army of about 1100 soldiers. However, with the substantial amount Vettel has secured, honestly, we could easily maintain a force of over 2500.”

Howard, thrilled by this prospect, exclaimed, “That’s wonderful news! Then let’s recruit up to 2500 soldiers.

With that, I’ll have an army of 2500 at my command once we march to war.”

Resarite, however, cautioned, “It’s not that simple, my lord. The difference between maintaining 870 and 1100 soldiers, a mere two to three hundred, is manageable in terms of funding, housing, training facilities, and basic equipment supplies. But to recruit and accommodate 2500 soldiers, we face a different challenge. Apart from other considerations, our current castle’s architectural capacity simply cannot house that many people.”

Howard sought Resarite’s expertise, eager to delve into the specifics of the construction issues at hand.

Resarite explained, “Take the training field, for instance. Its current size suffices for the number of soldiers we have now, but for a force of 2500, it would be woefully inadequate.”

“We’d need to either expand the existing training grounds or construct a new one to meet daily requirements. Then there’s the matter of housing for the soldiers.”

“Castle Fernsouth simply doesn’t have enough space to accommodate more than around 1100 men. Any more than that, and we’d struggle to find room for them. As for the basic equipment supply, it varies depending on the situation.”

“After all, some lords pay little heed to their subjects’ wellbeing. Their soldiers are often sent into battle wielding nothing more than pitchforks and wearing mere tunics, usually never to return.”

“However, regardless of the circumstances, as a military commander, I believe that providing the minimum necessary equipment to each soldier is imperative. It’s their lifeline on the battlefield.”

Howard nodded, absorbing the information.

“It seems that the architecture of the castle is quite a complex matter. No wonder some castles can muster seven or eight hundred men, while others can raise over a thousand. It all depends on the limitations imposed by the castle’s structure.”

“Yes,” Resarite confirmed, “the architecture of these castles does undergo changes with each upgrade, but these changes are not drastic. To reach the capacity where a single castle can muster 2500 troops at once, probably only the likes of the world-renowned Constantinople Castle could achieve such a feat.”

After pondering for a moment, Howard proposed a hypothesis: “Does that mean, if one aims to amass an army of 3,000, the simplest approach would be to control three different castles, rather than exhaustively upgrading a single one?”

Resarite nodded in agreement, “That’s correct. Moreover, upgrading buildings takes time and a substantial amount of gold coins. In the short term, it’s not particularly cost-effective.”

“However, in the long run, the more troops a castle can regularly summon, the more manpower you can mobilize without extra expense.”

“Furthermore, consider the heavy cavalry – their recruitment and training aren’t instantaneous. They require specific structures like stables or knights’ tournament grounds. ”

“These constructions are costly, but if one aspires to dominate the land, heavy cavalry is an indispensable, decisive force. Balancing the expenditure on construction with the need for these facilities is a matter that requires careful consideration.”

Howard took these insights to heart and thanked Resarite for his wisdom.

With this newfound knowledge, Howard realized how much more he had to learn about military affairs compared to Resarite.

Having grasped the essence of Resarite’s explanations, Howard understood why Resarite had once managed to defeat Duke William with merely the soldiers from three Baronies.

He recognized Resarite’s genuine military prowess and contemplated delegating more authority to him, refraining from meddling in matters where he was less knowledgeable.

Howard earnestly commended Resarite for his expertise and entrusted him with overseeing the day’s new soldier recruitment ceremony.

Initially, Howard had planned to act as an examiner during the recruitment, but his perspective had shifted.

He said to Resarite, “Take the role of the examiner, Resarite. There is expertise in specialization. This recruitment ceremony is crucial to the success of the upcoming war. I have confidence in you and entrust this task to you, hoping you won’t let me down.”

Resarite, his hand thoughtfully propped under his chin, gazed at a nearby bow rack, seemingly lost in contemplation.

Outside the castle, a buzz of activity had begun.

Young men, drawn by the call to enlist, were gathering, hoping that the war would bring prestige, status, salary, and spoils of victory to their families.

Howard sat on a bench in the shade, with Alonso standing beside him.

Just then, Anna arrived.

Upon seeing Howard, she burst with curiosity, “Hey, Howard, I saw a crowd at the castle gates. What’s going on?”

Howard felt a sense of amusement at Anna’s timely arrival, making the situation more interesting.

He regarded Anna with a sense of trust and camaraderie, after all, she had graduated as a Knight Squire under his tutelage. .𝘤𝘰

Howard’s expression mixed self-mockery with a bitter smile as he comfortably responded to Anna, “Nothing much, just that our Castle Fernsouth is recruiting soldiers today. Those who heard the news have come to enlist.”

Anna’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she said eagerly, “Oh, oh, oh! So it’s an enlistment ceremony. This is a joyous occasion! For the castle, it means the addition of new strength. And for these men, it’s an opportunity for advancement.”

Resarite, who initially intended to ignore the conversation, felt a sudden heaviness in his heart upon hearing Anna’s words.

His face, previously light with a smile, turned somber as he seriously addressed Anna, “Lady Anna, please be mindful of your words. Even if the enlistment ceremony seems festive, it is for the purpose of eventual deployment. In battle, where soldiers either perish or are wounded, how can it possibly be considered a joyous event!”

Anna, a tad upset, tugged at Howard’s sleeve and swayed her body like a little girl, pouting, “Howard, Resarite is being mean to me.”

Howard chuckled softly, patting Anna’s hand, and said, “Resarite is a veteran of the battlefield. His words are not without merit.”

At the same time, Howard pondered internally.

For the soldiers, the chance for advancement was a difficult prospect.

Transitioning from villagers or castle residents to registered conscripts merely earned them a bit more respect among their peers.

In the eyes of the nobility, these men remained commoners.

Anna’s reaction revealed her limited understanding of the noble ethos.

Resarite, seeing Anna disregard his words and instead turn to Howard for comfort, felt a twinge of displeasure. He let out a soft huff, his dissatisfaction clear.

Updated from 𝑖𝘳.𝒸ℴ𝑚