Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 170 New Territory

Chapter 171 New Territory

If the foundation is not solid, the ground will shake.

Establishing a rule is like building a house. If you don't patiently spend time laying a solid foundation, any hasty attempts will backfire on the ruler in the future.

The ten newly acquired villages are like this.

Peter's first order was to require the town government to send personnel to take over and renovate the ten newly incorporated villages.

Minister of Personnel, Old Sammy, dispatched personnel to investigate and identify willing and capable individuals within the new village as candidates for leadership positions. A list of positions—village chief, militia captain, tax accountant, herbalist, and tavern owner—was finalized and provided to Peter for consideration. Finally, Peter signed the appointment letters.

Tom, the Minister of Irrigation and Farmland Management, had just completed the collectivization reform within the Troskey Territory and hadn't even had a chance to rest before he was already in charge of the collectivization reform of ten newly incorporated villages. Fortunately, he had previous experience and the Irrigation and Farmland Management Department had a group of capable staff members, so he was already quite adept at the task.

Romeo, the Minister of Social Welfare, counted the population of the new territory, registered them, organized civilians to reclaim wasteland, recruited and resettled displaced people, and provided assistance to the elderly and infirm, so that the people could feel the difference of the new lord.

Urban, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, began to gather skilled workers such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and bricklayers from the new territory and incorporate them into modern workshops. He also explored the mineral and timber resources within the new territory.

Minister of Medicine and Healing, Emmerridge, began to emulate Lord Peter by taking his herbalist apprentices and selling or selling medicines produced by the Troskey Apothecary in the new territory at low prices or on credit, thus once again enhancing Peter's reputation for benevolence.

Minister of Culture and Propaganda, Little Sammy, along with two bards and a troupe of young men and women who loved to sing and dance, began touring various villages. Their performances included group songs such as "Thanksgiving for Peter's Atonement," "Victory Under the Lion's Banner," "Peter's Salvation," and "The Rainy Season in Itchinrowon," as well as a large-scale theatrical performance of "The Adventures of Peter the Great," all aimed at promoting the great image of Peter the Great.

Nebakov, in charge of the road and bridge project, mobilized engineers to direct prisoners to widen the road from Trossky to Turnov and Rovin. He also ordered the construction of a windmill, a modern tavern, and a herbal alchemy shop in each village of the new territory.

All these items, excluding personnel costs, would require a budget of 20,000 Groschen. Peter generously instructed Pavlena's finance department to make the payment and oversee the use of the funds.

In just five days, the new territory underwent tremendous changes.

At first, when the villagers of Rowen Village and Turnov Village learned that they had been sold to Lord Trotsky, they were terrified. This was because Baron Rowen and Count Turnov had previously portrayed Lord Trotsky Peter as a burly, red-haired Celtic monster with a huge mouth who ate two children at a time in order to recruit soldiers.

But with the entry of various departments of the town government, reforms began. They discovered that all matters, big and small, in the village were now managed, the notorious landlords were dealt with, the land was returned to the collective, and all the villagers became free citizens.

The lord has bestowed upon the village's land, forests, beaches, valleys, and lakes all for collective development. Individual taxes, mill taxes, and exorbitant levies have all disappeared, now collected collectively in the summer and autumn. Even the elevenths tax has become voluntary.

Everyone can finally have food to eat.

Some people even claimed that as long as you joined the militia, you could earn merit, and that merit would bring you long-term benefits, and you could even be granted private land with a tax rate of only 10%!

The villagers' desire to earn land through meritorious service grew uncontrollably, and a new militia was quickly established.

7 month 5 day.

Peter assembled eighty members of the Griffin Guard, and accompanied by Istvan and Cerouche, mounted their tall horses and began an armed tour of the new territory. He wanted to personally visit each village, see the situation for himself, and hear the voices of the people.

If the previous two armed parades were like flash mobs of chivalrous knights, this armed parade fully displayed the grandeur of a lord.

Peter was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with a scarlet griffin cloak on his back, and rode a tall, pure white horse. He was also draped in a warhorse skirt with gorgeous patterns, making him look extremely noble.

On either side stood two bodyguards clad in magnificent plate armor: Black Bartosh carried the Griffin family's griffin banner, while Eric carried the Troski territory banner, heads held high and chests puffed out.

Istvan and Therlush followed closely behind, both smiling.

Eighty members of the Lion Guard, led by their respective squad leaders, lined up in two rows, gripping their weapons tightly, and marched quickly in unison.

The parade was greeted with crowds and cheers from villagers wherever it went.

They first headed west to the five villages of Turnov. "These three villages have fertile land suitable for growing wheat and barley; the other two villages are known for their animal husbandry, where the pastures can support more cattle, sheep and warhorses."

Istvan's voice was clear and magnetic, and he was quite familiar with the situation in the five villages.

Upon arriving at the village where the Battle of Gaopo took place, the villagers joyfully poured out of the village to welcome them.

"I remember what the lord looked like, with hair like flames and a face like an angel."

"When the adults came to our village last time, they didn't harm us. They even had the soldiers clean our yard."

Carrying water.

"Now things are much better. We've become the adults' subjects. Taxes are lower, and we can finally eat."

"We will become free citizens again."

"What's so good about being a free citizen? Even if you run away, someone will still arrest you as an unemployed vagrant and sell you off."

I want to be Lord Peter's subject for the rest of my life.

"But once we become free citizens, we can choose to become militiamen or craftsmen! I've always wanted to be a carpenter, and I heard the Troski Carpenters' Workshop is hiring. I'm sure I'll be chosen!"

Peter listened to the crowd's words and nodded with satisfaction.

Upon arriving at the village center, based on the personnel list provided by the personnel department, the three candidates for village chief were brought before the horse. After observing the three briefly and asking them a few questions, a more energetic middle-aged man was chosen as the village chief, while the other two candidates were appointed as the tax accountant and the tavern owner.

"But sir, I don't know how to do accounts."

"Sir, there's no tavern in our village."

The other two people said with great trepidation that their small village did not have such conditions and facilities.

"You can learn to do accounting. There will be specialized accounting staff to teach you. However, if you still haven't learned by the time of the autumn harvest, I will dismiss you. If you make mistakes in the accounting that lead to tax evasion, I will hold you accountable and confiscate your property."

"There are no taverns to build. I will fund the construction of a tavern for your village, with 80% of the revenue going to the village. The better the tavern is run, the more income you will receive, but if you are found to be embezzling funds or falsifying accounts, your home will be confiscated."

"No, no, we wouldn't dare."

The two hurriedly knelt down and promised that they would keep careful records.

The newly appointed village chief looked at the two with a hint of envy. Managing money was the most lucrative job, and while he had gained the power to manage the village, he had lost control of the finances, which was somewhat imperfect. However, he dared not bring it up.

Afterward, Peter ordered the village militia to assemble, and after a long while, more than thirty people staggered out.

Peter immediately ordered ten members of the Lion Guard to stand in formation and be stationed there to train the militia. After they had passed the training, villagers would be appointed as militia captains.

Herbal doctors will be dispatched by the town government after the herbal alchemy workshop is built.

In this way, the basic management structure of a village—comprising the village chief, militia captain, tax accountant, herbalist, and tavern owner—is essentially established. As the basic infrastructure is gradually improved, the village's management will also become more sophisticated.

Just then.

"Tap, tap, tap"

With the sound of horses' hooves, Count Turnov and Conrad, the lone wolf guarding Turnov Castle, arrived.

When the town government came to claim the five villages, Count Turnov arranged for the officials to hand over ownership readily, but he himself did not show up. Now that Peter is personally inspecting the new territory, Count Turnov feels compelled to speak with him, as he is also afraid that Peter might misunderstand and think he harbors resentment.

Incidentally, he also hoped Peter would withdraw the Conrad Lion Guard stationed in the castle as soon as possible. Otherwise, he felt very insecure, fearing that Conrad would break into his bedroom in the middle of the night and chop off his head. This was not just his imagination, but was supported by actual combat records.

The two had sparred under the guise of a friendly match, and Count Turnov was shocked to find himself unable to win, even appearing to be at a disadvantage. This made him sigh inwardly, realizing that Peter Griffin had such a powerful knight! It also intensified his sense of helplessness.

Faced with Count Turnov's overtures and hints, Peter readily agreed. He immediately ordered Conrad to withdraw the Griffin Guard from the castle.

However, Istvan was then appointed as the deputy mayor of the five villages of Turnov, while Conrad's Lion Guard was stationed in the new villages in groups of ten to train the militia.

Well, we thought Lone Wolf was leaving, but it turns out there are thirty more warriors than before!

This made Turnov even more frustrated.

When will my miserable days end?

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