Chapter 831 Let me observe!

The spring breeze in March melted the snow, and the water level of the Nauan River broke free from the ice and snow and withering just like the green willows on both sides.

The flute-shaped boat was sailing on the Nauan River. The hull rose and fell with the waves, and the toilet in the cabin was rippling with green waves.

“vomit–“

Thierry retched, but forced himself to swallow the vomit in his throat.

He picked up the wine bag and took a sip of beer. He raised his head and looked at the dim and leaking cabin, feeling angry.

Throughout the cabin, pairs of lifeless eyes were blinking, and there was only the weak sounds of shaking dice and playing cards.

This cabin was filled with all kinds of supplies and personnel, and it was sticky and smelled of feet and feces.

This pair of young noblemen from France was practically hell.

Because the next counterattack was being organized, a large amount of supplies and troops needed to be transported to the front line, and the transportation capacity was very tight.

Although Horn agreed to their request, he was unable to spare a dedicated ship for them.

Even though they were a distinguished French delegation, and even though Thierry was a close aide to Prime Minister Lorenzo, he still had to stay in the cabin and mingle with these inferior people.

This is because the people of Qianhe Valley saw that the Franks were powerful, so they deliberately pretended to obey their requests.

But Thierry would not admit defeat. He insisted on going to the front line to see what the Battle of Marienboo was all about!

Leaning against the wet cabin wall, Thierry, exhausted, sat there drowsily.

The rest of the observation group members were naturally unable to move, and only a few middle-aged nobles were able to speak a few words to the Skitarii.

Time seemed to have lost its meaning. I didn’t know how much time had passed. Just when Thierry was about to fall asleep, there was suddenly a commotion in the cabin.

Thierry was pulled awake by Abaz from his sleep. He opened his eyes half-heartedly, but squinted again because of the shininess of the sunlight.

The cabin door opened, a vertical ladder dropped down, and the sailor stuck his head out: “Let’s go, we’ve arrived. Hurry up, there are still supplies to be transported.”

Following the crowded crowd, members of the Fran Military Observation Group climbed onto the deck one by one.

The remaining chill of the spring breeze blew on Thierry’s face, and he became much more sober.

“Line up, line up!”

“Go one by one, don’t rush.”

“Move forward, don’t just stand there on the deck. I’m talking to you!”

Thierry and the others were roughly grabbed by the sleeves by the gendarmes, and before they could even enjoy a few minutes of fresh air, they were stuffed back into the ranks of the crusading army filled with the stench of sweat.

Walking down the dock and out of the fishing village, Thierry and other members of the military observation group followed the reinforcements of the Crusaders towards the barracks.

After recovering from dizziness, Thierry breathed in fresh air, refreshed himself, and immediately got back to work.

Pulling out a small leather-bound notebook, he first handed the Skitarii a gift of beer before asking.

“Why did you all decide to join the army? This is a dangerous front line.”

“Give us money. New recruits get 60 dinars, veterans get double that, sergeants get double that, officers get double that again, and chapter masters get even more.”

“If you are awarded a medal, you will also receive an allowance!”

“Yeah, how much money does this cost? Double and double…”

Venise quickly figured out the answer: “Less than 100 gold pounds a year, a middle-class family, right? And he’s the captain of a regiment?”

You know, the current regiment is the largest organization in the Holy Alliance.

Above the Chapter Master, the only one left is the Commander-in-Chief Horn. This rank, equivalent to that of a general, only pays 100 gold pounds a year?

Generally speaking, the minimum requirement for a Frank general is to be an earl or a high-ranking knight, and they already have the obligation to hold military posts and income from fiefdoms.

The minimum income of an earl will not be less than 300 pounds.

But if it is a new landless noble, no matter how much his original income is, the annual reward from the king will be supplemented to more than 300 gold pounds.

These generals have performed well. If we can recruit them…

“That’s different.” A Skitarii who had come before immediately retorted, “I’m a commoner, but I can still be a Chapter Master. If I were to be somewhere else, I would be a squad leader at best in my lifetime.”

“Your Majesty has already said that a soldier who doesn’t want to be a chapter commander is not a good soldier!”

Abaz and others looked at each other and thought that this holy grandson was really scheming.

With such a carrot dangling in front of these donkeys, the inexperienced civilians would naturally run away like crazy. But Thierry’s expression froze, and he quickly calculated in his mind.

According to the information collected so far, the monthly salary expenditure of a regiment is between 3400 and 4200 gold pounds.

As for logistical costs, based on observations and intelligence collected along the way, the logistical costs for each legion are between 1000 and 1200 gold pounds per month.

Damn it, they actually provide meat, mules, horses and surgeons for the common soldiers.

Even if each regiment costs 5000 gold pounds per month, six regiments would cost at least 30000 gold pounds.

Two more war groups will be added later, and the military expenditure will be 40000 gold pounds per month.

Even with Fran’s support, Qianhe Valley’s finances could only last for six months at most.

If it were the nobles of Leia or the land nobles of Fran, they might not be able to feel it.

But as a new aristocrat, Thierry was extremely sensitive to the flow of money.

He saw the problem immediately – the army was spending too much and too much cash was going into the hands of soldiers.

But the soldiers on the front line obviously have no time to invest and consume. If you want to make the cycle work, you have to take the money away from the soldiers.

But this would lead to soldiers’ distrust of the army, and if the gold pounds were not taken away, the circulation of the gold pounds would stagnate.

How did the people from the Holy Alliance solve this problem?
“Not only that, there are other things.” The Skitarii said with a smile, “If you can’t become an officer, at least the army will teach you to read for free.”

“Yes, before you retire, the regiment will hire someone to teach you a skill, such as carpentry, barbering, tailoring, and cooking.”

“If you are slightly disabled and can read, you will be hired by schools and priests. If you are seriously disabled, you can enter the Invalids. The Holy Grandson will support you for the rest of your life.”

“When I retire after three or five years, I will receive a pension. I can read and have a skill, and I have start-up capital. Why shouldn’t I make money?”

Thierry suddenly remembered that when he passed through the towns around Grand Rapids, there were veterans’ restaurants, veterans’ barber shops, and veterans’ tailor shops everywhere.

At that time, he was wondering what this meant. Could it be a military industry? So it came from here, right?

That means the army is not only training soldiers, but also citizens, craftsmen and intellectuals.

These are all precious industrial and commercial population.

No wonder farmers were so eager to join the army; it turned out they were aiming for a city hukou.

In addition to making money, the army is also a ladder for social advancement.

“It would be even better if you could become an officer.” The questions raised by Thierry and others actually saved the demoralized Crusaders.

The half-cold, half-warm spring breeze blew through the pine forest, and a long line of hundreds of people marched forward with one step deep and one step shallow.

Although they were dressed in rags and walking in mud mixed with feces, their eyes were shining when they talked about the future development.

“In addition to continuing their careers in the military, mid- and senior-level officers can also go to university for further studies, and after graduation they can take up positions in the Holy Alliance government.”

“There are all kinds of monasteries these days. They are actually state-owned chambers of commerce. Military officers can also transfer in.”

“Officers also have income from spoils of war. After retirement, they can invest in mines, plantations, and textile workshops to make money!”

“Can you Franks do this?” Seeing Venise was about to speak, the Skitarii immediately added, “I’m talking about civilians.”

Venise was speechless for a moment. He held it in for a long time before he said, “Excellent commoners will have small nobles marry them…”

The surrounding Crusaders sneered and ignored Venise.

On the contrary, Abaz felt something was wrong. He put on a simple smile and asked, “Where did you know these things?”

“The Communiqué of the Captain-General.”

“Our Skitarii captain said so.”

“Every day at the dock, literate people read the headlines of Pravda…”

“You don’t need the captain to tell you. My cousins ​​are veterans. I saw it with my own eyes.”

They chatted all the way, and when Thierry closed his notebook, the camp appeared before them.

Trenches, walls, chevaux de frise, breastworks, everything you can think of. It has to be said that the Salvation Army’s engineering capabilities are indeed good.

But when Thierry shifted his gaze, he couldn’t help but be startled.

He pointed to the flat ground outside the camp, turned around and asked the leading gendarmes: “Excuse me, is that a fight?”

(End of this chapter)