章 25: Riots and repression
A total of 268 people were rescued; some must have died on the way, as there should have been around 300. With over two hundred robust individuals without family ties, Derek could now form two companies of one hundred soldiers each. Under normal circumstances, Derek would never sustain so many soldiers—it was too costly. However, with the impending war, every investment would yield significant returns.
Therefore, Derek remained stationed at the mountain base, initiating a new round of training. This time, the intensity and rigor of the training increased significantly. Fortunately, supplies were abundant; otherwise, such intense training would have exhausted the recruits.
Derek consciously began training his knightly squires, teaching them basic military knowledge, such as formations, commands, and tactics. He even instructed them on maintaining morale, inspiring troops, and responding to various situations. Derek regularly simulated battles, having his men take on different roles to practice strategies and tactics.
Simon, one of the squires, was nominally still a knightly squire, but his status had advanced considerably:
Simon
Class: Knight Level 9 (85/100)
Experience Pool: 0/100
While some squires hadn't met all the criteria, their combat skills and foundational military knowledge were up to standard. With a capable team, Derek could delegate tasks and oversee multiple areas of production and training. He often traveled with a few squires, moving between locations to further their training.
One day, under many watchful eyes, Derek left the mountain base once again. This time, he left Simon in charge, quietly instructing him before his departure.
"Be vigilant. I've noticed some of the slave soldiers are still defiant. Ease up on the supervision a bit, give them some rope."
Simon, who had also noticed the troublemakers, was surprised by Derek's strategy. "Do you think they'd dare to act out? They've seen our strength and know their treatment isn't bad, with a chance for freedom in the future."
"Remember, always prepare for the worst. The fact that some are still dissatisfied despite the good conditions suggests they might cause trouble. Power can cloud judgment, and you can't expect everyone to think rationally. Always consider the possibility of failure before thinking about success. Be prepared and think it through," Derek advised before leaving, leaving Simon deep in thought.
Simon took Derek's reminder seriously, even though he found it somewhat hard to believe. Nevertheless, he quietly made preparations. Sure enough, as the base's defenses appeared to weaken, some individuals began to scheme.
"We need to go home. These people are no different from the slavers, treating us as their slaves," someone began to spread rumors among the slaves, trying to gather support.
After some time together, the dissatisfied and the uncertain were easily identified and targeted for persuasion. Under specific inducements, many were swayed.
"They're extremely powerful. Have you forgotten the fate of the slavers?" one skeptic questioned.
"Hmph, they've just had a few more days of training than us. I'm not that far behind now," another replied, his confidence inflated by their recent training.
In reality, the growing disparity between them and the panel-enhanced new recruits was one reason for some to harbor rebellious thoughts. They feared becoming the discarded dregs if they didn't act, believing that not fighting back would result in being used as cannon fodder.
After two days of clandestine meetings, they finally set a time for their rebellion. They believed that once the uprising began, no one else could stay uninvolved. They hoped that many would join them out of self-preservation.
They didn't think too far ahead about the aftermath; running back home seemed like the worst-case scenario.
Simon soon received word of the planned uprising, realizing that these conspirators had underestimated the loyalty and vigilance of many. Some saw aligning with Derek as a safer and more advantageous option than rebellion.
Simon was dumbfounded by the informer's news—Derek had predicted it once again. This incident cemented the importance of Derek's advice in his mind. Furious, he decided to act decisively.
"If it weren't for Derek's warning, we might have suffered this time."
He promised the informer a position as a decurion (leader of ten soldiers). Rewarding loyalty was essential, even if it made some uncomfortable.
In the dead of night, a group of conspirators stealthily left their barracks, intending to steal weapons and initiate the revolt. But they hadn't gone far when torches suddenly flared up around them, revealing a group of fully armed soldiers.
"Kill them!" Simon ordered.
Simon coldly gave the order, offering no chance of mercy. He even woke everyone up to show them the consequences of betrayal. Meanwhile, back at the manor, Derek noticed some new names on his panel.
"Something must have happened," he mused, then promptly dismissed it as a minor issue.
The two estates handed over by the family were put to good use—one became a large military camp, and the other was turned into a blacksmith workshop. Along with the existing population, craftsmen and the families of officers were settled there. Tru's father, for instance, became part of the estate community, bringing peace of mind to his family and Derek.
While the panel offered many advantages, it wasn't infallible. Unexpected events could cause people to vanish from the panel, resulting in losses even if Derek could react swiftly. By securing the loyalty of his people, he reduced the likelihood of such changes.
At this point, the panel had a third page. The first page detailed his personal information, the second listed the military, and the third now included the estate or civil administration. This categorization provided a clearer overview of his resources. He found that farmers were included in this new section, indicating a stronger foundation for his operations.
Higher yields from his land, even by an extra thirty to fifty percent, would significantly accumulate over time. Derek's priorities were clear: the military and armaments. The entire northern province was gearing up for war, allowing him more leeway in these areas. Without such a context, the Ferrer family's large-scale military exercises would have attracted undue attention, potentially drawing the scrutiny of the royal army. Nobles had the right to form private armies, but the kingdom kept a wary eye on any signs of excessive militarization.
Seizing the opportunity, Derek also focused on training a large number of blacksmiths. Even at level four or five, they could forge simple weapons and assist master smiths, thus bolstering his military capabilities.
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