353 Raphael’s Magic Part 1 (1/2)
”It will be fine as long as the mercenaries fulfill the contract. Sir, if there aren't enough soldiers, we can simply hire a few mercenary groups, or we can ask them to station their forces here. Since this is a newly formed city, the mercenary groups will not charge you any fees as long as you provide them with accommodation. And, they will help you defend the city too,” Jola explained to Saleen.
Saleen said to Jola, ”This is my personal city. I will not place its safety into the hands of untrustworthy people. Sometimes… a contract is not binding.”
”But sixty thousand people are needed. Even if we spend a year acquiring them, we will only be able to recruit half of that number.” After Jola listened to Saleen's analysis, he knew that it was almost impossible to conscript soldiers. Almost all of the aboriginals had been captured by the Holy See, so Saleen could only rely on his wealth to amass manpower.
Furthermore, this city would continue to expand. Two giant fortresses would be constructed in the north, forming the shape of two prongs and thus stabilizing the city's defenses. Since the city was a commercial and military town, there would eventually be more than one hundred thousand soldiers stationed here.
Saleen sighed, then said, ”Don't mention the hiring of mercenaries anymore. We will sit on this matter for the time being. Conan, continue recruiting the aboriginals. As of now, how many people are willing to settle down in the city?”
”Sir, when you were not around, almost one thousand people already signed up,” Conan answered solemnly. In the north, most of the barbarians had already been massacred by the Holy See. Of the remaining population, most of them had already chosen to go to Saleen's city since they did not want to be exterminated, with the exception of some stubborn elders.
”Aini, your five hundred swordsmen…”
”They are my private soldiers,” Aini replied decisively. The reason why he had been able to bring so many people was because of other factors in addition to his family's support. In truth, these people had been acquired in exchange for money. There were also some who were followers of Aini's father. These five hundred swordsmen comprised all of Aini's power.
”I want to establish a mercenary group and register it in the Bitter Water Prefecture. They can join the mercenary group. That way, it will be easier to control any external forces.” Saleen thought to himself, Once the forces from Sregl Island are shifted here, I won't have to worry about all these problems anymore. Aye, my dear teacher, when can you bring those people over?
”No problem!” Aini clenched his teeth. At this moment, he was betting that Saleen would have a great future. If Saleen and his city were ruined, then Aini would not be able to recover even a single cent. However, if Saleen succeeded and managed to resist the Holy See's attacks, then the city would bring immense fortune to Aini. Obviously, Saleen only wanted the city to have one mercenary group. The backbone of this mercenary group would be formed by the five hundred soldiers brought by Aini.
”Daniel, bring Gurney along and build the first camp. Right now, I can only spare you two hundred men. If that is insufficient, you will have to use the spirits to supplement them. Jola, you shall establish the second camp. I will not give you a single man. You will have to think of a solution yourself, but whenever you lack money, you can come and look for me. Jupiter, you will build the third camp. By next spring, when I can go out to sea, I will then supply manpower to you. Pasatilo and Kanuka, you two will build a mage's camp, which is the fourth camp. As for the remaining two camps, I will think of something.”
”Sir…” Pasatilo and Kanuka were slightly hesitant. After all, there were two other grade-5 mages from Sregl Island in the room at that moment.
Saleen understood what they meant. Then, to the other grade-5 mages, he said, ”Kredian, Francis, the moment Lex gets back, you will rejoin the fleet with Basta.”
”Yes, sir.” These two grade-5 mages were overjoyed. Controlling the fleet was obviously a more popular choice than being on land.
”Sir, what about me?” the barbarian named Conan asked nervously.
”You will wait for the arrival of the Caucasus people, then you will build the fifth camp. There is no rush on this matter.” Saleen felt that the fifth camp should be helmed by Sika, and was not to be managed by Conan. However, Sika did not seem like she was cut out to be a general. Saleen would have to spend some effort to search for a suitable commander. The barbarians and the Caucasus people possessed high offensive abilities, but without a good leader, they would be as useful as sand.
Saleen could clearly remember how Lex's swordsmen looked when they charged onto a battlefield. Even if there had been an equal number of barbarians, the barbarians would still have been defeated by them.
”Saleen, you can recruit some soldiers from Laiyin Duchy,” Aini suggested as he stood beside Saleen.
”Why do you say so?”
”The Laiyin people are courageous and fearless during battles, and most of them are also infertile. In fact, many of the mercenaries in Sikeqinya are Laiyin people. With only a small sum of money, people will come forward voluntarily. Being a private soldier of a nobleman is much better than being a mercenary in Sikeqinya.”
”What about the Grand Duke of Laiyin?” Saleen was a little worried. The Grand Duke of Laiyin was as weak as the Grand Duke of Phoenix. Such actions would easily anger him.