CH 28

Zuoyi opened the window curtain and looked out curiously. Then he got out of the carriage and walked directly to the high chair that Udit had already placed beside him.

On his left stood Udit and Conrad, on his right were Fernandi and Walker, and the soldiers were scattered on the edge of the field.

In the middle of the venue are the Trak nationals.

Renault looks at Xia Zuoyi, who is clearly dominant in the front, and whispers to Adai and Sarah, “Is he the lord of this territory?”

“I remember the manager of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce said that his name was what… Desinia? Has the title of earl.”

But the steward did not say that Desinia was actually a delicate and lovely “little” earl…

Renault is a little unbelievable.

But this is the fact.

Adai wondered, “Why do you think the little earl wants to trade with the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce… Bring all the people of Trak to his territory?”

Renault shook his head, he didn’t understand.

Sarah pulled at the hem of the two of them at this time, indicating that someone in front of them had begun to speak, listen quickly.

Under the instruction of Xia Zuoyi.

After Udit explained the arrangements for the people of Trak—registering basic personal information, statistics, settling down in Fort Comoy, distributing labor, etc.

Among them, the men of Trak have two options to choose from.

One is to participate in the upcoming summer conscription.

The second is to participate in the temporary craftsman construction team organized by the craftsmen’s guild.

Fernandi and Conrad each gave a detailed explanation of these two mandatory items to the people of Trak, clarifying the conditions and benefits of participation.

Needless to say, the conditions for participating in the temporary craftsman construction team are broad and there are basically no restrictions.

However, to participate in the summer conscription, it is necessary to eliminate those who do not meet the conditions for conscription.

For example, men must not be physically disabled and need to be between 14 and 20 years old.

However, with regard to age, some restrictions can be relaxed for the people of Trak, and the upper age limit can be extended to 26 years old…

They will be at the registration information office later and do a preliminary examination of the soldiers at the same time.

Women in Trak are given other jobs.

For example, some women who need to work to earn money can choose to go to the saltern production line for batch canning or packaging of refined salt.

They can also go to the subsidy stations that are still in operation to help cook, wash clothes, and take care of the orphans and the elderly.

…

After Fernandi and Conrad finished talking, the place where the Traks stood became noisy and chaotic.

Xia Zuoyi looked at their rapidly changing expressions, surprised and unbelievable…Finally, the information was barely digested, and the discussion gradually subsided.

He pressed his palm down, attracted their attention, and raised his voice. In a small voice that can be heard clearly by the Traks, he said, “My territory is not a place to torture and destroy you.”

“It is a place that can give you hope to survive and live with expectation.”

“You don’t need to doubt, all the news just said are true and valid.”

“And, whether it’s participating in the conscription or joining the ranks of temporary craftsmen, you can get rid of slavery by accumulating merits.”

“But remember that although participating in the conscription is fast enough to accumulate merits, you need to stay in the army all the time. After leaving the soldier training camp, you will enter the black or white cavalry. “

“As for participating in a temporary craftsman construction team, it is relatively slow to accumulate merits, but the time is relatively short and free to move around. After the five-year construction plan is over, you can choose whether to stay in the construction team.”

Xia Zuoyi paused, then said, “Although these two items are mandatory options, there are exceptions to everything.” 

The Traks listened intently.

Xia Zuoyi, “If some of you have skills, such as good mathematics, proficient in arithmetic, or have a good technical skill, outstanding ability, etc.”

“You can inform the recorder and fill it out on the parchment when you register the information later. After confirmation, the relevant work will be arranged.”

“All Trak nationals will settle in Fort Comoy.”

“There are not too many temporary residences prepared in the city. Stay together first, and then you can build your own houses.”

“When you come to register your information in a while, Fernandi will also open the shackles for you, and each person will be given a subsidy of 50 copper coins, including children.”

The Trak people once again received a wave of shocking unbelievable news.

Xia Zuoyi pursed his mouth and stealthily rubbed his feet on the high chair without a trace. After talking so much at once, he was thirsty and tired while standing.

Then he glanced at Udit on the side.

Udit immediately stepped forward and added something that hadn’t been mentioned yet.

Adai couldn’t believe his ears.

He tugged at Renault, who’s also in a daze, and said, “You pinch me to see if I’m dreaming…”

Renault recovered, stretched out his hand to pinch Adai’s arm, then twisted the flesh on the back of his own hand and gritted his teeth, “Hiss, it hurts.” 

Adai rubbed his arm in pain.

He muttered to himself, “We, we have a chance to be free from slavery?!”

Renault nodded, “Yes.”

Adai couldn’t help but analyze, “If we participate in the conscription, there will be subsidies and holidays…”

“And the first year is free of charge. I live in a soldier training camp and have enough food to eat… As long as I train hard and make myself strong, I’m very likely to get a promotion soon…”

He couldn’t help looking at the soldier standing behind the Knight Commander Fernandi Edwards.

Adai remembered his name is Mike Andrew, a platoon leader.

When explaining the conditions and benefits of conscription just now, Sir Fernandi Edwards casually cited a few examples. It took only half a year for Mike Andrew to be promoted from a reserve soldier to a platoon leader.

Some other soldiers also explained.

Renault said, “However, the freedom when participating in the temporary craftsman construction team is greater, and you can choose to stay or leave after five years.”

“Adai, your body is not strong enough, even if you go to enlist, the chances of promotion are very small…”

“Besides, you know I haven’t been trained as a knight since I was a child. I’m more interested in making equipment. I’m not qualified and I don’t have much hope.”

“If we both went to the soldier training camp, what should Sarah do?”

Adai, “I’m not going. I just think these two options are too friendly for slaves… It’s amazing.”

“Is Gadaat so tolerant of slaves?”

Renault shook his head, “How can it be.”

Adai looked at the little earl who’s standing on the high chair with his hands behind his back, and said for a while, “Then all three of us will participate in the temporary craftsmen…”

“No, Adai.”

Renault suddenly interrupted him, “You can recognize herbs, and you once had the identity of an apprentice alchemist. Then register the information for the recorder to fill in.”

He said, “Do you remember the ointment that the two knight commanders threw to us in the forest?”

Adai nodded, “Remember.”

Renault, “There must be a very powerful alchemist in Wissas or Fort Comoy.”

“If you can be assigned to study under him, the treatment will be much better than being a temporary craftsman.” 

Adai, “But I might not be seen by the master alchemist…”

“What’s more, Sarah’s shoulder injury is not completely healed yet, her identity… I have little strength. I can help after I become a temporary craftsman with you…”

Sarah shook her head and interrupted him, “I’m fine. You should seize the opportunity, Adai. “

Renault, “How can you know if you don’t try it? Even if the alchemist doesn’t like you, Adai, it’s okay for you to come back to join the temporary craftsman team.”

Adai finally nodded in agreement.

When it was their turn to register information, he asked the recorder to fill in information such as identifying herbs.

And this parchment paper was specially pulled out and placed on another pile.

Waiting to be delivered directly to lord earl later.

After the information of Renault, Adai and Sarah were registered, they came to the waiting group of people. After a while, the knights and some soldiers led them into the city.

Adai couldn’t help but look at the person leading in the front and found that he turned out to be the platoon leader Andrew who was standing behind Knight Commander Edwards just now.

The look on the faces of the Traks who walked with them were rather complicated.

There is excitement, joy, but also worry, hesitation…

A man finally couldn’t help asking the soldier walking next to him, “Is the kingdom of Gadaat so good to slaves?!” 

The soldier is a young man. He laughed, with a proud expression on his face, “Of course, only in the territory of our Lord Earl can slaves be treated so well!”

“Not only slaves, but also civilians.”

“Lord Earl is the best lord of Gadaat! It can be regarded as a gift from the God of Creation that you can come to Fort Comoy.” 

Hearing what he said, Renault couldn’t help asking, “Here…has anyone really escaped their slave status?” 

The soldier said, “This is not unusual in the earl’s territory.”

“You only need to stay in the city for a few days, and you will naturally hear about it, or ask anyone.”

“I can tell you now, Sir Fernandi Edwards was once a slave who was sold to Gadaat from Gaynor…”

“What?!”

Renault and the others couldn’t help showing a look of astonishment.

They never expected to hear such news.

The soldier continued to say calmly, “Sir Edwards was bought by the earl from the royal city for a gold coin, and later in Pal Mountain… My lord has become the knight commander again, and…” 

The soldier quietly looked at Mike Andrew, who was walking in the front, and whispered his envy, “Platoon Leader Andrew was once a slave at Fort Comoy.” 

“Later, he went to Wissas to join the army, seized the opportunity, and accumulated enough achievements. He successfully broke away from his slave status and became a free citizen in Wissas.”

“Our platoon leader’s goal now is to accumulate enough merit to get his parents out of slavery…”

Renault and others didn’t know what kind of expression to put on their faces. They could only listen to the soldiers with their mouths open, dumbfounded.

Soldier, “So, you really don’t have to worry about lies and deceptions in Lord Earl’s territory. When you stay here for a long time, you will naturally understand that our Lord Earl is the most kind-hearted!”

Of course, he’s also the most lovely.

The soldier muttered in his heart, not daring to say the last word.

He said, “Lord Earl said that as long as you work hard enough, everything is possible.”

“I used to be a poor civilian, but now my family has a happy life.”

“Praise Lord Earl! To be able to live in Wissas must be a blessing from the God of Creation.”