Many moons have passed since the baron's introduction of his nearly created knight order. With a combined total of eleven knights and eleven squires It would cost a small fortune to upkeep such a fighting force!
With the members of ODA not accepting pay Liam only needed to provide a squires pay of about 3 coppers per day for a combined total of nearly ten monthly silvers.
A lord would typically grant land to a skilled knight in exchange for fealty, through this method a knight can generate his own revenue thus paying his wage. The drawback of this method is the lieges income drops drastically with each knight he appoints. This does not include the costs of ceremonious items like a knights armor, sword, and a war horse.
One can say Liam was being fed on a silver platter, but could eleven men truly defend against the tides of this world? These were thoughts running through Liam's head as he overlooked the construction of his new "army" , one disguised as his knights and household retainers as to not arouse suspicion from the Count.
"My oh my.. I never knew upkeeping an army would be this expensive. I'm truly grateful for the discount, but even a small army of a hundred footmen would cost one thousand silver yearly and that's not including the upkeep of their arms and armor! Something must be done about the arms and armor so that maintenance won't be constant !"
"Hans!"
(Door opens)
"Yes milord?"
"Please summon Dyral into my office."
"Right away milord."
"Sir, you called for me?"
"Dyral I need you to dive deep into that brilliant mind of yours and find me a method to create arms and armor that could hold up in our current situation."
"Uh.. well I was usually involved in the development of explosive devices , not swords and armor, but I was fascinated by the development of weapons by mankind as a child. I found it fascinating how no matter how diverse our culture or race are , our art for war were always similar. There are a few methods that would be possible given our current technologies or with the construction of a blast furnace, or should I say creation?"
"Very well! you'll be in charge of the creation and process of new arms and equipment. If you don't mind me asking what exactly are your plans for our future gear?"
"Well.. first we have to get rid of everything sir! Sell every last bit that we aren't currently fielding, Preferably for materials rather than coin."
"Sell everything? What if your equipment isn't ready by the time baron von Alfred is ready to attack?"
"According to intelligence officer Cortez the count will not be providing any grain for the barons' war. Forcing the baron to wait until his next harvest to launch a siege against us. the old school Middle Age way.
If you're asking why he doesn't buy grain that'd be because of his family's astonishing debt. If his conquest over this barony is successful it'll help clear his debt or he could erase it entirely if he sells the land."
"I see. How long has Cortez given us?"
"By his estimate anywhere from late summer to early fall, those are the only two harvest seasons this continent currently employs. Spring has just begun so we should be towards January giving us five or six months before the baron raises his army."
" That's better news than my three months estimate. Now then what exactly are your plans for the weapons?"
"I'm planning on fitting every man with a full gambeson armor cheap, light, and effective both for slash and stabs. It has more advantages then our current full chainmail set up. Of course our knights will wear chainmail over their gambeson to provide even better protection. Although we will be needing all the towns women to help quilt layers of linen and different fabrics together."
"As for our swords we can create early "steel" swords Through the bloomery process. In doing so we'd have to build a bloomery furnace, it's a good thing we have a town full of men, ain't it?"
"Then we shall waste no time in production! tell Rieger to put out a decree for the hiring of quilters and for the construction of our furnace."
"Yes sir I'll be on it!"
Along with the weapons and armor situation Liam put his men in charge of administration and rebuilding of these lands. Norris and Muller were put in charge of clearing land for the construction of new farms as the previous farmland was far too depleted to yield a good harvest, putting their Kansas and Montana farming skills to use.
York and Walker on the other hand were in charge of diverting water from the nearest stream into a canal towards the new fields watering furrows. Long gone will be the days of collecting water with a bucket to water the fields. With this new innovation a simple lift of a board could water the plants within the field near instantly. Thus not only affecting the speed of farming but the amount of farmers needed to tend the fields.
Although not too thrilled Captain Oswin was put in charge of creating the world's first heavy plow. Due to there being no horses or oxen within the barony the plows will have to be pulled by the farm's cows.
Aside from the constant decrees of new orders all was well within the barony even the bought grain had arrived a few days ago, and perhaps even a fear of war along with it.
(Painful cries)
"SHUT IT "
(Terrified squeals)
(Smacks thuds slaps)
(Knock on door)
"WHO IS IT?! CAN'T YOU HEAR! IM BUSY!"
"Milord please excuse me but you've received a delayed message from bailiff Anders."
"OH! and what does my good friend say?"
"In exchange for half of baron Liam's treasury he is willing to forge a letter with the counts seal on it supporting you as baron of Ubeytere."
"That's it?! No grain, no troops?! Send it back and tell him I want troops or grain! In exchange I'm willing to give him seventy percent and I'll be willing to sell the lands to the count himself. I'm sure anders will find a way to steal some of that land. He will surely accept this proposal!"
"Yes milord I'll send your response immediately."
"Oh one more thing! Have all those involved in the delay of this message hung."
"It has already been done so my lord"
(Baron Von Alfred smiles widely)
"Good now go kill a chicken for me, I'm hungry!"