Chapter 66: Hansel’s Return


    Hansel spent a week in the capital, sessfully finding 37 individuals willing to venture northwest, including his good friend Bernard Francis. Among these 37 people were 17 low-ranking nobles, including Bernard, and 20moners, with professions ranging from scribes, oddity engineers, to former junior government officials.


    After deciding on the date for his return journey, Hansel bid farewell to his family. His mother Miranda was deeply saddened, having initially thought her son would stay after his return. She was heartbroken to see him leave for the wildnds of legend, constantly weeping and hugging her son,menting the official who had arranged this posting for him. Count Abbot, Hansels father, patted his younger sons shoulder, encouraging him to persevere, Once youve chosen your path, dont give up easily.


    Take care of yourself, dont overwork. We all want you to be safe, his brother Harrison Abbot said.


    Harrison hadplex feelings towards Hansel. On one hand, he respected his fathers wishes to treat this half-brother, born of a different mother, with kindness and affection. On the other hand, Hansels so-called lowly lineage inevitably cast a shadow over his own upbringing. Yet, he admired Hansels determination and felt pity for his brother being constrained by his lineage.


    Only their sister Julie was excited. In recent days, Hansel had captivated her with tales of pirate treasures and other Northwestern legends. Brother, please take me with you, she begged, clinging to his sleeve. After being sternly refused by her brother, her excitement quickly turned to sulking, and she ignored Hansel thereafter.


    In a few years, when the Northwestern Bay flourishes and youre older, Ill take you there! Hanselforted her, stroking her head, and she broke into a smile.


    A dayter, the group gathered at the capitals north gate, embarking on their journey northwards, a pivotal moment in their lives.


    After finalizing the decision to wage war against Baylding, Paul moved the Second Infantry Battalion from Port Fran to Lakeheart Town, assembling all thend forces for training and exercises.


    The Alda Army nowprised the following:


    Two infantry battalions, each with three spearmanpanies and a battalion-affiliated mortar (tiger squat cannon) toon.


    One independent musketeerpany.


    One independent artillerypany, equipped with two 6-pounder and six 4-pounder cannons.


    One independent transportpany under logisticsmand.


    In total, the army consisted of 1,355 soldiers, a formidable force in the Northwest. Fortunately, the profits from the pirates bounty and the paper and porcin industries supported the well-fed and well-equipped standing army.


    Even so, Steward Ford frequently reminded Paul: without expanding paper and porcin sales or finding new revenue sources, once the pirate bounty was depleted, the army would either have to disband or subsist on nothing.


    Paul worried daily, wondering how Queller was faring in the south and whether the porcin would sell there.


    Learning of Bayldings considerable cavalry, Paul instructed his staff to begin training in hollow square formations.


    The Alda version of the hollow square formation was as follows: a square formation of severalyers of soldiers, with the outeryersposed of spearmen. The spearmen would kneel, nting their spear shafts in the ground with the tips angled outward, forming an imprable hedgehog defense. Inside, one to twoyers of musketeers were responsible for long-range attacks on charging cavalry. The remaining musketeers in the center of the formation were tasked with reloading ammunition for the perimeter musketeers, ensuring rapid and sustained firepower. If possible, mortars were deployed in the middle of the formation for indirect fire support.


    In essence, it was a human fortress, with the outeryer of spearmen forming a solid wall and the inneryer of musketeers acting as machine gunners, albeit with significantly different firepower.


    Though the concept was simple, training the soldiers to quickly and proficiently form an effective hollow square was challenging. During drills, most soldiers were initially confused and disorganized when ordered to form the formation without preparation, testing the organizational skills of the junior officers.


    Moreover, it required the officers to make critical decisions, such as the size of the formation needed based on the enemys numbers and charge formation, whether to form onerge or several small squares, how manyyers of spearmen and musketeers to deploy in each, and how to quickly adapt to different configurations and repair breaches in the formation.


    After repeated drills, a battalion-sized square formation could be assembled in about 5 minutes.


    On this day, while Paul was supervising the soldiers training, he was informed that the Royal Commissioner, Baron Hansel Abbot, had returned.


    Paul quickly headed back to the lords mansion, where Baron Hansel was already waiting for him. They greeted each other warmly and embraced, now political allies.


    After some pleasantries, Hansel reported on his recruitment progress in the capital. Paul was delighted to hear that over thirty people had arrived in Lakeheart Town.


    Although the number was small, it was a start, and Paul believed that with his favorable policies, more talent would soon join them.


    Paul and Hansel had previously agreed to establish an office in the capital, staffed by former capital residents who had lived in the Northwestern Bay for a time, to continuously recruit personnel.


    Lakeheart Town had already constructed lodgings for the new arrivals, which could now be put to use.


    Paul asked with some concern, How do your friends feel about being here? He worried that if they found the Northwestern Bay too remote and returned, their efforts would have been in vain.


    Hansel shrugged, Its hard to say. Although its not as prosperous as the south, exaggerated descriptions from Crystal Shine about the Northwestern Bay had set their expectations very low, so the reality here actually exceeded their previous expectations.


    Paulughed wryly at this.


    He told Hansel, Go see Steward Philip to reimburse your travel expenses. Well host a banquet tonight to wee your recruits and thank them for their long journey. As for their cement, let Steward Ford handle it. He and I have already discussed the personnel needs in detail; he knows what to do.


    Hansel bowed to Paul, Ill convey your thanks to them.


    Then he suddenly asked, I have a question for you. After entering Aldas territory, I felt the atmosphere was strangely tense. Along the way, I even saw militias training in the viges. Are the pirates attacking again?