Chapter 475: Chapter 343: The Barren, But Important Northern Territory
"Leader, I understand." Pigeris nodded in agreement: "Most of the Yabod people’s territory is mountainous, with scarce farmland, which is why they resort to plundering. If we can trade with them, I believe we can establish deeper ties between our two tribes."
Maximus reminded: "You must not only send people to negotiate with the Yabod people, but also send envoys to the Noric people’s territory to express our desire to establish friendly relations with them."
"Pigeris." Capito added: "You must find a way to get the Noric people to sell us iron ore! Our weapon workshops in the Ophelia region are already built, and the iron ore provided by the Aldeans is no longer sufficient for the two workshops. If we can open a supply channel with the Noric people, it would solve a big problem.
The iron ore produced there is of the best quality. Once smelted into wrought iron, no further processing like carbon addition is needed, just hammering to make hard iron tools.
Moreover, the Noric Tribe is relatively close to here. According to craftsmen from Segestica, loading iron ore on ships in the Noric territory and heading downriver would reach Ophelia, which is much more convenient than obtaining iron ore from the Alde Tribe."
"Our main reason for maintaining good relations with the Noric people is precisely to obtain their iron ore. Don’t worry, Capito, our Commerce Department will certainly complete this task!" Pigeris confidently responded.
"Leader, now that we’ve defeated the Yabod people and occupied the northern territory of Segestica, can’t our departments start managing that land?" Volenus asked.
Maximus looked at everyone and said loudly, "The war against the Yabod people is over, and the takeover of the northern land can begin. You have already successfully managed this place, so I believe you can more smoothly integrate the northern land into our tribe!
I heard that the majority of Segestica citizens who fled to us from the north are willing to join the tribe and become reserve tribe members?"
"Yes, Leader." Volenus responded: "These fleeing Segestica citizens have been temporarily settled in villages around Ophelia, and residents have been instructed to provide them relief.
These refugees saw with their own eyes that their former clansmen are living in good houses and getting good land, living better than before, while they live in constant fear and are now oppressed by strong enemies, so they actively approached the village chiefs, asking to join the tribe..."
Maximus sighed: "Our previous hard work in managing this land has not been in vain! Now Ophelia serves as a model for other Pannonian people, making the takeover of northern lands much easier for us!"
Volenus softly asked: "Leader, according to our previous methods, settlers from our Old Clan Members must reside and settle in village communities of the northern territory to stabilize each village’s order and guide Segestica citizens to better integrate into our tribe. Do you think we should transfer one to two thousand troops from the First and Third Legions to migrate to the new northern territory?"
"The soldiers of the First and Third Legions just moved here from the Kupa River last year after much effort, and asking them to move again might arouse discontent. We cannot do such a thing!"
Maximus firmly opposed and, after thinking for a moment, said: "Let’s take a thousand soldiers from the Second Legion from the Kupa River area to relocate to the northern territory and stabilize our new territory. The Military Department will take charge of this matter."
"Yes, Leader." Flanitnus immediately responded.
Quintus said: "Leader, although we plan to negotiate with the Yabod people and maintain friendly relations with the Noric people, given that the northern territory borders both Noric and Yabod, we should have corresponding defenses to prevent panic in case of emergencies. Therefore, I suggest building fortifications similar to Kupa Castle in the bordering territories with the Yabod and Noric people to protect our new land."
"Your suggestion is excellent." Maximus nodded and said: "However, let’s not build fortifications to avoid creating misunderstandings with the Noric and Yabod people. I think... we could build a small town on the northern border, which would serve a defensive purpose and also establish a market, facilitating trade with the other two tribes. What do you think?"
"Building a town is better." Volenus agreed: "There are already numerous tasks in Ophelia, and town chief Sicropus is overwhelmed. If we also bring the northern villages under Ophelia’s jurisdiction, his burden will be too heavy. If a town is built on the northern border, it would just be right to bring the northern villages under its jurisdiction, making management more convenient."
Maximus covered his chin with his hand, lost in thought.
Volenus observed the leader’s expression and continued: "I recall the largest tribe in the Segestica northern territory is around the border, isn’t it?"
Flanitnus continued: "That’s correct, it’s a tribe led by a Segestica chief named Zetilis. It’s said that their village is built with high wooden walls and trenches, reputed as the northern shield of the Segestica people.
However, this time, the village was breached by the Yabod people, the leader perished, and many tribesmen were killed or injured. Now this battered village has been recaptured by our army."
Volenus immediately added: "I think we can convert this village into a new town for our tribe, saving a lot of manpower and resources."
Gaius asked: "Leader, since we are to build a new town, who will be appointed as its administrative chief?"
Maximus solemnly said: "Building a new town is easy, but equipping it with enough officials is not easy. Just now, Volenus mentioned Sicropus is overwhelmed; why? Because he doesn’t have enough literate and numerate officials, he even has to drag students from schools to help with work. This issue isn’t unique to Ophelia; every department faces the same problem.
Regarding the selection of a new town’s administrative chief and how to equip it with enough officials, everyone should think carefully about it and we will convene a meeting solely to discuss this issue next time."
Maximus paused slightly, then looked toward the Chief Officer of the Cultivation Department: "Kefisofon, I’ve finished reading the new teaching materials for the tribal school you submitted to me the day before yesterday. This time it’s simpler and more practical, more conducive to student learning and mastery, that’s the right direction!
Now the main requirement for schools from the tribe is to train a large number of students who can recognize five or six hundred words, write simple essays, and perform basic arithmetic in the shortest possible time, thus fulfilling the writing and recording needs of various departments, towns, and villages.
Of course, the tribe also needs scholars who can write beautiful essays and engineers who can build bridges and temples. We can select outstanding students with talents in these areas for further education and training, which undoubtedly requires more time and effort. Therefore, those students should pay more tuition fees for their education to avoid discontent among other tribesmen..."
Kefisofon seriously said: "Leader, after discussing this with you last time, I understand it now. We plan to divide each school into two sections, one is a primary class, aiming for tribal children to learn basic literacy and numeracy in two or three years; this teaching material is compiled for them;
The other is a more advanced level of learning, aimed at the few children with learning talents. We don’t have prepared textbooks for them but will provide specialized lectures according to their own characteristics. Their study time will be longer, and the fees will naturally be higher, contingent on whether the students’ parents are willing to accept..."
Mark and Simms thought for a moment and nodded, saying: "I think that will work."
Kefisofon immediately added: "Leader, our Cultivation Department will implement this new arrangement in several schools, having the teachers manually copy this new teaching material, and then instructing students according to the knowledge in it..."
"Uh..." Maximus suddenly thought: Asking each teacher to manually copy the teaching material is too troublesome. If we could print and replicate it, it would be labor-saving and error-free, not to mention that each student could also have their own copy, making learning more efficient. Now with the expansion of the Paper Making Workshop and more manpower, especially after the craftsmen’s two years of repeated trials and studies, paper production is no longer scarce, and the quality is improving, yet the Printing Technology...
Maximus, recalling knowledge of ancient Printing Technology from past life experiences, decided to first find several craftsmen for trial production, and after successful development, implement it.
Thinking of this, he cleared his throat: "This matter belongs to your Cultivation Department, so arrange it yourself."
"Leader, we have encountered a challenge now that requires your assistance," Kefisofon said.
"What challenge?"
"There are many students in schools now, but not enough teachers, especially those with high knowledge levels are too few. I even invited engineers like Spukala from the Public Works Department to serve as teachers in their spare time, but it still fails to meet demands—"
"I’ve thought about it a lot these days and came up with an idea," Kefisofon earnestly said: "We can send people to various City States in Greece to invite scholars willing to come here as teachers. It’s just that I’m occupied with many duties as the Chief Officer of the Cultivation Department and can’t leave, so I wanted to ask you, Leader, to send someone to handle this task!"