Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1649 1621. The Business of War

Henry and Hans were not only reading the diary. In fact, after reading half of the commander's diary, they both became serious and solemn.

In addition to the complaints and whining in the diary, there are also boring and repetitive daily records, some of which are particularly eye-catching.

It also recorded the signing time of several documents and contracts, and in another stack of papers that Henry took out, there were two copies of the commander's hand.

They compared the diary with the contract, and the two young men's faces turned as red as boiled lobsters.

"How dare he?" Hans' lips trembled. "How dare this Nilfgaardian bastard!"

"But he did it! Even until last night, he did it very smoothly!" Henry said angrily.

In the cowhide-wrapped diary, there were a few important pages that Hans and Henry flipped through over and over again.

This is the commander's private hidden diary, which is kept separate from the diaries for official business and miscellaneous matters, and is kept very secret.

But unfortunately, with Henry's lightning-fast yet meticulous "technique" last night, except for those works of art that he really couldn't identify, the commander's room was really turned upside down.

Of course, this private diary was not spared.

It was written clearly in Nilfgaardian.

"Hovenhena told me that his business is going extremely well. To be more precise, he said: 'our business' is going extremely well! Making money is as easy as eating and drinking! The money coming in is coming in one after another!"

This is what is written in the diary.

"I just transferred the 6,000 standard longbows I got from the Quartermaster Department to him this morning, and he paid me right away! I don't even know how many customers he has? He can actually sell them so quickly!"

"Hunters, poachers, thieves, elves? Maybe other 'freedom fighters'? It doesn't matter. Even if these people get weapons, what can they do? They are just a small disturbance under the rule of the Empire. They can't cause any trouble."

So far, it's just that the commander is reselling military supplies. If we look into this matter in detail, it's certainly enough to be brought to a military court.

But there is always a gap between the law and reality. Even with the military management methods of the Nilfgaard Empire, it is impossible to prevent such things.

It is now the period of the Civil War, and the circulation of materials has greatly increased. It is also a good opportunity for countless people to take advantage of the chaos, and no one will miss this opportunity.

This kind of thing was not surprising to Henry and Hans.

What really made their blood rush to their heads and their pupils dilate were the following diary entries.

"November 1. Today I complained to Hovenhena that military life was too tiring. I was already feeling some problems with my knees and back. I thought I should find an opportunity to retire and return to the aristocratic life I deserve. But he suddenly seemed to be interested and said: Retirement is good, but it must be rich."

"That's true. He even gave me a solution."

"My family has been operating in the south for a long time, but we also have a large population. Hovenhena said that a branch of the family like me would not get much benefit from the family in the end. In that case, why don't we focus on the north, which has been cleaned up by the empire?"

"I have to admit that what he said makes some sense, and he is a member of the Merchants Association. Just based on this identity, I have to consider his words carefully."

"November 23rd, today, Hovenhena came to see me specifically. He seemed to want to talk to me about how to implement my retirement plan. I entertained him."

"He brought me a policy document, saying it would be released to the public in a few days. It said: After crossing the Yaruga River, everyone who went to settle in the conquered areas would be given four seas of land allocated by the empire, and would be tax-free for ten years!"

"It's good to have land, but I want to turn it into a farm or a pasture? No, I can't do it. I'm a nobleman, I don't know how to plow the land or raise cattle, and I'm allergic to earthworms and manure. I want to vomit when I see them."

"Hovenhena agrees. He hates manure and earthworms, too, because they remind him all the time that wealth is based on the smell of manure. Hey, come to think of it, it's true."

"But he turned around and persuaded me that I didn't have to cultivate the land or raise cattle and sheep. He studied the law carefully and said that as long as I took care of the land a little, I could meet the requirements and have a considerable subsequent income. I have to admit that this was very tempting."

"But it's more than that. Hovenhena has built mutual trust with me through years of cooperation. If I take root in the north, maybe we can both do something. In short, he needs someone in the north to do something for him."

"And I'll get a long-term job that's very rewarding."

"With a little entrepreneurial spirit and a small amount of upfront investment, the land given to the immigrants by the emperor can be turned into a magnificent plantation of considerable size!"

"Hovenhena smiled and stopped here, but I suddenly understood everything!"

“He’s made considerable efforts for the future of his business, but at the same time he’s faced problems.”

"First, he has to organize a group of people to go north and get the land promised in the enclosure law. In name, the land is given to the immigrants, but in reality, it all belongs to him!" "Second, who can easily give up the land after getting it? So he needs people, some people who are good at killing and intimidating people and familiar with the laws and rules of the empire, that is, nobles."

"He needs someone to make sure the immigrants who get the land don't cheat him or rebel against him. Someone needs to be responsible for punishing them."

"Isn't it a coincidence? According to the laws of the empire, each of these soldiers under my command has the right to live on the land they conquered, and they receive more favorable policies than ordinary immigrants, with more land and a longer tax-free period!"

"And I also have the right to control them, at least until this war is over. I can find out their origins and families. I am also a noble who can fight, which is of course very suitable for cooperation with Hovenhena!"

"He told me that he was already familiar with this kind of thing. The entire town of Clermont in Ebbing was within his 'territory'. The Empire had never given him a fief, but that place did belong to him."

"A full 150 hides of land, which translates to nearly 19,000 acres! And this is just one area within Ebbing!"

"'In a lawless country, destruction has already come. The empire will collapse, so do not hesitate to steal. Selfishness and egoism are both evils.' I subconsciously said these folk poems. Halfway through, I was afraid that he would think it was ironic, so I quickly shut up."

"But Hovenhena laughed and continued, 'There is power and strength in it! But my friend, you are too sensitive. Don't confuse theft with personal entrepreneurship.'"

"Yes. I think I know what to do."

This is the end of my personal diary. There is nothing interesting to read further.

Hans and Henry compared the dates in the diary with the deeds and contracts in the remaining texts, as well as the records in the commander's subsequent official diary.

It was discovered that after he had talked with the member of the Merchant Guild named Hovenhena and reached an agreement, he activated their current army a month later and marched straight into the north of Aedirn during the default truce period.

A passionate look that is eager to achieve merit and accomplishment!

Before this, Hans and Henry also felt that the commander of their troops might indeed be one of the many radical members of the Nilfgaard army.

After all, the war is going smoothly right now, and even the most peaceful people will be aroused to some utilitarianism.

Rush to the north to fight. The more you fight, the more outstanding your achievements will be!

But at the moment, it seems that their commander is not so passionate, and has instead started to rationally plan his retirement life early on!
——Selling the blood and sweat of these soldiers to earn their own pension!

"Damn it. Damn it!!!"

Henry, who had cleared out the commander's bedroom, muttered viciously.

Unable to control his emotions, he turned around and punched the stone fence of the cell again and again, his gauntlets hitting the stone with a loud bang.

Hans next to him was also breathing heavily, his fingers pinching the leather cover of the diary until his knuckles turned white.

"kurva!"

"What does he take us for?! We fought for the Empire! Tankard and old Oz are both dead! So their share of the land is gone? And those of us who are still alive are also going to lose our land? Just because of this?!"

Hans frantically tore up the contract between the commander and the member of the Merchants Association. He was so angry that he couldn't even move smoothly.

They were not Nilfgaard's regular army, but auxiliary troops sent by the affiliated provinces.

Hans was young, and Naxaire had been a part of Nilfgaard since he was born. He did not have as much hatred and resistance to Nilfgaard as the older generation.

But what the commander did now really disgusted him.

They fought so hard, but the land they conquered was used by the Merchants Association to "play puzzles and build plantations"? !

And judging from what was written in the diary, if they were unwilling to do this later, the commander would most likely lead people to find them and find a way to make them "willing"?!

Although Hans was a nobleman who was in a truce and wanted to go to the front line to gain some merit because the war situation was good, he was still fighting on the front line with his family's servants. He was really a man who had to fight with his head on his belt!

How could they not be furious at this act of embezzling their achievements and profits?

"We rushed all the way from the center of Aedirn to the north!" Henry's simple and honest voice roared, "We marched quickly! We fought non-stop! What's the result? None of the agreed-upon records of military exploits count? They just fought over us?!"

In his anger, his fury even affected Hans who was beside him.

(End of this chapter)