Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 532 Apple on the Chessboard
With iron ore relatively abundant, a complete set of military equipment sufficient for 300 militiamen had already been manufactured, and they were just waiting for the militiamen, who had undergone intensive training during the off-season and were now somewhat decent, to be officially recognized.

It's not that the lord hasn't considered forming a formal army, but given the current situation and population size of High Cliff Territory, it's simply unrealistic.

Every household basically relies on the land for their livelihood. Everyone knows what it means to lose an adult male laborer. If you want someone to be a full-time worker, they must take on the responsibility of supporting the entire family. Otherwise, it will cost the life of the whole family.

Don't underestimate these part-time militiamen; they were recruited only because Master Zhang promised to reduce or waive taxes for those who served.

Such a militia is fine for defending homes and holding the territory, but what if it is deployed on a long expedition?
I'm afraid their morale will plummet halfway through the journey, or they'll desert and run away halfway through the battle.

There are many difficulties ahead, so we should proceed slowly and methodically.

Perhaps the individual qualities of militiamen are inferior to those of regular soldiers, and the probability of them being professionals is pitifully small, but these gaps are not insurmountable. At least in lower-level professional armies, individual courage can be made up for and caught up with through the advantage of weapons and tactical skills.

However, if they could catch up and surpass in the latter aspect, would they still be called a militia...?

The militia's standard equipment was quite simple: all of them wore chainmail and were divided into one hundred archers, one hundred shield-wielding soldiers, and one hundred spearmen.

The sword and spearhead were forged from fine steel, and the shield was made of solid wood covered with metal.

It may look good, but at least it has some presence.

Of course, if the militia were equipped with guns and even artillery support, their combat effectiveness would definitely take off instantly; however, the consequences would be too much for the current high cliffs to bear.

Leaving aside the logistical requirements and ammunition supply pressures of firearms, the sheer scale of building a modern army would likely shatter one's current small territory into dust.

If it is only deployed in small numbers, then at most it is just a new type of alchemical weapon. But if it is widely adopted and this new thing is completely exposed to the public, it may become a deadly disaster.

After speaking with the Keen craftsmen, Zhang Yuan gained a more concrete understanding of the progress of the current military buildup plan.

Two years before the chosen son of Baal leaves Candlekeep, this transmigrator, who knows the plot's development, has already accumulated considerable personal strength and a substantial number of subordinates.

Even if he can't become one of the top players in Faerlund, he can at least be considered a piece of some importance, right?

From having no right to even climb the chessboard, like a speck of dust on the edge, constantly threatened by the ripples on the board and falling off a cliff, to now becoming a…

car?
They didn't seem to be charging around recklessly.

A lowly soldier?

That's a bit too humble.

It was probably a wild horse with some roots that was jumping around recklessly.

With a legendary mentor who is roughly qualified to be a chess player, he, as a chess piece, doesn't mind occasionally showing his value and increasing his own importance.

However, during the intermission of the game, this restless piece also doesn't mind secretly doing some tricks, scrambling to get the benefits it can get its own.

In the not-too-distant future, when all the great dramas are staged one after another, the High Cliff Mage Lord, who has grown up to be fearless of the storm, will no longer be a piece of dust to be easily swept away. On the contrary, he will take the initiative to jump onto the chessboard. Although he cannot settle the storm with one move, he will still ride his horse and gallop across the battlefield, snatching chestnuts from the fire.

Perhaps one day, those chess pieces that follow the established rules and act according to the will of others will not be enough to describe his existence as an anomaly. He is like an apple falling on the chessboard, rolling around at will. Even if he is not a chess player, he can still run wild on this small piece of land.

If any piece gets in his way, he can easily crush the opponent out of the game, leaving the player behind him helpless no matter how much they glare. Of course, if he goes too far, he might have to worry about the opponent rolling up their sleeves, flipping the board, and smashing him into a pulp...

Putting aside future aspirations, focusing on the present is the right path. Through research and drawing inferences from other cases, I've accumulated quite a few ideas. I'll take some time to visit Neverwinter Academy and, while I'm at it, send those two treasures there to get some training, adding some weight to their lives.

The so-called positive reform and starting anew... no!
Study hard and make progress every day!

"Mr. Chanem, when will my son Gavial become an archmage?"

As if on cue, the moment Mr. Zhang stepped out of the castle gates, he encountered the young couple coming towards him.

The young lady of the Silver Shield family uttered such a sentence that left a certain mage, who was still struggling to reach the threshold of becoming a high-level spellcaster, speechless.

Ha ha!

Zhang Yuan simply smiled and got straight to the point:
No matter how far the road ahead may be, you must first take this first step.

"The journey is long; are we going on a distant trip?"

Miss Shi Ji opened her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open, as if she were pleasantly surprised.

"Teacher, may we begin our arcane studies?"

Fortunately, since it concerned his own future, young Master Gavial, who ultimately knew the gravity of the situation, temporarily snapped out of his saccharine romantic drama and asked expectantly.

To say he didn't yearn for arcane magic would be self-deception. During his time making a living with the Valley Wind Band, he suffered a lot of bullying from the female mage, Xi Ke'er. Amidst his suppressed fear, he couldn't help but feel envious.

Therefore, she did not resist much when her father arranged for her to take another path in life.

Unfortunately, qualifications are something that cannot be obtained through asking, and neither a distinguished family background nor abundant resources can change this fact.

Gaviel could only smile wryly at his lover's innocent and romantic words. After several investigations and confirmations by the Duke's mage advisor, it was already quite difficult for him to embark on this path, given his talent.

Perhaps only someone like the one before us can climb to the peak that the rest can only look up to.
Looking at the face that wasn't much older than his own, he recalled how the other person had once been just a lowly mercenary, but was now able to speak to his father, a duke, on equal terms.

The kind-hearted Gaviel did not experience feelings of jealousy or envy, but he did feel a sense of mixed emotions.

There is help!
Seeing that his nominal disciple had at least retained some clarity of mind, Zhang Yuan nodded almost imperceptibly and said:

“Iltan had already informed me of your current progress level. You have a solid grasp of the basic knowledge and have not wasted these past few years. Not bad.”

"Thank you, thank you. I will continue to work hard."

Gaviel blushed slightly at the sudden shower of praise, his words filled with both joy and unease, but he failed to notice the hint of helplessness in his cheap teacher's eyes.

The phrase "solid foundation" isn't bad, but just like "great room for improvement," it's often just a way of saying something that's not worth mentioning.

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(End of this chapter)