There is a large amount of military affairs that need to be dealt with in the military camp outside the city, which makes Xiaya very speechless - all the guys under his command have joined the "wedding preparatory committee", and Xiaya really doubts whether those guys are Deliberately use this excuse to slack off and be lazy.
In the barracks, he checked the atlas of the recently counted lands and the roster of the lands that had been subdivided, and then signed some land statistics documents sent by the local officials of Syltan County.
The work of these papers made Xiaya very helpless. He's not good at these things at all, and doesn't like it very much.
After looking at it for a long time, Xia Ya suddenly patted his head.
I am not good at this, but there are people who are good at it.
Soon, he summoned his chief guard and sent someone to invite Sophie.
Sophie also arrived in Denzel City with the brigade, and temporarily settled in the city. The place where she lived was very close to Queen Delphine's stronghold. I heard that after she arrived in Denzel City, she had already secretly lived in the city. I went to visit the queen in Li - after all, she is a disciple of Cavie Hill, and she probably knew Daphne before.
Sophie was soon invited by the captain of the guard. When she arrived at the barracks, the young girl had her sleeves rolled up, there was a little sweat on her forehead, and her face and hair were stained with some white powder. flour.
"What's the matter? Lord General." Sophie looked flat: "I'm cooking dinner at home."
"Dinner?" Xiaya was a little puzzled.
"Yes, I'm about to bake my own bread." Sophie said lightly.
Xia immediately realized that she seemed to be missing something: After Sophie followed her to Denzel City, she hadn't had much time to settle this girl, she lived alone, and even the servants around her were scarce. Very, you want to cook by yourself every day, right
"Starting today, I will send two waitresses from my house to take care of Sophie, and I will send a team of guards to protect Sophie's safety. Just follow her orders. From now on, she is mine. Chief of Staff."
Xia Ya reiterated the title of "Chief Chief of Staff", but in fact even he himself blushed. Because this so-called chief of staff is simply a bare commander.
Sophie was noncommittal about Xia Ya's arrangement, but Xia Ya looked a little embarrassed: "From today onwards, your daily life and food will be taken care of, as my chief of staff, you have the right to read these documents and help me. Deal with it, I give you the power to decide. You just need to report to me every day. Besides... What is your reward... "
Xia thought for a while: "Do you have any requirements?"
"I'm a lonely girl, it's useless to ask for so much money." Sophie's tone was flat: "It's enough to have food and clothing, but I have some requirements. I don't like living in a military camp. I live in the city. You give me a carriage, big enough to take me from the city to and from the military camp outside the city every day, I also need a warrant from you, I can go in and out of the city at will, day or night. And... Char, I need a promise from you ."
"Promise?" Xia looked at the girl in front of her suspiciously.
Sophie sighed: "Since ancient times, you have to promise me that no matter what dissatisfaction I have with you in the future, even if it makes you angry and makes you hate me, you must not kill me because of my words. !"
Xia Ya smiled, he thought this request was absurd: "Do you think I am that kind of person?"
"Not now, in the future... It's hard to say." Sophie's tone was serious: "Anyone, after sitting in a high position for a long time, will change their mentality. Since ancient times, emperors have killed many loyal ministers, but they are not necessarily stupid. The emperor, the wise emperor will also kill people because he is dissatisfied with his words."
Xia Ya couldn't help protesting: "Hey, I'm not the emperor!"
Sophie had already retired, walked to the door, and smiled softly: "We'll see."
※※※
He directly appointed the chief of staff, and Xiaya threw all these case documents to this young girl - he didn't feel that he was irresponsible at all, anyway, it was Sophie's idea to replace the reward with land. It's better to do it.
After getting rid of one of the biggest burdens, our generals shamelessly played a bad idea.
"It's been a long time since I visited our dear dwarf brothers. I have to visit them."
※※※
The "dear dwarf brother" that Char had referred to had been living outside Denzel for several months.
The 400 dwarves who came to send gifts last time were all arranged to live in a separate military camp outside the city. The gifts from these dwarves have not been officially taken over by Xia until now, and the dwarves are very stubborn and have been insisting on it. Only if you can meet Merlin in person.
The leader of these 400 dwarves, the guy named Rock has inherited the glorious tradition of stubbornness of the dwarves.
In his words, "Our dwarf King Greybeard ordered me to celebrate the general's wedding, so we cannot go back until the general is married."
Therefore, the four hundred dwarves lived a free life here with peace of mind.
It must be said that although dwarves do not have a harmonious relationship with humans, dwarves like human food very much.
Compared with dwarves, human food is more exquisite and delicious, fluffy bread, and meat with various sauces, which are not made by dwarves.
This is really a wonderful thing.
Dwarves are good at metal smelting technology. They can create the most sophisticated weapons and equipment. They can recognize the pros and cons of various iron ores at a glance, but they cannot tell the difference between sweet tomato sauce and honey sauce.
Although Char has experienced wars here, and the food is not rich, even a little rudimentary, but for dwarves, it is already a first-class delicacy.
Besides, staying here as a guest, there is no need to work every day, and there are people who bring exquisite food to enjoy. The four hundred dwarves are not in any hurry to go home.
Some dwarves even wished that the general should never get married, just drag it on for ten or eight years!
Anyway, the lifespan of dwarves is much longer than that of humans. An ordinary dwarf can live for more than two hundred years. They have time to splurge.
When Char came to the dwarf station, the dwarves had just eaten.
These dwarves eat five meals a day: breakfast, lunch, lunch, dinner, and a night meal.
Probably to supplement the consumption of their sturdy and majestic bodies.
Char's arrival was welcomed by the dwarves.
At least that guy named Rock finally gave Xia a good look after eating and drinking for free for a few months.
"Respected general, welcome, we are just having dinner, do you want to come with us?"
The rock seemed very enthusiastic, but Xi Ya pouted secretly: Damn, it's all Lao Tzu's food, it's used to treat Lao Tzu to eat, this kind of favor is really cheap!
But he also squeezed a warm smile on his face: "No no no, I have already eaten, please enjoy me, I just dropped by to see my dwarf brothers, because of the delay of my wedding, let You have wasted too much time here, and it really makes my master a little embarrassed."
The rock has wiped his mouth and said with a loud laugh: "You're welcome, respected general, you are the most hospitable host, and we had a great time here."
(I'm not happy at all, four hundred dwarves eat up to two thousand people!)
"I came today because there is something I want to discuss with you." Xia Ya smiled calmly.
Rock had brought a cup of hot water from nowhere and placed it in front of Xi Ya, then sat opposite to Xi Ya, took out a cow-bone comb from his arms, and carefully combed his long hair. beard.
He combed very carefully and carefully.
This is also what makes Chara feel very strange: these dwarves can go without a bath for ten days, but they spend at least an hour combing their beards every day. The dwarves cherish their beards, which is unimaginable for other races.
If you want to provoke a dwarf, the best way is to show contempt for his beard, then the other party will be furious!
The rock's beard can be dragged all the way to his toes when standing, and the long beard is combed into two beautiful knots, and there are some dense little braids next to it. This guy patiently combed the numbers one by one, listening to Xiaya's words, this seemingly simple and honest dwarf showed a sly look that did not match his appearance.
"Respected lord, you are a hospitable host, and the dwarves are willing to be your friends. But I must say that when we came, the task given to us by the great Greybeard King was only to deliver gifts. For other things, please forgive me. We cannot help, and if you wish to forge weapons for your armies, I am sorry, but we cannot contribute our craft to any other race until ordered by King Greybeard."
Oh shit. Xia Ya cursed in her heart.
If I don't make weapons for me, what do I do with you guys with big belly
Dwarves can't make weapons, what's the value
Unexpectedly, the opponent would be blocked by a single sentence, and Xiaya was a little unwilling: "But, you are idle here anyway, I just need to build some weapons to arm my guards..."
"I can only say I'm sorry." Rock shook his head: "We can't build weapons for your army. But... We dwarves have other skills. We are good at digging holes. If you want to do something, we are willing to give it to you. You put in some effort."
Dig soil
Xia Yahan took a moment and thought to himself: What do I want you to dig for? Dig a big hole and bury you all
Xia Ya was a little disappointed, and her expression couldn't help but look ugly.
After all, Shi Shi is still a honest and loyal dwarf, he hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "Although King Greybeard has an order, we are not allowed to build weapons for the human army... However, you are our friend, although we cannot forge weapons for your army. Weapons. But as friends, it's in our tradition for dwarves to build a thing or two in private for their friends."
"Oh?" Xia Ya's eyes lit up, but then dimmed: "Can you only make it for me?"
"Yes, dwarves can only build things for their true friends," said the rock firmly.
Xia stood up, took two steps back and forth, and suddenly slapped her thigh and said with a smile: "Okay. Then it's settled! I'll ask you to help me build some equipment for my personal use. It's not too much of a request!"
"Of course, we can do it anytime."
Xia Ya laughed, and then said loudly: "Okay, I need ten sets of cavalry heavy armor, ten sets of warrior heavy armor for infantry, ten sets of light armor..."
"Wait! Ten sets?!" Shi Yan quickly stopped Xia Ya: "Don't you misunderstand me? What I said is that it can only be given to you personally... "
"It's for me alone." Xia was serious, and said loudly: "You may not know that I am already a noble of the Byzantine Empire! Duke! Do you understand? Among the noble ranks of the empire, except for the emperor, In addition to the prince, the duke is the biggest and noblest! For a noble noble like me, a duke must have a lot of equipment! As a noble with family education, identity, self-discipline, and tradition The nobles, our equipment must be changed! Every month we wear one on the 1st, another on the 2nd, on the 3rd is the day of worshiping the gods, we must change another set of white, on the 4th is our sacrifice On the day of worshiping ancestors, I must wear black! The fifth is the day when I receive my subordinates and retainers, and I must wear red! The sixth is the day to pay homage to the gods..."
"Wait, wait! You said just now that you have worshipped a god once." Rock protested loudly.
"I believe in two religions at the same time! We humans are a civilized nation! Our laws give us the right to religious freedom!"
Rock felt that his poor brain wasn't enough.
As a traditional dwarf, he didn't know much about humans, and he had never dealt with any humans before, let alone traveled in the human world.
The dwarf groaned: "God! Believing in two religions? Believing in two different gods at the same time? Well, how can that be done?! You humans actually have such a law? But what if your two religions contradict each other? "
Xia smiled strangely: "Don't you know that we humans have something called a 'parliament'? If there is a disagreement, everyone should have a good fight in the council and convince the other party to debate."
"Unbelievable! Incredible!!" Rock shouted again and again.
"Um... where did you just say? Well, in addition to the armor, I need ten sets of lances, ten sets of saber, ten sets of two-handed swords, ten sets of edged hammers, ten sets of riding shields, ten sets of walking shields..."
Seeing that the rock was still protesting, Xia Ya had already said loudly with a straight face: "I am a noble noble! In the empire, only the emperor and the prince are bigger than me! With such a noble status as me, do you think I want to Use only one weapon like a beggar? Our nobles have a habit of throwing anything away after only a few uses…”
"This, this is too wasteful!" Rock's eyes widened.
"This is the tradition of our aristocracy! Please respect the tradition of our aristocracy!" Char Ya said decisively.
"Really... can something be thrown away after a few uses? What a waste... what a waste... "
Xia Ya shook his head: "That's how the life of the nobles is, the things thrown away are thrown away anyway."
Shi Yan suddenly rolled his eyes and looked at Xia Ya's eyes: "Then... I've seen you twice... The last time you wore this robe, it was exactly the same... Are you going to throw it away too?"
"Of course!" Xia nodded reluctantly with a smile.
"If you throw it away... why don't you give it to me... This dress feels like precious silk for human beings..."
Shi Yan couldn't help rubbing the corner of Xia's clothes twice with his dirty hands.
"Here!" Xia took off the precious silk robe and threw it to the rock.
Shi Yan smiled and looked at the belt on Char's waist again: "Oh, this belt is made of lion skin, right? I think you have worn it a few times... "
"For you!" Xia Ya also took it off directly.
"And that ring on your finger, it seems to be a fine crystal..."
Xia quickly took it off and threw it over.
"and also… "
Seeing that the hateful dwarf was going to continue talking, Xiaya quickly stopped him: "If you continue, I will go out naked."
Shi Yan just gave up, holding Xi Ya's high-quality silk robe, the high-quality lion and animal skin belt, and the precious crystal stone ring, smiling brightly.
"You see, these are our traditions." Xia sighed: "Now, my dear dwarf brother, can you promise to make me some personal equipment?"
Rock's answer made Xia vomit blood on the spot!
This seemingly simple and honest man shook his head slowly and firmly with an honest smile, and said, "Sir... Maybe my brain is not smart, but I am not a fool."
Oh shit! Played by this honest man!
Xia Ya took a sigh and left in a rage.
He rushed back home in one breath, and before he even had time to put on his clothes, he went straight to the backyard.
The people arranged by herself in the backyard were still watching, and Xiaya said loudly, "Is Merlin out?"
"No..." the servant replied cautiously.
Xiaya rushed to the door and shouted loudly, "Hey!! Your son is being bullied! You can't get out!!"
After a while, Merlin's impatient voice came from inside: "What's wrong?"
"The dwarf bullied me! He didn't acknowledge what he promised me!"
Xia naturally refused to say that he was tricked by an honest dwarf.
Merlin's voice came from inside again: "The dwarves bully you? How can they have the courage?"
"That's it anyway, can you help me!"
After a while, Merlin's words finally came from inside: "Go and tell the dwarves, if they mess with you, I will go and turn that gray beard into a frog for another year."
Charya laughed immediately.
Immediately…
Um? ? !
and many more!
Merlin was talking about "again" to turn Greybeard into a frog.
Why say "more"
Did she ever...
But these things don't need to be thought carefully. Xia Yaxiong rushed back to the dwarves station outside the city in a hurry. This time he didn't bother to pretend to be a hospitable host, and directly raised the rock in front of him.
"Merlin said, if you can't satisfy me, your Greybeard King will turn into a frog again. You choose!"
The wrinkles on the rock's face immediately tangled into a ball, and after a long time, he gave Xi Ya a deep look.
"You hate it! Well, go make a list!"
Char, who left the dwarf station, suddenly felt a sudden realization.
Damn it, no wonder so many people envy the second generation of officials and the second generation of gambling riches! It's really cool to have a strong mother!
Humph, doesn't the rock want a list
"Come here! Go and bring me the equipment update booklet prepared by our army logistics department this year!"