Five days later, His Royal Highness came to the camp of the northbound convoy again. This time, what he brought to Lorist were more than forty dilapidated small fishing boats and dozens of small fishing nets.
"Sorry, Brother Locke, this is already the fishing boats and fishing nets on all the rivers and lakes within a hundred miles. Maybe in a few days, another batch will arrive, but the quantity is not large. Because there is no one from the egrets farther away. The small rivers and lakes diverted from the lake." The Second Highness said apologetically.
"It's all right, Your Highness Oro. It is a great favor for us that you can do this. We are very grateful for your care and help. We are already fishing this afternoon, or we can go to the lake to see now Look, by the way, send these fishing boats and fishing nets too." Lorist smiled and thanked the Second Highness.
It took less than half an hour to reach the lake, and from a distance, you can see the buzzing of people by the lake, which is very lively.
A thick layer of reed mats was spread on the open space more than ten meters away from the shore of the lake, and it was filled with large and small lake fish. More than a dozen women in their forties were picking fish, picking up fish of similar size and throwing them into the lake. In the basket next to it, when the basket was full, it was dragged to the other side to disembowel the fish, scrape off the fish scales, clean it and dry it on rows of neatly arranged wooden racks. This is drying the fish.
The fishy smell was very strong, His Highness sniffed and sneezed.
Fatty Shi ran over excitedly, his face flushed: "Locke... oh, my lord, you must have never imagined that we caught a few thousand catties the first time we lowered the net, and only three times since the afternoon, we have caught twenty thousand!" That's a lot of catties. If things go on like this, there will be at least 100,000 catties of fish today."
Now fishing on Bailu Lake is only an armored spear squadron that has been reorganized, and all the soldiers who can swim are selected, and all of them are standing bare-chested on more than 30 small boats that have been completed and are casting nets.
These small boats are named Locke Fishing Boats. They are very simple. They were designed by Lorist. Seriously speaking, they are a three-meter-long wooden crate with a pointed top. To prevent water leakage, after the green clay dries, a layer of deck boards is laid on the cabin transom, and a small fishing boat is completed. In order to prevent the boat from capsizing, Lorist also ordered people to add a one-meter-long wide plank to the bottom of the boat to make it difficult for the boat to capsize.
Several experienced shipbuilders in the Craftsmanship Battalion shook their heads and sighed. Although such a small boat can be built quickly, it is easy to deform and fall apart after a month or two. It takes at least one or two months to build a good small fishing boat, and good wood has to be selected. There are boards nailed together like this.
But Lorist insisted that nearly 2,000 carpenter craftsmen in the craftsman camp drive out more than 200 of these small boats within ten days, so this kind of boat was called Locke fishing boat. I wonder if these carpentry masters are mocking Still praising.
Fatty Shi saw the fishing boat and net brought by His Highness Second Highness, curled his lips and said, "The fishing net is too small, and I'm already rushing to make a bigger one. Well, the distance between the nets is widened, and I found that the net is too small. The bigger the catch the more fish."
"You can link all these nets together, which can shorten the time to weave the net. Just pay attention to ensure that there is enough strength." Lorist said.
Fatty Shi clapped his hands: "Yes, this is a good idea."
Turn around and hurriedly ask people to pull these small fishing boats and fishing nets away.
At this time, the nets were being pulled up again on the lake. Looking at the heavy appearance of those soldiers pulling the nets, the harvest this time must be very good.
His Royal Highness sighed and said: "I didn't expect that there are so many catches in Bailu Lake. I remember that there is a long-tailed white fish in this lake. It has a pointed head and thin scales, less spines and more meat. It tastes extremely delicious. It is a famous delicacy in the imperial capital. It’s just that the catch is very small and the price is very expensive. Since the outbreak of the Imperial Civil War, there have been fewer and fewer fishermen fishing on Bailu Lake. They were either conscripted and sent to the front line, or they couldn’t bear the oppression of the lord and became refugees.
When the Principality of Madras was established, my father and king led troops to conquer, and the Egret Lake became the border between the two countries, and fishermen were prohibited from fishing, so these small fishing boats went to those small rivers and small lakes. Now this Bailu Lake has become the granary for us to rescue 100,000 refugees, which is really surprising. Ha ha… "
"Then I'll get some fish back and we'll try it tonight." Lorist laughed.
"Okay, but it doesn't need too much. I prefer to eat sea fish. The fish in the lake and river have too many spines, which are easy to stick to the tongue. You ask people to choose the bigger fish. In the end, the fish has more meat and less spines. Yes." Second Highness said.
"Well, yes. I'll ask someone to look for it, to see if there is any long-tailed white fish that His Highness mentioned." Lorist agreed.
Looking back and seeing rows of small boats waiting for the green clay to dry in the distance, the Second Highness wondered, "How many boats have you built?"
Lorist replied, "More than two hundred ships."
"Why make so many?"
"That's too much? Your Highness, Bailu Lake is hundreds of miles long. We can't just fish in one place. So many small boats can be spread within a few miles. Only by fishing in multiple places at the same time can we fish in the shortest time." catch the most fish in the time," Lorist said.
The Second Highness thought for a while, nodded and said: "You are still thoughtful, I really don't know much about fishing."
…
In the evening, Lorist accompanied His Highness to dine, and the main course was fried long-tailed white fish.
His Highness took a large piece of fish flexibly with a fork, put it into his mouth with a silver spoon, and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction: "That's the taste, I haven't tasted this fish for many years..."
"I caught a lot this time, and I've asked you to raise them in a bucket. Your Highness will take them away when you go back, so that my cousin Chrisya can taste it. It's a pity that she didn't come here today." Lorist said.
"Lock, you've got your heart, thank you. Krisya has to train the newly recruited soldiers, so she can't get away. By the way, aren't you also recruiting soldiers from the refugees?" Second Highness asked.
Lorist nodded: "We have recruited 20,000 people. After all, we are going north. Even if Bailu Lake is frozen and our convoy and refugees enter the Principality of Madras, we must have enough armed guards to ensure the safety of the convoy. More than 20,000 soldiers were recruited to maintain the order of the convoy and the refugees on their way to the north, and they would be disbanded as civilians when they arrived in the Northland. The Northland is remote, but it is impossible to support such soldiers. If you don’t work, you won’t have food... "
His Royal Highness sighed a long sigh: "Hateful, the Grand Duke of Madras deployed the Iron Guard Army to the fortress of Lichtana. This is forcing our Antinak Kingdom to station troops in Nadgas City to confront him. Now Ville The province of Basia has returned to the direct administration of the royal family, and we must prevent it from being invaded by the Iron Guards. If it wasn’t for the good news I just received, I would have a headache filling the vacancy here after your convoy goes north.”
"Oh, what's the good news?" Lorist asked.
"It's the Storm Legion. They assisted Grand Duke Melain in sweeping the southern province of Enode in the Kingdom of Iberia, that is, the three southern counties divided by the second prince. They came to the king's capital Windbury, forcing the second prince to ask His father-in-law, the Grand Duke Fesabrunn, dispatched the border guards to stand in the capital, and the two sides engaged in small-scale battles several times, with no end in sight. Seeing that winter was approaching, Grand Duke Meilein decided to withdraw his troops and return to the Principality, and the Storm Legion can also come back." Two His Highness said.
Lorist raised the silver cup: "Congratulations to Your Highness, I think the Second Prince was taught a lesson by Grand Duke Melain this time, and it should have been a few years since the war subsided. Your Highness just let the kingdom recuperate and accumulate strength."
The Second Highness still frowned, shook his head and said: "I was planning to deploy to Nadgas City to guard against the Iron Guards after the Storm Legion came back, but I got another piece of information, it is said that some time ago, they counterattacked into the Kingdom of Ridleys The Allied Forces of the Four Principalities have already prepared to shake hands with the Eldest Prince to make peace under the mediation of someone with a heart. The main reason why the Principality is willing to make peace.
What I'm worried about is that after the truce between the First Prince and the Four Principalities, they will turn their attention to our kingdom. In the past, the kingdom was in turmoil, and the Eldest Prince was not interested. Attacking the Four Principalities is just to make a fortune. Therefore, the border between our kingdom and the kingdom of Ridley has been neglected for hundreds of miles. This is why your convoy occupied the fortress of Benzburg but my elder brother refused to accept it.
The fortresses on the border between the two countries are now guarded by some garrison teams. As soon as the First Prince and the Four Principalities cease fighting, I will have to strengthen the defenses on the border between the two countries. After the Storm Legion came back, they could only garrison there to guard against the eldest prince. In this way, the city of Nadgas is empty of troops, and it is necessary to recruit troops, and the recruits need food and grass, which is really a headache. "
Lorist laughed and said, "If His Highness needs food and grass, then we will leave these fishing boats and nets after our convoy travels north, and His Highness can also let people catch fish for military rations."
The Second Highness toasted Lorist to express his gratitude.
"However, in the long run, if His Royal Highness can take the fortress of Lizhidana, it will be tantamount to taking the initiative to deal with the Principality of Madras. As long as some corrections are made, this fortress can become a place that makes the Duke of Madras sleepless. With a sharp knife, maybe His Royal Highness can take Yungeshandra Province into his pocket and add a province to the kingdom." Lorist said, looking at the Second Highness.
His Highness smiled bitterly, shook his head and sighed: "You are right, but you are powerless. Not to mention the dangerous terrain of the Liechtana Fortress Castle, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. With more than ten times the force and the long siege, I think it is very difficult to capture this fortress castle."
"Well, if you lend me 20,000 soldiers, Your Highness, maybe I can take down the Liechtana Fortress and dedicate it to Your Highness." Lorist Shen Ling made a suggestion for a moment.
"What did you say? You have a way to capture the fortress of Lichtana?" The Second Highness's eyes widened for a moment, and the silver cup in his hand fell on the table without realizing it.
Lorist nodded: "I discovered the weakness of the fortress. I have such an idea, and it is likely to succeed. It's just that the troops in hand are not enough. If His Highness can borrow 20,000 soldiers, there is a high degree of confidence that the fortress can be captured."
"I'll lend you 30,000. As long as you can capture this fortress, it doesn't matter if you fill in all the 30,000 troops!" The Second Highness couldn't sit still anymore, and walked back and forth excitedly.
Lorist laughed: "There won't be that many casualties. I estimate that five or six thousand casualties would be a heavy loss."
"Impossible, it's the Iron Guard Corps defending, known as the world's best defensive ability, how could you attack the Rezhidana Fortress with only five or six thousand casualties?" The Second Highness looked at Lorist with a puzzled face.
"Your Highness, I am not attacking the city. On the contrary, I am going to let the Iron Guards attack and we will defend." Lorist said.
"Wait, what do you mean? The Iron Guards attack, we defend? Where do we defend? Unless the Iron Guards go crazy, they will never give up the fortress to attack us..." Second Highness felt that Lorist was talking nonsense Gossip, if you think about it, you will understand that if you are the commander of the Iron Guard, you will never give up the fortress and take the initiative to attack.
"Hehe..." Lorist laughed, "Reddy, bring me the map about the defense layout of the Lichtana Fortress."
Lei Di quickly spread the blueprint of the defense architecture of the Lichtana Fortress that Lorist bought from the Vanades City Bookstore on the table.
"Your Highness, take a look, this is the internal situation of the fortress."
His Royal Highness was very surprised that Lorist could get the blueprint of the internal defense facilities of the fortress. After thinking about it, Lorist still felt that there was no need to tell him that such blueprints were only sold for one imperial silver coin at the bookstore in Vanades City. Just let him speculate wildly.
After watching for a long time, the Second Highness still felt that there was no way to conquer the fortress of Liechtana, and thought that the ten times the strength he had just mentioned had already underestimated the defensive capabilities of the Iron Guards.
Lorist pointed to a small pond inside the castle on the map: "Your Highness, do you have any idea after seeing this reservoir?"
His Royal Highness shook his head: "Although this reservoir is a bit small, it is enough to ensure the water for the defense forces in the fortress, and it can even be used to prevent fire attacks. As for the weakness of the fortress you mentioned, I don't think it will be this."
"Your Highness, look here. The fortress castle is built on the hillside. The water in this reservoir is taken from a hidden pipe buried in a waterfall pool that falls from the mountain here. Therefore, the water in this reservoir is from a source. It keeps pouring into the moat in front of the fortress and then flows down to form a stream. You all ignore the source of this water. If you can go to the waterfall to drain the water from the pool or find the hidden pipe, then it will be blocked. Then I’m sure that within ten days, the fortress will run out of water, so will the Iron Guards be able to hold on in the fortress by then?”
The Second Highness was overjoyed by Lorist's words, but he looked at the map carefully and shook his head: "We can't reach the waterfall on this side, we have to climb over the mountain from the side of the fortress. But now the fortress and Bread Hill are around The cross blocked the front, and if we want to break through this line of defense, we still have to pay a lot of casualties."
Lorist laughed and said, "Your Highness does not need to worry about this. The armed forces of our convoy will wipe out the enemies on the bread post. As long as the bread post falls into our hands, it will be beyond the range of the crossbow arrows of the Liechtana fortress." Dig trenches and build earth walls to surround the Iron Guards in the fortress. When we cut off the water source of the fortress, it will be the Iron Guards' turn to attack us like a dog jumping over the wall. This is what I said we defend and they attack It means. I really don’t know where the Iron Guard’s siege ability ranks in the world... "
"Okay, Locke, your plan is very exciting and safe, what do I need to do?" Second Highness applauded loudly.
"It's very simple. Your Highness only needs to send troops to face-to-face confrontation, and let the Iron Guards focus on your troops. After we take down the bread post, your troops only need to build walls and dig trenches around the fortress. From now on, you will be in charge of the Iron Guards in the defensive fortress, is that okay?" Lorist asked.
"Okay, of course, I also want to try the attacking ability of the Iron Guards." The Second Highness slammed his fist on the map: "Ten days, Locke, I only need ten days, and I can bring the Royal Guards to Come here. Since the honor of the Iron Guard is taken from the Royal Guard, let this honor fall from the Royal Guard... "
…