The reports by Oerstein and Hilude were very detailed, but summarizing them was relatively simple—it was about how the army of Hesse Territory had transformed from Su Li's private army into a more professional territorial legion.

Previously, how did Hesse Territory increase its army? Through means such as purchasing slaves and capturing prisoners; these individuals were all directly affiliated attendants of Su Li.

Now, the main forces of Hesse Territory's army have shifted from Su Li's private army to the provincial army of Hesse Territory, recruited directly from the people of Hesse Territory.

For instance, the newly formed three squadrons of armed attendants were primarily recruited from the elite soldiers within the Free People's Corps of the territory.

In this battle, although the Free People's Corps suffered heavy casualties, they were treated fairly overall—so much so that even the followers of the Goddess of Justice acknowledged this result. On the tense battlefield, the commanders did not maliciously use them as cannon fodder; instead, the elite troops of the territory served as the backbone of critical battles. After the war, they were also involved in the compensation, as the Lord generously promised that they could retain thirty percent of the spoils.

This was already a very good outcome. The Imperial people loved going to war, so could they complain about some deaths and injuries?

Thus, this war inspired many adventurers and mercenaries who were observing within the territory, prompting them to enthusiastically join the ranks of the Hesse Territory's armed attendant camp and the Free People's Corps, which rapidly expanded the scale of the newly organized army, even possibly surpassing the peak numbers before the war.

As reported by Knight Stein, from all directions of the Border Prince's Territory, there were various powerful Ranger Knights, mercenary soldiers, and even Dwarf Rangers joining Hesse Territory's war effort.

Especially the knights of the Flame Sun Knight Order, as the teachings of the Sun Goddess were widely prevalent in the south of the Empire, making the Border Prince's Territory an important place for the members of the Flame Sun Knight Order to travel and train.

In this vast and fertile region, many Flame Sun Knights served as resident knights in farms and horse stations to hone their skills against monsters.

After the valiant defense against the Green Dragon in Hesse Territory gained fame, these resident knights enthusiastically and fervently followed the teachings of the Goddess and joined the grander war against evil.

Thus, dozens of members of the Flame Sun Knight Order from various farms and towns in the Pioneer Territories gathered in Heisen Castle in Hesse Territory.

Additionally, mercenaries and adventurers from all the towns emerged from forests, valleys, and ruins to come to Hesse Territory for greater wealth.

This meant Su Li no longer needed to spend heavily on purchasing slaves, as simply raising the banner of recruitment could attract a significant army from the populace.

Recruiting directly from the people of the territory had numerous advantages; firstly, these individuals had a strong belief in defending their homes. After all, most of the soldiers in the Free People's Corps were landowners, free people, and farmers of the territory. Their property, wives, and daughters were all within Hesse Territory, making defending Hesse Territory closely aligned with their goal of defending their home.

This meant that the provincial army now represented not only the interests of Su Li alone but also the collective interests of countless people in Hesse Territory. At this moment, defending the homeland and country vividly and vividly connected.

This why Su Li could have only over five hundred high-level directly affiliated attendants, yet the provincial army could scale up to thousands or even tens of thousands of soldiers.

On the other hand, this greatly saved military expenses. After all, the price of purchasing one slave was enough to pay the salaries of forty to fifty soldiers of equivalent strength.

Su Li's twenty-thousand-plus Golden Crowns could only buy 100 Elite Knights, yet could easily maintain the military expenses for 400 Elite Knights for a year.

However, every time Su Li thought about this, his heart would tremble with pain.

The monthly salary of an Elite Knight ranged from 5 to 7 Gold Crowns, a formal Knight received 1 to 2 Gold Crowns a month, an Apprentice Knight earned 50 Silver Coins monthly, and an armed attendant's salary was 20 Silver Coins.

These payments could not be short any month!

If the soldiers' treatment could not be ensured, no matter how excellent their equipment, they would crumble at the first encounter.

In terms of production, slaves, workers, and livestock could be exploited for hard labor, but having such thoughts concerning the military would surely be a path to self-destruction.

Victory or defeat in war is always decided by people!

If treatment is inadequate and morale is low, an army of two hundred thousand with heavy army, navy, and air force equipment could crumble in a few days before twenty to thirty thousand terrorists and guerrilla soldiers armed with only light weapons, utterly disintegrating.

Noble Knights of this world do step up when needed, owing to their high treatment and status in normal times!

It is no easy task for Su Li, a small Pioneer Territory, to maintain such a large army.

Under him, just the Elite Knights numbered over 300, the salary of high-level attendant knights was relatively high at six to seven Gold Coins, a Champion Knight's monthly salary even reached 25 Gold Crowns, and a Divine Chosen Knight, doing nothing monthly, still received a salary of 100 Gold Crowns, so the salaries of just the knights above elite level amounted to 2500+ Golden Crowns a month.

Meanwhile, the salary expenses for more than three hundred formal and apprentice knights also amounted to around 500 Gold Crowns.

In contrast, the provincial legion, with its vast Armed Attendant Infantry Corps and Archer Corps, was the most cost-effective, with a soldier's salary being 20 Silver Coins, amounting to just 400 Gold Crowns a month for an army of 2000.

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