However, Anna told Winters seriously about how she accidentally saw five men and a skinny ox plowing a field in Wolf Town.

"That scene was not beautiful, but it was very touching..." Anna thought about the adjectives distressedly.

Winters gently held Anna's hand: "It's shocking and sad, but it also feels calm, natural and peaceful. Right?"

Anna smiled and nodded: "Well, it's a very complicated emotion. So that scene is also very beautiful. I want to draw it, so I asked you to make an easel for me."

Winters was also touched: "Is it done?"

"Only sketches." Anna's cheeks were slightly red: "I... don't have any paint."

"I'll go find paint for you." Winters said with deep guilt, "I'm sorry."

Anna held Winters' arm tighter, said nothing, and just rubbed her lover's shoulder.

Winters suddenly had an idea and took out a map book and a small bundle of graphite strips from his arms: "How about using this as a small draft first?"

Anna took the two things in confusion and smiled.

…

Winters returned to his family life, and he and Anna were having a sweet and happy relationship, which was very pleasant.

But in the town of Blackwater, a hundred kilometers southwest of Jevaudan, Bader was mentally and physically exhausted.

Since the messenger was still on the way, Bard did not know that he had been elected as a "military tribune" and "tribune", nor did he know that Winters was giving a banquet to the whole city in Gevaudan.

No matter from any aspect, Bud is responsible for the most difficult task in this battle: ensuring the stability of the refugee camps and bringing them to the southern towns.

Winters went to fight the visible enemy, while Bud sat on the powder keg and tried every means to prevent the powder keg from exploding. Moreover, he also faced a serious shortage of manpower and material resources.

All the resources in Tiefeng County have been put into the battle, and very few can be allocated to the refugee camps.

Bard only had forty soldiers and ten horses, and few of them could even hold swords, let alone those who could read and write.

But he faced more than 20,000 refugees.

But Bud, the son of a tenant farmer and a servant of the monastery, continued to solve the problem quietly without complaining or complaining.

He transferred farmers and soldiers from Wolf Town and Shengke Town to supplement the existing manpower.

He also selected guards within the refugee camps to control the refugees with refugees; he implemented a cruel continuous sitting method, and maintained limited autonomy within the sixteen refugee camps to balance the pressure.

Thanks to Bud's dedicated efforts and tireless work, not a single refugee disappeared without any reason, nor did any riots occur.

During the relocation process, the refugee camp did not harm the villages along the way, and the surrounding farms gradually lowered their guard and even sent food to express condolences.

But there was one problem that Bud couldn't solve on his own - land.

So after leading the refugee camp to the area between Oxhoof Valley and Blackwater Town, Bard set up camp.

He ordered the refugees to make farm tools and prepare rakes. If there was no iron, they would use wooden plows, and if there were no livestock, they would use human power.

Rumors spread in Nanba Town, and the manor owners were uneasy.

All the abandoned land is in the hands of various manors, and there is no land reclamation for the refugee camps - it is impossible to open up land in time for the farming season now - so it is clear what Lieutenant Bader wants to do.

But apart from preparing farm tools, Bud did nothing.

He did not seize the property from the manor, nor did he order the refugees to work directly in the fields. He did not even meet the manor owner who came to visit him.

Seeing that the sowing window for overwintering crops was getting shorter and shorter day by day, he still stayed put.

He was waiting, waiting for the victory or defeat of Gévaudin.

Finally, after the excruciating wait, dawn finally appeared on the horizon.

"Lieutenant Bard!" Angelou shouted and ran into Bard's tent: "Win! Great victory!"

The ponyboy was trembling with excitement, but Bud's expression was as calm as ever.

He took the letter, read it from cover to cover, and finally couldn't help but say "good" three times in a row.

What Bud received was the first letter sent to Winters after he joined forces with Don Juan.

Further good news is still on the way.

"Angelou!" Bud shouted.

"Yes!" The young stable boy suddenly stood at attention.

"Hold the military flag! Go to all the nearby villages and towns and tell me about this great victory!" Bud laughed loudly.

"Yes!" Angelou turned to leave.

"Come back!" Bud called to the young stable boy: "Just arrange for someone else to deliver the good news. I have something more important to entrust you with."

Angelou put away his smile and looked directly into Lieutenant Bader's eyes seriously.

"You go to Blackwater Town." Bud narrowed his eyes: "Bring all the manor owners here."

The refugee camp needed some cavalry to manage, so Winters sent Angelo to Bard.

In Winters' opinion, the two men's personalities matched well. By letting Angelou follow Bud, the stable boy could learn a lot.

It is indeed the case. Bud and Angelo have many similarities, but Bud is tougher, more mature, and more determined. The young stable boy gradually changes from fear to admiration for Lieutenant Bud.

His position in his mind is already second only to Winters.

Bard gave the order, and Angelou never questioned it.

The pony boy raised his hands in salute, turned around and walked out of the tent.

…

Angelou acted quickly, and all the manor owners in Blackwater Town were taken to the refugee camp either voluntarily or unwillingly.

The owners of the manors, who were considered "prominent families" in the small town of Blackwater, were waiting in fear for the young lieutenant's verdict.

"Time is running out! I'm not going to talk nonsense with you." Bard went straight to the point and spoke quickly: "I have 20,000 people, and I can't afford to support them. So I want your land to grow food, and I can give you some land rent as compensation. etc.

In the future, we will reclaim the wasteland and return your land to you."

Although they were mentally prepared, the estate owners of Blackwater Town were still stunned by the heavy news.

"Your Excellency, may I ask a question?" Richard, the largest manor owner in Blackwater Town, said bravely.

"explain."

Richard plucked up his courage: "In my opinion, you are trying to make all the refugees into you...or rather, the farm workers and tenants in the new settlement."

"Yes, that's it." Bud didn't hide it either: "The refugees must work for us for seven years before they can regain their freedom. In the future, the land will not be given to them in vain, they must redeem it."

"Then why do you bother so much?" Richard, as the owner of a large manor, suggested: "Wouldn't it be better to let the refugees work as tenant farmers for us, and let us pay the food to the garrison?"

Bud clapped his hands and laughed, laughing so hard that the manor owners were baffled.

After wiping his tears, Bader's face suddenly sank: "You have a damn good idea!"

The manor owners in the tent all trembled with this angry shout.

Bud made his attitude unabashedly: "Farmers will continue to be tenants for you and tie their labor force to your manor. They will not be able to play their due role at all! They will be exploited anyway. Instead of enriching you,

I would rather it be me who squeezes them."

The gentle and generous Bud opened his eyes, which can also scare people's knees: "I'm not afraid to tell you that we are at war with the New Reclamation Army. We want food! We need soldiers! Without food and soldiers, we will

If you are eliminated! You will be killed!”

"So, whoever doesn't give us food and who doesn't give us soldiers will be our mortal enemy!" Bard's eyes swept across the crowd, and the manor owners lowered their heads: "This is a matter of life and death, and we will never be lenient.

! If you agree, I will give you some compensation. If you don’t agree, I will destroy your family!"

The manor owners who could not help but swallow their saliva just now, now have dry and bitter mouths.

Bud picked up a stack of land deeds, which were all the files of Gévaudan's garrison: "We know exactly how much land you have. Whether there is any illegal cultivation, you know better than me.

I don’t even need to check you for stealing land! Next year’s real estate tax will be increased five times! If you feel it’s not enough, then increase it ten times! If you can’t hand it over, pay off your property!

Let me tell you, there is no good or evil before life and death, and we have a way to treat you. It is our kindness to talk and discuss with you now.

There are sixteen towns in Tiefeng County. No matter what, I have to carry out this matter in Heishui Town, otherwise the other fifteen towns will learn from it? You think it over for yourselves. If you agree, come and sign the contract. No

If you agree, go home, wash your neck and wait for death!"

Richard said bitterly: "Sir, our family property has been accumulated by generations of hard work. We work hard, buy land, and build a family property. Are we still guilty?"

"You don't understand, don't you?" Bud pulled out his saber, pointed at Richard, and asked, "This is a matter of life and death. We are not going to kill you, but you are killing us! Let the labor force continue to work as sharecroppers for you?"

Who gives us soldiers? Who gives us food? Without soldiers and food, we will die. Aren’t you going to kill us?”

Richard stepped back repeatedly, shaking his head desperately.

"I'm telling you, I'm saving you." Bard thrust his knife into the ground, pointed at the refugee camp outside, and shouted sternly: "There are more than 20,000 hungry people outside, and we won't let them farm. Wait for them."

The day I run out of food, I will eat you! Do you not understand? Or are you pretending not to understand?"

Richard was speechless when asked.

"And it doesn't mean that your land will be taken away for nothing." Bard's tone became gentle and steady: "When the wasteland is reclaimed, your land will be returned to you. That's why I made a contract with you to protect your land."

Private property. Besides, isn’t your land being abandoned now? No matter how good the land is, it will be abandoned if it is not planted for two years. We are here to help you maintain the land and compensate you. Where can you find such a good thing in the world?"

The more he spoke, the more kind and friendly he became, not at all like the impassioned one just now: "If I really want to rob, why do you need to waste your words here? I will wipe out all your families, and the land that no one inherits will naturally be taken back to the garrison. Isn't it simpler?
To be continued...