Chapter 31: Training

The 18 cavalrymen, lacking a few chainmail armors, could still commence their equestrian training in leather armor. The absence of curved cavalry sabers was no major issue either; using straight swords as a temporary measure would suffice.

However, the situation was more challenging for the infantry guards. Each was equipped with leather armor and their own weapons, but the absence of shields posed a significant problem. Before Gwyneth's rule over the Targus territory, no one had ever considered forming a standardized, uniformed troop. The guards' arsenal varied greatly, from sword and shield to spears and short swords, and even some with bows, arrows, daggers, short axes, and mallets. In battle, this lack of uniformity led to a disorganized and individualistic fighting style, lacking any strategic coherence.

Without standardized weapons and armor, tactical cooperation was out of the question. But for the time being, Gwyneth couldn't conjure up enough shields and weapons out of thin air. The only option was to begin basic physical training and formation drills, leaving other aspects aside for the moment.

Gwyneth summoned Baldwin, instructing him to immediately head to Windermere City to purchase supplies, including chainmail for the cavalry and refined iron for the blacksmith. The castle's iron reserves had been dwindling, and without sufficient iron, the blacksmiths couldn't operate.

Next, Gwyneth visited the estate. He ordered workers to fell oak trees from the forest. After rough processing and thorough drying, the wood would be cut and polished to form basic rectangular shields, then handed over to the blacksmiths for reinforcement with refined iron along the edges for increased defense and durability. As for the quantity, creating around seventy to eighty shields initially would suffice.

The decision to manufacture shields rather than purchase them was driven by the economic underdevelopment of the northern market. Self-sufficiency was the norm in most territories, including Windermere City. No blacksmith or merchant there would stock dozens of shields in anticipation of sales. Even if Gwyneth wanted to buy, they likely wouldn't be readily available. The merchants would have to scramble to produce them upon receiving his order.

Facing an inevitable wait either way, Gwyneth preferred to have his people construct the shields, avoiding the middleman's markup. Simultaneously, he had workers fell beech trees, process them into long poles for spear shafts, and instructed the blacksmiths to start crafting spearheads. He ordered the production of about 600 spears.

With the manor and blacksmiths set to work, Gwyneth directed Baldwin to gather the territory's populace. Apart from the standing guards, he began the training of conscripted peasants. With the free farmers having completed their sowing and mostly idle except for weeding, Gwyneth compiled a force of 500 men, including male serfs from the estate. This group represented the entirety of Targus's combat-capable male population.

Now, the crowd stood boisterously before Gwyneth. They were arranged based on personal acquaintances, familiar faces standing together. Gwyneth didn't enforce a strict height-based arrangement, considering it overly complicated and potentially ineffective for them.

"Silence, everyone!" Gwyneth commanded authoritatively.

The front rows of men immediately stopped their whispering, but it was evident that those at the back, thinking they were out of Gwyneth's sight, continued their low chatter. Gwyneth remained silent, his face stern as he stood on the dais.

Gradually, the talking dwindled until complete silence prevailed. Only then did Gwyneth nod in approval and resumed his speech.

"From today onwards, you are the conscripted soldiers of the Wintaling family. No one has trained you before, but now, you must follow my orders without question, or else..."

With a swift motion, Gwyneth cracked his whip in the air, creating a sharp sound that echoed through the space.

"...I will make sure they deeply regret it."

Gwyneth's gaze, commanding and authoritative, swept over everyone below him. The serfs and commoners stiffened, their bodies tense.

"First command - Attention!"

"Everyone, lift your heads, puff out your chests, hands by your sides, and stand straight without looking around!" Gwyneth ordered. He walked among them, correcting their postures with a stick - a sharp reprimand first, followed by a firm strike for those who failed to understand.

After correcting their stances, Gwyneth moved on to teach them 'at ease,' allowing the conscripted soldiers to relax slightly with their feet shoulder-width apart.

"Now, remember your positions and the order of your rows. Remember who's on your left and right. Got it?" Gwyneth barked.

The response from below was patchy, causing Gwyneth some displeasure.

"From now on, you answer only with 'Yes' or 'No,' and do it loudly!"

Gwyneth then introduced two more commands - assemble and disperse. He instructed them to remember the people around them, scatter, then quickly reassemble. Initially, chaos ensued, but as they were arranged by personal acquaintances, familiarity helped. After a few tries, they started mastering the commands and quickly resumed their positions.

After several rounds of repetitive training, Gwyneth decided they had done enough for the day and called it to an end.

Then came dinner time.

Knowing that his high-pressure training style had likely accumulated some resentment among the commoners and serfs, Gwyneth understood the importance of periodically alleviating their emotions.

For these lower-class citizens and serfs, the best way to do this was through a hearty meal. In this era, many poor farmers didn't have dinner, subsisting on just two meals a day. They would start their day with oatmeal, work till midday or afternoon, have some vegetable soup with black bread, and then continue working till sunset before going to bed hungry.

In the manor, the serfs had it worse, sometimes having only one meal a day. After a full day of training, providing them an extra meal was an incredible boon.

Truthfully, the dinner wasn't lavish - just a hearty bowl of black rye porridge, a bit thicker than usual, with half a piece of hard, tooth-breaking black bread to dip in the porridge. Yet, this simple meal moved the commoners to tears, and the slaves were even more overwhelmed.

Many tried to sneak bread back home, but Gwyneth caught them and reprimanded them sternly.

"I gave you this bread to replenish your strength for training tomorrow, not to take home to your families! Eat it all now!"

Some commoners attempted to argue, claiming they were full and it would be wasteful to eat more. Gwyneth, however, just looked at them coldly.

Reluctantly, the commoners began eating the bread they had hidden.

"Listen up, everyone! Once you've finished eating, you are dismissed. Come back tomorrow for more training," Gwyneth announced. "In a week, I'll conduct an assessment. Those who pass will receive an extra loaf of bread to take home."

"Is that clear?!" Gwyneth commanded.

A thunderous "Yes!" echoed in response.