The crisis has passed safely, but more work has just begun.
The injured need to recuperate, someone needs to deal with the aftermath, the frightened residents need to be comforted, and the production work in the camp needs to get back on track.
The first thing Gawain did was to collect the blood-red skeletons piled outside the camp, scattered at the mountain pass, and piled on the mountain road. He sent out almost a third of Strong laborers rushed to transport these wreckage back to the camp before it was completely decomposed by the power of order, and then piled them up on the south bank of the Whitewater River, piling up a daunting mountain of bones near the sawmill next to the camp.
The size of those monsters was so huge and ferocious that even after death, the bones "decomposed" for a day and a night, these remaining parts still had a terrifying size and appearance. They were piled up in a disorderly manner, constantly Black and red mixed smoke and mist rose up, as if invisible flames were burning. Among all the skeletons, less than 10% of the skeletons were relatively complete.
Most of the complete skeletons were left behind during the battle with the guard troops. There were almost no complete corpses of the monsters that were buried by the rock wall or killed by "mines".
Gawain picked out the relatively complete skeletons from the pile of bones, supported them on wooden frames, and arranged them neatly on the south bank of the White Water River. From a distance, they looked like they were on the north side of the camp. A terrifying new wall was added, and in front of the pile of bones in the middle of the wall, Gawain set up a high wooden platform.
Everyone in the camp could see the process of building bone piles and wooden platforms. Most civilians and serfs were shocked when they saw the horrific blood-red corpses. Their former homes were destroyed. The fear of destruction arose spontaneously, but the defensive battle carried out amidst thunder and explosions the day before somewhat offset the fear in their hearts. Even illiterate serfs could understand one thing - since they themselves are still alive Standing here, while the monsters are piled on the river bank, this is enough to show that the lord's army has won a great victory, and then the monsters are not so scary.
The soldiers were running around the camp, reading the lord's summons order loudly: Duke Gawain Cecil summoned all the people in the land to go to the high platform on the river bank to listen to new orders.
The camp with less than a thousand people was easy to mobilize. Soon everyone in the territory gathered in the square next to the sawmill. Gawain stood on the temporary wooden platform. In front of him was Behind the gathered citizens are piles of blood-red bones that are constantly decomposing and causing mist of elemental dust to rise.
Hetty released the spell of amplification, and the voice from the high platform resounded throughout the square -
"Cecil's subjects, today I want to announce three "Things," Gawain put the pioneer sword on the ground, glanced at the people below, and then suddenly raised his sword and pointed at the skeletons lined up along the river bank, "First, I want to announce a celebration, celebrate these Those who once destroyed the Cecil Territory, those who once slaughtered your brothers, sisters, relatives and friends, those who not long ago threatened you and me again.The monster of all lives has been defeated! He was hit head-on and defeated like a crusher! There were nearly a thousand monsters, almost ten times as many as the camp guards, but none of them could step foot into our camp in the end - you should know how powerful and terrifying these monsters are, but now you should also know that these monsters are not Not invincible! ”
These words caused a slight commotion in the crowd below, and also made them feel enlightened. These words could not be simpler and more plain. The people in the camp were already guessing. When did the lord announce the celebration of this incredible victory? At this time, Gawain's words only gave everything a real hammer, and an atmosphere of passion and excitement brewed in the crowd.
What turned this atmosphere into cheers was Gawain’s next words: “To celebrate, after work is done this afternoon, everyone in the camp can eat broth and white bread! And ale shipped from Tanzanian town! ”
Soon, there were several cheers scattered among the crowd - these cheers became the introduction, and eventually everyone cheered.
高Wen waved his hand, and the crowd gradually became quiet, and then Gawain continued: "The second thing, I want to thank, thank everyone who contributed when guarding the camp - including my soldiers, and you. ”
Gawain deliberately stopped, and the crowd below really started to commotion.
Because this was the first time they heard such a weird statement.
The nobles were here Express gratitude to common people, even untouchables and serfs - and in such a formal, serious situation, it is definitely not a joke!
Some people started to look at each other because they felt confused, while some stood still! The serfs on the edge of the crowd simply looked around, because they didn't think this matter had anything to do with them at all.
But they saw a few people walking out under the "escort" of soldiers. Walk to the stage and stand behind Gawain.
“This land is not only my territory, but also your home. It is not only the lord and the lord’s army who guard this land, but also yours. Credit," Gawain said seriously, saying words that were definitely deviant and bizarre in this era, "Each of you has worked hard for the previous defensive battles - those 'slags' you fired, you The crystals you washed out, the wooden boxes you made, the runes you carved, the herbs you gathered, the clothes you starched for the soldiers, the holes you dug in the rock walls of the Dark Mountains, the traps you dug on the mountain paths, all of them These things protect your own homes and your own lives! ”
The crowd made a bigger commotion. At least half of them didn’t understand the logic and meaning of Gawain’s words for a while, while the other half couldn’t believe what they heard. Amber, who was responsible for shouting 666 in the crowd, also forgot what he was supposed to do. Instead, he stared at Gawain and muttered: "Is this guy mentally ill..."...Doesn't this admit that common people and nobles have the same value and role..."
After Gawain finished speaking, he ignored the reaction below, and instead gestured sideways to the few people behind him. Individuals came forward.
Except for one of them who was a soldier from the territory, the others were all civilian coolies with thick hands and feet wearing coarse cloth and rags. These people walked to the stage with nervous expressions on their faces. In front of them, they seemed at a loss: they already knew what the lord was going to do in advance, but they didn't know how to react at all. They could only move their limbs stiffly like rusty dolls, for fear of missing an instruction.
< p>The stonemason Gordon accidentally took half a step further than the others, and suddenly he was almost at the same level as Gawain. He didn't notice this at first, and only saw the dense crowd below. For the first time. Standing in front of so many people and standing on a stage made this muscular old craftsman's hands and feet tremble all of a sudden. Then he noticed that the position he was standing on had been "overstepped", and his expression changed drastically.But Gawain just smiled and whispered to the others: "Stand on the line of stonemason, this line is for you. ”
At this time, the people in the audience have already recognized who the people standing above are - there are only 800 people in the camp, and they are all survivors from the Cecil disaster. They have long been extremely familiar with each other, and everyone can recognize even the names of the serfs.
“That’s Mr. Gordon, the stonemason! "Is that Hunter next to you?" The one who hunts? "Who is that thin and small one?" "It seems that he is a serf in the territory. His name is Holm. He is burning 'slag' in the kiln..." "I know that soldier, his name is Kerim. I heard that he killed two people by himself yesterday." A monster - none of his brothers and sisters have been able to escape from the territory before..."
At this moment, Gawain's voice sounded, interrupting the low-pitched discussion below:
"These people have made great contributions to guarding the camp and are the best in their work. They are the hardest-working craftsmen and the bravest citizens. To them, I want to honor my promise in advance. promise.
"Holm, Terry, and Wacker, you were originally serfs and slave laborers, but now you are free people - you can own your own property in the future and earn it with your own hands. Take your own land and house, but remember that the freedom to work and live is also the freedom to starve and fall. Your future life is in your own hands, don't let this freedom go down.
"Masons. Gordon, hunter Hunter, and soldier Krim, you are already freedmen, so you will get a piece of newly reclaimed land in advance and be the first to get your own residence after the houses are built. In addition, Krim, because of your extraordinary bravery, Knight Byron intends to guide you. If you agree, you can start with a knight's retinue. ”
The people whose names were read straightened their chests one by one, while Gawain took a few already prepared from Hetty’s hand next to him.of copper badges and pinned them on several people's clothes.
This badge is really simple. It is just a flattened copper cake with the emblem of the Cecil collar carved on it, and the words "Commemorative of the First Battle of the New Cecil" written on the back. , they were made by working overnight. No one, including Hetty and Rebecca, understood the meaning of making these things - because these "copper cakes" are not currency, and Gawain also made it clear that they cannot be used for Trading, in other words, these are worthless unless they are melted down and sold as copper bars.
But Gawain just had to do these things.
He pinned these things on the clothes of several people and whispered to them: "This is a symbol of honor."
This symbol is indeed a bit crude, and in a hurry, he There is no time to come up with various terms such as "Brave Combat Award", "Production Promotion Award", "Outstanding Contribution Award" (not to mention that people in the territory may not understand it), but in any case, a set of such honors A system must be established.
This is not only an encouragement to the person involved, but also a symbolic effect to others.
Although the people standing under the stands could not see clearly what the medal looked like, they could clearly feel that they had a sense of yearning and envy for this honor standing on the stage. .
Then Gawain announced the third thing: "The third thing is about the army in the territory."