On the training ground, the soldiers were training, and dozens of captains were walking inside to correct their movements.
There were thousands of soldiers. There were one hundred teams in each team, and the former team leaders were selected. They were randomly divided into teams and only practiced the basic movements.
Although their movements were not so unified, they had changed and became powerful.
The soldiers' faces were no longer gray, and they were no longer numb. Instead, there was hope.
Although Tom's order had just been issued, the soldiers had seen his actual actions.
Yesterday, the military supplies officers came to the military camp with a large number of gold coins and food in advance and began to pay the military salary for this month.
Everyone got more food, and the money they got was five silver coins more than the original quota.
Five silver coins!
Five silver coins could buy their family an extra meal of meat and make an extra piece of clothing so that they wouldn’t be hungry and feel freezing.
Besides, the military supplies officer also told them the good news that Count Tom had clearly ordered that the military salary would be regularly paid in full according to this month's standard.
The extra money was nothing to Tom, but to them, it was a life-saving straw!
Previously, the so-called leader’s soldiers were all poor, and Tom's generosity had already made many soldiers grateful to him.
"Break time!"
A roar spread all over the training ground, and the soldiers instantly relaxed. Divided into several groups, they gathered together and began to talk about the new order yesterday.
"Much better now, right?"
The captains who were familiar with each other also gathered together. Zeiss, the captain of the troops, gave a few tobacco leaves to Dig.
They had been in charge of the soldiers before and had a headache.
These soldiers wouldn't listen to orders at all.
However, they couldn't count on the soldiers who didn't get the proper treatment to obey the orders.
"Of course!"
Zeiss looked at the training ground and sighed, "It's not like this before... I can only guarantee that I won't starve to death."
"Exactly!"
Dig's rough voice was full of emotion.
"I used to pray that the pay could be paid on time so that my family could have a good meal. It's not a big deal for me to endure hunger!"
Dig and Zeiss were not so lucky to meet a leader who even deducted the food, let alone the military salary.
They had forgotten that how many months they hadn't received their salary before they came here.
The leader wished that these soldiers could live without food and money. The military salary was so small that it was deducted again and again. The military salary that could be given to the soldiers was not even enough for them to support their own families.
They were hungry and cold. The soldiers were numb and decadent, and the daily training was just a lick and a promise.
Because life in the military camp was not good, and there was not enough food for the soldiers to eat. The soldiers were often starved, but the leader was extravagant and wasteful with fish and meat every day.
Since it was Count Tom who ruled, they had truly realized what kind of life a human should live!
"A small profit can buy people over!"
Even though he was grateful for Count Tom's mercy, Zeiss still looked down upon him.
"Do you still want to follow the previous leader?"
Dig spat.
"What was the military camp like before? You didn't even have a good meal!"
Even if Dig and Zeiss were team leaders, they were no different from soldiers.
The so-called leader’s soldiers were also treated differently.
It would be better to meet a leader with a little conscience. At least, he would let his soldiers eat well so that they could have higher combat effectiveness.
Zeiss smiled bitterly.
"Yes, but it's much better now, isn't it?"
Now that Tom was here, the food was served in an unlimited quantity, as long as it was not wasted.
They all forgot when they had such good food.
Since the new order was issued, at least Zeiss and Dig had been grateful to Count Tom from the bottom of their hearts.
And the soldiers who came with Zeiss and Dig were probably grateful.
After all, they had never heard of Tom's generosity and mercy, and the best leader was only paying military salary from time to time.
"The only bad thing is that there is a ban on drinking."
Dig, who was born to be a drinker, was a little greedy for wine, but the severity of the ban on drinking was daunting.
If one broke the ban, he would be punished with thirty lashes.
He would be expelled from the army and be punished with three months' salary. If he couldn't pay the fine, he would be punished with hard work until he paid off his debt.
It took Dig a lot of effort to get the military salary. He didn't want to challenge the ban on drinking that had just been issued.
"But there is a ban on drinking during the training. You can drink as much as you want during your break!"
"I was used to being undisciplined."
Dig scratched his head and felt a little embarrassed.
In the past, soldiers didn't care about drinking at all. During the training, they rarely saw people who were completely awake. They had to drink even if they were short of money, not to mention those captains who were relatively rich.
As long as they wanted to drink, they didn't care about the occasion or time.
"We can't afford the punishment of the ban on drinking. You don't want to pay the penalty with hard work, do you?"
Zeiss warned Dig not to challenge the authority of Tom.
They had heard about the consequences of the count's uncles.
"Of course!"
"Have you heard about it?"
A soldier said mysteriously, "Count Tom ordered to give each peasant a piece of land!"
This was also one of the orders given by Tom to the new barons.
"Yes, every registered farmer is included!"
Another soldier came over and said affirmatively.
All of a sudden, there was an uproar.
The land was always in the hands of the leaders. They could only work for the leaders and give the land to their families with very little food. When could the lands become what every family-owned?
"Really?"
Someone didn't believe it.
"Really!"
Although it still belonged to the count, the count only collected a small part of its annual harvest, and the rest of the food was enough for the family to live a comfortable year!
No one had ever made such a decision before!
All the aristocrats wanted to control their wealth and power and didn't allow anyone to go out. They had never seen the aristocrats who generously distributed their land to the farmer?
"It is said that Count Tom is about the same age as my brother."
A quiet and shy soldier suddenly said.
Everyone knew that he had a teenage brother.
"What?"
All the people present were shocked and showed great interest in the count.
It was said that Count Tom would come to the military camp in the next few days.
Many people wanted to see the leader in person whether the count was the same as the rumor.
"I heard that count is already in the Rock City. It won't be long before he comes to the military camp."