John was bewildered.
The young master had been training these guards for over a month, yet with his small mind, he hadn't noticed any changes.
Lin Ke smiled, "I once observed ants. Under the command of a big ant, obedient little ants can easily kill a grasshopper like guards! But without the big ant's guidance, a nest of little ants is just that—little ants."
Upon hearing this, Butler Billy's eyes behind Lin Ke filled with even more admiration.
A month ago, Lin Ke, deeply aware of his lack of "military power," announced he would guide the guard's training.
At first, Billy didn't think much of it. After all, the request came from the master's precious heart, the only heir of Azanen so far, the clever Young Master Lin Ke.
Let alone messing with the guard team, even if he wanted to dismantle the castle and play with bricks, the master would likely agree, perhaps even helping with professional skills.
However, Billy didn't expect this young master to be so clever and outstanding.
The methods of training these guards, although superficially different from the master's, were actually quite similar in essence.
This couldn't help but make him sigh in relief, Azanen has successors!
"How do little ants become guards..." John muttered softly but did not ask further.
Lin Ke shook his head, Little John seems not the type to lead troops into battle.
Why emphasize strict training?
It's simple, morale and obedience to orders are absolutely important in the age of cold weapons.
There are certainly many other important factors.
But unfortunately, in his previous life, he hadn't delved too much into military formations, strategies, or the art of war.
At most, he had read some Sun Tzu's Art of War online, which provided some insights.
He didn't really understand the ways of warfare and the elements of victory in this world.
Having never fought in a war, blindly applying methods and experiences from his past life would be foolish.
The people in another world have been waging wars for so long, summarizing suitable strategies for their political, technological, social, cultural, and economic conditions.
Coming over and using another world's military template, thinking you can dominate, is clearly hard to achieve.
Adapting to local conditions is very important.
However... discipline training generally doesn't go wrong. After imprinting habitual obedience in the guards, it should benefit them.
At least some major routs after morale collapsed will occur less frequently.
Therefore, a month ago, Lin Ke, after a self-perceived intense and perilous overt and covert struggle with the First Lady, gained control over all the guards except the guard captain.
The First Lady had no brain, not recognizing the importance of military power at all.
A month ago, when they first met, these guards were holding scythes, carrying buckets, and some hadn't even worn their pants properly.
Typical ragtag band.
After all, in Azaenn Castle, guards weren't entirely out of their day-to-day jobs; sometimes, they did chores like farm work.
But after Lin Ke's nightly guidance, employing a reward and punishment system,
within a month, even with incomplete training, these guards started shaping up.
Lin Ke was also grateful these guards weren't like the unruly soldiers he had known about on the internet in his past life, disobedient and rebellious.
The guards here were essentially a group of commoners who revered nobility and took pride in being Azanen Guards.
So naturally, they listened to Lin Ke, the super noble within the territory.
"Uncle Billy, the next phase of training begins in a couple of days, will the food supply be sufficient by then?"
Lin Ke asked calmly.
Butler Billy bowed slightly, "Young Master, our Azanen is the most prosperous in the kingdom's south, the granary is filled with berries, vegetables, and meat, so much it could fill the beautiful Orland Lake."
The whole kingdom, the most prosperous south, filling lakes... Lin Ke had long labeled Butler Billy— "A middle-aged man fond of hyperbole."
However, Lin Ke wouldn't expose him, as long as the food was enough; he continued, "As long as there's enough food... Oh, one more thing, when I go out with the procurement team tomorrow, make sure to record all castle matters well, especially regarding my stepmom, and tell me when I return."
As he spoke, he glanced at Billy.
He always felt that the First Lady harbored a conspiracy.
Billy hesitated slightly, feeling troubled, but ultimately nodded, "Yes, young master."
It was clear he didn't agree with Lin Ke's ongoing confrontation with the First Lady. After all, she was the master's first lady, and he didn't know how the First Lady had offended Lin Ke.
But comparatively, the master's eldest son held a higher status than a woman, which Billy understood.
The reason Billy found it difficult was due to other matters.
"I shall return now. Uncle Billy, keep an eye on them, Viscount Azanen isn't here, we need to have the power to protect ourselves."
His own mother could be called a mother, that jerk who left just after his one-month birthday, was nothing more than an exotic barbarian viscount.
He would never call him father.
"Yes." Butler Billy bowed, having no way to deal with Lin Ke's chosen title.
Since he could speak, this young master had shown extraordinary learning talent, quick with everything he picked up.
Moreover, he had his own strong opinions, and ordinary people couldn't sway his will.
Like Garoce, Lin Ke never addressed him as father.
"Come on, John, let's race back, whoever's last to my room drinks a big glass of Gula Milk in one go!" Lin Ke threw a playful punch at Little John beside him.
Little John nodded vigorously, "Okay! But I won't go easy on you, young master!"
He'd heard from Lin Ke that drinking Gula Milk was good for health.
He, a commoner, acknowledges how well the young master treated him.
He couldn't allow the young master to suffer, and must ensure he drinks Gula Milk!
Yes, John insists it's not because he dislikes milk that he doesn't want to lose, yes, not... John mentally repeated.
Lin Ke wasn't aware of John's internal drama, smiled, "Five... four... one!"
"Wow, young master, you're cheating!"
...
Slightly sweating from the race, Lin Ke soaked in a bath once again, drinking the uniquely fragrant Gula Milk while bathing.
Finally, he won, but how could he ever lack Gula Milk? Not far from the castle was a real Gula Cattle Ranch!
He then made John gulp down a large glass of milk, also drinking a large glass himself.
Now, it was time to get down to business.
He blinked his eyes.
[Reward: Pending receipt]
The task's reward was "A Highly Potent Follower."
"A follower refers to a person, right? How do I claim it, does he drop from the sky?" Lin Ke clicked in his mind.
The system window disappeared, yet nothing happened.
"Hmm... is it triggered by certain events? Or does the first follower who pledges to me become 'highly potent'?"
Lin Ke pondered with no conclusions.
This system is incoherent, with no indication of any prompts, so he could only explore slowly by himself.
Of course, he believed that with more tasks completed, he would eventually grasp the system's essence.
Moreover, the simplicity and lack of intelligence of the system assured Lin Ke, otherwise he would surely worry about some mastermind or hidden hand behind the system.
He had a bath, got some sleep.
Followed by the next day.
...
It was not yet dawn.
Outside the castle, a dozen carts drawn by Gula cows were neatly lined up along the roadside.
Azaenn had no horses; Lin Ke hadn't seen or heard of such a word.
Generally, these supply caravans relied on ox-carts.
"Hurry up, hurry up, you foolish slaves!"
"Guards, guards! Come help move this box!"
"Don't forget the Gula cow dry beans! Bulls will enter heat if they don't eat the dry beans!"
In the early morning, servants were busy moving baskets, food, and stone jars, while wielding whips to drive slaves to do the dirty and heavy work.
Heavy tasks couldn't and shouldn't be left to slaves, as mishandling would lead to disaster.
While Lin Ke, his mother, and Little John only came to the castle entrance at the crack of dawn.
"Little Lin Ke, I'm taking you to the city today, aren't you excited~" Lin Ke's mother playfully pinched Lin Ke's cheek as she stooped down, giving him a squeeze after finding the feeling so satisfying.
Lin Ke stayed silent.
Hey, hey, it was a pleasant thought initially, but you're ruining it, mom! Still, I won't complain.
P.S.: Dear readers, please like and support, or no more pinches for you!