"That is why we mass produce spears of this length. I will create a unit to handle this spear. I am going to create a unit to handle this spear.


    Some of his retainers seemed to think it was a joke and laughed.


    It is true that I have studied the military arts and swordsmanship of this world, but there would be no troops or tactics to use the spears of the three Jaguars.


    "The Count has a sense of humor as well, I see. Finally, a rare master!"


    "I''m sorry, I don''t mean to be a joke. However, I don''t expect anyone to use it lightly. Orcus, try waving it around for me.


    When called, Olks Breit, captain of the Red Bear Squadron, came out. With legs and arms like logs, few men are so recognizable as military men.


    Olcus raised his spear and then brought it down in front of his eyes several times.


    His body shook slightly, but he seemed to be able to handle it.


    Each time he swung down, "Oh! A voice goes up. The length and power of the long, powerful dance is quite different. It is interesting and different from a demonstration.


    "As expected, the spear is twice as long as usual, so it''s difficult to maintain the posture!


    "Still, with practice, you seem to have a handle on it."


    "Yes, sir!　I''ll make sure the Red Bears are thoroughly trained. If I''m the only one who can use it, we can''t call ourselves the three Jaguars. Besides, a spear team needs to be many in number.


    He is a soldier at heart, after all. He speaks quickly.


    Spearmen are a threat only when they form up in a tight group and then bring down their weapons all at once. They can strike down the enemy with the power of their spears before he can get close enough to them.


    If you think that the enemy''s defense is not strong enough, you can go to stab them together.


    In any case, the basic rule is to stay so tight that there is no escape. Otherwise, if a spear and a sword get into close combat, the spear will be helpless once they get into the gap.


    The longer the length of the spear, the more gaps there will be. This is a structural problem before technology.


    "If they could form a dense formation of spears with this length, don''t you think it would be a formidable force for both offense and defense?　Not even a cavalryman could divide over such a thing. It would be easy to crack a horse''s head open."


    "Indeed!　And the enemy army will be horrified at the mere sight of it!　I will surely master this monstrous spear!"


    I had the idea when the chief priest gave me this spear.


    I wondered what would happen if a human handled this weapon that was made for the gods to use.


    It is true that the human body has its limitations. A spear of 50 jugs would be impossible to lift, or even for a blacksmith to forge.


    But a spear of three jargs can be used with practice. And they will be of great power.


    Then, with an anxious look on his face, one of his retainers raised his hand.


    "My people are not strong enough to handle such a spear at will. ......"


    "I am aware of that."


    "But won''t you spread the spear beyond those three jaguars?"


    "First of all, let the SS--that is, the professional soldiers--do it. I don''t want all the peasant conscripts to use it, so don''t worry.


    This spear is heavy. Therefore, only those with strong arms and those who have endured rigorous training can work together. A squad of spears with disparate movements is like asking the enemy to pry you open!


    --Arsrod. I knew it! You think like the High King!　Funny, really funny!　It is the same as the three-and-a-half-ken long spear strategy prepared by the High King!


    That''s a coincidence. But it''s the same all over the world that people think that the better use of long weapons gives an advantage in war. There is a universality to war.


    --You''re absolutely right. That''s why the High King is happy to see that you''ve guessed right!


    If you assure me that I am right, then the three JAG teams are going to have value.


    I''m sure you''re right.


    Well, it''s a job without weapons for a while now...


    I sent a polite letter to the remaining independent forces in Fordonia.


    The contents can be summarized as follows: I''ve been busy taking out those who have been misbehaving and neglecting the cathedral, but that''s been taken care of. Let''s continue to get along well with each other.


    Needless to say, this is all talk. A lord who believes everything he hears in diplomacy would be better off as a priest.


    Still, it is foolish to provoke the remaining powers from the surface. Even if each of them is weak, the Lentlands in the northern province of Nagouri could be troublesome if they are called upon for help.


    The Lentlands are counts who have ruled the Nagouris for generations. Although it does not have a strong war image, the Nagouris have a number of port cities with large populations. They have a larger military mobilization capacity than we do.


    It may be an exaggeration, but it is said that they once mobilized more than 5,000 soldiers in a single battle. It may be possible to prepare for the battle by gathering all the troops, but 5,000 troops in a single place is an extraordinary number, since they have to be allocated for the defense of other places as well.


    They must have gathered soldiers from port towns that have their own mercenaries.


    Now, the number we can move in one war is probably less than 3,000. However, we have never gathered that many soldiers because there is no need to fight a total war. A few hundred men were enough to defeat the enemy.


    When he visited his brother who faked illness, he prepared 500 men, but that was a demonstration. I gathered as many men as I could from the vassals who had joined our side.


    Even if the unification of this province were to be accomplished, the number of soldiers that could be mobilized would probably not reach 4,000. In fact, it would have to be further dispersed.


    But there is something we must do before counting the number of troops.


    I went to the town of Maust to check on the design of the castle.


    It would be the biggest building ever built in this province. There was no guarantee that it would be completed properly unless I went directly to the site and gave them instructions.


    "Okay?　First, the north side of the castle should face the river. Instead, let the water from the river flow into and around the castle, making it look as if it were floating on the water.


    The people involved in the design process looked on in disbelief.


    "A castle that floats on water? ......?　Yes, it is highly defensible, but this blueprint doesn''t seem to be connected to the castle. ......"


    Ornis, who should be called the general supervisor of this design, said in a puzzled tone. He was originally a salt merchant from Maust.


    Already my power is not what it was when I was a small viscount. That is why it is often difficult for a vassal to understand. I have recruited a wide range of people, including merchants and former vassals of other families.


    This is fine. At the same time, we will also build a canal through the existing town of Maust. We will use the waterway to go directly to the castle. Of course, we can''t do it all by boat, so we will also build bridges between the castle and the city.


    "This is going to be a major construction project. ......"


    How long will it take?


    "It will take three years. ......"


    "Do it within a year."


    Ornis was crestfallen.


    Well, it''s a big project that I''ve never done before, so I guess I should shy away from it.


    "All right. Then I''ll take the lead.


    "You''re going to stand all the way up here, Count?


    "The castle is like my home. Wouldn''t it be nice to come to the site where my house is being built?"


    There were more tangible odds. The special ability [Signpost of the High King]. If the workers'' concentration and confidence were also increased by a factor of 1.5, it would not be impossible to bring the project into shape in a short period of time.


    "We will also take good care of it here: ....... However, it will be a castle with tremendous costs. ......"


    "The finance bureaucrat, Juannelia, has told me it is possible. People will be coming to Maust more and more. What is the population of Maust now?


    "About one thousand two hundred."


    When it becomes the capital of the province, it will have about 6,000 people.


    Five times as much?


    You''re a guy who''s always surprised by exaggeration.


    If you can''t attract that many people, you can''t accumulate wealth.