News spread quickly across the construction site—more than 2,000 villagers soon learned that Lord Jason was once again recruiting soldiers. Excitement filled the air, and many families hoped their sons of the right age would be chosen to serve under House East.
After spending time at the site, these peasants had heard firsthand from the soldiers about the benefits of serving in Jason Liu's army. The pay was generous—10 silver deer per month—and soldiers were provided with food, clothing, weapons, armor, and even horses. It was a stark contrast to the traditional feudal system, where peasants were often forced into battle, bringing their own weapons and supplies when their lord called upon them.
With such appealing conditions, many villagers eagerly hoped their sons would be selected.
Before long, a large crowd gathered at the construction site, with many families bringing along their entire households. The reasoning was simple: there was safety in numbers, and staying together in a place bustling with activity gave them a sense of security.
Fortunately, Jason Liu didn't mind the extra mouths to feed—almost 3,000 people, including the elderly and children, now relied on his provisions. In exchange for the food, these older villagers and children contributed in whatever small ways they could. Some collected firewood, others gathered stones, and a few even cleared weeds. Their efforts, though minor, helped keep the construction site organized.
Since they were only provided meals and not paid wages, Jason saw no harm in letting them stay. He realized that having their families well-fed also meant the recruited men and women could focus on their work without worry.
As he observed the scene, Jason couldn't help but be surprised when Jon and Torrant reported that the actual number of people present exceeded 4,000. The unexpected increase was due to the families of the workers also joining in. Since the elderly and children were willing to help with small tasks, Jason saw no reason to turn them away.
After all, feeding more people was a simple matter for him. The extra cost was insignificant compared to the benefit of having a stable and motivated workforce.
The selection process was swift. Young men working alongside their parents and siblings were quickly picked out by Jon, Bud, Marb, and McCann. Within an hour, all 200 available spots were filled.
This time, Jason prioritized recruits with horseback riding experience. While most of these young men had only ridden workhorses—used for plowing fields and pulling carts—it was still a valuable skill. Warhorses were rare and expensive, so Jason knew he couldn't expect experienced cavalrymen among common farmers. Instead, he set a simple standard: as long as a recruit could mount a horse, stay seated without falling off, and make the animal walk a few steps, they were good enough for now. Training could come later.
Once the recruitment was completed, Jason ordered Jon to lead the new soldiers to the riverbank to wash up. Their current attire—dirty, tattered rags—was hardly fitting for soldiers. He also had the workers bring out old clothes stored in the winter market town's warehouse so that the recruits could wear something clean in the meantime.
However, Jason had bigger plans. After returning to his modern world, he intended to place an order for a fresh batch of military gear: field camouflage uniforms, stab-proof vests, and boots. These recruits would be stationed near the logging camp, the large training ground, and the barracks under construction. Until then, they would sleep in newly built wooden houses behind the camp.
As Jon and Bud led the recruits to wash and change, their families watched with pride. Many of the young men were beaming with excitement, thrilled to have been chosen. Their parents, too, were overjoyed—joining Lord Jason's army meant not only a steady income but also security and a future.
Turning to Torrant, Jason gave another important order. "Torrant, I just purchased 500 riding horses and 200 warhorses from Winterfell's stables. You need to build a stable as soon as possible. The horses will be here soon."
Torrant's face lit up. "Five hundred riding horses? That's excellent news, my lord! We've been short on animals for transportation. With these horses, we can speed up all sorts of work."
Jason nodded. "Arrange everything as needed, but make sure the stable gets built quickly."
"Understood, Lord Jason. I'll start work immediately," Torrant said, bowing respectfully before hurrying off to oversee the project.
By evening, Director Henry and a team of horse handlers arrived, leading 700 horses to the logging site. Torrant and his crew had already fenced off an area using freshly cut logs to serve as a temporary stable.
Jon and his men inspected the horses, ensuring the correct numbers had arrived: 500 riding horses and 200 warhorses. They then helped guide the animals into their designated enclosures. The process took some time, but soon all the horses were settled.
Jason exchanged a few words with Director Henry before the man departed. With the day's major tasks completed, the workers prepared for their evening meal. Dozens of large iron pots were set up, and vegetable soup with diced meat began to simmer over the fire. Freshly baked bread filled the air with the comforting scent of roasted flour.
Not wanting to disturb the workers as they waited for dinner, Jason boarded his carriage, accompanied by 14 cavalrymen, including dicken, Chris, Kent, and Rubin. The group set off for the castle in the winter market town, leaving Jon, Bud, Marb, and McCann to oversee the new recruits and soldiers.
Back at the castle, Lena and the others had already prepared dinner. After a satisfying meal, Jason made his way to the warehouse. He had important business to attend to—returning to his own time to place an order for supplies.
He contacted Oliver and issued a list of necessary items:
4,000 sets of protective work clothing for the lumber workers 500 sets of field camouflage uniforms 200 stab-proof vests 300 riot helmets 200 steel swords for the new recruits
The helmets were especially important—Jason wanted his 300 soldiers to have proper head protection in case of combat. As for the weapons, he would once again rely on Ethan's Props Factory to craft high-quality steel swords.
At that moment, Oliver had just returned home from work. He was about to relax when his phone rang. Seeing it was his boss, he quickly answered, listening as Jason listed out the latest purchases.
Despite being off duty, Oliver didn't dare refuse the request. "Understood, sir. I've noted everything down. I'll arrange the purchases."
With that, he grabbed his briefcase and turned to leave the house.
His wife, peeking out from the kitchen, called after him, "It's almost dinner. Where are you going?"
Oliver sighed. "Work."
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse