Therefore, the issue of food is very important, even in modern society. If there is not enough food, it is a tragedy. Not to mention a traditional farming society. Although the Norman Empire was increasingly prosperous under the rule of Egil, the fundamental foundation was still agriculture. So, please remember this point here. Before the Industrial Revolution, the most important industry, the most fundamental industry, and the most profitable industry were agriculture.

Indeed, it is undeniable that commercial city-states like Venice and Genoia also exist. But they can only be "city-states". It is impossible to rule too large territory by establishing a country based on commerce without paying attention to agriculture. After all, the level of productivity in this era is there. Too many merchants will lead to barren land and a decline in grain output. This is a fatal matter.

From the perspective of rulers, the vast majority of the world, most countries and the vast majority of the population are engaged in agricultural industries. It can be said that if the rulers who can master agricultural production can master the vast majority of the population in the world and make their own rule stable.

Well, this is basically the case. That's why Egil struggled to implement agricultural reforms. He issued several consecutive declarations for the liberation of serfs. Importing high-yield crops from the New World, reforming agricultural production models, etc. So although Egil is a little frivolous in his daily life, he actually has enough ability. If he governs a country, it is at least much better than Genghis Khan, who will only destroy but not operate.

Therefore, Egil has been thinking hard these days, hoping to think of some solutions to solve this problem. In the end, the excessive signs of the reserve force, resulting in insufficient agricultural staff and reduced food income. Egil also thought of it.

"It's time to organize the military camp." Egil finally thought of a good idea: "It's not necessary to dismiss all the troops back to cultivate them. After all, the problem now is not the lack of arable land. It's the lack of labor. Although a lot of developed in Eastern Europe has been developed, there are still wastelands. Although these unreclaimed wastelands are not as easy to cultivate as the mature land that people have used to farm. However, they also indirectly maintain fertility. If the army organizes the army and forms a production corps to carry out military camps, the grain income must be very objective!"

After Egil came up with a solution, he immediately drafted the document. Just in time, according to the settings of the thirteen armies set up before, the army was required to return to Eastern Europe in batches, and demarcate the wasteland that has not yet been reclaimed. As a military farm, the army was organized for production.

Speaking of which, if you are a professional soldier, you may be confused if you just put down your weapons and pick up a hoe. But if you are recruiting soldiers from the reserve, there will be no problem. After all, their job is made up of farmers... Of course, there are also some workers, vendors or other things. But these people are only a few. As mentioned before, the population of the Norman Empire is still mainly composed of agricultural population. If you want to transform into an industrial country, you don’t have to think about it within a hundred years.

However, hydraulic spinning machines and other things may be researched soon.

After a few more days of busyness, he wrote letters, arranged and communicated with his sister Aurora in Krakow, listened to the expert's opinions, and then made some small details to modify his plan. In this way, an emperor's order called "The National Agricultural Production Plan for Extraordinary Periods" was issued.

A total of millions of troops will be concentrated in three eastern Europe in batches under the guidance of this plan, and wasteland will be opened up. The ox, seeds and farm tools are also ready. It is too late this fall. However, next spring, this plan will be officially implemented. Some of the food obtained from the military's operations will be enriched by the country's reserve granary. More often, it will be used as military rations to supplement the Norman army's combat needs.

In this way, this problem was solved. And together with the previous autumn exercises, it also became the official national policy of the Norman Empire. Egil, who solved the problem, became very relaxed again. Perhaps it felt that the preparation had been completed, so there was no need to cover up too much. Or because of insufficient troops or other reasons. Recently, the intensity of the Mongol attacks has been reduced again, from once a day to once every three days. And the number has further dropped to about 5,000 to 7,500 people, needless to say, they are all slaves.

Information sent from other places also showed that the Mongols seemed to have lost their offensive attitude towards Norman's absolute defense circle of Moscow. As the incident continued to move, the weather became colder and colder. The Mongols had begun to prepare to go south and spend the winter in the warmer south.

"In this way, the winner of the first round will be over." Thinking of this, Egil felt much more relaxed. Although the pressure brought by the Mongols was unsettling, after more than a year of fighting, Egil won and lost each other, and Egil's potential fear of the Mongols was much lowered.

"This time, I won... No, it should be said that it can only be considered a draw. Although the Mongolian army lost nearly 300,000 troops, this is nothing to the Mongol Empire, which has a million troops. And next, the opponent will attack from the southern battlefield. I am afraid that the empire's trade in the Mediterranean will be greatly affected by that time. Therefore, the empire's income will shrink... It's really damn. In this case, the Suez Canal that has been dug up long ago will probably not be used."

While sighing, Egil stood on the city wall and looked at the direction of the Mongolian military camp. It was around five o'clock in the afternoon. The enemy had just launched another failed attack. This time, a total of 6,000 slave soldiers were almost killed or killed by dense crossbow arrows, arrow clusters and other long-range attacks. It was like a one-sided massacre. It could not be said to be a war.

"Or showing my weakness to the enemy, wanting to let me relax my vigilance and attack. Or do you think I will come out to fight you in the field?" Egil muttered to himself as if he was inexplicably decadent against the setting sun. If the other party really thought so, he was really making a mistake.

It was different from the Norman Empire, which was relaxed and happy. It seemed very quiet in the Mongolian military camp. Genghis Khan had announced that the army would set off before October and retreat to the south. After the winter was over, then prepare again in spring. In the summer of the following year, it would attack the Norman Empire again.

After such news was spread, the Mongolian army seemed much more relaxed. If the Norman Empire really left the city - not to talk about head-on battles, but adopted sneak attacks, then it would be impossible to really win. But Emperor Egil, the commander-in-chief of the Norman Empire, was too cautious. So such an opportunity was lost.

Of course, it's just a few small things.

At the same time, compared with the war on the northern front of the half-dead war, a war was beginning to brew on the battlefield of the southern front of the Mongolian Empire. The Mediterranean climate, which is always constant temperature, can fight all year round as long as you make up your mind. However, the already a little crazy Emperor Basil and Genghis Khan, who are completely unaware of the sufferings of the people, all seem to think so. Although winter is coming and the temperature is slightly lower, in Syria and the Near East battlefield, the temperature of the war is gradually rising.

Because of the Norman Empire's aid, Eastern Rome was able to use Norman Empire's ships to transport supplies and troops. Therefore, the pre-war preparations and the army were quickly completed. The speed was much faster than Basil II expected. In the end, after some consideration, Basil II decided to hire Minotaus troops from Crete to fight. A total of four thousand teams and the joining of four thousand men in heavy armor made Basil II's army more tenacious and had a higher chance of winning - at least so did Basil II think.

At the same time, the army of 100,000 Mongolian troops, 300,000 grassland nomadic Allied forces, and 200,000 Persian slaves, which were already ready, led by Borshu, one of the four Mongolian masters, had also begun to advance, from Central Asia and Persia toward the Syrian region. I believe that the two sides will start a thrilling war - if nothing unexpected happens...

Eastern Rome is closer to Syria, and the shipping speed is faster than land. Eastern Rome also has fewer troops. Therefore, it arrives much faster than the Mongolian army. It is completely unaware that the opponent will soon have a large army attacking Basil II. After the army was in place, he only took a short rest for a while, and then launched a general attack order - the target is the pagan army entrenched in Damascus!

In this way, the battle on the southern front kicked off with the strong attack of the Eastern Roman Empire. This time, the focus of both sides was still on Damascus, the former Near Eastern pearl. Its offensive and defensive posture had completely changed.

After defeating Damascus, plundering the troops and slaughtering for a while, the cowardly Buhua finally decided to move forward. Although his army was already very tired and the plague was prevalent, the original 100,000 troops, after several consecutive battles, was only less than 70,000 left. However, with its amazing perseverance and the pride of being the Mongols, this tired army still maintained strong morale and certain combat effectiveness. In this way, on October 4, these two armies met in a Gobi Desert between Antioch and Damascus... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly votes, and your support is my greatest motivation.
Chapter completed!