The Earl's praise of Derek being "qualified for the position of a chiliarch" was indeed a compliment. Although the title of chiliarch might seem ordinary, it actually represented a high-ranking officer position. In the temporary Northern Province Second Army Corps, there would be only ten chiliarchs. Apart from the Earl's personal officers and some barons who would naturally be given positions, the remaining chiliarchs were typically those from nearby cities, with military noble offspring like Marco holding positions ranging from chiliarch to commander of five hundred.
The Earl's excitement in promoting Derek to the position of chiliarch was indeed an exceptional case. This might bring some complications, but the advantages for Derek outweighed the drawbacks. Even Earl Pérez himself, after his initial excitement, felt that he had spoken out of turn. Derek's knights had performed so impressively that it was hard for the Earl to keep his composure.
Hastily, Earl Pérez wrapped up the inspection. The final structuring of the corps was about to begin. Earl Pérez and his trusted aides were in the midst of a final discussion. He was now reconsidering his decision. "A chiliarch position might be too high for an honorary knight. Even a commander of five hundred would be a stretch, and could provoke dissent," he mused.
In the military, nobles enjoyed privileges, but honorary knights were typically only granted a title of a commander of ten at most. Even in a temporary corps, Derek, with his troops, might reasonably be assigned the title of a commander of a hundred or given command of his private army. A stricter approach might have resulted in a standard flag leader title. Generally, a commander of a hundred position was not a place where an honorary knight's title would be awarded, but exceptional performance could override that.
Some suggested that the extra soldiers Derek had should justify granting him a chiliarch title, which would also boost morale. With an impending battle against the barbarians, seeing tangible benefits could be crucial for troop morale.
Others felt that being generous was fine, as it might inspire hope and ultimately be beneficial. After all, if one performed exceptionally well, the Earl would certainly represent the kingdom in rewarding them.
In the midst of differing opinions, some suggested a compromise: "Assign him as a commander of five hundred and fill out the ranks."
This seemed to align more with Earl Pérez's inclination. However, before the Earl could finalize his decision, César suddenly spoke up, "My lord, Sir Derek is from our knight order, and the Second Army Corps is only temporary at present."
Earl Pérez immediately understood César's implication. The Northern Province Second Army Corps was a temporary formation created by the governor, with its future uncertain. Likely, it would be reorganized after the barbarian threat was dealt with, potentially leading to another reshuffle. Thus, the weight of a chiliarch title might not be as significant.
A temporary corps might see officers demoted or reassigned once it became a regular force. Derek's background as a member of the Pérez Knight Order was significant. Even if he was relatively independent, he still carried the Earl's mark. When the Earl competed for the position of the main commander of the regular corps, having someone like Derek, who was deeply connected to his faction, could be beneficial.
Earl Pérez realized the value of this temporary political resource and, despite the constraints, chose to grant Derek the position. He signed the appointment letter without hesitation.
"Tell that lad to do well and not embarrass me. I'm giving him the rank of chiliarch, with an additional five hundred soldiers and three hundred farmers. The rest is up to him."
"Understood. I'll make sure he knows of the Earl's generosity," César replied. It was important for Derek to recognize the Earl's favor.
César's intervention and Derek's background were key to securing this opportunity. Without these factors, the temporary political resource could have been allocated elsewhere.
Soon, Earl Pérez finalized the structure of the army and completed the preparations. César personally delivered the appointment letter to Derek.
"Sir Derek, the Earl has particularly instructed that you be promoted to the position of the tenth chiliarch of the temporary Northern Province Second Army Corps, with an additional five hundred soldiers and three hundred farmers. The rest is up to you."
César handed over the appointment letter with a smile, congratulating Derek and sharing some of the debates that had taken place. "Fortunately, you're from our knight order; otherwise, there would have been more opposition, and this opportunity might not have come to you. Do well, and once we repel the barbarians, the war will continue, and the Second Army Corps will likely be made permanent. With excellent performance, you might even retain your position."
These were details Derek was not fully aware of. César, with his extensive experience, understood military regulations and the potential changes. If not for the barbarian invasion, Derek might have been a commander of a hundred, considering the size of his force.
Grateful for César's help, Derek wanted to show his appreciation. He went to the stables and brought out one of his three high-quality warhorses.
"César, my friend, I can't thank you enough. Please, accept this warhorse as a token of my gratitude."
Derek's generous gesture was akin to giving a luxury car worth millions. Even though César served under Earl Pérez, such a high-quality warhorse was a rare asset, and César was astonished by the gift.
César was amazed, as such a horse was beyond his means to purchase, even with years of savings and no available avenues to acquire it.
Derek knew that compared to those high-ranking noble offspring, he had nothing. The only thing he could do was to build a positive reputation for himself—one of gratitude and generosity. "You may not care about my background, but wouldn't you like a friend who's a generous and straightforward person? If you like me, why not help out? The rewards will naturally come in time."
César felt as if he was walking on air. He had anticipated some return on his goodwill, but not so swiftly and significantly. He tried to decline Derek's gift but was met with Derek's insistence, which made it impossible for him to refuse. In the end, César, feeling dazed, led the warhorse out of Derek's camp.
Only when he returned to the central camp did he fully grasp the situation. "Derek, Derek... What a generous guy. Looks like I didn't make the wrong choice in befriending him." Given the principle of reciprocity, César felt compelled to act. That very afternoon, Derek saw a batch of high-quality recruits arriving.
As the registrar, César knew the composition of the Second Army Corps better than anyone. These recruits, from knightly or merchant families, had no significant background but were accompanied by carefully chosen soldiers. They joined the Second Army Corps with clean backgrounds, good spirits, and decent education, ensuring their compliance. These were truly top-notch recruits and junior officers.
Marco was intentionally separated from Derek, as the former was the eldest son of the Ferrera family, while Derek was out on his own, possibly with some ulterior motives. As Derek's friend, César felt obliged to lend a hand.
The entire Second Army Corps quickly completed its adjustments, following the rules and with messengers sent by Earl Pérez. Derek's triangular flag was raised high, marking him as the master of this thousand-man unit.
He wasted no time in restructuring, keeping one hundred-man unit intact and mixing the rest with the newly joined soldiers. Some knights and merchants who brought their own troops were given the ranks of ten-man leaders or flag leaders. Derek followed protocol, assigning squad leaders to oversee ten-man leaders, and placing ten-man leaders under flag leaders. This method helped him quickly take control of his thousand-man unit.
With his data panel, Derek believed he could further master the army soon. As a chiliarch with absolute power, it would be all too easy to dispose of a few people at will.
That evening, Derek hosted a small gathering to introduce the new and old subordinates. Adrian, now leading an entire hundred-man unit as Derek's flag officer, exemplified how dramatically one's fortunes could change with opportunity. Adrian was more convinced than ever that he had made the right choice.
Although a single meal couldn't ensure loyalty, it could foster understanding. Derek introduced himself to his new subordinates and clearly stated, "The military isn't child's play. Some of you may have learned military theory, but it's not enough for greater responsibilities. Marching formations, commanding soldiers, and even logistics management all require experience. I come from a military noble family, served as a knight in the Pérez Knight Order, and believe I have more experience than most of you. If you have questions, ask me now, or it may cost us dearly on the battlefield. Don't blame me for being unsympathetic then."
With his honorable background, demonstrated capabilities, and military experience, Derek's appointment as chiliarch was widely accepted despite some dissent. César's intervention had spared him a lot of trouble, and the recruits were truly exceptional. Derek felt the warhorse he had given was well worth it.
The next day, the Second Army Corps set off in waves. While ten thousand might not sound like a lot, it was a substantial force for the time. Not everyone had the capability or qualification to manage such a large army. Even marching required careful coordination of ranks and stages.
As a newcomer without specific duties, Derek simply followed orders. Pérez's personal troops were responsible for leading the way, and regular officers were assigned various tasks. The temporary recruits needed to learn the ropes. While such temporary units were often looked down upon, the experienced chiliarchs ensured that things didn't fall apart. The army marched steadily for five days, approaching the besieged Iron Wall City.
One day, the sound of hoofbeats caused a stir within the Second Army Corps. Derek, on horseback, climbed a vantage point to investigate and saw the familiar emblem of the Pérez Knight Order.
"It's the Pérez Knight Order!" he realized, recognizing the eagle-headed banner he had seen daily before. The order had arrived, and it seemed their numbers had doubled. The troops were well-organized and not just hastily assembled.
Derek quickly understood. Each year, many retired knights and squire-servants like himself were in need of work. Earl Pérez couldn't afford to keep them all but had helped surrounding nobles and merchants train knights—a gesture that was not purely altruistic. When needed, a call for conscription would bring many former knights and squire-servants into the Pérez Knight Order. These trained knights, with their own horses and weapons, had significant combat strength.
With the arrival of the Pérez Knight Order, the Second Army Corps accelerated its integration. The chiliarchs had effectively controlled their units, and the newly joined soldiers and farmers had adapted to the military routine. The sudden increase in pace did not cause chaos and appeared orderly. With just a few more battles under their belt, the Second Army Corps would undoubtedly become a formidable fighting force.
"As expected of a seasoned general," Derek thought. He realized that everything was part of Earl Pérez's meticulous planning. What seemed like minor adjustments had actually completed the integration process. Of course, this was also thanks to Earl Pérez having a competent officer corps. A court noble might have struggled to even recognize their subordinates.