Chapter 212 - 141: Build the Homeland First? Or Start the War First?_2
It is autumn now, the grass is dried up, so burning should be easy. After burning, we can dig up and remove those rocks and tree roots, and the burnt field should be usable. I carefully looked at that piece of hill; it’s quite gentle and the soil is thick. Whether for building houses or farming, it would be excellent."
Capito, who had also followed Maximus to inspect, interjected, "There are some trees on that hill. It would be a pity to burn them all. Why not cut them down first and then burn? We can use those trees for building houses, making boats... Our supply camp has a dozen frame saws, so cutting trees would be faster."
"As long as there are enough people, cutting the trees first would also work," Volenus responded straightforwardly, as if he believed Maximus wouldn’t object.
Maximus smiled, "Volenus, your method of using fire to clear the land is a good one. In the future, you will be in charge of developing that hill, but—"
He put away his smile and asked seriously, "Now that we plan to burn the land on that hill, do you think the Pannonians will let it go unchecked?"
Volenus was momentarily at a loss for words, then said, "Leader, can we send a legion to protect while burning the land? If the Pannonians dare to come, we can repel them..."
Before Maximus could reply, Flanitnus loudly opposed, "That’s impossible! You need a lot of people to burn land and build houses, and you also need a lot of people to send a legion to protect them. This means almost the entire army would be concentrated on that hill, and burning the land isn’t something that can be done quickly. If all the strong men of the tribe stay there long-term, here will become very unsafe!"
"There’s another point that needs our attention!" Quintus added, "When I went to look at the hill with the leader today, as soon as we got close, the warriors from the nearby Pannonian tribe came out to drive us away. It shows they’ve already considered that hill as their territory. If we burn and build houses there, we will undoubtedly anger the Pannonians.
Even if we repel them once or twice, as the Aldean Great Chief said, the Pannonian Tribes alone here have over ten to twenty thousand troops. When their army comes in full force, most of our soldiers are still burning the land, and by then it might be a disaster!"