Chapter 256 - 163 War-time Farming_2
"Did the Segestica people agree?!" Volenus’s eyes lit up.
Maximus shook his head. "We have not yet received their reply. Based on the information we’ve gathered, the Great Chief of the Segestica tribe is very tough-minded. It’s unlikely they will agree.
What we’re doing is planting a seed of possibility with the Segestica people. In case their army, for some reason, cannot be deployed, or if they suffer another crushing defeat during a future attack, they’ll be more inclined to seriously consider our truce proposal."
"Next time..." Volenus complained disappointedly, "It’s already almost October. If we keep dragging this out, we won’t be able to plant this year!"
"I knew this was what you were worried about." Maximus stood up, rubbed his hands on his clothes, and smiled slightly. "Volenus, is your mind stuck in a rut? Do we really have to relocate everyone there to start farming?
The land around that village to the east is only about ten miles away from the camp. It will take just one or two hours to get there. Meanwhile, the nearest Segestica tribe is over twenty miles away. I can have the Military Department dispatch a certain number of soldiers to protect you while farming. At the same time, deploy a reconnoitre team to monitor the Segestica people’s movements. If anything unusual arises, you can retreat in time... Will that put your mind at ease?"
"Of course!" Volenus lit up with joy but quickly became worried again. "Even if we manage to plant, we won’t be able to protect the crops. If the Segestica army comes, won’t all the crops we plant be destroyed?"
"How could they be destroyed?" Maximus reassured confidently. "If the Segestica army comes too early, the crops we plant won’t have sprouted yet. What’s there to destroy?