When he was in junior high school, the school organized a visit to the paper mill. Many of his classmates marveled at the sight of fresh, white paper being produced, but Maximus felt nothing but disgust. After he started working, as environmental awareness began to rise domestically, he started researching online, learning in detail about the paper-making process and its environmental hazards. He submitted articles to newspapers, while also exposing on the internet the long-term inaction of his hometown’s town government, which had contributed to the paper mill’s severe environmental damage...
Two years before his reincarnation, the paper mill in his hometown was shut down. However, he didn’t get the chance to return, so he didn’t know whether the water in that little river had cleared up...
At this moment, Maximus was still hesitating, not because he was worried about the environmental impact of paper production, but because he was grappling with whether or not to plagiarize one of his ancestors’ Four Great Inventions and bring it into this world. Ultimately, he came to terms with it: since he had already borrowed the Qin State’s Twenty Peerage System and the dragon emblem, adding paper-making was but one more. Perhaps this was just a parallel world, unrelated to the ancient world of his previous life.
Maximus recalled the paper-making process and materials he had seen in his previous life: old rags, tree bark, lime water, a pulping stump, silk screens, felt, sunlight... These materials were all easily available, and the process wasn’t complicated. With repeated experiments, he should be able to create useful paper...
Thinking of this, Maximus became energized: "Akegu, go get Capito for me immediately. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him!"
"Akegu, what are you daydreaming about?"
Casius nudged the distracted Akegu. Snapping out of his thoughts, Akegu faced Maximus’s questioning gaze and responded nervously, "L-leader, starting today, the Twenty Peerage System will officially come into effect. Everyone else will be ordinary tribe members and will be allotted fifty mu of land. But I... we... what about us?"
So that’s what he was worried about... Maximus glanced at the four young men in the military tent. They looked nervous yet full of anticipation as they stared at him. With a smile, he replied, "Fools, didn’t you understand the decree? It says that everyone who followed me in the campaigns in Italy and eventually came here is considered an ordinary tribesman, and that naturally includes you!"
"That’s great!" Akegu cheered and high-fived his companions.
Maximus added, "However, you’re still too young. Even if I give you land now, you wouldn’t be able to cultivate it properly or pay your taxes. In the end, you’d just be punished. So, you’ll only be considered ordinary tribesmen and receive your land once you’ve come of age. Understand?"
"Understood!" the four young men answered in unison.
"If you understand, then get to work!" Maximus deliberately put on a stern face as he spoke.
Akegu shot off like an arrow.
"Hey, watch where you’re going, kid!" Quintus’s complaining voice came from outside the tent. Moments later, he lifted the tent flap and stepped inside, glancing at his grandson Valles, who was recording notes inside the tent. Turning to Maximus, he said, "Leader, did you call me over because the Segestica people are preparing to attack us again?"
After reviewing the military intelligence report, Maximus had his attendant copy the report and send it to the three Chief Officers in the Military Department, which was why Quintus had learned of the matter earlier than chiefs of other departments.
"Yes, before I hand this matter over to the Political Affairs Hall for discussion, I wanted to get your opinion first," Maximus said. "What do you think our strategy should be for this battle? Should we continue engaging the enemy in a frontal confrontation?"
It was clear Quintus had already thought about this before coming. Without hesitation, he replied, "Leader, the Pannonians have already suffered several defeats. The Great Chief of Segestica is a seasoned warrior; he won’t fail to learn from past mistakes. This time, they’ll surely come prepared. Relying on previous strategies to secure victory won’t work.
However, since Segestica is calling for reinforcements from their tribal alliance, their forces will take time to gather. By then, our camp’s defenses should be completely built. As long as we rely on these defenses, I’ve questioned the Segestica prisoners, and with the Pannonians’ current siege capabilities, it’s almost impossible for them to breach our camp!
When their supplies run out and they retreat in exhaustion, we can pursue them and achieve considerable gains..."
"Hmm, relying on camp defenses to repel the enemy—we’re thinking along the same lines," Maximus said. It wasn’t merely self-praise; he continued, "I have an idea. I’d like your input to see if it’s feasible."
Although this young leader lacked extensive combat experience, previous battles had proven that some of his suggestions—unexpected as they were—often yielded remarkable results. Quintus perked up immediately. "Leader, what’s your idea?"
"This time, when the Segestica Army attacks, their soldier count will undoubtedly exceed the last. Unlike a direct battle, a siege takes significantly more time. The food they carry will surely be insufficient, necessitating constant resupply runs to sustain their army in battle.
You mentioned before that the Pannonians lack a well-established military logistics system. Hastily organized supply efforts are bound to have vulnerabilities. Before the Segestica Army surrounds our camp, can we leave a contingent outside? Build hidden camps in the mountains or hills, stockpile supplies for extended operations, and have them ambush the Segestica Army’s supply lines..."