Supplies First

Scorching sun.

Joffrey stood on a makeshift platform, with a crowned stag banner planted behind him.

Hound and Barristan stood on his left and right, respectively.

Below the stage, more than a dozen soldiers were pinned to the ground, and several wounded soldiers lay sprawled on one side.

"My lords," Joffrey's expression shifted between light and shadow.

"Come and claim them!"

Gails was the first to push his way to the front, rushing to the side of a wounded soldier and crying out.

"My child...cough cough, who beat you up like this!"

No one answered.

Joffrey watched the chaotic scene below without saying a word.

He originally intended to appoint himself as the chief grain officer to manage the army's food supplies.

But as soon as he started to speak, the counts below looked troubled.

No one objected openly, but no one was willing to agree either.

So Joffrey took a step back and proposed a rotation system.

Each household sends one person to take turns being responsible for distributing the grain and fodder, rotating every three days.

When the grain was distributed, each household sent someone to keep an eye on it, and the accounts were made public.

The counts' eyes lit up when they heard this.

After all, if our own people can participate, then it's not an outsider in power.

As for whether there will be any problems during the rotation.

Of course, things will go wrong.

And a major problem arose in the second round.

The young people from Harvard squeezed out of the crowd.

"Your Highness, I have something to say!"

"Today was the distribution of rations. My family reported more than 700 people, but Little Rossby only allocated 600 people's share. The rest are still nowhere to be found."

"Without provisions, are you expecting my troops to march on empty stomachs?"

"Gales, where are the fuel and saddle you promised me?" Another count appeared.

"And my department too!" Earl Riverey chimed in, seizing the opportunity. "We didn't give enough last time, and we won't give enough this time either."

Seeing that the situation was about to descend into chaos, Lady Tanda's steward stepped in to smooth things over.

"Gentlemen, please be quiet and stop arguing."

A voice rang out from the crowd.

"How much pay did Rossby give you? Why do you always speak up for him? He's your..."

This shout was like igniting a wildfire, igniting all the resentment in the crowd.

Accusations, questions, and dredging up old grievances rose and fell.

"Alright, then I'd like to ask you why you allowed your subordinates to sabotage my camp before."

"Several of our knights' warhorses have also been lost!"

"Tell me... I haven't settled this score with you yet... The sun from..."

"#%#&@#%……"

The crowd started pushing and shoving.

Several hot-blooded young knights even got into a fight, rolling around in the dust.

Joffrey gave a wink to the people below.

"Clang!"

Dozens of longswords were drawn instantly.

Everyone froze in place, and then in an instant, they all retreated.

The two people who were tearing each other apart on the ground looked up blankly and quickly helped each other to their feet.

He even smiled and patted the dirt off the other person's body.

"Sir, is it true that Rossby withheld rations?" Joffrey asked, glancing to the side.

"It's true." Barristan stepped forward and said slowly.

"Today's Harvard newspaper reported 703 students, with 600 actually enrolled; the Lake family newspaper reported 1,572 students, with 1,400 actually enrolled..."

He named five or six companies in one breath, each of which had received at least 10% less.

"In addition, there are shortages of fuel, fodder, and cloth."

"The Rossby family received an excessive amount."

The entire room fell silent.

Joffrey nodded and turned to old Rossby, who was standing there dumbfounded.

"Lord Gails, your adopted son is the current duty grain officer, and the evidence of him withholding grain is irrefutable."

"What do you suggest we do?"

Gails knelt down, his lips trembling, and could only cough incessantly.

Joffrey didn't wait for him.

"Rosby Jr.'s withholding of rations is a crime for which military law will take its course."

"But infighting and fighting are also violations of orders. Besides those caught on the spot, who else is involved?"

Everyone remained silent for a while.

The young people from Harvard were the first to step forward.

Then, seven or eight more knights emerged from the crowd.

Joffrey looked at their lord.

"My lords, these are your men, and you will have to deal with them yourselves."

Earl Riverley, his face ashen, stepped forward and grabbed one of his knights, slapping him across the face.

"How old are you to still be so reckless? Go back and take twenty lashes yourself!"

Everyone else did the same.

"What's your name?" Joffrey asked the young man.

The Harvard family got their names on the list.

"Go find your family's military supervisor and get twenty lashes yourself." Joffrey nodded to him, silently memorizing the words.

After everyone else had been taken away, Joffrey turned to Gails, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Sir, it's your turn."

"Your Highness..." His cloudy old eyes were filled with complex emotions, "I accept the withholding of provisions."

"But he's already been beaten up like this..."

He coughed a few more times and bowed repeatedly to those around him.

Joffrey looked at Barristan.

"Sir, how should we handle the withholding of military supplies, according to military practice?"

Barristan said slowly, "They can be whipped, fined, demoted, or paraded in shackles."

"If the circumstances are serious, the knighthood may be revoked and the person executed on the spot."

"This...this." Gales' face turned pale.

Others also chimed in.

"Your Highness, please spare his life, considering he is a first-time offender."

"I am willing to compensate each family for the withheld rations." Gails knelt forward two steps.

At the same time, he vigorously bowed to the surrounding feudal lords.

"My lords, I apologize on his behalf..."

"Your Highness, please spare his life!" the crowd pleaded.

Joffrey had no intention of cutting off the grain commissioner, so he went along with it and did him a favor.

"Alright then."

"His entire share of the spoils from this campaign will be confiscated as compensation for the families whose spoils were withheld."

"From today onwards, he is relieved of his duties as the shift grain officer. After his injuries heal, he will be displayed in shackles at the camp gate for three days."

Joffrey looked at the other earls.

"As for the withheld rations, the Rossby family will replenish them by tomorrow."

"If it can't be made up, it will be deducted from Lord Gals's own share."

"My lords, is this decision fair enough?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Then let's leave it at that."

Just as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Joffrey spoke again.

"However..." His tone was meaningful.

"You all witnessed what happened today. The rotation system is good, allowing everyone to participate, but what was the result?"

No one responded.

"Nobody wants to suffer a loss."

"But if you get a bigger share today, others will let you get a smaller share tomorrow."

"What kind of trouble will happen the day after tomorrow? We haven't even reached the Blood Gate yet, and we've already started fighting among ourselves."

Joffrey's voice pounded into everyone's ears, word by word.

"Food supplies are the lifeline of the entire army; they cannot withstand such frequent disruptions."

"From now on, a highly respected person will be in charge, with each family sending someone to assist. Accounts will be made public and payments will be made daily."

"Sir Barristan will be appointed to this position. Would you gentlemen agree?"

The crowd below lowered their heads and echoed in unison.

"Then it's settled."