Upon returning to the cabin, loaded with some 15000 Gold looted from Sylvania, I visited the Elector of Ostmark, to announce him of my plans for a safer province.

In effect I was creating a new army of the East, consisting of 50 Great Cannons, 10 rifle battalions and two cavalry regiments, plus support units of recon, engineers and a logistic train.

I would also pay for it, 5000 gold for the creation of the Arsenal Ost, which will manufacture the weapons and gunpowder for the army, plus a wide road to Essen, directly across country.

"And the Great Cannons, Lord Warden?" the Elector asked in a curious voice.

"Those? I already had them made in Nuln. The Emperor grabbed 50 of them already, but there are 50 left for my own army." I explained with a shrug.

"Emperor Wilhem the Second just 'took' the cannons that you paid for?" the Elector exclaimed in outrage.

I smiled gently. "Do you believe that strength is what is needed to rule the Empire?" I asked instead.

The man stopped to think, already more cautious. "The Imperial Authority is drawn from the Electoral College. Which has increased once more, with the Elector of Marienburg and Westerland returning to the fold. Now, all that remains is Sylvania..." he realized with a drawn breath.

"A year to build the road to Essen, while the new army is raised and trained. Also, enough time to gather sufficient warrior-priests of Sigmar, plus Witch Hunters and adventurers that have fought the undead before. Then a slow and cautious campaign into Sylvania, possibly for a decade or two. Stirland will help as well." I offered as a grand strategy.

Slow and steady was much better for the security of our forces, plus enough time to cleanse the corruption, build roads and forts and all else needed by living beings.

And even so, it would not be easy.

"The costs of maintaining a large army in the field for a decade, maybe two..." the Lord Elector mused in a worried voice.

"What costs? Did I ever ask anyone for gold?" I asked rhetorically, while poking the pile of gold near me.

"...That. Hmmm. Still, the soldiers will be away from the field or workshops. The province will produce less food, less goods." The Elector said in a concerned voice.

"All true. Even so, while the army will be permanent from now on, the soldiers themselves will not be the same. Every year, new young men will reach adulthood and start training. After a year of training, they will be sent to the frontlines, while the veterans return home. As for field work, I suppose we can employ the refugees, plenty of them around, starving on the streets." I noted with a wry voice.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Every invasion or natural disaster produced lots of displaced refugees, fleeing to the Empire for safety or food from all over, but mostly Kislev.

The Elector hummed to himself, while rubbing the small hammer hanging at his neck. "This sounds possible, even beneficial in some respect."

I didn't actually need his approval. My rank as a Warden of the East superseded provincial borders. But his voluntary participation was much better than bureaucratic friction. Entire armies have starved before, for lack of supplies during a campaign.

"It will be hard, and tiresome, nobody can deny that. On the other hand, a standing army will require a lot of provisions, from tents and carts, to weapons, armor and food. Expensive things. Taxable too." I induced him with a knowing voice.

"I know! This Army of the East could be the salvation of Ostmark, not only now, but for generations to come. I will wish to nominate some officers, especially for the cavalry units. And then to convince the Guilds to provide their service..." The Elector mused in a slow voice.

"Agreed. In fact, I will need more officers than you suspect, Elector. At least 10 officers per regiment, and 50 for the guns. And I will prefer literate men, able to read and write letters, or calculate trajectories for the guns. " I demanded with a wide smile.

"What? Why so many? And who can I send, there aren't enough nobles in the entire province..." the man exclaimed in near-panic.

"We can always use Guild members that know letters and numbers. Masons and bankers and whatnot. Logistics will mean lots of carts and supplies needing to be counted and sent to the right unit. Paymasters for the soldiers' salaries. Bridge builders for rivers. Fort builders. I was thinking a silver mark per week, plus 1 gold mark at the end of their service of two years. Triple that for officers." I explained in a mild voice.

A rough calculation told me it would cost me around 1000 gold/year, and 10000 gold at the service payday every two years.

Then again, it would be a 4000 men army, rather larger than regular 1000-1500 men armies that the Electors could afford. Plus the large numbers of officers.

The Elector slumped into his high-leather seat. "Two decades you say? And then Sylvania will be conquered?"

I could do it all by myself in a month or so, but it wouldn't achieve the same thing. I want my strong Prussia, not a fiefdom of broken bones and gloomy skies.

Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of officers, all with campaign experience versus undead and vampires? That's what I called a good start for the future Imperial Army.

"Perhaps a bit sooner, but don't hope too much. I scouted the place just last week. It is full of undead and vampires. A million of them, maybe more." I said with a grim voice.

The Elector nodded with grim determination. "I'll start on the Guilds then. 3000 rifles, plus extra pikes and warhammers. And then 2000 horses, 1000 for the cavalry..." the man grunted in near pain.

I kicked the pile of gold on the floor. "At least it's not your own gold, Elector. Enjoy your meetings, I have a new road to dig to Essen."

"Farewell, Warden!" the Elector said as I flew out the window.

Building a new road has three main steps. Maybe four if you need to survey and such, but that was a minute of my time, so it didn't count. Firstly, dig a trench wide enough, while demolishing trees, rocks and hills in the way.

Then fill that trench with gravel, bigger bits at the bottom and smaller ones up top. Lastly plate over the gravel with road stones, the wider and more durable the better. Also build bridges where needed, such as rivers or canyons. And not steel bridges. There wouldn't be enough steel in the entire Empire for a single bridge.

Man, medieval tech sucks!