"Oh, okay." Tini Bazus picked up the stick shield and followed behind the young girl.
Naisuya led him toward the inner courtyard, and Tini Bazus couldn’t help but ask, "Are all these children from slave backgrounds too?"
"Not all, some of our companions’ fathers were freedmen sailors. Leader Maximus said that whether slaves or freedmen sailors, we are all children from poor, suffering families." Naisuya replied very earnestly.
Tini Bazus was momentarily stunned, then asked again, "Is our Supply Camp short on manpower? Is that why you children are helping out?"
"That’s not because our Supply Camp is short-staffed!" Naisuya proudly raised her voice, "This is Leader Maximus’s training for us, he believes we can handle it well!"
"Yes, Leader Maximus is very kind to us children. He not only feeds us well and clothes us warmly, but he also teaches us literacy and arithmetic. He has us help Grandpa Gaius inventory warehouse supplies, convey his orders to the Guard, distribute supplies to newcomers, which we’ve been responsible for lately. Today, just because many people joined, we’re all here to help." Naisuya said proudly.
"It seems Leader Maximus is truly a good person!" Tini Bazus was moved, asking casually, "Does he only teach literacy and arithmetic to you children?"
"Of course not!" Naisuya loudly argued, "When Leader Maximus first came to the Supply Camp, he taught everyone literacy and arithmetic every night and told us many interesting stories. Now, because there are too many people, he focuses on teaching us children. Leader Maximus also said that once we’ve learned well, we’ll teach the rest of the camp properly..."
After Naisuya finished, Tini Bazus immediately asked with disappointment, "So now besides you, the leader no longer teaches others literacy and arithmetic?"
Though young, Naisuya was perceptive and immediately explained, "Leader Maximus stopped teaching everyone in the evenings because there were too many people, and also many who were unwilling to learn, just muddling through...
But for those who are willing to learn, Leader Maximus never gives up. He has Grandpa Vorenus and Uncle Capito instruct them every evening in literacy and arithmetic. If you want to learn, you can apply to your team officer, and they should arrange it for you."
"Oh, I see." Tini Bazus’s eyes darted about as he continued, "You mentioned earlier that Grandpa Vorenus and Uncle Capito are also from our Supply Camp?"
"Of course, Grandpa Vorenus is the... clerk appointed by Leader Maximus, and Uncle Capito is in charge of military supplies. Both can read and calculate, and know many things. Besides Leader Maximus, they are the most knowledgeable people in our Supply Camp."
The two chatted as they walked forward, passing through a small gate in the back courtyard into the Supply Camp compound.
The original location of the Supply Camp was within the farm, but as numbers increased, it became too crowded. Coincidentally, several battalions were also expanding due to growth, except for the First Battalion and the Supply Camp, which remained at the main site, while the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Battalions each set up nearby within one to two miles. The Supply Camp thus occupied the former bases of the Second and Third Battalions, next to the farm’s back courtyard, and adjacent to the Medical Team.
Upon advice from the military advisory group led by Ephramintus, Maximus led the Supply Team to renovate the new camp in the style of a Roman Camp.
So when Tini Bazus entered the Supply Camp compound, the first thing he saw was two-meter-high earth walls and ditches beneath them, a drawbridge and camp gate, as well as a partially completed watchtower beside the gate. Behind the gate was a straight, level dirt road that allowed five people to walk side by side, flanked by several neatly arranged tents. Approximately thirty paces apart were small paths separating the tents, connecting to the main road. Despite the numerous tents, they were empty of people. Further on, without tents, there were many people gathered on pieces of land intersected by paths and roads, with wooden signs erected on the sides of these open spaces...
"I heard Leader Maximus say that this camp was built according to the size of a Roman Army’s camp, but because the Supply Camp lacked so many soldiers in the past, most of the camp remains empty," Naisuya explained.
A Roman Army consisted of about 6,000 men... As a former Pontus Soldier, Tini Bazus had some knowledge of the Roman Army. He looked ahead at the vast open spaces and thought to himself: this camp is quite impressively built, but it seems the number of people in the Supply Camp is not many.
"The Fifth Hundred-man Team is here!" Naisuya, who had been silently observing the roadside wooden signs, stopped and turned towards a clearing with quite a few people.
"Uncle Tierks, this is Soldier Tini Bazus assigned to your squad." Naisuya said, then turned to Tini Bazus and introduced, "This is Uncle Tierks, centurion of the first squad of the Fifth Hundred-man Team."
Tini Bazus immediately nodded in greeting to the sturdy and plain-looking man.
Tierks smiled back and gently said to Naisuya, "Little Suya, thank you for your hard work!"
"It’s not hard, it’s my task. Uncle Tierks, I have to quickly go pick up the next one, I’m off now." Naisuya said, handing the pack to Tini Bazus before dashing back.
"Thank you!" Tini Bazus shouted in gratitude.
Naisuya waved in response.
"This little girl used to hide from people when she first came, very timid, but now she has become so lively all thanks to Leader Maximus!" Tierks said with emotion, watching Naisuya bouncing away.
"Was she very timid before?" Tini Bazus asked curiously.
Tierks glanced at him and became stern: "Our squad is just missing you, quickly put your pack down and come to assemble."
Tini Bazus saw many packs already on the ground and said, "If we leave our things here, what if they get mixed up or someone takes them?"
"Don’t worry." Tierks said reassuringly, "Put that wooden tag you received on your pack, and no one will take it by mistake, nor will anyone steal it unless they wish to be punished."
Tini Bazus had no choice but to put down his pack and join the group, where he saw a familiar face smiling at him.
Turns out this big oaf is in the same squad as me... just as Tini Bazus was about to speak to him, he heard Tierks shout, "Everyone in our squad is here. Take your sword and shield, and follow me!"
This isn’t any sword and shield... Tini Bazus thought sarcastically as he looked at the wooden boards and sticks in his hands.
Tierks led them onto the camp’s main road, walked for a bit, then another road of the same width crossed ahead, perpendicular to the one they had walked. In the center of the crossroad stood a solitary tent.
"This is our Supply Camp leader Maximus’s tent!" Tierks spoke with a tone of respect.
Tini Bazus took a glance and found it no different from other tents, quiet as if no one was inside.
Tierks led everyone towards another main road of the camp, continued walking, eventually exiting through a side gate to an open area in front of the camp. The area had many person-high wooden stakes and some soldiers gathered in groups, receiving briefings from their team officers.
"Here it is." Tierks stopped and had the group of nine sit in a circle, then he stepped to the center and smiled, saying, "Everyone, from today, you are soldiers of the first squad of the Fifth Hundred-man Team of the Guard Battalion in the Supply Camp. According to our traditions, every new brother joining us must first share their past experiences. I’ll lead by example."