Maximus understood Acronis’s work style, and when she promised something, she would strive to fulfill it. He reminded her again: "If your subordinates insist on returning to our team, don’t force them to stay. Instead, send someone willing to go."
"For the teams of the other leaders, the most important aspect of the supply camp they are now establishing is twofold—eating and storing supplies. The kitchen will be managed by Acronis, and you two need to help them with the storeroom side," Maximus said, directing his gaze at Capito and Gaius.
This time, with the adjustments to the logistics departments, the team responsible for the kitchen remained unchanged. However, the teams managing the supply warehouse and the weapons warehouse were merged, and the transport and livestock teams were also added, suddenly making the team as large as the kitchen’s. Capito was appointed as the warehouse supervisor, and Gaius as the deputy supervisor.
When this appointment was announced, a few were surprised, as Gaius had been working in the supply camp since the rebel army was first established, while the newcomer Capito had a position above him. But Gaius remained calm and said nothing, so they found no need to make a fuss.
"That’s not a problem. In the last few days, many people have joined our team, and quite a few have been assigned to our warehouse, including some who can write and calculate. We have enough manpower and will quickly divide the various supplies into six parts for the other teams to take. However, in terms of weapons and equipment, everything has already been distributed to the soldiers. There are only a few Crossbow Cannons left in the warehouse. If they want them, one team can take one each, but I think they won’t find them useful, as they can’t shoot accurately without long practice."
Capito’s tone showed disdain for the other teams: "As for material transportation and storage, the other teams have actually had them for a long time. Previously, when they went out to loot, they often left some supplies at their camps, and only the rest were sent to our supply camp. So I don’t think they will come to us for people in this regard. Even if they do, I won’t give them any. Of course, I will send people to teach them how to manage supplies more effectively and how to transport supplies smoothly when marching and keeping up with the team, but I don’t think they will necessarily learn."
Despite Capito’s sarcastic tone, which made some people’s faces in the hall look unhappy, Maximus didn’t mind. He was pleased that Capito had considered all the issues without his prompting, which was the proactive work attitude he desired.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Gaius beside him.
Gaius sensed Maximus’s gaze and slowly said, "I will assist Capito in smoothly completing the supply handover with the other teams."
At this moment, a voice suddenly arose: "Leader, is our livestock team going to be disbanded?"
Maximus looked up, and the speaker was Seksepis, the captain of the livestock team, whose face was now filled with unease and pleading.
"Of course not!" Maximus shouted earnestly, "Livestock farming is the most important part of our future in agriculture. In the future, we not only need to eat our fill, but we also need to eat meat and wear warm woolen clothes. This relies on your livestock team!—" At this point, he paused, seeing the eyes of some in the hall begin to light up, evidently invigorated by the future he intentionally painted.
Then he continued in a gentler tone, "But now we’re at war with the Roman Army, and it will continue for a long time. Perhaps in a few months, the entire force will march south, so what will happen to your large herd of sheep then?"
Seksepis hesitated for a moment, then said, "We...we can also successfully drive them south."
"We might encounter battles during the march. After all, sheep are not as obedient as people, and they would slow down the entire team and put everyone in danger," Maximus patiently explained. "Besides, your herd of cattle and sheep needs to be evenly distributed to the other teams this time, with about a few hundred left. The cattle, we will keep to carry supplies when we march; the majority of the sheep should be slaughtered at once to make cured meat, which can be preserved longer—by the way, how many people are currently in your livestock team?"
Seksepis had a somewhat dejected expression as he replied with difficulty, "...20 people."
"What kinds of sheep do you have?"
"Epirus Sheep, Galgano Sheep, Gallian Goat, Caprasia Goat..." As he spoke of his sheep, Seksepis recited them like treasures, specially reminding, "Especially the Galgano Sheep, which are very precious. We only have about 20, and killing them for meat would be too wasteful."
"You can select a few pairs of each kind of sheep, not exceeding 30 in total, for your livestock team to continue raising. What you will need to do in the future is to mate and breed them."
"Mate and breed?" Seksepis said, somewhat confused.
"Well...it’s a way for us to control and cultivate new types of good sheep. Don’t know if you’re willing to do it?" Maximus tried to use language the other could understand to explain.
In his previous life, he wasn’t a graduate from an agricultural university, but he had been carefully reading Cato’s book "On Agriculture" and, combining it with knowledge he learned from the internet, decided to have the livestock team, now without many sheep and with free time, try this. After all, many people could graze, but few in this era knew how to mate and breed, making it an initiative sparked by a whim, but also laying the groundwork for the future.