CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 42: MOVING THE CAMP

"You, you want to manage everything, but even if you stand in the kitchen every day overseeing them, shouting and calling, their work efficiency won’t improve much. You need to learn how to delegate tasks to your subordinates and motivate them to work."

Maximus saw that Acronis seemed a little confused, so he explained patiently: "Take the boiling porridge, soup, and cooking meat in the kitchen, for example. You can divide people who are good at these tasks into two or three groups, appoint a leader for each group, assign them tasks, and reward the group that finishes the best or fastest. For instance, give them half a day off, give them an extra piece of meat, or regularly gather your people and publicly praise the group that performs well..."

Don’t be fooled by how well Maximus speaks; in his previous life, he chose to be a freelancer because he feared trouble and didn’t want to manage people. However, coming into this chaotic world, for the sake of survival, he had to change his habits from his previous life, striving to learn how to do things and manage people to acquire more power and ensure his safety.

Acronis, scratching her head and feeling somewhat excited, said, "Captain, your methods are excellent! I’ll... I’ll give it a try, but I’m pretty slow and may not do it well!"

"No one is born knowing how to do everything. As long as you work seriously and work hard, you can definitely do it well in the end, don’t worry!" Maximus encouraged earnestly, as this was his recent realization.

Acronis, gaining confidence from his words, immediately decided to adjust the kitchen according to this method starting tomorrow.

"Also, when you’re using the stone mill to hull and grind wheat, why not use the donkey continuously instead of having people push it often? It’s wasting manpower, and the efficiency isn’t very high."

"If we keep letting the donkey pull the mill, it’ll get too tired, but we have plenty of people, so taking turns isn’t a big deal," Acronis explained.

Indeed, thriftiness and frugality are ingrained in the laboring masses... Maximus smiled wryly and said loudly, "Acronis, you need to understand that people are more important now, not the donkey! I’ll ask Spartacus to help us get a few more donkeys. From now on, let the donkeys do the work, just assign someone to oversee it."

"Hmm... okay." Acronis seemed a bit reluctant.

"Now, don’t you feel short-handed anymore? Can you send a batch of young women to the Medical Team as I mentioned before?"

Acronis thought for a moment and resolutely said, "It should be possible."

"Then, who do you think among these people you’re sending out is suitable to lead?"

"Nexia." Acronis answered without hesitation.

Maximus, very familiar with the kitchen affairs, immediately pictured a young and charming woman in his mind. He nodded in approval and said, "It’s very late now; hurry back to rest. You have a lot to do tomorrow. Call the kids in after you go out; they’re probably half asleep by now."

After Acronis left, Maximus looked up at the pitch-black night outside the window, stretching lazily: A lot was done tonight; tomorrow will be a new beginning!

.....................

The next morning, after breakfast, the entire rebel army moved to relocate the camp to the farmhouse at the foot of the hill.

Although the distance was short, each large battalion of soldiers appeared somewhat disorganized due to a lack of effective organization.

The Supply Team had made arrangements in advance, but they had so much to take along that it slowed them down considerably. As captain, Maximus didn’t simply stand aside and watch; he personally led by example, helping move things and carry the wounded, so naturally, no one dared to slack off, and the work enthusiasm among the team was high. By noon, the Supply Team had settled into the farm.

Next, Flanitnus led those thirty-four army slaves to start setting up military tents outside the farm’s gate. Maximus once again led others to help.

Within two hours, the Medical Team’s tents were all set up.

Maximus didn’t immediately bring the wounded inside. Instead, he first gathered the Medical Team together.

The newly formed Medical Team consisted of: the newly appointed Medical Team Leader Putrius Horace, five men from the Roman Army slaves, and thirty-two women sent over from the kitchen by Acronis, making a total of thirty-eight people, with men and women distinctly grouped together.

Seeing this situation, Maximus jokingly reminded them: "Brothers and sisters, you are going to collaborate with each other from now on; don’t stand so far apart. Gather in."

Except for Horace, these Roman Army slaves were relatively young and had long been interested in the women, but being newcomers they didn’t dare to act recklessly. Now hearing Maximus’ words, they immediately smiled and moved closer.

The women from the kitchen, having been harassed by rebel soldiers over the month, were very wary. But since Maximus had spoken, they reluctantly moved, which also showed Maximus’ prestige in the Supply Team.

Seeing this, Maximus said seriously: "Let me emphasize first, in our Supply Team, if both sides mutually consent, I won’t say anything if you get intimate. But if a woman doesn’t agree and the man forces it, the lightest punishment is a beating, the heaviest is stabbing with a sword. So, you’d better think carefully before making such mistakes!"

Being tall and strong and now the leader of a team, Maximus’ words carried weight and authority, causing the male slaves to shudder and bringing smiles to the women’s faces: The captain was indeed on their side.

Maximus then looked at Horace, who as a Roman veteran had a rough appearance, younger than Flanitnus but appearing older: "Horace, you are now the leader of our Medical Team—"

"Captain Maximus!" Horace quickly interrupted: "Don’t listen to Flanitnus; I don’t know how to treat diseases. I only know how to bandage wounds and care for the wounded. I’m willing to work in the Medical Team, but let those skilled in medicine be the leader."

Maximus appreciated Horace’s candid words and shook his head: "My requirement for the leader of the Medical Team is, first, to genuinely care for the wounded and consider the patients. Second, to manage the team well, directing them to better care for the patients and to respond to any emergencies faced by the Medical Team in war. As for whether one’s medical skills are good, that’s irrelevant to being the leader."

Horace listened, thought carefully, and said: "Then I can give it a try."

"I have a few requirements for the Medical Team." Maximus, without further ado, looked at him and said directly: "First, seriously injured and immobile soldiers should be separated from those with ordinary injuries, and given focused care; second, your Medical Team camp should remain clean, with no garbage or excrement accumulation, and minimize the presence of mosquitoes and rats inside the tents; third, use boiled water to clean wounds, and the cloth used to bandage wounds must also be boiled in water, dried before use; fourth, the work of cleaning, bandaging wounds, and caring for the wounded mainly falls to the women."

After Maximus finished, the women didn’t think there was anything wrong, as most of them were inexperienced in taking care of the injured. Several male slaves then started to discuss: "We used to take care of injured teammates; there were never this many troubles."

"Yes, looking after the wounded never involved cleaning the tents, boiling water, or heating cloth... I’ve never heard such things!"

...

"Those who want to slack off and don’t want to do more work, leave the Medical Team now, and stop making noise here!" A woman stepped out, scolding loudly.

This was a girl only twenty years old, with smooth black hair, slightly dark skin, a pair of charming brown eyes, a delicate nose, lips slightly thick, and a graceful figure.

Upon seeing that the woman who scolded them was beautiful, the male slaves were unwilling to be outdone and retorted: "Who are you? Do you know how to care for the wounded?"