Speaking of which, the other councilors couldn’t help but ask, "How does your Excellency plan to receive and handle it?"

"Naturally, we will accept everything, bring it under our name, then package and auction it off, in exchange for money, grain, and weapons."

Jeanne was already quite familiar with this operation.

Initially, at Joan of Arc Castle, they did the same, disbanding the properties and assets of nobles and wealthy merchants for sale.

When a whale falls, everything thrives.

Not only could they quickly raise military funds, but they also managed to create a loyal faction towards the Salvation Army.

Without roots in the locality, Jeanne often found herself constrained even if she wanted to act.

Upon hearing this statement, many councilors and city representatives couldn’t help but roll up their sleeves eagerly.

The Lentingger family was indeed a fat sheep!

What they didn’t know was that these assets would be divided into two parts.

Besides auctioning externally to oligarchs and citizens, some select and key shops or workshops would be allocated to the Saint Father’s Association organization.

Without money bags, who would care about mere talk?

The Saint Father’s Association still follows the previously set principle—"the minority obeys the majority, and the branch obeys the main body."

As for who the main body is, is that even a question?

Properties, like the Lentingger family’s ten or so farms and two large estates outside the city, will directly fall under the Saint Father’s Association’s name.

In the future, officers from the Holy Alliance will bring wandering soldiers to settle in these estates and farms.

Then, these veterans would be allocated land to settle down, with a three-year no-tax policy, serving as resources for the Defensive Army.

These wandering soldiers have no foundation locally, require no training, and naturally hate the King, which are their advantages.

The problem is their discipline is poor, and their reputation even worse.

But that’s an old problem, the Black Champion Army was the same back then—now hasn’t it changed... or has it?

Jeanne felt a tinge of doubt, thinking of the Black Champion Army recently stationed in the eastern county, searching everywhere for pyramids to find a second dragon head.

They even claimed they’re "conducting archaeology by command" instead of tomb raiding.

There’s no such thing as theft when taking things openly.

With the allocation of land and a three-year tax exemption, the Defensive Army under the Saint Father’s Association in these estates will undoubtedly actively protect the Saint Father’s Association in urban areas.

Thus, in the Longbow Castle region, the Saint Father’s Association would wield both wealth and power, leaving only fierce struggles ahead.

"Longbow Castle lacks military resources, what plans do you have for these captive vagrant soldiers?"

At Jeanne’s question, several councilors’ faces changed: "They are criminals, placing them in the city is not ideal, right?"

"I understand your urgent concerns, but please be patient, we will hire more mercenaries..."

These unstable elements in the city would surely lead to constant looting, right?

"Mercenaries are unreliable, I plan to establish two large estates of the Lentingger family as barracks," Jeanne directly interrupted the oligarchs’ statements, "The surplus vagrant captives will be organized into labor camps to repair city defenses—what do you think?"

The councilors quickly calculated.

Anyway, city defenses need repair, these vagrants require no wages and can work for food.

Currently, Jeanne provided them with grain withdrawal certificates and tax exemption certificates for grain, ensuring grain prices won’t be too high.

This deal can be made and is more comfortable than hiring those troublesome city laborers.

"My admiration for Dame Joan is as endless as the flowing river..."

"That’s settled for the primary direction of the Lentingger family, the particulars will be discussed with the Secret Monks we brought."

After pondering for a few seconds, Jeanne spoke again, "What are your thoughts on the handling of Chabo and the Forty-Five Guild?"

A red-haired councilor from the Loebel family, Luge, immediately stood up: "These representatives have small businesses and unsteady positions.

Unlike us who have significant assets and can’t run away from either the monk or the church, I believe representatives are particularly prone to betrayal and suggest abolition."

In the past, Bradak would undoubtedly come out blasting a few words, but now he found himself tongue-tied.

The scenes of last night were still vivid in his mind, is the existence of the Forty-Five Guild really necessary?

"The Forty-Five Guild shouldn’t be abolished lightly, or else who will supervise the government and convey public opinion?" Jeanne shook her head, rejecting Luge’s idea.

This immediately drew grateful glances from other representatives.

Jeanne continued, "But the Forty-Five Guild is somewhat out of place during wartime, they shouldn’t interfere in this matter.

I propose establishing a Defense Committee.

The Five-City Alliance should operate as a single entity, sharing one Defense Committee for military coordination and shared interests."

All councilors knew this was undoubtedly Jeanne’s request for military command authority.

This immediately troubled the councilors, though not for fear of anything else —

A large cleaver placed upright on the bedside, can anyone still sleep soundly?

Councilor Nepomuk of the Merzel family tilted his head and asked, "Where do you usually station, Gallar?"

"Of course, in the barracks, I’m here to instruct you on warfare, I’m not interested in those verbose municipal affairs."

Only then did these councilors feel at ease, smiling and raising their hands to agree to Jeanne’s proposal, and named it the "Dawn Island Regional Defense Committee."

The Sixteen-Member Council passed the proposal for Joan of Gallar’s appointment as Chairperson with great efficiency.

The current committee comprised only five people: Jeanne, Michelle, Socette, Thora, and Bradak.

As Chairperson, Joan’s first act was to address the Sixteen-Member Council, "I demand that the Blacksmith Guild be under the unified management of the Defense Committee for the convenience of repairing and crafting weapons."

The Blacksmith Guild in Longbow Castle wasn’t a small guild, of medium level, with moderate influence.

Chabo, as the representative nominated by the Blacksmith Guild, led last night’s coup at Knight Hall.

Many in the Blacksmith Guild were involved, and if implicated, who could be blamed?

"I agree with the Chairperson’s view," Thora stated, raising a hand in support.

Except for the Merzel family behind the Blacksmith Guild, who hesitated for a moment, the remaining councilors quickly voted in favor.

Thus, the reckoning of last night’s coup was nearly complete.

Various trivial interests, such as reporting from monasteries or small chapels, were all left to the monks from the Holy Father Association.

After discussing the reception of materials, the first meeting of the Dawn Island Regional Defense Committee was held.

Jeanne didn’t drive away the city councilors; they were happy to listen to Jeanne’s plans.

"Currently, our situation is much better than when we were at Joan of Arc Castle," Jeanne tapped the map with a stick, "Five towns, not far apart, can support each other...

From the current situation, the Kingdom Army is expected to arrive around autumn, giving us about two to three months for preparation...

So, in these two to three months, we must open the paths to other five cities, ensuring connection for mutual support...

When I say open, it doesn’t necessarily mean through force; we can invite some enlightened nobles to join us...

Fortunately, the civil war and the Thousand River Valley War have already incapacitated the powerful nobles on Dawn Island, so our short-term goal is to first clear out several notorious Robber Knights around us..."

Under Jeanne’s guidance, the previously complex military affairs unfolded clearly before the city councilors.

Seeing these decomposed, seemingly straightforward tasks, the war clouds seemed to have dissipated a bit.

This even gave some city councilors the illusion that even they could handle it.

As committee chair, Jeanne naturally couldn’t hear their inner thoughts and quickly assigned positions and tasks to the committee members.

"Firstly, we need to ensure counter-espionage work in the city, establish a Military Police, responsible for investigating spies. Thora, you will oversee this.

Secondly, we need someone to attract and persuade those towns or villages to join us. Bradak, you will handle this part.

Thirdly, Socette, you excel at logistics and city defense, you will serve as the Quartermaster, responsible for repairing military facilities and managing supplies.

Fourthly, Michelle, you will be responsible for training soldiers; you had excellent training results in your previous regiment, haven’t forgotten, have you?"

Under the Staff Monks’ planning, documents and regulations were distributed to several people.

Seeing Joan assign duties one by one, a councilor couldn’t help but raise his hand to ask, "Dame Joan, can we lift the city defense alert now?"

"No, don’t lift it yet, wait until I return," Jeanne shook her head, "I must immediately gather the troops to monitor the movements of the Knight Gunne."

"Would he still dare to come?!"

"Who can say for sure? If they are numerous, we’ll defend the city and counterattack.

If they are few, we’ll give them a head-on blow and take the opportunity to open the road to Water Duck Port."

Jeanne picked up her iron glove to put on, "Socette, go take over the estates outside the city now.

Michelle, take the officers to pick some good soldiers, we’ll set off tomorrow morning."