 In spring 1435, the project was taken up again and corresponding expenditure in the defense budget was prepared.According to the writings of the canon Jean Pillet (the first historian of Gerberoy), there was a troop of 600–1800 men positioned for this, and under the command of Jean Poton de Xaintrailles and La Hire, both former commanders with Joan of Arc.They arrived secretly at Gerberoy and set to work to restore the old defenses.