read my new story:
Game of Thrones Iron Stark
Naruto: Uchiha Shiroge Rebellion
read more inpatreon CaveLeather
Having finalized the expansion of the Mountain Corps, Arthur turned his attention to the proposals from Karl 'Bi' and Jerry.
Karl 'Bi' lived up to his reputation as the man who had managed the previous one-hundred-thousand gold dragon project plan and successfully implemented his proposal for the Smithing District.
He had drawn up detailed plans for three major initiatives: watermills, sea salt production, and glass pane manufacturing. All of them looked extremely promising.
When Arthur first arrived in Starfall, conversations with yeoman farmers and tenant farmers had revealed that milling fees were an unavoidable expense. Farmers all along the Torrentine, upstream and downstream, had this need.
Moreover, the watermill plan outlined how this technology would boost other industries and save massive amounts of labor, allowing Arthur to see its immense value.
"Five watermills." Arthur ticked the proposal and closed the folder. "Your plan for the watermills is still too conservative. I'm doubling your budget."
"Increase the number of planned watermills and re-evaluate their distribution locations."
Dorne, unlike the Reach, was not overflowing with manpower. Especially now that Arthur was expanding the army and developing industries simultaneously, he needed people everywhere.
His campaign to pacify and assimilate the wildlings near the Torrentine and clear out bandits was aimed not only at maintaining order but also at acquiring labor.
Naturally, he would strongly support any project that could free up a significant amount of the workforce.
Karl raised a concern. "My Lord, if we build too many... won't we face resistance from the local lords and existing millers?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. Karl's worry was not unfounded. The development of a new, advanced industry would inevitably encroach upon the interests of those invested in the old, backward methods, leading to resistance and suppression.
"Don't burden yourself with that. Just do it." Arthur's pen didn't stop moving as he quickly wrote out an order.
"I will issue a decree requiring the lords along the Torrentine to cooperate with the construction of the watermills. Once construction begins, I will have Lothor Brune take a cavalry detachment to conduct training exercises and patrols along the river."
"That is wonderful!" Karl took the stamped document, read it over and over, his face beaming with joy.
Karl's other proposals for sea salt and glass panes, along with Jerry's plan to build a port at Beacon Tower—and even the anchorage Jimmy needed for the fleet—were all connected to Beacon Tower.
Beacon Tower was Arthur's own fief, so implementing construction there would face absolutely no resistance.
If all these plans were executed smoothly...
Amber Peach Wine + Salt + Glass Panes + Port + Fleet Protection = Trade Center.
Beacon Tower's prospects were practically unlimited. Whether for public or private reasons, Arthur had no reason to refuse.
However, for the sake of prudence, Arthur instructed, "These plans are all excellent."
"Karl, tomorrow, gather the master craftsmen who proposed these plans, along with Quentyn. We will go to Beacon Tower together for a site visit."
Besides the inspection, he also wanted to check on the recovery of the Peach Orchard.
Shortly after everyone left the small hall, Penrose brought in lunch: a few hard-boiled eggs, soft bread brushed with butter, and honey oatmeal porridge.
Arthur finished his lunch and took a short nap. When he woke up in the afternoon...
Fat Karen was waiting with a resentful look on his face, holding stack after stack of documents for Arthur to sign and stamp.
Most were budget lists for gold dragons and resource allocation: fleet construction and recruitment, Mountain Corps expansion, watermill construction, and so on.
After Arthur signed and stamped them all, he and Karen tallied the total. In all, he had committed two hundred thousand gold dragons.
Upon learning that two hundred thousand had already been allocated, Fat Karen reminded him, "My Lord, it's only been two or three days. Isn't this spending rate a bit too fast?"
"Fast? I think it's too slow. These are all necessary expenditures," Arthur dismissed his concern. "Do you have any proposals?"
"I just honestly manage the treasury and help you handle Starfall's miscellaneous affairs. I have no proposals." Fat Karen shook his head, organizing and filing the documents.
"However, I do have a request. If possible, please adopt more projects that generate income."
"I've made a rough calculation. Just maintaining the fleet and the Mountain Corps in the future will be enormously expensive. If we rely solely on current tax revenues and production income to cover expenses, we will definitely run a deficit."
"I understand," Arthur nodded. Fat Karen's caution was justified.
However, once the Peach Orchard recovered and expanded production, and the other projects came online, the returns would surely be bountiful.
The next morning.
Arthur, Karl 'Bi', Jerry, and a group of craftsmen boarded the warship Jimmy had christened the Fledgling at Starfall Port and set sail for Beacon Tower.
On the way to Beacon Tower, Eaton excitedly brought out the design blueprints for the oared galleys.
The warship on the diagram was exactly as Arthur had requested: a hundred-oar class vessel. The hull wasn't large, and with only one deck, it wasn't tall either. A massive ram was designed at the prow, and a raised aftcastle at the stern mounted two small ballistae.
Both sides of the deck were equipped with boarding ramps for close-quarters combat. Following Arthur's previous suggestion, crenellations and wooden mantlets had been added along the gunwales to provide cover for archers.
Arthur was extremely satisfied with this version of the design. Small hull, high speed, no frills—just rush in and start fighting.
Mallick commented, "For a nascent fleet, this type of warship is easier to handle and train on, allowing us to form combat capability faster."
Jimmy nodded in agreement. "These ships are fast, which is also beneficial for patrolling the coastline."
"Then follow this blueprint and build ten of them." Arthur patted Eaton's broad shoulder and promised, "If you encounter any problems or difficulties during construction, report them to Jimmy or me. I'll help coordinate for you."
Eaton beamed. "That's fantastic."
With personnel and ships settled, the only remaining issue for the fleet was the port.
Thinking of this, Arthur went up to the deck and stood by the railing to observe the terrain along the coastline.
The coastline was jagged. The land rose like waves, with the higher ground sitting about five or six meters above sea level.
Where the terrain dipped into flat, low-lying areas suitable for landing, beacon towers had been erected nearby to warn against attacks from the Arbor fleet.
The craftsman who proposed the salt-making plan seized the opportunity to approach Arthur. "My Lord, these low-lying areas are perfect for establishing salt pans for drying salt."
He pointed to a depression not far from a beacon tower. "Furthermore, wherever there is low ground, there is a beacon tower and living quarters. Establishing salt pans in these places..."
"Allows us to produce salt while simultaneously guarding the coast. It serves both purposes without neglecting either."
"Not bad."
Karl 'Bi's submitted proposal had already detailed the salt-making plan thoroughly, so Arthur wasn't surprised.
Putting idle beacon towers to use in conjunction with salt pans was indeed a good thing.
Arthur asked, "Can you walk me through the entire salt-making process?"
According to Karl's plan, the salt-making method utilized the power of the tides. Sluice gates would be opened at high tide to let seawater flow into a reservoir.
After settling, the water would be channeled into subsequent evaporation ponds to be exposed to the sun. As the water evaporated, crude salt would crystallize. This method of obtaining salt through solar evaporation was known as solar salt production.
However, sea salt produced this way would have a bitter taste.
To remove the bitterness, the salt needed to be washed with a small amount of brine and then dried again.
The craftsman's description matched the proposal perfectly, only with more detailed steps and specific timelines. However, he omitted the step of washing with brine to remove the bitterness.
This made Arthur think that he could establish a crude salt processing plant at Beacon Tower later on. He could collect the crude salt produced by the salt pans at the various beacon towers and refine it there.