Ed was finally able to complete his papermaking project, but fate had other plans, and the weather suddenly turned cold.
He had to figure out how to make something warm first, otherwise people might freeze to death in the first winter, so the papermaking project had to be postponed again.
After all, good things come to those who wait, and the more time you have, the better.
With more careful proportions, carefully selected materials, and meticulous production, the final product will definitely be a very good paper.
Ed could only console himself with this thought, but then another sentence inexplicably popped into his mind:
Say goodbye to friction and discomfort, and suffer less pain in your bottom.
Ed shuddered and quickly picked up his "Grey Castle Territory's First Three-Year Plan".
The food problem has been somewhat resolved, but it's far from enough; a more comprehensive solution is needed. The fur textile workshop needs to be built as soon as possible; the housing renovations probably can't be completed this year, so we'll have to do that next year. The roads also need to be repaired, otherwise they're too difficult to travel on.
After writing down some plans, Ed put down his pen.
Seeing Ed put down his quill, Adelaide immediately brought him a cup of hot tea, which Ed comfortably took a sip of.
Living a rather comfortable life, Ed happily continued with his plans.
Without better crops, the only option is to improve tools and cultivate more land. Hopefully, this will lead to higher yields. The fur and textile industry needs to be developed quickly; things might get tough later, but the scale shouldn't be too large. The territory only has so many people; overexpansion could easily lead to overcapacity.
Food is good, but clothes are useless and can't be sold. Ed has no plans to clear a path in the north of the territory right now.
Even if the road were built, it would be a muddy path or a mountain road. It would be difficult to transport goods on a large scale.
Play it safe for a while and develop your resources cautiously.
In the future, exchange worthless things for shiny, silvery, and bright red luxury items.
There are also various spices, delicacies, and rare treasures.
"Hehe," Ed chuckled to himself as he thought about it, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Master, are you hungry?" Adelaide looked at Ed with confusion, even though she had just eaten.
Ed was startled and quickly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. "I'm not hungry, I just drank a little too much 'tea' just now."
Adelaide responded with an "Oh," which was taken as acceptance of Ed's explanation.
After explaining, Ed continued to carry out his plan without blushing or skipping a beat.
"Iron is crucial now. Next year, we must find a way to significantly increase iron ore mining. Iron will not only boost productivity but will also be a highly sought-after commodity in future trade. Salt is also a valuable resource; we need to establish specialized salt-making workshops. We must firmly grasp these two key assets."
Ed didn't know the current situation of the salt in the territory, so he could only ask the steward later.
That's all for now! Sometimes plans can't keep up with changes; a plan is just a general direction.
Ed stretched and stood up; he was going to get the bow to check on it.
Ed removed the ropes securing the bow's walls, then took out his short sword to scrape off the excess material and carefully polished it clean.
"Adelaide, is the rope I asked you to braid finished?" Ed asked Adelaide.
"It's ready, I'll go get it right away." Adelaide quickly ran outside.
Ed looked down at the bow that was almost finished and was somewhat speechless; it had been taking far too long.
But now all he needs to do is attach the bowstring and brush on some anti-corrosion oil, and he'll be done. He's finally free.
However, the bow test would have to wait; Ed couldn't pull the bow, and as for whether he would succeed or not, he could only pray in his heart.
"I hope it won't disappoint!"