Kingdombuilding: All My Inventions Are Novelty

Five days later, a finely crafted ox-powered chain waterwheel was completed by the Machinery Department.

Baldwin stared in shock at the waterwheel that Simon had described. At this moment, the waterwheel, driven by three differently sized gears and pulled by an ox, continuously transported water from the Ford River onto the shore.

Moreover, since the contraption was powered by two oxen, the tracks Simon mentioned were quite wide, and the water troughs on the tracks were deep. Each lift could bring up a large volume of river water, several times more efficient than any waterwheel Baldwin had ever seen.

Baldwin was born into a scholarly family. His ancestors served as minor officials in the county, far from the ranks of aristocratic clans.

From a young age, he diligently studied the classics, following his family’s ancestral teachings to assist a wise ruler and bring stability to the nation as his lifelong duty.

However, after serving for ten years as a censor in Eldora, that hope gradually turned into disappointment.

The current kingdom of the Eldorian Empire was controlled by noble clans. Officials without powerful backers had no chance of rising unless they attached themselves to influential families. Even those with talent for governing were often relegated to insignificant posts.

Although successive emperors had upheld the tradition of not executing censors, the position’s influence had waned significantly. Over ten years, Baldwin had painstakingly reported hundreds of corrupt practices, only to be blocked by court officials or simply ignored by Alaric.

The collusion among court factions and the weakening of imperial authority made him rea that the Eldorian Empire was rapidly decaying under the parasitic grip of the noble clans.

To maintain a fragile peace, the court advocated for appeasement policies as northern reavers grew increasingly aggressive, paying higher annual tributes in exchange for temporary stability.

Yet even so, the reavers, though refraining from large-scale invasions, still conducted regular raids along the borders.

All these factors, combined with the intensifying struggle between the imperial princes, painted a grim picture in Baldwin’s mind. He foresaw the Eldorian Empire splintering into chaos, much like the other fallen Empires, with fires of war engulfing the land.

By then, the rising reaver tribes would likely march south, crushing the people’s millennia-old legacy under iron hooves and flames.

Five years ago, risking his life, Baldwin had passionately denounced the court’s complacency in hopes of awakening the drunken ruler and his ministers, only to receive a transfer order, assigning him to follow Prince Simon to his domain.

Five years in Brambleford had numbed his heart. He resigned himself to serving a dissolute prince, waiting for the day he could retire to the countryside.

But now, the long-extinguished flame of hope in his heart flickered faintly.

”Even if the empire cannot be saved, perhaps this corner of Brambleford can be.”

Baldwin gazed at Simon. Over the past two months, the prince’s transformation had not escaped his notice. If this change were real, Prince Simon might truly become a wise ruler.

The thought made Baldwin nod slightly, a rare smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

”Baldwin, do you believe me now?”

Simon turned his head, noticing Baldwin grinning at him like an old glass bead merchant eyeing a prized gemstone. A chill crept down Simon’s spine.

Baldwin snapped out of his thoughts and chuckled. ”My Lord is indeed talented. I concede. If this ox-powered waterwheel is promoted across the domain, it will greatly benefit agricultural recovery.”

To see the novel contraption, Ysabeau and Joan had also tagged along.

The two girls watched with fascination. Joan whispered to Ysabeau. ”Sister, Sir Baldwin seems to smile much more often now.”

Ysabeau’s eyes flicked around, then she smiled. ”That’s a good thing. Better than his usual grim face. Haven’t you noticed? He’s much more lenient toward His Highness lately and fully devoted to assisting him with the domain’s affairs.”

”It does seem that way.” Joan tilted her head, not entirely understanding Baldwin’s change.

But her childlike curiosity soon won out, and she dragged Ysabeau along to examine the waterwheel.

After regaining his composure, Baldwin listened as Simon said. ”Next, the Machinery Department will focus on mass-producing these ox-powered waterwheels, aiming to supply every county. But the limited number of craftsmen is a major issue.”

Simon’s words addressed a very real problem. He possessed many technologies, but starting from scratch meant countless limitations, most critically, the lack of skilled craftsmen. Without automated machinery, the only way to scale up production was with manpower.

And skilled labour was his scarcest resource.

”My Lord.” Baldwin spoke up. ”I have a suggestion. You rely too heavily on the craftsmen in your own workshops. But don’t forget the common people of the domain. Why not delegate waterwheel construction to each county, even down to production teams? Within days, these waterwheels could be everywhere.”

Simon’s eyes lit up.

He had been making a crucial mistake, trying to do everything himself while overlooking the labour force of the common people.

As the highest authority in the domain, he could organize the population for infrastructure projects. Though he had established production teams, he’d forgotten one key incentive: work points.

However, his version of the work points system differed from the modern collectivist model. Here, every peasant still had their own fields under a cooperative structure.

The work points he proposed would be rewards for extra labour. These points would be recorded by the production teams and exchanged at the year’s end for grain, cloth, and other goods.

Discussing this idea with Baldwin, Simon saw its greater potential.

To appease the people, he had already exempted them from three years of tax. But outside of the busy farming seasons, most peasants were idle. The work points system would offer them a chance to earn extra income, mobilizing the entire population at minimal cost.

Participation in infrastructure projects would earn work points, effectively transforming the domain’s labour force into a cheap yet motivated workforce.

Baldwin nodded repeatedly. Forced labour bred resentment, but this work points system would undoubtedly win popular support.

”If Your Highness implements this system, the people will surely be deeply grateful.” Baldwin remarked.

”I can only hope so.” Simon knew that to secure his position, he had to win the people’s hearts. Only by uniting them could he firmly hold his domain.

As for the silver to pay for work points, Simon never intended to squeeze the people. From the moment he founded the merchants’ guild, he had set a course of commerce and industry to enrich the state.

The common people only needed to focus on farming and assisting with infrastructure while, of course, loyally supporting him.

After finalizing the plan to delegate waterwheel production, with craftsmen dispatched to each county to train others, the matter was settled.

However, Simon never missed an opportunity to monopolise technology for profit. He had deliberately designed the ox-powered waterwheel with added complexity.

Every waterwheel required a critical component: metal rolling bearings, a part only his Machinery Department could produce.