Kingdombuilding: All My Inventions Are Novelty

The Dutch fleet had withdrawn, driven away by the overwhelming strength of Simon’s warships. Inside the Ashenford Prefecture Office, however, the atmosphere was anything but tense. Excitement filled the hall as the officials began discussing the opportunities that lay ahead.

Monti, the governor of Ashenford, was particularly enthusiastic.

”My lord, this is far more than I ever expected from the Dutch!” he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.

At present, most of the Eldorian Empire’s major ports were concentrated in the southern territories. Everyone understood the importance of maritime trade to a region’s prosperity. A well-developed port could attract merchants, stimulate commerce, create jobs, and transform an ordinary coastal settlement into a wealthy city.

If Ashenford could establish itself as a major trading port, its future would be immeasurable.

As the governor responsible for the prefecture’s development, Monti had every reason to celebrate.

”Of course, this opportunity is real,” Simon replied calmly. ”But everything depends on General Benjamin and General Desmond successfully taking control of Split Rock.”

Hearing this, Monti immediately rose from his seat and bowed respectfully toward the two generals.

”Generals, the future of Ashenford rests in your hands. I hope you will give this mission your utmost effort.”

Benjamin smiled faintly.

”Governor Monti, there’s no need for such formalities. Protecting the empire and securing its territory are our responsibilities. We will do everything in our power to accomplish the mission.”

With the empire’s new warships finally completed, Simon now possessed the naval strength to control the waters surrounding Ashenford.

This was more than a military achievement.

It meant that the empire could begin expanding its influence beyond the coastline, opening new trade routes, securing fishing grounds, and establishing control over the surrounding maritime territory.

Simon glanced around the hall before speaking.

”From this day forward, wherever our warships sail, they will represent the authority of the Eldorian Empire.”

His gaze settled on Monti.

”Governor Monti, your ambitions for Ashenford should not end with building a prosperous port. This land possesses another enormous source of wealth, one that has been neglected for far too long.”

Monti looked puzzled.

”Another source of wealth? Your Highness, please enlighten me.”

”Marine fishing.”

Simon delivered the answer without hesitation.

Monti stared at him for a moment before slapping his thigh in realization.

”Ah! Your Highness is absolutely right!”

His excitement returned almost immediately.

”For years, the Latin pirates have harassed our fishermen, forcing many of them to abandon their livelihoods or remain close to the coast. I had almost forgotten how much wealth the sea itself could provide!”

With the empire’s navy now capable of protecting the surrounding waters, the situation was entirely different.

Fishing boats could venture farther from shore. Fishermen could explore new grounds, and the daily catch could increase considerably.

But Simon had plans that extended well beyond helping ordinary fishermen return to work.

”Fishing will not be limited to the local population,” he explained. ”I intend to allocate thirty merchant ships and convert them into fishing vessels. Ashenford will establish specialized fishing teams responsible for supplying fish and other seafood to the inland prefectures.”

Monti’s expression grew serious as he considered the scale of the undertaking.

Thirty ships represented a substantial investment. Their conversion, staffing, maintenance, and eventual catches would require careful management.

Yet if the plan succeeded, Ashenford could become one of the empire’s most important food-producing regions.

”Your Highness, I will ensure the arrangements are made properly.”

Simon nodded.

There was another reason he was so determined to develop the fishing industry.

The physical condition of the Dutch soldiers had left a deep impression on him.

Their bodies were generally robust, and their appearance reflected years of better access to food. Apart from the wealthy elites, however, many ordinary people in the Eldorian Empire suffered from inadequate nutrition.

Compared with the Europeans, some of his subjects appeared alarmingly thin.

Simon had noticed this problem during the wars against the Reavers.

Initially, the physical fitness of his soldiers had been inferior to that of their enemies. Although discipline, tactics, and superior weapons could compensate for certain disadvantages, the difference in physical strength remained a concern.

A soldier who lacked stamina would struggle during prolonged marches. A soldier who was poorly nourished would also find it more difficult to endure demanding training and recover afterward.

At the time, Simon’s army had been able to eat meat only once a month. That was already the limit of Brambleford’s available meat supply.

For a rapidly expanding army, such a diet was clearly inadequate.

Simon had no intention of allowing this problem to continue.

In his understanding, military modernization involved more than weapons, artillery, warships, and training grounds. Food was equally important.

Soldiers needed sufficient nutrition to maintain their strength, and the quality of their training depended partly on whether their bodies could withstand the demands placed upon them.

Without a reliable food supply, even the best training program would eventually encounter limitations.

Fish offered a practical solution.

The thirty fishing vessels might not provide enough food to satisfy the entire army’s needs, but they could still make a meaningful contribution.

The fish could be distributed fresh whenever possible, while part of the catch could be salted and preserved for later use. Even if the available supply proved insufficient to provide every soldier with a full serving of fish, the army could use it to prepare nutritious fish broth and improve the variety of its meals.

More importantly, the fishing industry would provide a renewable source of protein that did not depend entirely on livestock farming.

For Simon, that alone justified the investment.

”I will remember your instructions, Your Highness.” Monti said solemnly.

He had initially regarded Ashenford as a relatively insignificant coastal prefecture. Now, he understood that its responsibilities were about to expand considerably.

It would need to support coastal defenses, develop a major trading port, establish a fishing industry, and supply food to other regions.

Failure to manage any one of these responsibilities could undermine the entire plan.

Simon, meanwhile, was satisfied that Monti understood the importance of his assignment.

After giving the necessary instructions, he turned his attention to the next matter.

The New Year was approaching. Once the celebrations were over, he intended to devote considerably more attention to the empire’s maritime development.

However, issuing orders was only the beginning. Whether those orders could be implemented effectively was another question entirely.

***

Simon remained in Ashenford for several days, using the opportunity to inspect the surrounding prefectures and examine how the empire’s various policies were being carried out.

His inspection covered several areas, including agricultural development, land distribution, local administration, and the implementation of central directives.

He was particularly concerned with whether officials were genuinely following the policies issued by the government.

Even in a well-organized administration, orders issued by the highest authorities could encounter resistance once they reached the local level.

Officials might delay implementation to protect their interests. Powerful families might attempt to undermine reforms that threatened their privileges. Some administrators might simply lack the ability to carry out the policies assigned to them.

In an age when communication was slow and information traveled poorly, the central government could easily be misled by flattering reports.

A policy that appeared successful on paper might accomplish very little in reality.

That was why Simon had chosen to inspect Ashenford personally.

Monti had been entrusted with considerable responsibilities. Before committing additional resources to the prefecture, Simon needed to determine whether its governor could be trusted to carry out the empire’s directives.

The sudden inspection caught Monti somewhat off guard.

Nevertheless, he quickly arranged for the relevant officials to present their records and demonstrate the progress of their work.

After several days of inspections, Simon was reasonably satisfied with what he saw.

The influence of the old powerful clans had diminished considerably.

Previously, these families had dominated local affairs, exploiting their wealth and influence to oppress weaker households. Some had maintained armed retainers, using their private power to intimidate neighbors and protect their interests.

That situation had changed.

The former dominant families had increasingly turned toward commercial activities. Rather than maintaining private armed forces and interfering in local administration, they were now concentrating on trade and other legitimate sources of income.

This did not mean every wealthy family had suddenly become virtuous.

Simon understood that people rarely abandoned their interests without reason.

Nevertheless, as long as the old clans could no longer use their private power to undermine the government or oppress ordinary residents, the change was beneficial.

Land distribution was another encouraging sign.

Ashenford had a relatively small population compared with Brambleford, and its available farmland was sufficient to support local households without creating the same degree of competition over land.

Consequently, many families possessed more land than their counterparts in the more densely populated regions.

This was an important distinction between sparsely populated and densely populated rural areas.

Where land was abundant, ordinary families had a better opportunity to secure enough farmland to support themselves. Where the population was concentrated, even productive land could become insufficient, forcing households to divide their holdings into increasingly smaller plots.

Ashenford benefited from its lower population density.

Simon also inspected the prefecture’s granaries.

Grain reserves were essential to the stability of any premodern state. They provided a buffer against poor harvests, helped prevent famine, and allowed the government to maintain its population during emergencies.

They were equally important in wartime.

An army could possess excellent weapons and highly trained soldiers, but without sufficient food, it could not sustain prolonged operations.

For Simon, the condition of the granaries therefore offered a useful indication of the prefecture’s administrative competence.

After examining the records and receiving the reports, he found no major problems that required his immediate intervention.

Only then did he proceed to his final destination.

***

The Salt Transport Bureau of Ashenford.

The development of marine fishing had brought another problem to Simon’s attention.

Salt.

Without modern refrigeration, preserving food for extended periods was difficult. Meat and fish spoiled quickly, particularly during warm weather, and transporting fresh seafood over long distances was impractical.

Salt offered a simple solution.

By drawing moisture from food and creating conditions unfavorable to many spoilage-causing microorganisms, sufficient salt could help preserve fish and meat for extended periods.

In the past, spices had also played an important role in food preparation and preservation. Their scarcity and the difficulty of transporting them over long distances had contributed to their high value.

Indeed, the Europeans’ occupation of Ranferon had been driven largely by their desire to secure access to the lucrative spice trade.

Simon, however, could not rely on spices to solve his preservation problem.

He needed a cheaper and more readily available alternative.

Salt was the obvious choice.

Although seawater contained salt naturally, the saltiness of the water did not mean that freshly caught marine fish could simply be stored indefinitely without proper preparation.

If Ashenford intended to supply seafood to distant inland prefectures, a reliable preservation method would be essential.

This meant that salt production had to increase.

Simon also saw a commercial opportunity.

If Ashenford could produce salt more efficiently than other regions, the prefecture could supply not only its own fishing industry but also merchants and consumers throughout the Eldorian Empire.

Salt was a necessity for ordinary households. Demand was unlikely to disappear, and a dependable supply could generate substantial revenue.

However, success would depend on the cost of production.

If Ashenford’s salt remained more expensive than the alternatives, merchants would have little reason to purchase it.

Simon therefore intended to improve the production process and reduce costs.

When the Salt Transport Bureau learned that the prince had arrived, its officer hurried to greet him.

”Your Highness, welcome to the Salt Transport Bureau. I am Archie, the officer responsible for overseeing salt production in Ashenford.”

Simon acknowledged him with a nod.

”Take me to your salt fields. I want to see how production is currently carried out.”

”Certainly, Your Highness. Please follow me.”

Archie led him toward the coast.

Soon, they reached a broad, flat stretch of land near the sea.

More than a hundred thatched huts stood across the area, their chimneys releasing thin trails of smoke into the air.

Workers moved between the huts carrying buckets and containers of seawater. Others tended fires beneath large iron pots, while several villagers filtered seawater through layers of cloth to remove sand and other impurities.

The process was straightforward, though labor-intensive.

After filtering the seawater, the workers poured it into pots and heated it over open fires.

As the water evaporated, the salt concentration increased until crystals began to form.

The workers then collected the salt and prepared the pots for another batch.

Simon watched the process for a while, his expression gradually becoming serious.

”Is this how all the salt in Ashenford is produced?”

Archie nodded proudly.

”Yes, Your Highness. The Salt Transport Bureau has used this method for generations. Our workers are experienced, and the current output is sufficient to satisfy the needs of the six prefectures.”

Simon looked at the smoking huts again.

Then he shook his head.

”That is no longer sufficient.”

Archie’s smile froze.

”Your Highness?”

”This method consumes too much fuel and requires too much labor. Every batch of seawater must be heated until most of its water evaporates. The process is slow, and expanding production would require more workers, more firewood, and more money.”

Simon gestured toward the coastline.

”The sea provides us with an almost inexhaustible supply of seawater. Yet you are treating salt production as though every grain must be extracted through a cooking pot.”

Archie lowered his head, uncertain how to respond.

For generations, boiling seawater had been the established method of salt production in Ashenford. The bureau’s officers had focused on improving their output by increasing the number of pots, employing more workers, and maintaining larger fires.

They had never seriously considered replacing the entire process.

”Your Highness, are there other methods of producing salt?” Archie asked cautiously.

”There are.”

Simon’s answer immediately caught the attention of the surrounding workers.

He pointed toward the expansive stretch of flat land beside the sea.

”Look at this coastline. You have sunlight, seawater, and a large area of relatively level ground. Why insist on using fire to evaporate every drop of water?”

Archie followed his gesture, his expression filled with confusion.

Simon continued.

”From now on, I want the bureau to begin developing salt evaporation fields.”

He paused to ensure Archie was listening carefully.

”First, select a broad area of flat land near the coast. Divide it into several shallow ponds and connect them through controlled channels. When the tide rises, allow seawater to enter the first pond.”

Simon picked up a thin branch and began sketching a simple diagram in the sand.

”The seawater will remain in these ponds, where the sun and wind will gradually evaporate the water. As the water becomes more concentrated, guide it into the next pond. Continue the process through several stages until the brine contains enough salt to begin crystallizing.”

He drew several adjoining rectangles, connecting them with narrow lines.

”Finally, direct the concentrated brine into shallow crystallization ponds. Once the salt crystals form, the workers can collect them, drain away the remaining liquid, and dry the salt before storage.”

Archie stared at the diagram.

The method was surprisingly simple.

Instead of burning firewood to boil seawater continuously, the bureau could use the sun and wind to perform much of the work.

The initial construction would require labor, but once the ponds and channels were completed, the fields could produce salt repeatedly with far less fuel.

Simon added a caution.

”The process will require proper planning. The ponds must be arranged so that seawater can move through them efficiently. You must also prevent excessive contamination from sand and dirt, and the final salt will need to be drained and dried properly.”

He looked directly at Archie.

”Do not assume that every patch of coastal land will produce the same results. Start with a suitable site, build a small number of ponds, and test the process before expanding the fields.”

Archie bowed quickly.

”Your Highness, I understand. I will immediately arrange for the workers to begin surveying the land.”

Simon nodded.

”Good. But remember, I am not asking you merely to construct a few ponds. I want Ashenford to become a major salt-producing center for the empire.”

His eyes moved toward the distant coastline.

”Once the salt fields are operational, we can expand production, supply our fishing fleets, preserve seafood for inland markets, and sell the surplus to merchants throughout the empire.”

He turned back toward the bureau officer.

”At that point, I want you to calculate the production costs carefully. We must know how much salt each field produces, how much labor it requires, and how much it costs to transport the finished product.”

Archie nodded repeatedly.

”Yes, Your Highness!”

Simon had already begun calculating the broader benefits.

More salt would support the fishing industry. Better preservation would allow seafood to travel farther inland without spoiling as quickly. Greater availability could lower the cost of an essential household commodity, while commercial sales would generate additional revenue for Ashenford.

The benefits would reinforce one another.

A stronger fishing industry would create demand for salt. More efficient salt production would reduce the cost of preserving fish. Preserved seafood could then reach markets that fresh fish could never serve economically.