System: Build My Own Territory

Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Iron Mine Excavation (3K)

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Next to the open-pit iron mine, simple wooden houses capable of accommodating four hundred people were all constructed.

The lime road leading from the iron mine to the Acadia River was also completed, just needing to harden before it could be used for travel.

During these three days, Lynn ate and lived with the villagers.

This further increased the loyalty of the villagers.

They had never seen, nor even heard of, a lord of a domain living the same life they did!

Upon Lynn’s command, four hundred villagers surged towards the open-pit iron mine.

Previously, Lynn had carried out a secondary division of labor for them.

Three hundred villagers were responsible for digging.

Fifty villagers were responsible for loading the excavated iron ore into wicker baskets, driving carts and wagons to transport it to the banks of the Acadia River.

The remaining villagers would carry the wicker baskets into the punts, allowing the punt crew to transport them back to the village.

Lynn had thought about building a blast furnace for iron smelting near the open-pit iron mine.

However, transporting the materials needed to build the blast furnace upstream was too difficult.

It required transporting countless red bricks and anthracite as fuel.

In comparison.

It was much simpler to load the iron ore into punts and let them drift downstream along the river.

Red arranged for ten guards to maintain order here and protect these villagers.

After confirming that no arrangements were overlooked at the open-pit iron mine, Lynn then boarded a punt with Red and headed downstream to the village.

Pushed by the surging waters of the Acadia River, the villagers hardly needed to paddle to float along.

Perhaps because it was carrying only four people, the punt moved quite quickly!

A journey that took four hours on foot through the forest was now just an hour by punt!

It showed the importance of the punts.

Lynn personally experienced the significance of water transport.

Simultaneously, he also felt the width and

small wonder that the Acadia River became a boundary line; it was bottomless and nearly a thousand meters wide!

Without large ships, it was simply impossible for large troops to land on such a river.

When Lynn returned to the village by punt, Colin was leading dozens of apprentices in constructing the dock.

Jumping off the punt, Lynn stepped onto the riverbank.

Upon seeing Lynn, Colin and his group quickly bowed in salute, ”Master Lynn.”

In three days, the dock had begun to take shape.

Thick oak logs had been nailed to the rock layer at the riverbank’s bottom, and slabs of rock and wooden planks were placed to serve as a foundational platform.

After that, it only required building as per the designed wall thickness, height, and stone arrangement using lime mortar.

In a few more days at most, a dock constructed of stone could be completed.

After supervising for a short while, Lynn left the dock.

Returning to the village, Kuisi happened to come forward to greet him.

She spoke, ”Master Lynn, a merchant has arrived in the territory but was blocked outside by Rose.”

Lynn asked, ”A merchant from the Brown Clan?”

Kuisi shook her head, saying, ”No, it’s a crop merchant from nearby Morgan Town...”

”Rose said the merchant only had four carts and claimed to be carrying a large amount of linen, and apart from the coachmen, there were no guards.”

Lynn pondered for a moment, ”Let him in then, and tell Rose that in the future, as long as it’s confirmed there’s no danger and the merchant carries a large amount of goods, they can enter the territory at any time.”

”However, he needs to arrange for soldiers to oversee, and they must not wander freely.”

With only coachmen and no guards, it was evident he was a walking merchant within the Marquisate of Duca’s domain, or perhaps in a village near Morgan Town.

Kuisi responded, ”Yes, Master.”

Immediately, Kuisi summoned a guard to report the message to the city wall.

Lynn did not linger and headed to the brick-making site outside the village to continue accumulating his [Production] skill experience.

[Production Experience +1]

[Production Experience +1]

[Production Experience +1]

...

Lynn glanced at the [Heavenly Artifacts] panel.

[Production: Level 1 (113/200)] (+)

Through persistent effort, the [Production] experience had already exceeded a hundred.

The upgrade to Level 2 was not far off.

...

For half a month, the kiln for firing red bricks had not stopped working.

Not only that.

With the inexhaustible anthracite fuel as support and the villagers’ improved skills,

the number of kilns had increased to seventy.

From Lynn’s perspective, the densely packed kiln chimneys were whirling with smoke and steam...

With each kiln firing one batch every three days, producing five hundred red bricks per batch.

This meant thirty-five thousand red bricks could be produced every three days!

It seemed a lot.

But compared to the number of red bricks needed for rebuilding the village, it was a drop in the bucket.

Establishing a large red brick factory was imperative.

Only in this way could the production of red bricks be increased, freeing up labor from brickmaking.

...

At the forest pass.

Four carts were parked outside the city wall.

A coachman wearing a linen robe looked at the middle-aged man, speaking, ”Master Boer, we’ve been waiting for two hours and still can’t get in... should we just leave it?”

The middle-aged man referred to as Boer turned to glance at the coachman.

”Give up? That’s not possible. We’ve come this far.”

”Besides... aren’t any of you curious? Not curious why there’s a new city wall here?”

The four coachmen glanced at the city wall made of huge stones in front of them, then continuously looked up at the highest point of the wall.

After retracting their gaze, they all felt a bit of neck soreness.

Truthfully, they were curious too.

Just as the coachman was about to speak.

A heavy grinding sound entered their ears.

Boer hurriedly turned his head to look over.

The iron-plated city gate slowly opened inward.

It stopped only after opening seven or eight meters.

A large man walked out of the iron gate, his deep and serious voice rang out, ”Everyone, you may enter.”

Upon hearing the man’s words, Boer felt a surge of joy in his heart.

He stepped forward, his hand moved as he skillfully took out a stack of pence and handed it over.

”Sir, thank you very much, just a small token, insignificant...”

Rose glanced casually and did not accept, ”No need, just go on in.”

Listening to the burly man’s voice, Boer was slightly taken aback.

It was the first time he encountered a gate guard who did not accept toll fees.

Could it be that he offered too little?

But even if it were more, he couldn’t afford to give more...

Boer, with a face full of awkwardness, said, ”Thank you, thank you...”

After getting permission to enter, Boer finally led four wagons through the city wall.

The first thing that caught his eye was the paved, smooth, wide white road.

The road meandered, winding through the forest, reaching the end of the woods.

Just as he was observing, the heavy iron gate closed with a bang.

Clang!

Boer turned back for a glance.

The iron gate was heavy and sturdy, once closed, it seemed to completely isolate the place from the outside world!

Retracting his gaze, Boer continued to push forward with the caravan, followed closely by five guards carrying iron spears and round shields, riding on horses.

Boer’s heart inexplicably tightened with tension.

Time continued to pass slowly.

Soon, Boer passed through the forest.

The view in front of him suddenly opened up.

Moving along the lime-covered road, Boer’s face gradually became covered in astonishment.

In the cleared and cultivated lands were neat and orderly ridges.

On the ridges, peas were sprouting tender shoots and leaves!

And in the distance were stretches of wooden houses, forming a vast village... could even be said the outline of a small town!

By the river, round objects he had never seen before were rotating continuously, driven by the river water...

A doubt arose in Boer’s mind.

Since when did such a large town exist here?

He had never heard of it before.

This area was wasteland, and not just for him.

Very few people would come here.

This visit was purely on a whim.

After a while.

From afar, Boer saw a distinguished and handsome man, accompanied by a maid and guards, standing on the open ground before the village.

Only then did he slightly temper the astonishment on his face.

It was apparent that this handsome man was the lord of the territory.

Arriving in front of the village, Boer hurriedly dismounted, his words full of reverence, ”Greetings my Lord, I am Boer Hansen, a merchant from Morgan Town.”

Lynn nodded, ”I am Lynn.”

Receiving Lynn’s response, Boer’s heart slightly relaxed.

The young lord present was more approachable than he imagined, and also younger.

Boer showed a gentle smile, ”Master Lynn, I have four thousand pounds of linen on my carriage, would you be interested?”

Lynn was not surprised.

The Boer in front of him was like George before, buying and selling in the local area.

Without enough connections and transportation ability, he could only earn a small amount of profit margin.

Lynn nodded, asking in return, ”What’s your price for the linens?”

There was no disdain nor any neglect.

Compared to those self-important lords, Master Lynn’s attitude towards people gave him a strange sense of comfort.

Boer quickly bent down, ”Master Lynn, if you are interested, I can offer you a price of three pence for two pounds of linen.”

Lynn began to ponder.

The value of linen was originally above wheat.

It was mainly determined by planting costs and market demand.

If the merchant named Boer were to transport these four thousand pounds of linen to Morgan Town, he could sell them at a price of two pence per pound.

Lynn nodded, ”No problem, I can offer you two choices... Twenty-five Gold Pounds, or one thousand pounds of fine salt!”

Boer smiled and said, ”Master Lynn, of course, I would like the gold...”

Before he finished his words, he suddenly stopped.

Boer widened his eyes looking at Lynn, couldn’t help but ask, ”Master Lynn... did you say... fine salt?”

Lynn nodded.

Gulp.

A clear sound of swallowing echoed in the open space.

Boer was shocked.

There was actually a salt mine here?

The territory he stumbled upon actually had fine salt?

Suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, Boer hurriedly said, ”Master Lynn, fine salt... I want the fine salt!”

The difficulty of planting linen was significantly greater than that of wheat or other crops.

It mainly required more careful care and fertile soil conditions.

He originally thought to bring this batch of linen back to Morgan Town and at least earn one or two Gold Pounds.

If he could exchange it for fine salt with Master Lynn here...

The profit he could earn would even double!

At least two or three Gold Pounds.

Lynn gave a calm smile, ”Of course.”