Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 554: Chapter 20: Irrigation Construction Achievements (Part 3)

Because all the dwarves esteem master craftsmanship, their war machines are the finest and most cared for in the world, and their operators treat them like a respected family member. However, even this level of caution falls far short of the desires of the famously bad-tempered engineering masters.

After a battle, the engineering masters personally supervise the repairs, but during combat, they appear exceptionally rude when directing crew on the best ways to aim and launch the war machines. Their skill stems from their familiarity with the workings of each device. With just a glance, an engineering master can tell when the torque of a crossbow cannon is too high or when conditions allow for additional black gunpowder for the organ cannon.

They are perfect artisans, able to judge the intricacy of launching the deadliest projectile or offer advice on how best to carve stone into the most precise ammunition for a spiteful catapult.

Engineering masters can also guide the rapid construction of effective trenches—such as stacked stone walls or excavated gun pits—to shield war machines and combat personnel from enemy long-range fire.

Engineering masters are brave warriors, although they may be more interested in drafting fortification plans or designing new mines, they are well-equipped to fight on the front lines. To protect their valuable war machines, they fight with the determination and courage unique to their race.

Clearly, Kurgan is very satisfied with his work in the Hesse Territory, where he can almost entirely forgo tedious battles and focus his energy on construction projects and design development.

The huge projects at Heisen Castle and Bauhinia Palace and various exquisite equipment originate from his hands.

Meanwhile, he is also fully responsible for the territory’s hydraulic engineering construction.

Upon hearing Su Li’s inquiry, he decisively said, ”Oh, Lord, you can always trust the capabilities of the dwarves! With the concerted efforts of our Gronni lineage, all your property has been maximally protected.”

”Our progress is not at all inferior to the speed at which human giants reclaim farmland; underneath Jorn Shallow Bay, all 1700 acres of land have been irrigated. Even on the relatively high foothills, we have set up channels and waterwheels to ensure that every acre of fertile land is nourished with water from Lake Reiflin, welcoming a bountiful harvest season.”

Su Li nodded, praising, ”Of course, I trust the capabilities of your dwarves; the prosperity of Jorn Shallow Bay is closely related to the irrigation built by your dwarves. Even the entire Jorn Shallow Bay project is sustained by the territory’s Holy Land Reiflin Lake.”

It is precisely the dwarves who commanded large numbers of armed attendants, slaves, and ogre construction teams to work day and night to build Lake Revelin, erecting dams above Jorn Shallow Bay to provide necessary foundations for development below.

It can be said that the dwarves were involved in the development and advancement of the entire engineering project from start to finish.

Their contributions, witnessed firsthand by Su Li, have granted them the status of second citizens within the territory.

However, compared to the scale of humans, their numbers are still a bit small.

Kurgan candidly stated, ”But aside from these key projects, our dwarves’ speed truly can’t keep up with the human giants. Their expansion is too fast; we have to be involved in war, build fortifications, and also construct castles, monasteries, roads, bridges, and other basic infrastructure projects, making it truly impossible to ensure water projects for every farm and hamlet.”

”Until now, we have built water irrigation projects for 17 farms, additionally constructing 3 reservoirs, 12 pond dams, and 24 cisterns.”

”We also constructed 64 waterwheels and over 130 diversion channels and drainage ditches, totaling more than 240 empire miles.”

”In areas prone to floods, we built 7 flood prevention projects as well as dams and floodgates, among others.”

”Moreover, to conform with the Empire’s ambiance, we also built basic knight fountains, Holy Light Reservoirs, and canals, mills, etc., in the cities. These small projects are too many to list one by one.”

Fountain Square indeed meets the Empire Knights’ needs; for knights, they may not care whether there are irrigation channels on the farms, but a Fountain Square is a must.

It seems that these Mountain Dwarves are gradually adapting to the identity of Imperial Dwarves.

Kurgan reported that there are nearly a hundred of these projects both large and small combined; it can be said that this year’s hydraulic engineering construction achievements are outstanding.

Yet, this still can’t keep pace with the expansion speed of the territory, Kurgan continued, ”These projects are mostly distributed near the Central Plain around Hesse Town, but further away in the expansion zones like Bloody Highlands and Blood Pine Forest, we dwarves truly are powerless.”

”Overall, our current water facilities can completely cover your private fields, covering 40 to 50 percent of the territory’s farmland.”

This is not the dwarves flattering Su Li preferentially, but rather because all these water facilities were 80 to 90 percent funded by Su Li himself, with only 10 to 20 percent funded by major landowners, farm owners, or villagers themselves finding the dwarves to construct.”

Thus, the dwarves naturally build water engineering projects for whoever pays them first! After all, these hydraulic projects are quite costly, consuming a large amount of funds and materials.