Chapter 36 36: military buildup

------------------------- If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. ------------------------------- Jahrdrung-5th,2488 IC "How are things going?" I asked as I approached the architect Otto, who was supervising his crew with an annoyed expression. "Everything according to my specifications, Baron. The tunnels are already being dug to the dimensions I deemed necessary. All that remains is for you to provide me with the bricks... and your magnificent mortar, of course. Once we have that, we'll work at full capacity. And... I would appreciate a bit more presence from your guards. People aren't happy with us digging so close to their... tents. The noise, the dust... complaints are beginning," he said, never taking his eyes off the blueprints in his hands. "Oh, of course. I'll make sure more guards are present during the works. But before I leave you in peace... I'd like to ask you something, architect," I said, leaning on a stake driven into the ground. "Could you build a blast furnace like those in the forges of Nuln?" Otto remained silent for a few seconds. I could see him thinking. "Yes. My studies include Nuln's metallurgy. But I must warn you, I'll still need some schematics that I could obtain through certain colleagues. Everything will be expensive, Baron. Even if you can supply all the construction materials... there are pieces that must be brought directly from Nuln." "As long as it reaches fifteen hundred degrees Celsius, that's perfect for me," I replied, staring at him. "What in blazes are... Celsius?" asked Otto, raising an eyebrow, confused. "As long as it can melt steel in large quantities... that's all I care about," I said more seriously, tired of explaining things no one understands. "It's feasible. But we'll have to use some dwarven tricks. I'll need refractory bricks, limestone, good clay, cast iron for gates, loading systems, slag pit, ladle buckets, reinforced beams, air vents... but I digress. If I start on that, I'll need to assign a fifth of my crew to the project for at least three months. And if I remember correctly... you were quite worried about your dear peasants not freezing to death this winter," Otto said dryly, though not disrespectfully. "Certainly. But that's already taken care of. When construction of the furnace begins, I'll hire additional labor to speed things up. I'll also probably bring in a less prestigious architect to handle the housing," I said, watching Otto from the corner of my eye. "I could handle that job as well," he replied, not bothering to hide his irritation. "Yes, but you don't have the team to do everything at once, my dear Otto. If you take on the furnace, you'll delay the sewers. I need work to begin now. We can't afford to waste more time," I said with a joyless smile. "I can hire more personnel... but it'll take time to make sure they do the job properly," the architect said, crossing his arms. "Feel free to hire people from my lands for that work. I believe they'll work even better knowing they're building their own homes," I replied, steering the conversation with a satisfied tone. "If I do that, labor costs will rise... and you'll have to cover those costs, Baron. Do you have the gold for it?" Otto asked, with a hint of doubt in his tone. "I can advance you an extra month's pay, if you like, so you can start hiring immediately. Just tell me how much the furnace will cost and how much per house. I'd like standard homes, for families of five or six," I said, pleased. "The furnace... would be about five thousand crowns. Assuming you can supply most of the materials. Three thousand would go just to ship the parts from Nuln. The rest is my fee," Otto responded in a measured voice. "Perfect. I'll give you the payment next week and we'll begin. Sound good?" I said with a broad smile, while Otto looked somewhat doubtful. "Yes, that's fine... Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to hire locals to help with the more basic work. Once the land is ready and we can start building, we'll discuss my fees for the houses. Until then... let me return to my duties," said Otto, refocusing on his blueprints, not waiting for further questions. Satisfied with how everything had turned out—especially because in the future, once the architect left the area, there would likely be local labor with basic construction knowledge. People I could use once I no longer needed the expensive—but necessary—services of an imperial architect, and only required expansion or buildings that didn't demand so much specialization. So once again, I went to see my workers. Over the last few days, I hadn't been able to ensure they were doing their jobs properly. All my attention had been focused on synthesizing Reikland blue pigment... the jewel of my enterprises, above all others. I spend a total of thirty-four crowns a day to maintain my labor force of five hundred seventy people. But now I had to think about other projects. Because once the blast furnace was ready... I'd need to employ many more people in the mining village. Those who currently extract iron for my family won't be able to meet the demand the new furnace will create. When I arrived at the work site, I saw an army of brickmakers working next to the local clay deposit. They were extracting large amounts using the tools once used to mine iron, now repurposed for digging clay and shaping it into bricks. At the same time, they loaded vast quantities into the multiple kilns, where the fire hardened the material. Once the process finished, they removed the baked bricks and loaded them into carts. All to supply the architect and his constructions. Nearby, a few smiths I assigned to limestone mortar production were watching as the stones were incinerated in the kilns, slowly turning into the white powder I needed so much. "Thanks to Manann, I finally found you," said a voice behind me. "Well now... if it isn't my favorite servant," I replied, turning around, already recognizing Rutger's voice. "My lord..." said the merchant, clearly exhausted from walking. I remained silent, staring at him. "My lord, I've completed the sale of the lapis lazuli pigments, as you ordered. And I'm pleased to say I bring good news. I've made contact with a dyer who works exclusively for Altdorf nobles... he wants to purchase a large quantity of your pigment for dyes. Also, several of my fellow citizens in Marienburg are already waiting for the next shipment. I'd be needing around ten pounds of your pigment." "What did I tell you?" I asked, arms crossed, without moving. Rutger sighed heavily. "...About five kilograms?" the merchant replied, clearly annoyed at having to adapt to my measurements. "That's quite a bit..." I said, lowering my gaze for a moment to calculate. "I can produce about a kilo and a half per week." Rutger looked at me in surprise. "So little? If you truly have the rock you claim to have found... you could easily assign a couple of workers to increase production. I have many clients already desperate to get their hands on your pigment," he said, choosing his words carefully, but clearly doubting my decision. "Yes... but I prefer to process it myself," I said firmly, hiding the lie behind the most serious face I could muster. "It's a gift from Sigmar... for me and no one else. Until the god says otherwise, I alone will work the pigment." The merchant exhaled in resignation and shook his head. "I'll see what I can do then..." he muttered. I remained silent for a moment, until Rutger came back at me with another angle. "And what about increasing soap production? I also have far too many orders, Baron. From several towns along the road, especially from the temples of Shallya. Every temple I find on the way to Altdorf places an order. For next week, for the next day I pass by. We could make a fortune if we scaled up production." "And where would we get the pigs or the cows?" I replied, without changing my tone. "I have to buy animals at high prices from other towns just to get the triglycerides I need. I don't have enough. Not even to slaughter more than three a day." "Stirland," Rutger said quickly. "I met a representative of a local noble who sells pigs. Four crowns per head, ready for slaughter. If you wish, I can purchase a large number and bring them here, so they can be slaughtered as needed." I stared at him. "Incredible work... when we gather the gold—" I began to say, but he cut me off abruptly. "But I already got it. In addition to bringing another two thousand five hundred crowns from the sale of the pigment you gave me, I managed to sell —in advance— the ten poun..... five kilograms, of pigment to merchants and dyers for the next shipment. I have nine thousand crowns stored, ready to be used in my wagons," said Rutger, with a mix of pride and urgency. "That's very good news... but damn it, Rutger... don't sell anything without first knowing if I can deliver," I said, surprised and annoyed at once. Now I'd have to spend the entire week in the lab, hunched over burners and boiling vessels, trying to synthesize the damn five kilograms of pigment he promised without asking. "Fine... I'll do my best. And I'll fulfill your request. But don't do it again. Understood?" I said, staring at him. Rutger nodded silently, swallowing hard. "Excellent... Ah, Rutger. Before you leave, buy a thousand pigs from the Stirland noble. If possible, ninety percent females, ten percent males. I don't care if you have to pay a few extra coins. And I need you to go to Nuln and bring me a few things from the city." The merchant smiled again. Every time he heard "Nuln," his expression changed. "What do you need, my lord?" he asked cheerfully, as if he'd just earned another commission. "Pikes. A lot of pikes. Here in Reikland they're rare, but in Wissenland and its surroundings they're more common. Bring me three thousand, if you can. I'm increasing my personal forces and I need proper weapons for the job. Also, buy as many chainmails and padded jackets as you can with the remaining two thousand crowns. The other three thousand you'll deliver to the imperial architect. I'm about to build a blast furnace... and I honestly needed those funds." I finished the sentence with a wide smile. Rutger looked satisfied as well. "Yes, and I've already taken my commission. So everything's fine," he said in a relaxed tone. "Yes... yes... now just focus on doing what I ordered. You've left me quite a mess with that damn pigment. I'll have to lock myself in the lab all week thanks to your Marienburg tricks," I growled as I searched for my horse. I mounted immediately. I still had things to check before isolating myself in the lab. I made sure the production of planks and nails continued without interruptions. I ordered the brickmakers to begin using at least one of the kilns to start making roof tiles. The houses coming in winter couldn't have wooden roofs forever. Once everything was running, I returned to the castle. I ate something quickly — hard bread and a bit of cold cheese. Then I locked myself in my quarters. I put on the heavy work garments, hardened leather and thick cloth. Tightened the gloves, and tied the charcoal-activated cloth over my face. The part I hated the most was about to begin. I'd be producing the pigment again — this time in bulk. Exhausting work. Suffocating heat. Risk of chemical burns. Thanks to Rutger... another week in isolation. ------------------------- If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. -------------------------------