On the 17th of August, Princess Silvia, Finnjali, Delia, Daisy, and Maria returned to Monolith Castle.
Back then, the southern part of the Northland could be said to be the essence of the entire Northland. The former Grand Duke of the Northland, the Lujins family, and the nobles of the Northland had built many manors and castles there. After the exchange of territory, the entire Northern Lands fell into the hands of the Norton Family, and these manors and castles also belonged to the Laurist Family.
After rearranging the development plan of the entire Northern Region, twenty-seven manors and castles that affected the development plan or were not important were demolished, leaving behind eleven beautiful and famous manors and castles. This time, Loriste allowed Princess Sylvia and her four concubines to choose from these eleven manors and castles.
The Cherry Blossom Ridge Manor was known as the most beautiful manor in the Northern Lands. Every year after the rainy season, flowers bloomed all over the mountain. A delicate fragrance floated in the air, and the trees were in full bloom, like clouds and rosy clouds. The mountain wind blew past, and the petals danced in the air. It was like a dream, and it was called the Wonder of Cherry Ridge. Although it was already past the flowering season for Princess Sylvia's trip, the cherry trees filled with cherries made Princess Sylvia unable to contain her joy. It was just that this Cherry Blossom Ridge Manor was originally the place where Count Şahin Henned kept his mistress. He often slept here with his five concubines. Because of this, Princess Sylvia had purposely renovated the entire main castle to make it more in line with her wishes.
The excited Princess Sylvia kept chattering beside Laurist, describing the scenery of the Cherry Blossom Ridge Manor. Furthermore, the other four girls had also picked a manor that satisfied them. They did not show any signs of weakness as they competed with each other, causing Laurist to have a headache. In the end, he used the excuse that he was busy with work to drive the five women out of the study, and only then did he get some peace and quiet. However, before they left, they all agreed that Laurist's renaming of the northern capital, Gildusk City, to Roaring Bear City was too unpleasant. It was even more pleasing to the ears of the labourers who built the city, Raging Bear City.
"Ugh … Is Roaring Bear City awful?" Laurist shrugged at Fatty Shi.
"It's indeed a little awkward. It sounds a little weird." Fatty Shi honestly expressed that the name Lollister came up with wasn't very good. It was really not up to standard.
"But why would the labourers who built the city call it the Raging Bear City?" Laurist felt that it was a little strange. Roaring Bear sounded more cultured than Raging Bear.
"Have you forgotten about the raging bear statue in the city's central plaza? The Raging Bear Plaza was then transformed into the Raging Bear City. In fact, other than in front of His Highness and in official documents, the family's knights and officials also refer to it as Raging Bear City in private. It's simple and convenient, "Fatty Shi told Laurist a very embarrassing truth.
Lollister admitted defeat. "Alright, I admit that I don't have the talent for naming. Since that's the case, I'll change its name to Furious Bear City. I don't care if I'm the one who came up with the name … "
"Your Highness, this is only a small matter. Just send an official notice and it will be over. We were just talking about the Grizzly Bear Knights moving to Monolith Castle. Is there anything else we should pay attention to? "Fatty Shi reminded.
The Grizzly Bear Knights were originally stationed at Blade castle, which was the castle that had been built after two mountains had been cut off from North Sea city. They were stationed there to protect North Sea city, as well as to ensure that the Turtle Mountain fortress and Crouching Ox fortress could immediately provide reinforcements and counterattack if they were attacked by the mountain barbarians. However, the army of over a hundred thousand mountain barbarians had already been completely wiped out. They would not be able to invade the family's territory for the next decade or two. It would be a waste to leave the Grizzly Bear Knights at Blade castle. Laurist was going to move to Furious Bear City, which just happened to leave Monolith Castle empty. It would make sense for the Grizzly Bear Knights to move there.
Laurist picked up a pen and ticked off the document, signing his name. "Alright, get Terman to bring the Grizzly Bear Knights over. Just move the first battalion of the imperial guards to Blade castle. However, from the 15th of September, the families of all the administrative departments and officials of Monolith Castle will have to move to Furious Bear City. I'll leave everything to you. "
Fatty Shi nodded. "No problem. Many departments have already started packing up. A month is more than enough time."
"Once we reach Furious Bear City, we'll be preparing for my and Sylvia's wedding soon, and we'll also have to receive guests. I hope that everything is prepared and nothing goes wrong."
"Don't worry, your highness. We've already made plans. We already know who's in charge of what."
There was a knock on the door, and Genolio entered to report, "Your highness, Baron Hansk requests an audience …"
Baron Hansk was furious when he entered. He felt that he was doing well in his position as the governor of Syrovas Island, but he did not expect that he would be removed by Lollister. Wasn't it just that I objected to you taking a wife? And you even married the woman of the family's enemy! There are so many women in the world, but you just had to find the most unsuitable one! As the most loyal retainer of the Norton Family, I objected with reason and evidence, but not only did you not accept my sincere advice, you even stripped me of my position!
Baron Hansk came to report to Laurist with a belly full of anger. He was prepared to have a good argument with Laurist. Even if he angered Laurist and got stripped of his title, he did not care. As the most loyal retainer of the Norton family, he would let everyone see his iron bones and loyalty.
"Your Highness, I greet you." Baron Hansk bowed to Lollister in the manner of a subordinate.
"Supervisor Hansk, I've been talking about you. Now that you're finally here, I'm relieved. Come, take a seat. Have you settled the affairs of Cilowas Island? " Laurist smiled amiably, as if he did not see Baron Hansk's angry expression. He did not call him by his title, but by his former position in the family to show his closeness.
"Genolio, serve Supervisor Hansk some tea," Laurist ordered.
"No need, Your Highness," Baron Hansk replied with a straight face. "I've already handed over the affairs of Cilowas Island to Governor Hickard. I only came back to report now because I had to wait for his arrival."
"Alright, that's good. Supervisor Hansk must have had a hard journey. You've been working hard for the family for so long. Why don't you rest for a while and recuperate? "Laurist said politely.
"Your Highness, it's my duty to serve the family. I would like to ask, what are the family's plans for me? "Supervisor Hansk said.
Loriste stood up. "It's like this. Our family already owns the entire Northern Lands. In the next two years, we will be carrying out a general development and construction of the entire Northern Lands. Look here, Manager Hansk."
Laurist pointed at a map of the north hanging on the wall. "If you want to get rich, build roads first. Only with convenient and fast transportation facilities can the north be connected as one. Not only will it be able to transport resources perfectly, but it will also allow the family's armed forces to quickly reach any place in the north when needed. This map shows the entire new transportation system that the north is planning to build, connecting the entire north into a network. The family is planning to invest a million gold coins. This project concerns the future of the Norton family in the north. In my heart, no one can take on this responsibility other than you. That's why I transferred you back from Cilowas Island. "
This was the so-called general in chess. Supervisor Hansk, who was originally full of resentment, suddenly felt half of it dissipate. It turned out that Laurist had removed him from the position of governor of Cilowas not to freeze him or punish him, but to give him the responsibility of the family's future. At this time, Supervisor Hansk finally looked at Fatty Shi, who was sitting on the sofa next to him. A stiff smile appeared on his face. "Your Highness, I don't have to take on this responsibility, right? Baron Shredder can …"
"No, he can't!" Laurist rejected immediately, ignoring Fatty Shi, who was sitting on the sofa and rolling his eyes. "To put it bluntly, he doesn't have the right. This is a major responsibility related to the family's domination of the north and the long-term stability of the next hundred years. Baron Shredder is good at handling political affairs, but he doesn't have the experience of managing such a large project. He's not as mature and steady as you. Looking at all the officials in the family, Spear is good at finance, but she's not good at managing projects. Curdan is in charge of personnel, but he's not good at project management. To be honest, only Governor Hickard and Butler Boris might have the ability.
But think of it, one is your junior, and Hickold is your second in command. The other one, I can't really trust him. After all, Butler Boris was originally a member of the Kenneth family. He only joined our family after he was captured. Although he's diligent, we can't be sure of his loyalty. This is a big project related to the prosperity of the family for the next hundred years. How can we hand it over to them? Someone suggested Thurkamp, but I thought about it and rejected it. He's just my servant, and he's not qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as you. So in my heart, you're the only suitable person to take charge of this big project. “
Supervisor Hansk's face was full of smiles. Laurist's praise made him feel lonely, as if no one in the family could be compared to him. Who else but me can be the person in charge of a big project related to the prosperity of the family for a hundred years? The resentment in his stomach had long disappeared, but he still had to be humble on his face. "Your Highness, you flatter me. Actually, I think anyone can take charge of this project. I don't have to be responsible for it. People like Thurkamp and Butler Boris have been in charge of the development and construction of roads and transportation. Maybe they're more suitable than me … "
Laurist shook his head. "Supervisor Hansk, this project isn't as simple as you think. If it's just an ordinary road, then anyone can take charge. But this road that our family wants to build is unique. It's a transportation facility that has never appeared in the history of the Galinthea Continent. Once it's completed, it will go down in history and be remembered for hundreds of years to come. That's why I insist on letting you be in charge. "
What? Building a transportation facility can go down in history and be remembered for hundreds of years to come? Is that possible? At most, it'll be mentioned in the family's records. In a few years, months, and days of the Galinthea Continent's common calendar, Supervisor Hansk was in charge of the transportation infrastructure project in the north. This project perfected the road transportation in the north and made the flow of goods and commerce in the north more convenient and fast …
Is it that exaggerated? Looking at Supervisor Hansk's inexplicable expression, Laurist laughed. "Supervisor Hansk, come over and take a closer look at the design of this road …"
Supervisor Hansk squinted his eyes for a long time and finally found something wrong. "Your Highness, why are there two roads in the same direction, one big and one small?"
"Hehe, Supervisor Hansk, this is the new road that our family invented — the carriage track. Come, come over here, there's a model here. "
The room next to the study had been opened up by Laurist's men, turning it into an exhibition room. Supervisor Hansk followed Laurist through the door and saw a sand table that took up most of the room in front of him. This was a sand table of the north's terrain. Supervisor Hansk was very familiar with it. That was Monolith Castle, this was Maple Forest Manor, that was North Sea City, and this was the southern part of the north … However, this sand table had strangely used iron wires to circle around it a few times.
"Look, this is the carriage track." Laurist pointed at the iron wires on the sand table and said.
Only then did Supervisor Hansk realize that it wasn't a round iron wire, but a type of I-shaped iron wire. Hmm, I'm getting old, and my eyes aren't working well anymore. Perhaps I should find the supervisor of the glass factory, Mancheni, to get me a pair of presbyopic glasses. It was said that the so-called presbyopic glasses were very helpful for the eyesight of the elderly. Butler Boris, the new governor of Haneabada, had gotten himself a few of them, and he was always wearing them on his nose, refusing to take them off …
"Your Highness, what's the use of this carriage track?" Supervisor Hansk looked at it for a long time but still couldn't understand.
"This is Master Julien's latest invention. Originally, it was designed to be used for mining. Mining wagons filled with ore would be pulled up from deep mines. There's no need for humans or animals to carry them, greatly reducing the cost of mining. Later, I thought it was a very good idea and suggested that he use it on flat land. After two years of experiments, we finally made a sample and model. After evaluation, we found that if we use this carriage track in the north, regardless of whether it's transporting goods or carrying passengers, it will reduce the cost by two thirds and greatly increase the efficiency by several times. "
Laurist picked up a carriage model from the table beside him and said, "Look, Supervisor Hansk. The wheels of this carriage aren't made of wood, but a circular iron frame. The front of the iron frame is concave, and it fits perfectly into the protruding carriage track. Look, I'll connect these four carriages together and place them on the carriage track. With a gentle push, the four carriages will move forward. "
"But Your Highness, these carriages can also move on flat land. There's no need to use this track, right?" Supervisor Hansk said.
"No, the efficiency is different." Laurist explained, "On the track, four horses can pull the four carriages. On flat land, each carriage needs four horses to pull the carriages, but the speed won't be as fast as the carriages on the track. There's a difference of twelve horses in and out. For example, before the road was built, it would take more than two days to travel to the south of the north on horseback. If it was on foot, it would take five or six days. This doesn't even take into account the delays caused by the rain and snow. If you want to bring four carriages, you'll need about ten grooms and servants to take care of the horses. It'll take at least three to four days to arrive. But with this carriage track and a relay station that's forty to fifty kilometers away, you'll be able to reach the south of the north in less than two days. "
Supervisor Hansk still had this bit of foresight. After some calculations, he knew how much transportation costs could be saved with this carriage track. But he still had two questions: "Your Highness, the wheels of the carriages have become circular iron frames. Will there be any effect on the flat land? Or will it affect the carriage track after passing through the flat land? There's another question. The carriage track needs to be laid with two iron rails. Won't the cost be too high for the family … "
Laurist nodded and picked up two rope-like rings from the table: "Supervisor Hansk, your concerns are correct. But we've already considered the two problems you mentioned. Look, these are two resin tires. They're a bit flexible. If the carriages are going to move on flat land, we'll put these two tires on the wheels. Not only will it prevent shocks, but it will also prevent the iron wheel frames from being worn out on flat land. The only problem is that the price is a bit high. A resin tire costs a large silver coin. But there are alternatives. You can use wood or straw rope to wrap around the wheels. Although it can't prevent shocks, it can also prevent the wheel frames from being worn out. “
Laurist deftly attached the two small tires to the carriage wheels: "Look, it's like this. As for the cost of the carriage track, we've also considered it. Unlike the main road, we charge for the carriage track. In order to save time and transportation costs, merchants will be more than happy to pay the toll. Of course, we won't charge too much. Basically, it'll be based on the number of carriages that pass through. It's estimated that we'll be able to recoup the cost in two to three years. A carriage track can be used for about ten years, so for the next six to seven years, we'll be making a profit. " “
"Manager Hanks, this is the reason why this huge project will be recorded in history and be remembered for hundreds of years to come. The carriage track, a new form of transportation, will appear for the first time in the North. It will leave a rich and dazzling page in the history of transportation in the Galinthea continent. I've thought about it for a long time before finally deciding that you're the only one who can take on this responsibility. Do you have any opinions? " Loriste asked with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness …" Hansk's heart was filled with the emotion of a soldier dying for a bosom friend. He blurted out, "I promise to complete this glorious and important mission. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I won't let you down. “
"As expected of the pillar of the Norton Family! Laurist felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Then I'll leave this matter to you, which concerns the family's hundred-year plan. The design department, supervision department, and engineering department are all ready. You can start work tomorrow … "
"No, Your Highness, I'll go now. Tomorrow is too late. Manager Hansk solemnly saluted Lollister with a sacred sense of mission, then turned around and strode away.
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