Edmund stood beside the furnace in the backyard, waiting for the first batch of iron to come out of the new factory he had managed to build.
The brick building he had designed for the facility measured fifteen and a half meters in length and twenty meters in width. It had a door at both the front and the back; the former was as spacious as possible to facilitate the transportation of materials, while the latter was reserved for authorized personnel.
For that reason, he had also built a wall surrounding half of the facility. The area designated for tool deliveries was guarded by knights. They were Jhon's men, and their loyalty was beyond doubt.
The production process was relatively simple. First, the ore was transported to the furnaces, where it was heated and melted. Then, it was mixed with lime to help separate some of the sulfur and phosphorus. Finally, the iron was poured into molds intended for nails, horseshoes, and other easy-to-manufacture pieces.
Once cooled, the pieces were inspected by an experienced blacksmith who checked their quality. Afterward, they were removed and sent to the appropriate workshops, where they could receive additional finishing. In that way, the process began again.
The more complex tools were manufactured by specialized blacksmiths. Each one collected an assigned iron ingot, with a standard size and weight depending on the piece they had to produce.
For the time being, they were focusing only on tools. There was not yet a section dedicated to weapons manufacturing, although that would be one of the first priorities once the factory expanded.
But before thinking about expansion, the territory had to deal with more urgent problems, such as its income.
The factory had slightly improved Graymont's economic situation, although the initial investment had nearly left Edmund without capital. Fortunately, the public demonstration had produced results, and the first order had arrived even before construction was finished.
Edmund would not have been so anxious if he had succeeded in selling the trinkets he had found in the residence, but it had taken him more days than expected to find buyers willing to pay a reasonable price for them.
He did not want to wait for the factory to single-handedly rescue the city's entire economy. He had plans for many other things, but the problem remained the same: he needed funds. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
Among his projects were the construction of a cement factory and the introduction of new cultivation techniques in the territory's plantations.
Edmund was somewhat restless. Only a month had passed since he had taken control of Graymont, and this was his first major step toward improving the city. Even so, he trusted that he could overcome its current problems.
What concerned him most was not merely the territory's poverty, but also the ambitions of the neighboring houses.
Therefore, after confirming that the factory was working and making sure that Bram was capable of running it without his constant supervision, he headed toward the training grounds.
"My lord, is this kind of training really effective?" Jhon asked as he walked beside him.
Although Edmund had explained that it was a method used by other armies, the knight still showed some skepticism. After all, in the Border Princes, it was not even common to train peasants in an organized manner.
"I want them to move like coordinated puppets, Jhon," Edmund replied, spreading his hands.
In other parts of the world, there were hundreds of armies capable of fighting in coordinated formations. Edmund had seen some of them during his previous life and knew they could be an impressive sight.
But the situation in the Border Princes was different. Most conflicts were fought through scattered skirmishes, ambushes, and rapid attacks. Local lords were accustomed to gathering men whenever a threat arose, handing them weapons, and sending them into battle without any common preparation.
That method could work against bandits or small groups of goblins.
But it was not enough to face an organized enemy.
"I only want them to be capable of following orders," Edmund continued. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Jhon observed the training field.
The men moved with some awkwardness, following the sergeants' instructions. Some still stumbled when trying to turn at the same time as their companions, while others raised their shields with an obvious delay. Even so, they seemed to have progressed considerably since the chaos of the first few days.
"You're thinking of using them against the bandits blocking the trade routes," Jhon said after considering it carefully for a while. "Even if they trained for another month, I don't think these men—these men alone—would be ready for that. Perhaps we could manage it if we brought everyone capable of fighting, but that would leave the territory completely undefended."
"You're right. If we sent only these men and three knights, they wouldn't stand a chance. That's why I'll be going with you," Edmund said, deciding to continue on his way with the rest of his duties for the day.
"You?"
"Me, along with my three trusted knights and the men who have trained for a month," Edmund replied with a smile. "I'm sure we'll be more than enough."
"My lord, that's far too dangerous." Jhon had seen the weapons Edmund occasionally carried, but he knew that firearms, although lethal, quickly ran out of ammunition.
Moreover, the image of mages was a fearsome one, but Jhon was a literate and curious man. He had read that all mages were different and that each had their own strengths and weaknesses, especially mages of Edmund's element. Many of them limited themselves to being scholars and spent their days locked away in towers.
"It would be more dangerous to leave bandits roaming my lands now that we're trying to restore the territory's economy." Edmund continued walking as he carried on the conversation. He did not mind answering his commander's questions, but he had more urgent responsibilities. "Besides, no offense, Jhon, but hardly anyone in this place would pose a threat to my safety."
Jhon fell a little behind, somewhat impressed by the statement. Although he did not entirely believe it, the boy who had dreamed of becoming a great knight as a child hoped it was true. He was eager to witness the miracles of magic with his own eyes and fight alongside a lord who was also a great warrior.