Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 747 747 53 Relief_3

?Chapter 747: Chapter 53 Relief_3 Chapter 747: Chapter 53 Relief_3 The bad side: people from various villages and towns who had some money all took their families to Revodan for refuge, causing even greater shortages of food and living space in Revodan.

Therefore, the construction of the southern city had to be not only bigger but faster.

When Xial found Winters, Winters was discussing with Captain Mason, old Mayor Priskin, and the blacksmith Shao Yi.

“Lover’s Forest must be cleared quickly,” Winters instructed Senior Mason. “If we can’t chop it down, burn it down.”

“I’ll arrange for people right away.”

“Lover’s Forest needs to be chopped too?” Shao Yi asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lover’s Forest was a sparse grove on the southern outskirts of Revodan, so named because it was a common spot for lovers to meet in secret.

“Use the wood for building the city and the branches for fire,” Winters tapped the map gently. “In any case, we can’t leave it for the people of Terdun. Mr. Shao, Forging Village also needs to evacuate immediately.”

“Alright, alright,” Shao Yi nodded first and then hurriedly asked, “Evacuate to where?”

Winters revealed a hint of a smile and pointed to the ground beneath his feet, “Just evacuate here, and move everything that can be moved to ‘South City’.”

“My lord,” old Mayor Priskin respectfully asked, “the city walls that have been completed seem to be only two meters high?”

“That’s right, just two meters high,” Winters answered.

“Isn’t that a bit too short,” old Priskin’s face showed concern. “If it’s only two meters high, it seems it can be scaled over.”

“There are advantages to low walls. They are quick to build. The city we are constructing is too large. If we built tall walls, the Terdun people would have arrived before we finished.” Winters reassured the old gentleman, “Don’t worry, I have it under control.”

Having heard the Revodan magistrates say this, old Priskin did not say any more.

Winters picked up a stick of graphite and marked three small stars on the map, pointing to them with a smile, “According to my initial plan, not only do we need walls, but we also need to build three star-shaped fortresses outside the city, each covering one side of the walls. Only then could we be impregnable.”

Senior Mason nodded in agreement, while old Priskin and Shao Yi were confused.

Winters tossed the graphite aside with a sigh. “However, we don’t have the time, so all these are omitted. I hope the enemy leader is about the same level as last time. If so… my confidence increases by a few more points.”

“You’ve fought the chieftain of the barbarians who came this time?” Shao Yi perked up.

“I’ve fought him.”

“Then…” Shao Yi asked hesitantly.

“Back then, I was only a Centurion, so the battle was not commanded by me.” Winters laughed heartily and patted Shao Yi on the shoulder, “But in that battle—our army won a great victory!”

Shao Yi also laughed along. Seeing that battle was truly imminent, he didn’t have much confidence, so he desperately sought any piece of good news, even the most trivial.

“Mr. Priskin,” Winters casually asked, “how do the municipal committee members and the grain merchants feel? Are they content?”

“Dissatisfied,” old Priskin replied submissively, “but given the current conditions, they can still accept it.”

The most ingenious part of old Priskin’s strategy of “work-relief” was to clarify the property rights.

The South City under construction was clearly also a part of Revodan, so it was only right for the city of Revodan to fund this project.

The relief process became [Revodan incurred debt to buy grain from the army and grain merchants, then used it as compensation to give to the unemployed who came to work].

The army and the grain merchants gave food in exchange for debt. As long as Revodan’s city government didn’t go bankrupt, the debt could be paid off slowly.

The city government of Revodan owed a huge debt, but in exchange, they gained a new urban area. Doesn’t seem like a loss, right?

The unemployed poor got food for work, avoiding the phenomenon of a run that might have been caused by giving away or selling at a low price.

All three parties took a bit of a loss, but also gained something, and in a way, it seemed to be a happy ending for all involved.

Unable to help himself, Winters asked old Priskin, “How did you come up with the idea of work-relief?”

“It wasn’t my idea.” Old Priskin bowed slightly, smiling as he asked, “My lord, do you know how Revodan prospered?”

“It’s the county capital, naturally it’s prosperous.”

“No.” Old Priskin gently shook his head. “Revodan first prospered, and then it became the county capital. And the reason for Revodan’s prosperity is the Revodan Cathedral.”

“Hmm?” Winters’ curiosity was piqued.

Old Priskin reminisced, “When there were only a few dozen settlers here, the public church decided to build a large cathedral here as the bishop’s cathedral for Iron Peak County.

The cathedral took twelve years to build. During those twelve years, craftsmen and merchants from all over flocked here. By the time the cathedral was completed, Revodan had already transformed from an inconspicuous village into the most prosperous town in Iron Peak County.”

Winters listened intently, pondering, “What you mean is… a long-term, large-scale project can make a barren place prosper.”

“That’s my feeling.” Old Priskin stroked his beard. “To tell you the truth, I’ve traveled far and wide. In many of the towns I’ve seen, their centers are either a castle or a cathedral.

Projects to build cathedrals or castles lasted for years or even decades. Craftsmen settled nearby, and merchants followed. A village might become a town because of it, a small town might become a bustling large town. It seems to me that’s how it is.”

“Very interesting.” Winters’ eyes shone. He laughed and said, “Your ideas are really interesting. After we drive off the Terdun people, let’s have a good talk about this.”

Old Priskin readily agreed.

Seeing the conversation between the few men come to a break, Xial hurriedly handed the letter to Winters.

“Colonel Bod’s letter.” Xial spoke softly.

Winters opened the letter without changing his expression, swiftly reading through it.

“How does it look?” Senior Mason asked.

Old Priskin and Shao Yi did not know who Colonel Bod was, so they discreetly excused themselves.

But Winters called out to old Priskin and Shao Yi, “There’s no need for the two of you to leave; this letter concerns you both as well.”

Shao Yi looked puzzled, while old Priskin listened quietly.

“The bald colonel from Mont Blanc County agreed,” Winters laughed heartily. “Take inventory of the goods we haven’t had the chance to transport out; Mont Blanc County will trade grain and salt with us.”