The Knight's Journey to the Empire

"Now, let's start discussing the second problem - building territory roads and improving transportation conditions." Soran sat down and spoke calmly to everyone.

"As the saying goes: To get rich, build roads first. If we can't even build the most basic road facilities, then our talk about the future construction and development of the territory is just empty talk, which is of no use."

Soran slowly looked around at everyone.

"So brothers, do you have anything to add to this difficult problem? Or do you have any good suggestions?"

Soran directly changed the topic to the next difficult problem.

As the person who proposed the difficult problem of "building roads", Adam was indeed prepared.

So he was the first to stand up and speak:

"Dear colleagues, I couldn't sleep last night thinking about the problem of road construction. I pondered for a long time. In the end, it was not me who figured it out, but the dawn. However, I also figured out several difficulties:

First, which roads should be built in our territory? Should we build all the roads leading to villages in the territory at the same time, or should we build a certain section of the road first?

Second, how should the road be repaired? What kind of road should it be? Should it be renovated and made into a stone road? Or should it be repaired and filled to restore the original dirt road?

Third, where do the human, financial, and material resources such as workers, funds, and materials needed for road construction come from? How much is enough?

Fourth, who will be the overall person in charge of the road construction project? Who will be responsible for coordinating the entire project?

"The above four are the difficulties I thought of regarding road construction! I think that if we can solve these difficulties, then the problem of "road construction" can be perfectly solved," Adam explained calmly.

Gubellini, who was sitting next to him, thought for a moment and then said, "Regarding the first question - which road should be built? I think that when our territory is building roads, the section from Flanders Town to County Avenue can be built first."

"Because this section of road is the main road for communication between our territory and other territories outside, the demand for road traffic will be greater."

“As for the roads from Flanders Town to other villages, we can wait and see before repairing them!”

"Yeah, that's what I thought!" Adam nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, that's what I thought!" Soran agreed with Gubellini's suggestion.

The distance from the entrance of Flanders town to the county road outside is about ten kilometers.

The road conditions along this route are actually all "cement roads".

On both sides of the road, except for some small mountainous areas, there are trees or shrubs; the other sections are relatively flat plains, and both sides of the road are covered with wild weeds that are taller than a person or as tall as the waist.

So as far as the specific conditions of the entire road are concerned, the conditions for road construction are quite good.

As for the various roads leading from Flanders Town to other villages within the territory, some pass through plains, some pass through mountainous areas, some pass through river wetlands, etc. There are all kinds of situations, which are relatively complicated and the construction conditions are difficult.

Therefore, building a main road from Flanders Town to County Avenue first became the best choice, both in terms of travel needs and construction conditions.

"Regarding the question of 'what style of road should be built', I need to explain it here!" Soran said calmly.

"First of all, the scale of the road. The newly built road should be wide enough to accommodate two carriages running side by side, and there should be some surplus left."

"Then we don't need to use stone slabs or dirt roads. We can just make it a gravel road."

We don’t want a stone road because we want to save costs; we don’t want a dirt road because we are afraid that it will eventually become a “cement road”.

Soran continued to add: "The specific operation process of building a gravel road is:

First, fill the dirt road surface with soil, then tamp the roadbed with large wooden piers;

Second, spread a layer of gravel on the dirt road surface, and use a horse to pull a large roller to roll it back and forth several times to compact the gravel;

Third, spread a layer of small pebbles on top of the gravel to fill and level the gaps between the gravel, and then use a horse to pull the big roller to roll it a few times to compact it.

"Finally, after the road is built, saplings will be planted on both sides of the road to protect the road."

No matter in which world, road construction is a technical job.

In the Knight Continent, road construction technology is the forte of every construction officer.

But now in White Bear Territory, there are no relevant professional and technical personnel to serve as fortification officers.

So Sauron had no choice but to take on the task and use the basic knowledge he learned in his previous life to temporarily act as a technical expert.

Of course, if cement can be used for road construction, it would definitely be the best, easiest and most convenient.

But in this world, cement has not yet been invented, and there is no similar material to serve as a substitute.

Moreover, Soran said helplessly that not every time traveler would make cement indiscriminately.

I won't!

So he could only use this old method to carry out the construction.

(A question for you readers. Don’t use Baidu. Just based on the knowledge you have learned in your mind, do you still know how cement is made?)

"I can also add something about the sources of manpower, material and financial resources for road construction!" Javier spoke after Sauron finished speaking.

"First of all, we need to find the source of funds for road construction. Road construction is a basic project for building a territory, and the funds can be approved and allocated from fiscal funds."

"Then there's the manpower source for road construction. We can recruit the territory's civilians to work on the roads. And now is not the busy farming season, the civilians are staying at home for the winter, and some of them have plenty of free time to obey the call-up."

"Then there is the source of materials for paving the road. If the road is built in the style that Master said, then the most common material used is stone."

"So we can open a quarry in the small mountain range in the west of the territory and use local materials to solve the material problem."

"And once the road is built, we can process the stones mined from the quarry and sell them to increase the territory's income. This is equivalent to developing an industry for the territory."

Javier's eyes became brighter as he spoke.

After all, Sauron had just appointed him as the financial officer, and the approval and use of road construction funds involved his duties, so naturally he had to pay attention to it.

Similarly, as a financial officer, he needs to think about more than just expenditures, but also find ways to increase revenue and increase the territory's fiscal revenue.

Otherwise, the little bit of gold coins that the young master has will never be able to fill the huge hole in the territory construction!

Javier was somewhat relieved that his young master was not a prodigal son, nor was he a playboy, otherwise he would have to worry about his young master!

"Well, Javier's suggestion is good and has great development prospects. It is worth implementing. But I also have one point to add. For those recruited subjects, we can give them some preferential treatment, such as providing them with a meal or giving them some coins!" Sauron expressed his thoughts after listening.

But when everyone present heard this, their eyes widened, their mouths slightly opened, and they looked very surprised!

This is really a rare thing!

In this hereditary territory, the lord recruited his subjects to participate in road construction. It was not mandatory, but they did not have to bring their own food, and meals were provided, and they were also paid?

What kind of lord is this!

Isn't this a living father?

[Javier: I take back my luck just now! ]

[Suddenly I thought of the animation where Megatron invaded the Earth and told the people on Earth how to treat him! ]

"Master, this is not good, right? As a lord, you have the right to recruit people for free, and the people also have the obligation to obey the lord's call for free!" Javier was also very surprised, so he wanted to remind Soran: "So, we don't have to pay for recruiting people to build roads, Master!"

"Yes, young master! As a lord, you are responsible for protecting your subjects from harm. Likewise, your subjects must obey your call and serve you." Adam also reminded Soran, "This is a right and obligation stipulated by the laws of the kingdom."

They had learned this knowledge in the law course at the Donbass Knight Academy, and Adam thought Soren had forgotten it.

Gubellini on the side also looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Obviously, although he did not study the laws of the kingdom systematically, he also knew this legal common sense - the lord does not have to pay money to recruit his subjects.

As for the other two, they were nothing but surprised.

But what does this road construction have to do with our military development? Can't we just agree with it?

But from their expressions, it can be seen that they were indeed shocked!

Young Master, aren't you too kind?

Really? Loving the people like one’s own children!