A week of rainfall indicates the arrival of spring. It is very short, so spring is also very precious for the people of the north. When the snow melts, farmlands begin to cultivate and mines resume. All economic production activities of Black Hammer Fort must be completed in spring and summer. Otherwise, once autumn comes, the temperature begins to be unbearable. To put it bluntly, Rhodes must seize the time to make money in the short spring and summer seasons, otherwise, in winter, they will face the danger of fiscal deficit. Without money, they cannot hire soldiers, and the castle is equivalent to a dead city. Therefore, this matter cannot be delayed.

As the saying goes, money is not omnipotent, but without money, it is absolutely impossible. No matter where it is, Rhodes can understand the profound meaning of this sentence...

"Sir, as you told me, the construction team has found it. They said that the construction will be started after the rain is over."

In the dark Black Hammer Fort office, the affairs officer came to Rhode to report his work progress. Rhode nodded slightly, pushed the already prepared bonus to the edge of the table, signaling his subordinates to take it away, and take the money to do it.

The road construction plan was formulated by Rhodes early in the morning. If you want to get rich, you should build roads first. This is the truth left by his ancestors. As a generation that grew up under the Red Flag, Rhodes will not forget these truth dogmas that have been recited thousands of times. Of course, it is not so easy to implement. Road construction is also a science. Black Hammer Fort is located in the northern wasteland and has no idle labor. Even if there are, these people will not build roads and houses. Most of the people who are willing to come to the north are refugees, people who cannot survive in the kingdom capital or big cities, bankrupts, wanderers, and refugees are willing to come here. It is difficult to find skilled craftsmen among these people. Therefore, Rhodes went to find a construction team.

This is just the first step of the Long March. Finding a construction team depends on whether the other party is willing to work in this desolate and barren northern border. You should know that building roads is not like other jobs. Some roads can even take several years to complete. Moreover, many people are unwilling to live in a desolate area for so long. Without a tavern or a woman, life is boring unless the employment price is raised... and the money Rhodes gave his subordinates is invested in this regard.

"My lord, Sephis is a trustworthy subordinate. He is efficient and sensible. But I have not figured out this matter until now. Why do you have to spend so much financial resources to build these two roads? The Black Hammer Castle is not rich in resources, and even if the road is well built, there will not be much profit. I mean, it will take a long time for us to recover the cost."

After the affairs officer left, the housekeeper Muros came over and handed Rhode a cup of hot water, and expressed his long-standing questions. He did have too many questions. Since the young lord fell on a horse a few months ago, his ideas and ideas have become different. Even his combat power has a qualitative leap. Muros didn't understand. He just like everyone else, he seized the opportunity and asked.

"The resources of Black Hammer Fort are not rich? That's temporary. We are not without resources, but without enough manpower. The northern mining area has rich mineral reserves. According to the surveys of those prospectors, the copper reserves of that mine can be dug for at least two hundred years with current manpower excavation. Although the soil in the southern plains is not fertile, there are streams that can be used as arable land to cultivate. Finding some cold-resistant crops to cultivate can ensure Black Hammer Fort's grain reserves in winter. To the north of the Haihe River, there are large black forests. If we have strong armed forces, we can organize people to cut down trees in the forest. You must know that the trees in the north of the north are much tougher and taller than the trees in the south, and are high-quality wood resources. The shipyards of the empire all like the wood in the northern border of Kisliff."

After taking the hot water handed over by the butler, Rhode put it on his lips and took a sip, and said slowly.

"I know all of these, but..."

“But what?”

"Time, time is wrong... Why don't we develop production first? Since we have the ability to defend the town, more and more people will come here to live. When the town has enough population, productivity will naturally increase. At that time, it will not be too late for us to build roads? Of course, this is my personal foolish opinion."

While packing the stone table, Muros was nagging and expressing his views. After all, he was in charge of finance. The lord usually only knew how to get money, but he didn't care about income. Muros was worried that Rhodes spent money and lost control, thinking that Black Hammer Castle had a small vault...

Of course, Rhode knew that he was just unwilling to say that sometimes, seeing the old man so persistent, he couldn't help but approach and tell him the real reason for the road construction. Anyway, he believed in Dennis's affairs, let alone the road construction.

"You really want to know?"

Rhode turned his face and stared at the old housekeeper with a smirk. This expression made the old housekeeper very uncomfortable. Generally speaking, there was no good thing at this time.

"You always make sense if you don't say it. Of course, if you want to say it, I'll just listen."

He squeezed out a smile.

"Okay, then I'll tell you." Rhodes said, taking another sip of hot water and saying, "As you said, the investment return cycle of road construction is very long. We spend a lot of financial and material resources to build these two roads, which may take five years, ten years, or even longer to get back our costs. However, this is from an economic perspective. However, castle construction has never been only one aspect, military, economic, and political, and nothing can be left behind. My construction of the road from Black Hammer Fort to Heidelberg and Iron Ring City is actually due to the consideration of military value."

"Military value?"

Muros seemed to have some realization.

"Yes, military value. The battle of Evil Moon just passed has made me fully realize the importance of unity in the north. Just imagine, if I had run around Heidelberg, Iron Ring City, and tried my best to persuade Lord Aubrey and Varel, could our city still block the attack of the beastmen? The answer is no. The security of the north depends on the close cooperation between the city-states and the castles. The Great Wall has been abandoned, and I do not expect Caterina to recover it in my lifetime. Then, defending the beastmen, werewolf, and even the possible chaos invasion in the future must rely on the people of the North themselves. The construction of these two roads is on the surface to enhance trade between Black Hammer Fort and Heidelberg and Iron Ring City, but in fact, it is also to connect these three cities together. The business road is also a military road."

Rhodes said.

"Military Road? What do you mean is to build business roads on the surface, but in fact, prepare for the passage of the army?"

Muros asked.

"Yes, in the Battle of Evil Moon, Heidelberg and Iron Ring City are not active at all, because even if Black Hammer Castle really falls, the threat of the Beasts is not enough to reach their territory. There will be a little, but not serious. This is the idea of ​​Aubrey and Variel. Now, once the business road is clear, the three places will be connected. Once the Black Hammer Castle is broken, the Beasts and werewolves can run along the business road to the next town. So, if Black Hammer Castle is threatened again, I will ask Aubrey and Variel for support, and there is another reason."

"Will they think of this?"

"Maybe, but this does not hinder the construction of the project. After all, no one knows when the orcs and werewolf will invade again. The benefits after the business road are repaired will be immediate. Not only will the Black Hammer Castle generate income, but the Iron Ring City and Heidelberg follow the income. At least, Lord Aubrey, who loves food, can eat the sea fish in Kisliff Bay at the first time, without having to eat frozen dead fish. Moreover, the cost of building the business road is paid by us, and the stingy Lord of Heidelberg Varielba cannot do such a good thing."

After Rhode finished speaking, a confident smile rose on the corner of his mouth. This spring, many things are being secretly planned...
Chapter completed!