Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 258 Advent (6)
Today is Advent. Balian originally told Mark that everyone would stop working for a few days during Advent and have a good rest. However, Mark told Balian that he could only stop working for half a day. Of course, the people of Nolandenburg can
During Advent, they take a few days off, after all, they don’t have to worry about food.
But the same cannot be said for the refugees who came to Fort Nolandenburg. When Mark announced the three-day work stoppage during Advent, a riot almost broke out in the refugee camp.
Because many refugees live in a family, one or two strong laborers come to work in exchange for food rations. Usually, one or two people's day's work can be exchanged for a day's food for the whole family.
However, once work is suspended for a few days, their families will go hungry, and no one is willing to do so. It is for this reason that these refugees are opposed to the suspension of work and vacations.
In the end, Mark compromised. During the five days starting from Advent, the refugees would work for half a day every day, but they could exchange for a day's worth of food. In addition, on Advent, each refugee who went to work would be given ten li.
bonus.
These things actually don't cost much. They are nothing to the now well-stocked Nolandenburg, but to these fleeing refugees, they are a great gift. They all feel that this is a gift from the God of Fire to them.
For their blessing, they also thanked Balian, the ruler of Norlandenburg.
Mark's kind act also made some wavering refugees decide not to return to their hometowns under the rule of the stingy lord, but to join the people of Norlandenburg and become the people of Norlandenburg. Who would treat them as human beings?
Whoever they follow.
In this way, during the Advent period, another six to seven hundred refugees who worked in Norlandenburg for the winter became residents of Norlandenburg, and the total population of Norlandenburg exceeded 6,000.
After inspecting the construction site near Fort Nolandenburg, Balian and Mark, together with Eomer and Tull who had finished their work, came to the construction site in Linhu Town. After a brief inspection, Balian led
Liano, who was busy on the road, accompanied by everyone, came to the confluence of the forest lake and the Karl River.
The cold wind was howling, and a group of more than ten people rode on the lakeside road and arrived at this place. The Karl River and the forest lake had been frozen by ice. In this season, the ice surface was so frozen that no one could even take the horse with them.
question.
However, since the horse's hoofs were not wrapped in cloth and he was worried that the horses' hoofs would slip and fall down, Balian did not dare to ride up. After dismounting, he handed the horses to the guards and led a few people to the ice at the junction.
The thick ice is covered with half a foot of frozen snow. The snow that has fallen in the past month but has not melted has formed a thick layer of snow on the surface due to the daily cold wind blowing.
A hard shell of ice.
When people walk on it, the crunching and cracking sounds are followed by the creaking and creaking sounds from the soft snow below. Although the movement is not small, walking on it gives you the fun of walking in the snow in winter.
.
Bellian took everyone to the central location at the junction of rivers and lakes. Looking around, the waters of the Karl River in front became vast here, almost two thousand steps wide, and it was completely white. Under the afternoon light,
Below, the reflection is a bit dazzling.
Behind the scenes is the Forest Lake, which has restored its water area to about 10,000 acres after heavy rains this summer. The floods this summer and autumn have turned the Forest Lake into a reservoir for the Karl River, and the lake surface has also returned to its original embankment position.
.
The forest lake is also covered with white snow, dotted with some small black islands and dots of bushes. Is there a group of winter sparrows that flew away and landed, which looks very interesting.
On the lake, some people were digging holes to fish. There were also some children who followed the adults to fish. They were playing crazy on the lake. They were skating and having snowball fights. They had a great time. Is there a child who fell because of a fall?
It hurt, so I sat there wiping my tears and crying.
Balian looked around with a smile and said to Liano: "My construction officer, during this time, I have always had a plan, but I didn't have time to tell you, that is, I want to build a project at the junction of the river and the lake.
A sluice.
You see, the junction between the Karl River and the Forest Lake is about five hundred paces wide. If we can build a strong, solid sluice that can garrison troops, we will be able to hold back pirates or other enemies who attack us from the water in the future.
You can no longer easily enter the forest lake.
Linjian Lake will also completely become the inner lake of Fort Norandenburg, and settlements such as Linhu Town and Linglanpo Village will be safer."
Riano frowned and thought for a moment, then responded: "Sir, there is no problem in building such a sluice, but the time and manpower required will not be less, and the difficulty and cost of building such a sluice are higher than building one."
The castle is even higher."
Mark also quickly added: "Master, yes, now that the Tuba pirates have been beaten away, there is no need to be so anxious to repair it. Our settlements, castles, and military forts have not been built yet. We will wait for two days."
Let’s repair it next year.”
Looking at Mark and Liano, the first thing they considered was the cost issue and the immediate benefit issue. Bellion couldn't help but smile and shake his head. After kicking the thick ice under his feet, he let out a long sigh.
"Hey! I don't know the difficulties you mentioned, but the construction of this sluice must start after spring, and it must be built before next winter." Balian said to them.
"Ah!" Not only Mark and Liano, everyone made a sound of surprise. They didn't understand why their lord valued this sluice so much.
Balian knew everyone's doubts, so he patiently explained: "The Tubal pirates came once last year, but it doesn't mean they won't come this year. Not only are they likely to come this year, but there is also a high probability that they will take revenge on us.
.
When the time comes, we, Nolandenburg, will have to fight a tough battle with these slutty pirates. Before that, we must be fully prepared.
This time, the same consideration was given to accepting the water bandits Will and the others in Vallonbrae City. Not only was it to deal with the Toba pirates, but in the long run, we who were guarding the Karl River would not be able to do without a reliable water force.
Mark, you have the shipbuilders we rescued from Bangshui Town. Some of Will and the others can also build ships. You organize them together to form a shipbuilding workshop. They not only want to build small boats, but also big ships.
, especially a large ship that can fight the Toba pirates on the water.
From now on, we will not only drive the boat on the forest lake and the Karl River, but we will also go to the ocean and explore a bigger world!"
Listening to Balian's words, Mark and the others did not think that this was wishful thinking. Instead, they were all excited because their lord, Balian, had never been a big talker. He had always promised things to them.
, have all been successfully fulfilled, and what they want Balian to say will definitely be accomplished.