On the first Sunday of July, after careful arrangements and preparations, Art finally decided to set off on this day.

Early in the morning, with the help of Lottie, Art put on the armor specially prepared for this trip south to the valley. Surveying is not like fighting, let alone sightseeing, and it is inevitable to encounter some emergencies. Only after careful

Only through preparation can possible accidents be avoided as much as possible. Although Art is currently an earl, he still decided to personally visit every place to find out the situation in his territory.

In view of the fact that there are many wilderness hills and canyons in the southern part of the valley, with high mountains and dense forests. It is also summer, and venomous snakes, beasts, insects and ants are everywhere. Art had previously asked Cooper to instruct the textile workshop to make two sets of clothes for all people going to the southern valley.

This set of clothing is suitable for trekking through mountains and rivers.

The lining is mainly made of cotton and linen with good breathability. Due to the humid climate in the valley, ordinary cotton clothing easily adheres to the skin after sweating, which inevitably leads to a series of skin diseases.

The valley is sparsely populated and undeveloped, and there are no accompanying doctors to follow. Once you get sick, the consequences will be disastrous.

In addition, the workshop also used cowhide as raw material to make a set of perforated and breathable long-sleeved leather armor for each person to wear. It even has a high collar to protect the neck. There are many thorns in the dense forest of the valley. If you don’t pay attention, you will be killed.

If the skin is scratched and the infection is not treated, it will pose a fatal threat to the injured person.

In addition to the necessary armor, each person is also equipped with a cloak and waterproof coat to face the unpredictable and bad weather in the valley.

…………

"...My dear, when will you be back after you go out this time?" Lottie helped Art sort out the wrinkles on his armor, looked up at her husband, and asked softly, her tone full of reluctance.

"I think I should be able to come back at the end of the month~" Art said casually, then picked up the stainless steel dagger on the table and inserted it into the sheath on his waist.

Dong Dong~

Art stamped his feet, twisted his body, then tugged on his collar, turned around and grabbed Lottie's weak shoulders with both hands.

"I will be back soon. I will leave the affairs of the territory to you and the old housekeeper..." After explaining, Art kissed Lottie on the cheek and then walked out of the castle gate...

…………

Outside the gate, the survey team members who had been waiting here were talking in low voices around a few mules~

According to the previous arrangement, there were ten soldiers in charge of the escort this time, all of whom were hunters. The baggage team sent five people, five horses and five mules and horses to be responsible for the food supply for the survey team and the feed for the horses. In addition, there were also government affairs

Five officials who knew how to draw maps were sent by the government to assist Art in the survey, plus the bodyguard Ron, military judge Matthew and Art himself, a total of twenty-three people.

The hunter-turned-soldiers responsible for guarding and clearing the way were very excited and excited to follow Ater south to explore the valley. Each of the ten men was equipped with an ox-horn riding bow, and each had ten quivers made of cowhide on their backs.

Five light arrows and armor-piercing heavy arrows. One short sword and one short sword at the waist. There is also an emergency dagger in the scabbard tied to the foot.

In addition, each person has a thick sack made of linen behind his horse, which is used to store marching cooking utensils and daily necessities. The sack contains not only whetstones and flints, but also emergency animal fat and some hard materials.

Simple foods such as bread and dried meat. In the middle of the bags on both sides are the soldiers' personal marching tents, bedding and other daily necessities.

When several government officials learned that the south of the valley had been uninhabited for hundreds of years, inaccessible to humans, and wild beasts were everywhere, their faces became less excited and more worried. But they were able to go with their Earl, and there were people there.

Many guards, this can be considered

A great blessing. In addition to the horses being equipped with almost the same daily necessities as the soldiers, these people were not equipped with swords. Since they needed to assist Art in surveying the valley, they were equipped with some extra ropes, quills, parchment, etc.

tool.

The baggage team sent several experienced guys this time. In addition to the necessary horses, there were also five mules and horses carrying everyone's food and livestock feed and other supplies. In view of the terrain in the southern part of the valley, Spencer did not

Instead of arranging carriages, several mules and horses with excellent endurance were selected to help the survey team carry supplies.

When Art's figure appeared outside the door, everyone who was talking about him immediately stood up and stared at Art.

"Ron, are you ready?" Art said and walked down the steps.

"Sir, everything is ready. Grain, drinking water and some large items are carried by mules and horses. Dry food and personal items are carried by our own horses. The emergency medicines prepared by the hospital are stored here. In addition,

I also brought a few barrels of Welsh beer from my mother's grocery store~" Ron rubbed his head and smiled.

"You still understand me..." Art smiled slightly, very happy.

"The old housekeeper said that the craftsmen in the workshop area made some machetes and grappling hooks for us to explore the valley. We can just pick them up when we get to the workshop area."

"The old butler is so considerate~" Art raised his head and looked at the sky. The sun had already appeared on the hills in the east, and the temperature had begun to rise. "Everyone, get on your horses!"

"Get on the horse! Get on the horse!" Ron followed Art's voice and shouted to everyone.

Art looked back at Lottie who was standing at the door of the wooden castle, pursed his lips slightly, and waved goodbye. Lottie slowly raised her right hand and waved to Art.

"Everyone, let's go!" A moment later, Art, who was already on horseback, ordered the survey team to set off...

In the past, it would have taken half a day to ride a horse from the wooden castle to the workshop area. However, after the road was widened and repaired by the Ministry of Construction, the road connecting the north and south of the valley was enough to accommodate three horse-drawn carriages at the same time. There were no roads on the road.

Without any delay, it only took half a day to arrive at the workshop area.

At noon, everyone had a big meal with the craftsmen in the workshop area. Art heard about the production situation and personnel transfer in the workshop area in recent months, and also inspected it accompanied by the steward of the workshop area.

In the workshop area, some guidance was given on the production arrangements behind the workshop area.

Before leaving, in addition to bringing the road-opening tools built by the workshop area for the survey team, Art also called together the main managers of each workshop.

"...Everyone, the Gongfang District can not be what it is today without your contribution. Currently, the government is concentrating all human, financial and material resources to build the territory. While they are contributing their efforts, you cannot be idle. Now

, The construction of the valley urgently requires farm tools and other reclamation materials, and the training of new recruits also requires more weapons and armor. In addition, the number of residents in the territory has increased several times, and living supplies are also in urgent need of replenishment..." Art said and picked up the bag beside him.

Jiu Nang took a sip of beer.

"So, your current main task is to step up production and ensure material supply. At the same time, the scale of the valley is gradually expanding, and more materials will be needed by then. While you are producing, you also need to train apprentices. I have already informed the government

, after a while

Based on the existing workshop area, we will gradually expand the scale of each workshop. In the future, in addition to meeting the territory's consumption, the weapons, paper, textiles, beer and other materials produced in the workshop area will all be sold to various places in the north and south through caravans." Yat.

We are already planning for the future of the workshop area.

"Please rest assured, Lord Earl, the old butler has also explained before that each workshop is training apprentices and stepping up production in accordance with the orders of the Government Affairs Office. In addition, the Government Affairs Office has also sent many people to assist in production, and our efficiency is also high.

It's a lot higher." The manager of the workshop area said.

"This is the best," Art nodded with satisfaction, "As long as you do your best to serve the valley, as the Earl of Wales, I will not treat you badly. I can tell you now that once the new workshop area is completed,

Once it is put into production, each of you and your apprentices will receive a bounty of no less than one hundred pfennigs~" Art planned to reward this group of highly skilled craftsmen in the most practical way.

"Thank you, Lord Count!" everyone replied in unison.

…………

"...Sir, you are too generous to those craftsmen~"

Not long after leaving the workshop area, Ron couldn't help but muttered. Matthew, who was riding behind the two of them, also nodded in agreement.

Art turned his head and rolled his eyes at Ron, "Generous? Let me tell you the truth, I'm quite stingy. Do you know how much it costs at least a year to hire the highest-level craftsmen in the workshop area in various parts of the Southland?"

Do you have to come?"

"How much?" Ron asked casually.

Art immediately stretched out two fingers.

"two hundred?"

"Two hundred?" Art shook his head. "Two thousand pfennigs!"

"What? Two thousand!" Ron opened his eyes wide and couldn't believe his ears. "They just work in that place every day, and they can earn two thousand pfennigs a year?"

"Oh my god~" Matthew muttered softly, stretching his fingers to calculate.

"Sir, the money you spend to support one craftsman can support dozens of soldiers." Ron, who has always been quick-thinking, did the math.

"That's natural!"

"Master, in my opinion, you might as well use the money you spend to raise the craftsmen to recruit more soldiers. When the war comes, the materials seized will be much more than the wealth created by the craftsmen." Ron made a small calculation in his mind.

"Fart!" Art pretended to raise his riding crop, wanting to whip Ron who was following behind.

Ron immediately raised his right arm to block, revealing his eyes and looking at Art who looked helpless.

"Ron, thanks to you following me for so long, why haven't you learned any business acumen..." Art slowly retracted the whip.

"I~" Ron felt ashamed and stopped talking.

After leaving the workshop area, the group walked on the wide commercial road built by the Construction Department. Looking up, the gravel-paved commercial road snaked southward along the river, like a gray-white jade belt. There were already

The reclaimed land is already green.

While walking on the road, laborers and farmers coming and going from time to time greeted Yat, and Yat mostly responded with a polite smile.

At ten o'clock in the evening, the survey team finally reached the end of the reclaimed land and was about to enter the survey area. When it was dark, several soldiers had worked together to set up a tent for rest. The men and horses of the baggage team picked up a lot of firewood in the surrounding area.

Prepare to set up the pot to make rice.

At night, after a group of people gathered around the fire and had a good meal, except for the two soldiers on duty, the others got into their respective camps. In the next period of time, they will travel around the deserted valley to assist Art in his survey.
Chapter completed!