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Jahrdrung-5th,2488 IC
"How are things going?" I asked as I approached the architect Otto, who was supervising his crew with an annoyed expression.
"Everything according to my specifications, Baron. The tunnels are already being dug to the dinsions I deed necessary. All that remains is for you to provide with the bricks... and your magnificent mortar, of course. Once we have that, we'll work at full capacity. And... I would appreciate a bit more presence from your guards. People aren't happy with us digging so close to their... tents. The noise, the dust... complaints are beginning," he said, never taking his eyes off the blueprints in his hands.
"Oh, of course. I'll make sure more guards are present during the works. But before I leave you in peace... I'd like to ask you sothing, architect," I said, leaning on a stake driven into the ground. "Could you build a blast furnace like those in the forges of Nuln?"
Otto remained silent for a few seconds. I could see him thinking.
"Yes. My studies include Nuln's tallurgy. But I must warn you, I'll still need so schematics that I could obtain through certain colleagues. Everything will be expensive, Baron. Even if you can supply all the construction materials... there are pieces that must be brought directly from Nuln."
"As long as it reaches fifteen hundred degrees Celsius, that's perfect for ," I replied, staring at him.
"What in blazes are... Celsius?" asked Otto, raising an eyebrow, confused.
"As long as it can lt steel in large quantities... that's all I care about," I said more seriously, tired of explaining things no one understands.
"It's feasible. But we'll have to use so dwarven tricks. I'll need refractory bricks, listone, good clay, cast iron for gates, loading systems, slag pit, ladle buckets, reinforced beams, air vents... but I digress. If I start on that, I'll need to assign a fifth of my crew to the project for at least three months. And if I rember correctly... you were quite worried about your dear peasants not freezing to death this winter," Otto said dryly, though not disrespectfully.
"Certainly. But that's already taken care of. When construction of the furnace begins, I'll hire additional labor to speed things up. I'll also probably bring in a less prestigious architect to handle the housing," I said, watching Otto from the corner of my eye.
"I could handle that job as well," he replied, not bothering to hide his irritation.
"Yes, but you don't have the team to do everything at once, my dear Otto. If you take on the furnace, you'll delay the sewers. I need work to begin now. We can't afford to waste more ti," I said with a joyless smile.
"I can hire more personnel... but it'll take ti to make sure they do the job properly," the architect said, crossing his arms.
"Feel free to hire people from my lands for that work. I believe they'll work even better knowing they're building their own hos," I replied, steering the conversation with a satisfied tone.
"If I do that, labor costs will rise... and you'll have to cover those costs, Baron. Do you have the gold for it?" Otto asked, with a hint of doubt in his tone.
"I can advance you an extra month's pay, if you like, so you can start hiring imdiately. Just tell how much the furnace will cost and how much per house. I'd like standard hos, for families of five or six," I said, pleased.
"The furnace... would be about five thousand crowns. Assuming you can supply most of the materials. Three thousand would go just to ship the parts from Nuln. The rest is my fee," Otto responded in a asured voice.
"Perfect. I'll give you the paynt next week and we'll begin. Sound good?" I said with a broad smile, while Otto looked sowhat doubtful.
"Yes, that's fine... Now, if you'll excuse , I need to hire locals to help with the more basic work. Once the land is ready and we can start building, we'll discuss my fees for the houses. Until then... let return to my duties," said Otto, refocusing on his blueprints, not waiting for further questions.
Satisfied with how everything had turned out—especially because in the future, once the architect left the area, there would likely be local labor with basic construction knowledge. People I could use once I no longer needed the expensive—but necessary—services of an imperial architect, and only required expansion or buildings that didn't demand so much specialization.
So once again, I went to see my workers. Over the last few days, I hadn't been able to ensure they were doing their jobs properly. All my attention had been focused on synthesizing Reikland blue pignt... the jewel of my enterprises, above all others.
I spend a total of thirty-four crowns a day to maintain my labor force of five hundred seventy people. But now I had to think about other projects. Because once the blast furnace was ready... I'd need to employ many more people in the mining village. Those who currently extract iron for my family won't be able to et the demand the new furnace will create.
When I arrived at the work site, I saw an army of brickmakers working next to the local clay deposit. They were extracting large amounts using the tools once used to mine iron, now repurposed for digging clay and shaping it into bricks. At the sa ti, they loaded vast quantities into the multiple kilns, where the fire hardened the material.
Once the process finished, they removed the baked bricks and loaded them into carts. All to supply the architect and his constructions. Nearby, a few smiths I assigned to listone mortar production were watching as the stones were incinerated in the kilns, slowly turning into the white powder I needed so much.
"Thanks to Manann, I finally found you," said a voice behind .
"Well now... if it isn't my favorite servant," I replied, turning around, already recognizing Rutger's voice.
"My lord..." said the rchant, clearly exhausted from walking.
I remained silent, staring at him.
"My lord, I've completed the sale of the lapis lazuli pignts, as you ordered. And I'm pleased to say I bring good news. I've made contact with a dyer who works exclusively for Altdorf nobles… he wants to purchase a large quantity of your pignt for dyes. Also, several of my fellow citizens in Marienburg are already waiting for the next shipnt. I'd be needing around ten pounds of your pignt."
"What did I tell you?" I asked, arms crossed, without moving.
Rutger sighed heavily.
"…About five kilograms?" the rchant replied, clearly annoyed at having to adapt to my asurents.
"That's quite a bit…" I said, lowering my gaze for a mont to calculate. "I can produce about a kilo and a half per week."
Rutger looked at in surprise. "So little? If you truly have the rock you claim to have found… you could easily assign a couple of workers to increase production. I have many clients already desperate to get their hands on your pignt," he said, choosing his words carefully, but clearly doubting my decision.
"Yes… but I prefer to process it myself," I said firmly, hiding the lie behind the most serious face I could muster. "It's a gift from Sigmar… for and no one else. Until the god says otherwise, I alone will work the pignt."
The rchant exhaled in resignation and shook his head. "I'll see what I can do then…" he muttered.
I remained silent for a mont, until Rutger ca back at with another angle.
"And what about increasing soap production? I also have far too many orders, Baron. From several towns along the road, especially from the temples of Shallya. Every temple I find on the way to Altdorf places an order. For next week, for the next day I pass by. We could make a fortune if we scaled up production."
"And where would we get the pigs or the cows?" I replied, without changing my tone. "I have to buy animals at high prices from other towns just to get the triglycerides I need. I don't have enough. Not even to slaughter more than three a day."
"Stirland," Rutger said quickly. "I t a representative of a local noble who sells pigs. Four crowns per head, ready for slaughter. If you wish, I can purchase a large number and bring them here, so they can be slaughtered as needed."
I stared at him.
"Incredible work… when we gather the gold—" I began to say, but he cut off abruptly.
"But I already got it. In addition to bringing another two thousand five hundred crowns from the sale of the pignt you gave , I managed to sell —in advance— the ten poun..... five kilograms, of pignt to rchants and dyers for the next shipnt. I have nine thousand crowns stored, ready to be used in my wagons," said Rutger, with a mix of pride and urgency.
"That's very good news… but damn it, Rutger… don't sell anything without first knowing if I can deliver," I said, surprised and annoyed at once.
Now I'd have to spend the entire week in the lab, hunched over burners and boiling vessels, trying to synthesize the damn five kilograms of pignt he promised without asking.
"Fine… I'll do my best. And I'll fulfill your request. But don't do it again. Understood?" I said, staring at him.
Rutger nodded silently, swallowing hard.
"Excellent… Ah, Rutger. Before you leave, buy a thousand pigs from the Stirland noble. If possible, ninety percent females, ten percent males. I don't care if you have to pay a few extra coins. And I need you to go to Nuln and bring a few things from the city."
The rchant smiled again. Every ti he heard "Nuln," his expression changed.
"What do you need, my lord?" he asked cheerfully, as if he'd just earned another commission.
"Pikes. A lot of pikes. Here in Reikland they're rare, but in Wissenland and its surroundings they're more common. Bring three thousand, if you can. I'm increasing my personal forces and I need proper weapons for the job. Also, buy as many chainmails and padded jackets as you can with the remaining two thousand crowns. The other three thousand you'll deliver to the imperial architect. I'm about to build a blast furnace… and I honestly needed those funds."
I finished the sentence with a wide smile. Rutger looked satisfied as well.
"Yes, and I've already taken my commission. So everything's fine," he said in a relaxed tone.
"Yes… yes… now just focus on doing what I ordered. You've left quite a ss with that damn pignt. I'll have to lock myself in the lab all week thanks to your Marienburg tricks," I growled as I searched for my horse.
I mounted imdiately. I still had things to check before isolating myself in the lab. I made sure the production of planks and nails continued without interruptions. I ordered the brickmakers to begin using at least one of the kilns to start making roof tiles. The houses coming in winter couldn't have wooden roofs forever.
Once everything was running, I returned to the castle. I ate sothing quickly — hard bread and a bit of cold cheese.
Then I locked myself in my quarters.
I put on the heavy work garnts, hardened leather and thick cloth. Tightened the gloves, and tied the charcoal-activated cloth over my face.
The part I hated the most was about to begin.
I'd be producing the pignt again — this ti in bulk. Exhausting work. Suffocating heat. Risk of chemical burns.
Thanks to Rutger... another week in isolation.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let know.
Leave a comnt; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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