Chapter 24 - Episode 24: Getting on Track
Mining in a mine does not simply mean digging recklessly into a rocky mountain. There are tricks to be mastered and precautions to be observed.
The most terrifying thing is a collapse. Not to mention large-scale collapses where the tunnel itself is crushed, even a small piece of the ceiling crumbling and falling can be fatal if it hits one's head.
That was precisely why Noein decided to have Viscount Koenitz introduce him to a mining engineer. Even for small-scale mining, digging forward based solely on an amateur's judgment involves great danger. He could not allow the residents to engage in work in such a precarious environment.
Approximately one week after the meeting with Viscount Koenitz, a group of mining engineers introduced by the Viscount arrived at the residential area of the Arqvist territory.
Led by a well-built middle-aged dwarf, a well-built human and a lion-man youth followed behind, one of each. The dwarf stepped forward in front of Noein and introduced himself while presenting a letter stamped with the Viscount's family seal to prove his identity.
"I have been introduced by His Excellency Viscount Koenitz; I am called Victor, a mining engineer. I have brought these two along to assist. The human is my apprentice, and the lion-man is a slave."
"I am Noein Arqvist, the Baronet who governs this Arqvist territory. Thank you for coming to such a rural place."
"No, this is my job."
Victor spoke with few words, but his tone and expression were not harsh.
"I heard that you wish for guidance on mining the veins for the residents?"
"Yes. We plan to proceed with the mining on a small scale, but even so, I believe the tunnels will reach a certain depth as mining continues. We possess neither the technique nor the knowledge to prevent collapses..."
"Understood. For small-scale mining, it will likely be a matter of installing pit props to prevent collapses. I believe the guidance will not be very difficult."
Noein also knew that pit props were used to prevent tunnel collapses, but the biggest problem was that he lacked the knowledge of how to assemble the timber and how to support the tunnel. That was exactly the point he wanted the engineers to guide them on, and the information that such guidance was not very difficult was welcome news.
"That is good. I have secured a camp site for your stay in the Lestio Mountains, so I would like you to depart tomorrow. Yuri, the Chief Retainer, will handle the guiding and the supervision of the residents."
Saying so, Noein pointed to Yuri, who was standing beside him. In response, Yuri bowed his head, and Victor returned the gesture.
After that, the detailed conditions and contents regarding the contract were discussed and confirmed once more, and the following day, guided by Yuri, Victor's group and the residents who would first engage in the mining work departed for the north.
.....
With the mining of the lapis lazuli vein and the wholesaling of the raw stones to the Miles Company beginning, the Arqvist territory suddenly got on the track of development.
After all, a huge sum of 1.2 million Rebro for one ton of lapis lazuli raw stones would flow in every month. He became able to proceed with things he had been enduring until now without worrying about funds.
The first thing Noein did was the construction of houses within the territory, starting with his own mansion. Relying on Benedict of the Miles Company, he was introduced to a major construction company in Viscount Koenitz's territory, and he ordered the construction of houses for all households.
In such large transactions, it is normal to pay half the price in advance and the remaining half later, but he showed swiftness by allocating the entire first month's sales of 1.2 million Rebro from the lapis lazuli raw stones to the advance payment.
Besides the reason that he wanted to build proper houses as quickly as possible, there was also the objective of "not keeping too much cash on hand."
The story that a lapis lazuli vein had been found in the Arqvist territory and that raw stones were being wholesaled to Viscount Koenitz's territory, generating great profits, would spread throughout the northwestern region of the kingdom sooner or later.
If that happened, people would think "there is a large amount of cash in the Arqvist territory," and there was a possibility that thieves, or worse, large-scale bandits, would come.
Therefore, Noein let go of all the first month's profits to complete the order for the houses, ensuring that the story "the Arqvist territory is releasing a large amount of cash due to a construction rush" would spread. If merchants observed the movement of construction materials and carpenters, they would naturally notice.
If it spread that the cash of the Arqvist territory had changed form into immovable assets called "houses," the possibility of ill-intentioned people coming would also drop significantly.
Shortly after the order to the construction company, a dozen or so carpenters and laborers arrived in the Arqvist territory.
In addition to them, those among the male residents who were free joined the construction as laborers. This was the same as corvée labor, such as installing fences surrounding the residential area or maintaining roads; it was a measure to provide food in kind to the residents in exchange for labor.
In the residential area where there had been only fields and tents until now, house foundations were built, frames rose, bricks were piled, and the shapes of buildings gradually emerged.
The first to be built was Noein's mansion. Due to the unanimous voice of the residents saying "we cannot let the Lord who gave us a new home continue living in a tent," the construction of the mansion was proceeding with the highest priority.
"The pace is amazing. Won't it be completed in a few more weeks?"
When Noein said this while looking up at the construction site where the building was steadily taking shape, the foreman, Dmitri, who was the person in charge of this construction, answered beside him.
"It's because the Baronet-sama lent us the residents as laborers. We were able to secure more workers than I thought, so we're able to advance the work all at once. Also, the fact that there was a large amount of timber locally was huge."
A man of imposing stature with impressive mountain-like muscles and sun-burnt dark skin, he was a dog-type beastman.
With an appearance reminiscent of a large fighting dog, he was a self-made man who had risen in the world by utilizing his blessed physique and the experience cultivated in field work. Despite being a socially disadvantaged race like a beastman, he was a person who had become an executive of a major construction company through certain skill.
With him as the leader, the craftsmen worked, and the construction site was taking the form of houses at an astonishing speed.
Satisfied seeing the progress of the mansion's construction, Noein left the area, as it would be bad to disturb the work by talking to Dmitri too much.
Next, he looked around the residents' fields.
"Hey, Edgar. Is the farm work going well?"
"Ah, Noein-sama. Of course it's going well. This is only possible because the soil quality of the farmland you gave us is good."
When he called out to Edgar, who was diligently tending to the farmland, he answered in a high mood.
"Besides, this crop called potato grows quickly. I tried eating the ones I received as reward for the corvée labor, and both the taste and the satiety were good... It's like a dream that such a crop existed."
It was currently around the end of August. In the fields of the former refugees like Edgar, the cultivation of autumn-planted potatoes was being carried out, and sprouts were emerging smoothly.
"Potatoes are still hardly known in the Lordberg Kingdom. I'm hoping to spread them within the kingdom starting from this Arqvist territory. They can't replace wheat, which can make bread, but if they spread well, the food situation of the entire country will improve and we can reduce the number of people who starve."
It would take a little more time to reach a production volume that could be shipped to other territories, but Noein believed that eventually, potatoes would greatly change the agriculture of this country.
"To think you've considered that far... Noein-sama is indeed a wonderful Lord."
"Ahaha, thank you."
The happiness of the residents is a given, but there's also the reason that it's more beneficial in terms of economy and public security if this country's food situation is stable... Noein swallowed those words and replied to Edgar with a smile.
Since it would be bad to disturb Edgar by talking too much here as well, he wrapped up the small talk appropriately and left the area.