Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Langten’s development
A delicate snowflake gently landed in Henry’s wooden bowl, cooling the brown stew nestled within. Henry took a sip, savoring the comforting warmth spreading from his lips down his throat, bringing a known taste.

“They are enjoying themselves” – the king observed, his gaze scanning the scene before him.

The flames of the bonfire defiantly fought against the falling snow, as natives and soldiers mingled around it, sharing laughter and drinks. Henry even noticed some of his soldiers flirting with willing females. The alcohol gave them the courage to act shamelessly in front of the king, much to Leier’s disapproval.

The protective guard caressed her sword’s hilt, pondering if a few deaths would be an obstacle to the king’s objectives. The intent was palpable, even to the injured Henry.

“Let them enjoy themselves, Leier” – Henry serenely said, taking another sip of the stew, chewing the small pieces of meat – “And, there is no danger around, no need for such vigilance. You should sit down and taste this stew, it’s really good.”

Leier remained standing, her gaze sweeping the surroundings – “We must remain vigilant, my liege. An assassin may be lurking around” – she said, refusing to sit. She wouldn’t risk the king’s wellbeing.

Henry sighed, deciding not to press the matter. He continued to sip his stew, its flavors reminding him of Earth, while he and Leier kept watching the group of soldiers and residents. Following Luna’s prescription, he couldn’t drink any alcohol until he healed from his injures. The stew was the only thing left.

“Apologies for the delay, your majesty” – The old man that guided them approached, hands full of leather parchments – “It took time to gather all the documents and information you requested” – he explained, eyes darting nervously towards Leier, afraid of being beheaded without knowing.

With a swift movement, Leier retrieved the parchments, causing the old man to flinch and shrink his neck. After a long breath to confirm that he was still alive, he opened his eyes. The king was already engrossed in the contents inside it.

“Did you make these records?” – Henry asked, still focused on the parchments, his fingers treading on the pages.

The man, still sweating nervously, shook his head – “No, your majesty. These records have been passed down by all previous village chiefs. We’re the only literate ones in the village.”

Henry nodded, turning to another page – “Do neighboring villages share this practice?”

“I doubt it, your majesty”- the man replied cautiously, glancing at Leier before returning his gaze to Henry – “Many villages lack literacy; even the chiefs cannot read or write. Langten is close to the capital, making it easier for us to learn. We’ve maintained this tradition for centuries, but other villages may not have had the same opportunity.”

Henry took another sip of stew, chewing on the meat thoughtfully. “I see, it makes sense. The center of power has always been in the capital. There has never been incentives to teach others” – he observed – “I’m afraid Frostwave Bay will likely be the only city with a slightly larger number of literate people. In the East, the next two to three villages might have one or two among them, but the rest will be difficult to gather such formal information.” – Henry concluded and fell into silence, his eyes darting from page to page.

The village chief of Langten waited anxiously for almost half an hour, his feet aching and his body almost freezing. He dared not sit or join the others, fearing the one-eyed woman’s gaze fixed upon him, her hand resting on her sword. He remained rooted in place, snowflakes slowly covering his hair.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Henry’s voice broke the silence – “Excellent! Though basic, this information will be crucial for implementing new policies and projects” – he said, rising from the log and patting the old man’s shoulders, nearly causing him to stumble – “You and your predecessors have done a commendable job, really good.”

Gritting his teeth against the pain, the old man managed, “Thank you, my king…” – he bowed, still with Henry’s hands on his shoulders.

“It seems this region has been neglected for too long”- Henry mused – “Previous nobles exploited these lands without developing them, sitting comfortable on their chairs in the capital while reaping the benefits. I intend to change that.”

Henry glanced at the joyful scene of soldiers and residents – “Langten has five thousand villagers and was plagued by bandits, whom Iosif dealt with months ago. We need to do more.” – he said, meeting the old man’s eyes.

Raising a finger, the king continued- “First, I’ll send two literate individuals to open a school here and teach everyone to read and write. Second, I’ll send Snowfire Horses for breeding, which will be used to transport people and goods. We need to connect the village to other parts of the kingdom, beyond the capital.”

The old man listened intently as Henry raised another finger – “Third, I’ll establish a Sun God Company outpost here to boost commerce with the help of the horses. Fourth, I’ll send master masons to assist with building and infrastructure. We need to develop the living conditions here and also raise defenses.”

“Lastly…” – Henry’s tone was firm and unshakable, allowing no objections – “you will remain village chief, but I’ll assign a lieutenant and troops to oversee the area and report to me. The lieutenant will represent me during his stay. You will continue as a central figure, but the last saying will go through the lieutenant.”

The old village chief looked at the king, who inquired – “Are we clear?” – The words parted from the king’s lips, and the old man felt an invisible weight on his shoulders, prompting him to respond immediately – “I understand, my liege!”

“Good,” Henry smiled, patting the old man’s shoulders. “Now, go enjoy yourself; you’re old but not dead.”

The chief nodded and bowed his head before stepping away. His steps appeared feeble, as if he had just completed his first military training session, his legs barely able to support his own weight.

“He’s quite the smart man” – Henry couldn’t help but comment. “Perhaps he’ll be of some help in the future.”

“At least he has manners, unlike the others”- Leier remarked, her eyes drifting toward the crowd around the fire.

“Sure, sure!”- Henry chuckled – “Now, get a bowl for yourself and pour me some more stew.”