Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World - Chapter 149

Chapter 149: The development of the West
Henry spent the next two weeks organizing and guiding the next steps for the development of the West. He intended to focus the short-term efforts and investments only on Mehis, building a central city where iron would be mined, stored, and then shipped to the capital to be processed. In the long term, Mehis would also become a distribution center, where all the iron mined in the West would be concentrated. Mehis was going to become a specialized area.

“For the next six months, I want you to open six more veins of Cold Iron in the surrounding mountains” – Henry said, his fingers tracing over a spread-open map of the cit – “And you need to speed up the construction of the residential area and new storage facilities. We can’t have the new people sleeping in the blistering cold.”

Standing beside the king around the table, Olaro nodded – “The residential area should be ready within the next month. I have arranged for more people to take down the trees to build the new houses, which will allow us to also open up the road to the mine entrance.”

A brief silence reigned over the room as the king stared at the map, contemplating if there was anything else to resolve However, only one thing still needed to be done – “I need you to spread the word… say that the lord of the throne is summoning able-bodied men to serve under him, and we want to punish those who invaded our ancestors’ lands” – Henry said – “Send those who enlist to the capital.”

“How many people should there be?” – Olaro asked.

“I need a thousand people, at least” – Henry responded, and before the general could ask another question, he added – “And, I need it to be within the next six months. Luther needs at least half a year of training to put the new soldiers in the right shape to fight the war. Do you think it’s possible?”

Olaro took a moment, his eyes analyzing the map closely, nodding his head – “It will be difficult, but I think we can do it. Right now, without causing damage to the development of Mehis, we have at least three hundred able-bodied men that can be sent to the capital for training” – he said – “In the next weeks, another batch of people coming from other regions of the West will also arrive in Mehis, so it’s possible to reach a thousand people in the next six months, my liege.”

A thousand able-bodied people were not a small number in a kingdom where the extreme climate made survival difficult, and where the able-bodied men were needed to put food on the table and keep the houses warm. A thousand people were sufficient to maintain a village of ten thousand, but, in a war, a thousand people could only be considered as a small number.

“There is no need to strain the development of the city” – Henry said, his fingers rhythmically tapping the map on the table – “I know that recruiting a thousand people will be a challenge, but let’s work with this number for now. If you can’t do it, just send me whatever you manage to gather. We need them.”

“Understood, I will keep that in mind, my liege” – Olaro said, his eyes shining with a desire for accomplishment.

“Great! I will be departing this morning” – Henry declared, his fingers stopped tapping the table – “Any news on Iosif? I haven’t seen him ever since that day.”

Olaro nodded -“It seems like Ella took him to her family on the same day you arrived, my liege. If needed, I can send a messenger to her house and fetch that damn man.”

Henry shook his head – “There is no need. I won’t interfere with his decision. He knows that I will be leaving tomorrow morning.” – He wanted Iosif to keep working under him, but the general had already contributed enough to the throne, losing both legs in the process. If he wanted to live his life peacefully, he would grant it.

“Leier” – the king called, and Leier emerged from the corner of the room like a shadow – “Inform all soldiers that we will be leaving tomorrow morning. Also, tell Graham that he will be staying here to help Olaro with the administrative business of the West.”

At those words, Leier silently disappeared. The king was inside the main manor in the center of Mehis, one of the most secure places, and Olaro was right beside him. Although she had been cautious to always be around the king, protecting him at all moments, she also had to obey and execute his orders.

“She always scares me” – Olaro shivered, to which Henry only smiled. He had already grown accustomed to it, furthermore.

“The development plan for the kingdom’s foundation is almost ready” – Henry murmured, so low that Olaro couldn’t hear it, not with the crackling sound of the flickering fireplace – “Soon, those lands will be mine and I will pay back for destroying a year’s worth of my efforts in the last war. They destroyed the capital and almost the whole West. They have to pay.”

-x-

The next morning, Henry, Leier, and the soldiers were ready to depart. The king sat atop his Snowfire Horse, wearing his long black coat, which gave him an air of royalty. He had regained his strength, so mounting was now much easier and he could hold the reign more easily.

The king gazed at the bustling city for one last time. Henry ordered the people to keep working, there was no need to send him off. He couldn’t bear for the reconstruction to be even slightly delayed.

“I will be counting on you, Olaro!” – Henry said – “Don’t disappoint me.”

Olaro unconsciously scratched his bald head and bowed – “I will not, my liege” – he replied. Henry smiled and waved his hands, commanding the soldiers to march back to the capital.

However, as they exited the wooden walls that surrounded the city of Mehis, two figures were there, waiting for them – “General Iosif at your majesty’s orders” – a familiar voice reached the king’s ears. Henry gave a happy smile upon seeing the muscular figure of Ella carrying Iosif on her back.