Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 339 - 12: Specific Search (One More Update)

What is the most important thing in this era?

Of course, it’s transportation!

Pirates rely on superior longships to strike at the inland, occupying territories and leaving the Black Iron Duke powerless.

Why was Gael able to fight bitterly for two years, only to narrowly lose in the end?

Because he could continuously supply materials from the rear of the Riptide Domain through water transport.

Why does the Holy War Army dare to plan a ten-year blockade of the River Valley?

It’s also because they can obtain supplies via water transport.

To put it bluntly, in any large-scale war, as long as one side has the advantage of water transport, they have practically won half the battle.

And ships are even more important for commerce.

Roman exchanged many longships from the pirates, which were all old and on the verge of being scrapped and would only last for a year or two more.

This kind of behavior is commonly known as scavenging.

It’s unpleasant, but without shipbuilding capabilities, one would be choked and have to rely on those who can build ships.

Those dozens of longships, although not suitable for commercial transport, are mostly warships, not cargo ships.

But for Roman, who is in dire need of transport capacity, they are still crucial.

Each longship can carry over ten thousand pounds of goods.

Secondly, those warships are relatively lightweight, with narrow hulls, flexible and agile while resistant to wind and waves, which makes them super suitable for the terrain of Silver Dragon Canyon.

It takes thirty to fifty towmasters to haul an ordinary fishing boat fully loaded with cargo.

Yet Roman can move the same load of pirate longships with two-thirds of the towmasters, and faster at that, with higher efficiency.

How much manpower and resources did that save?

Now the Sea Castle also has the foundation for independent ship construction.

There’s no need to say more.

A large number of ships must be built.

Only with sufficient transport capacity will they not fall into a dire situation.

Roman gathered a group of people skilled in shipbuilding techniques, mostly slaves brought from the Northern Front, as well as Sea Castle slaves who arrived in Origin City in the first year.

There aren’t many who know, but just having some is enough, as this is the foundation of understanding knowledge.

Roman, taking advantage of Gwivelle’s blessing, conducted a recruitment on the spot.

It was a specific search.

Roman had the chance to recruit everyone to become his Angel Envoy; the higher the relationship, the easier it is to yield results, but this probability is not absolute.

Even with a 70% yield rate, there’s still a 30% chance of a shipwreck.

This is somewhat akin to Murphy’s Law.

In the absence of a guarantee, even making ten errors in a row is reasonable.

Because your previous failure doesn’t increase the likelihood of future success.

Theoretically, it would also be normal for Roman to recruit someone with zero relationship as an Angel Envoy.

However, as long as there is a probability, Gwivelle can have an impact.

She cannot ensure a High Order Knight could roll a 6, but she can ensure the dice land exactly on 6.

It’s not that they became Angel Envoys, but rather Roman coincidentally recruited them.

The former has high weight and the latter low weight.

Through some means unknown to mortals, about half of these shipbuilders forged some secret bond with Roman.

"I have blessed you; you shall carry my will, go to that castle, lay the foundation for my future, and I shall bestow glory, wealth, honor, safety, and status upon you," Roman said standing in front of them.

He will give these people a one-time brain upgrade, infusing shipbuilding knowledge.

A giant building cannot rise from the ground in an instance; constructing a large building ship immediately is impossible.

Start with the simple types, build small boats, and when the craftsmanship is proficient, Roman will unlock further knowledge for them.

"As you command, Your Highness!"

For shipbuilders with families, their families will go to the Sea Castle with them.

As for shipbuilders without families, Roman will also offer high pay and benefits.

A monthly salary of two silver coins, comparable to that of a knight master.

Roman moved 47 shipbuilders this time, giving a few copper coins to the remaining rejected ones and dismissed them, saying this amount was enough for now, and another selection will be made next time.

As for when the next time will be, it depends on Nillie’s expansion speed.

First, build a hundred easy-to-transport longships next year.

...

When Roman sent off those shipbuilders, snowflakes fell from the sky as everything entered winter.

"Is this winter colder than last year?" he asked, turning his head.

He spent the outside winter for the first time in years; the basin was warm and comfortable, not freezing people in winter, but in Fertile City, it was different. Merely early winter made Roman feel somewhat cold.

After the last recruitment, he greatly enhanced the strength of the Angel Envoys and found himself to be about a Third Rank Conquest Knight now, with a strong physique and abundant energy, highly resistant to cold.

In Origin City, he could walk in the snow for half a day in single clothing without catching a cold.

Fertile Castle is cold and damp; now the chill feels pervasive, like a cold snake slithering across the body, and the flames roaring inside the fireplace can only drive away some of that discomfort. Roman once thought about whether to build a new stove and construct a new manor elsewhere as he genuinely grew tired of the cold and hard castle.

"Yes, Your Highness," Shasta replied. She experienced more than Roman, feeling it more distinctly.

This kind of winter has been relatively rare in the past ten years.

"But you provided them with excellent treatment," she said softly, "with houses and clothes, they all appreciate you." She saw firsthand how those lower folk, upon seeing him, brimming with enthusiasm, their respectful demeanor towards him was more vivid and genuine than towards any noble or lord.

Roman no longer thought about things currently beyond his capacity.

Last year was colder than the previous ones, and this year colder than last; the wind coming from the Northern direction, with humans struggling against long, wintry nights until the sunrise.

Residents of Origin City and Fertile City are doing well because he sent several tens of thousands of warm clothes to Fertile City over the years, with some people able to receive two sets.

Woolen sweaters, sheepskin coats, or cotton mattresses.

For these people, there is no relaxing even in winter, or perhaps because during this agricultural downtime, Roman can mobilize more manpower.

Hence, every such occasion turns out to be the fastest development period.

Because most people have nothing to do but still need food, they have to work laboriously for food.

Roman guaranteed they could pass this winter warmly yet while enduring toil.

At this moment, schools and hospitals were already completed.

The sooner the seedlings were planted, the better; with warm clothes, wintertime must not be wasted, and Roman aims to cultivate a literate batch of children quickly.

The more hardworking they are, the faster they learn, and they will receive his personal reward.

Roman brought in a large number of iron stoves and honeycomb coal for these public facilities.

Each classroom is outfitted with two iron stoves; coal furnaces significantly raise indoor temperatures.

At this time of year, fresh milk doesn’t spoil even over several days and can be transported in large quantities as a nutrient supply.

Hoping this winter passes soon, and next year lets him plant another year of crops properly.