He proceeded with two things at once.
One was looking toward the future. The other was something being done for the immediate present.
The task for the future was the construction of a brewery.
“Are you talking about a brewery?”
“Yes.”
No matter how it was manufactured, alcohol inevitably consumed a significant amount of grain. If one tried to increase the alcohol content, it required an unimaginably large amount of grain.
Therefore, it became expensive.
‘It’s a luxury item. I don’t even need to make something incredible. It’s expensive by its very nature.’
Since the raw materials were what they were, it couldn’t help but be high-priced. Originally, it wasn’t that our territory lacked a brewery entirely. If there weren’t any, there wouldn’t be any alcohol.
It was just that small amounts were produced in places like pubs. It hadn’t been established on a large scale. The current situation was that rare wines even had to be bought from the outside.
“As for the alcohol… consumption will happen one way or another. We can just sell it off to other territories.”
“Right. The demand is certain.”
“Still, the raw material, grain… Ah. Don’t tell me.”
“We have to think about the harvest in the autumn as well.”
“…So that’s what it was.”
Esty understood quickly.
The Pirn Fields, which utilized the new farming methods, had been a massive success. Myuron had also stepped up to ensure that other wheat fields used the new farming techniques.
Waterways were expanded, and the remaining labor force was mobilized to create new fields.
It was no longer the harvest yields of the past.
It was a situation where the food harvest was bound to rise.
‘Instead of just securing food, I should also find a way to apply it.’
Wheat was also expensive. However, more money could be earned by processing that wheat into alcohol and selling it. To put it simply, it was the production of a local specialty!
Therefore, building a brewery was a task for the future.
Esty understood that immediately. As expected, having someone smart around made things very convenient.
“I will set to work immediately. I’ll also invite some technicians.”
“Right. We have enough capital, so do that. If possible, it would be nice if we could also make a special alcohol that only comes from our territory.”
“Hmm… The basic ingredients are lacking, but I’ll give it a try.”
“Good. Implement it right away.”
“Yes!”
As he handed out various instructions, Esty moved diligently.
Even though he had only set the basic rules…
“I was able to invite a master craftsman. We were lucky.”
“I will place the construction site closer to Pollen Castle rather than the workshop district. That’s better for the supply of materials.”
“The scale of the brewery is…”
“The types being produced are…”
Even without him being told, he was creating the brewery in stages.
‘Ha… This is why talented people are so good.’
It was as if he understood why Cao Cao in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was so passionate about talent.
A stupid subordinate required a lot of teaching even to give a single command. The problem was that there were cases where they couldn’t do it properly even after being taught.
However, a capable person was different. Even if one simply set the standards, they would perform the rest of the tasks on their own.
That was why Cao Cao had made such a fuss to gain even a single talented individual.
‘It’s because life becomes easier even if I just stay still!’
He did not let those talents idle. Aside from Esty, wasn’t there Baron Pauling left?
“You’re bored, aren’t you?”
“A-ah, no I’m not!”
“No. You haven’t had much work lately. Since Esty is taking full charge of building the brewery, you won’t have anything to do.”
“…What are you planning to make me do?”
Somehow, Pauling, who had a sly personality, was becoming more haggard as time went on.
‘I should give him a restorative if I want him to work well.’
To make a talented person work for a long time, one simply had to cherish them.
If it was for the sake of making someone who would tire after moving once move twice before tiring, he was willing to bring them even a Healing Potion.
“…Why are you looking at me like that? It’s greasy.”
“It’s the look of someone who cherishes you.”
His own treasure chest.
It was the look of someone staring at an individual who belonged in a box for talented people.
“I’ll be in big trouble if you cherish me twice. Anyway, what are you trying to make me do?”
“You should try making something too.”
“A brewery? At that size, it won’t even need expansion for the time being. Dammit. You’re not telling me to make a brewery.”
“Hehe.”
He nodded with a smile.
Then, he tossed it out lightly, as if they were just going for a stroll.
“You’re going to make something else.”
“What is it?”
“A blast furnace! We’re going to pull out iron in large quantities. If we combine a few, it’ll be enough to call it a refinery, right?”
“…Are you crazy!”
Hey. Calling your superior crazy. That was insubordination. However, since he didn’t fail to understand that sentiment, he pretended not to hear.
“Let’s go! I’ve already scouted a place in advance!”
“…”
“…Ugh.”
He took Pauling along, who looked like a dog with its tail between its legs.
The southern part of the Outercity, similar to the Inner City, was home to a cluster of workshops and blacksmith districts.
He had prepared a spot at the very edge of it in advance.
‘I’ve been missing out on the core.’
It was land that originally belonged to Viscount Baxien or other nobles.
It was a huge vacant lot created by tearing down those places.
“You can build it here.”
“…You’re giving me a monstrous task, yet you say it so refreshingly. Phew.”
This vacant lot that Pauling was looking at would become the site for a giant blast furnace.
A blast furnace.
‘Originally, it’s correct to call it a high furnace.’
There was no place better than this blast furnace for smelting iron in large quantities. If iron and coal were put into a giant high furnace to be heated and the molten iron was pulled out…
‘Smelting will become easy.’
One would be able to extract iron from iron ore.
Of course, to make proper iron, a craftsman’s touch was required. Just because it was melted didn’t mean it would automatically become usable iron.
Even so.
‘Even if I just make smelting easy, iron productivity will increase significantly.’
A blast furnace—that is, a high furnace—was a must-have.
The measure of iron production was decided by how much capacity this high furnace could melt.
There was no need to explain the concept of a blast furnace to Pauling.
In this world, specialists regarding iron already existed.
Specifically, the Dwarves. They had already spread the concept of blast furnaces. The problem was that no one could easily possess such a blast furnace.
“Like the Dwarves, we’re going to make several things that melt iron twenty-four hours a day.”
“…The firepower will be insufficient. Controlling it isn’t easy either. It might look easy, but isn’t that something only master craftsmen can do?”
“No. It’s possible.”
He wasn’t omnipotent just because of who he was. However, he did have the knowledge he possessed.
‘The important thing, after all, is firepower.’
Producing on a large scale was also important. To ensure it became steel rather than iron with weak strength and hardness, the skills of a craftsman were also necessary.
Among them, he decided to do what he could do.
Subjugating subordinates was the most enjoyable thing, but he also had to move himself when necessary.
“First, build the foundation together with the craftsmen. You’ve already tried it a few times before, haven’t you?”
“It was always a failure. A very clear failure.”
“It was.”
There had been several attempts to make the furnaces used in blacksmith shops on a larger scale. He had also failed quite a bit.
The firepower was insufficient.
Dwarves received the blessing of the god of fire to create the massive firepower of the blast furnace.
Humans found that impossible.
Therefore, there were many failures. But…
‘I’ve devised a method in my own way. It was even strange not to use it like this. If one doesn’t work, all you have to do is mix several…’
He had devised an alternative for that.
“It was because you couldn’t get the firepower properly. There’s a way to replace that firepower. The point is, you just need to grasp a few key points.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a secret. Just try making it first.”
If the Dwarves used blessings, this side could use magic.
‘And I also have Jinbeop.’
He already knew from the Suryeon-jin that the power was amplified when magic and Jinbeop were utilized. By overlapping the two, one could produce great power with little effort.
He intended to use this.
“…”
“…Phew. I’ll find out later, I suppose. I’ll give it a try.”
All kinds of miscellaneous chores for that purpose fell to Pauling!
‘As expected, this is why I like it. Are there any more talented people out there?’
If there were, he would cherish them like gold and jade while treating them well(?).
*Shiver.*
But why was Pauling trembling before his thoughts even finished?
***
The high furnace was built in an instant.
The giant cylindrical high furnace was designed to take in iron and coal from the top and let molten iron flow out from the bottom.
‘I hope it’s built properly.’
There were also talks about having to use Mithril, which had a higher melting point than iron, but he dismissed all those talks.
“The foundation is set. Actually… if we just solve the firepower problem, this method is ideal.”
“Who said that?”
“The craftsmen said so. But they said they never dreamed the Territory Administrator would have such an idea. They were surprised.”
“…”
“…It’s nothing special, really.”
He had the body of the blast furnace formed into a frame using giant steel plates.
A significant amount of iron went into it.
Making a blast furnace designed to melt iron out of iron…
‘In fact, if you think about it, it’s nonsense.’
If even the slightest thing went wrong, the entire blast furnace could melt while trying to melt the iron ore.
On Earth, they would use cooling devices on the surface and inside of the blast furnace or use cooling water, but such things were impossible here.
Instead, he used magic.
“Tell everyone to back off.”
Amidst the murmuring…
“Is the Young Master going to cause trouble again?”
“What is he trying to do this time? Is it magic?”
“Oh! Magic!”
He sent away all the craftsmen who had sparkling eyes.
“I’ll show you right now what you were curious about. The answer is magic.”
“…It’s obvious, but I am curious.”
“Watch closely. You’ll only be able to see it if you’re nearby.”
*Wooooong—*
He pulled up his Soulforce. A very thin Aura formed on the dagger he held. It was difficult for those far away to see.
“…W-what.”
However, Pauling, who was nearby, saw the Aura head-on. As a noble, there was no way he wouldn’t know about Aura. His eyes widened.
“Shh. It’s not like you’re going to go tell anyone, right? You’re basically my person now.”
“…You’ll ruin me if I go tell anyone, won’t you?”
“Well, maybe. Now, you have to concentrate from here.”
*Zzzzt— zzt—*
Aura could even cut through swords. Carving a magic circle into a steel plate was an easy task.
‘I’ll mix a fire-resistance magic circle on the inside. Then I’ll have to mix a Fire magic circle with the Gihwan-jin. And for the outside…’
He had already calculated everything in advance. All sorts of magic circles were carved.
Each one might not look like much individually.
When several were mixed, they became essential functions for a blast furnace. It was a method created by mixing even Jinbeop. It was something others couldn’t even do.
“With this, firepower and safety are definitely secured.”
“…”
“…It looks a bit lacking, though?”
“The person who will fill that deficiency will arrive soon. Look forward to it.”
And a short while later. Just as he said.
“I’m here!”
The person he had been waiting for had arrived.
‘A talented person.’
The one he had accidentally made a connection with not long ago had come to the castle without forgetting!
“Why is that person so bright and cheerful…? Is he another victim of the Administrative Officer?”
“Be quiet. He will fill in the missing parts.”
“…Yeah, yeah. I suppose so.”
Ignoring the words of Pauling, who was making snide remarks while dragging a body that looked like it would collapse from overwork.
“Welcome!”
“Yes!”
With a broad smile, he grabbed the talented individual who had crawled in on his own.