Three days later, after everyone had thrown themselves into the work, Carnford's inner city had taken on an entirely different vitality.
The first dozen or so semi-subterranean houses had been completed, scattered across the open ground behind the outer wall like bamboo shoots after the rain.
Their crude but sturdy log frames extended deep underground, covered with thick earth and tightly packed thatched roofs. Though simple, they effectively resisted the bitter winds of the Northern Territory.
Between every few houses, communal fire pits had been dug. They were used both for cooking food and for providing precious warmth and light.
Smoke curled into the air, mingling with the aroma of food and the sound of people talking. At last, it filled these silent ruins with the vivid breath of life.
The barracks and training grounds were cleared and rebuilt first.
The soldiers no longer had to crowd into the dilapidated barracks. They now had spacious, clean quarters.
The training grounds were leveled, and new archery targets and training equipment were set up.
Under Karl's orders, daily training quickly resumed. The sounds of morning drills, formation commands, and clashing weapons rang out once more, becoming Carnford's new rhythm.
Discipline and combat strength were the foundation of survival on this land.
The vital functional areas were also restored.
The granary was reinforced and cleaned out, then filled with rye, wheat, and soybeans transported from Fran City. The heavy piles of grain alone were enough to put people at ease.
The stables were repaired as well. The dozen or so packhorses and warhorses that had rendered outstanding service no longer had to sleep exposed to the snow and wind. With shelter from the elements and ample fodder, their importance at certain times even surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.
The forge at the Blacksmith Shop was lit again. Although there was not enough iron, work on repairing tools and crafting simple equipment could now begin. The clang of the hammer against the anvil symbolized the vitality of recovery.
The most critical water supply problem was completely resolved.
Karl personally led a group of people upstream along the creek. In the end, they found the source: a spring deliberately blocked by boulders and debris.
This was clearly damage inflicted by the Sauron during their siege of the city.
Working together, everyone cleared away the obstruction. Clear, icy spring water immediately gushed forth, rushing down along the creek bed.
Before long, water began flowing through the dried-up moat again, and its level steadily rose. This not only solved the drinking-water problem but also laid the foundation for future defense.
The badly damaged outer wall could not be fully repaired at this stage.
The craftsmen could only first reinforce several enormous collapsed sections with simple measures, filling them with earth dug up while excavating the semi-subterranean houses and mixing it with straw bags to prevent further collapse.
More meticulous repairs would require large quantities of stone, timber, and skilled craftsmen. They would have to wait until later.
The drawbridge at the outer gate was properly repaired.
The broken iron chains were replaced with thick ropes made from tough bark and vines, repeatedly twisted together and soaked in oil. Though less reliable than iron chains, they could now be raised and lowered normally, which was sufficient for daily use and emergencies.
But the immensely heavy Iron Shutter in the inner wall left Old Morrell and the other craftsmen helpless.
After carefully examining it, they reported helplessly, "My lord, this Iron Shutter was designed for ultimate defense from the beginning. Once lowered, the huge iron bolts at the bottom jam into the stone grooves in the ground. It was inherently meant for one-time use. After all these years of rust, it's impossible to lift it again by human strength. If you want to open the city gate, you'll have to either blow up the shutter with explosives or chisel through the wall from the side."
Karl had no choice but to abandon the idea of repairing the city gate passage and instead focus on the breach in the section of wall that had been rammed down.
The soldiers and slaves cleared away all the broken bricks and rubble at the breach, widening and reshaping it into a proper entrance.
On both sides of the breach, the craftsmen buried massive logs deep in the ground and built a sturdy doorframe. Finally, they installed a double-leaf wooden gate that was heavy and crude but sturdy enough, locking it shut from the inside with a thick crossbar.
For the time being, this became Carnford's new—and only—official passage into the inner city.
Although living conditions in the inner city continued to improve, Karl himself still lived in the barracks, eating and sleeping alongside the soldiers.
His room was merely a small section in the corner of the barracks, separated by leather curtains. It contained only a crude camp bed, a wooden chest for storing clothes and maps, and a small table for working at night.
This complete lack of aristocratic airs further won him the heartfelt love and respect of all the soldiers and civilians.
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