Ore Mining

Hans and Vali quickly offered their professional opinions.

Hans pointed to the cliff and said, "Directly working suspended is too dangerous. First, we need to build an extremely sturdy wooden platform on the cliff edge as a base. Then, Vali needs to create a robust pulley system to hoist people and materials down with ropes."

Vali added, "After being lowered, the workers will need to drive sturdy wooden stakes into the cliff face where the Flint Mine is located, and then construct a suspended work platform on these stakes. This way, the miners can stand securely. This method can be reused and expanded downwards as mining progresses."

When discussing specific mining methods, Hans appeared very experienced. "Flint is hard, and direct chiseling is inefficient and dangerous. It's best to use fire. We'll use fire to continuously scorch the surface of the rock layer to be mined. Once it's red-hot, immediately douse it with cold stream water. The rock will expand and contract due to the heat, causing it to crack on its own, or even shatter. Then, it will be easy to mine with chisels and hammers."

He estimated the time. "If everything goes smoothly, we can mine the first batch of ore in as little as five days. However, to establish stable, continuous production capacity, it will take about two to three weeks to perfect all the facilities and processes."

After listening, Karl solemnly emphasized to them, and to everyone around, "Speed is not the priority; safety is! Mining on cliffs is an extremely high-risk occupation. We must put the lives of every worker first! If any safety measures are not in place, we'd rather stop work than allow risky operations! Hans, Vali, I'm entrusting this entire matter to you. If you need any resources, go directly to Mr. Morrell to arrange them!"

"Yes, sir! We will be careful and cautious!" Hans and Vali, sensing Karl's concern for life, solemnly agreed.

With the plan decided, it was immediately put into action.

Vali returned to the workshop to start designing and making the necessary pulley systems and sturdy ropes, while Hans began directing personnel.

Karl directly assigned three Slave Brigades, nearly a hundred people, led by captains like Otto, Morgan, and Luke, to be responsible for logging and transportation.

He specifically emphasized that no trees on the mountain were to be touched; they were strategic reserves for a potential future siege.

All timber had to be felled in the distant woods below the mountain and then transported up.

Despite the increased workload, the slaves had no complaints and were instead full of energy.

They had been looking for new opportunities to contribute, and felling trees and transporting building materials were visible contributions.

Half of Carnford was mobilized around the mining operation.

Under Hans's command, the slaves transported thick logs to the cliff edge, pieced them together closely, reinforced them with huge wooden wedges and incredibly precious iron nails, and began constructing the base platform.

Many hands made light work, and their spirits were high.

By evening, a sturdy and sizable wooden platform extending beyond the cliff edge had been completed.

Hans personally tested it by stomping and jumping on it, even having seven or eight people stand on it simultaneously. The platform remained completely stable, exceptionally firm.

"Alright! That's all for today!" Hans ordered, looking at the setting sun, "It's getting late, and the light is insufficient. Continuing to work is too dangerous. Tomorrow, after Vali's pulley system is ready, we'll move on to the next step!"

Although everyone was still eager to continue, they knew safety came first and began packing up their tools to head down the mountain.

Vali also came to report, "Sir, I've finished drawing the pulley system schematics. I'll work through the night with my men to rush production, and the first set of reliable pulley systems should be ready by tomorrow morning."

The next morning, Karl did not immediately head to the northern cliff to oversee the mine's excavation, as Old Morrell was already waiting outside his "office" with a thick roll of papers.

"Sir, here is the agricultural reclamation plan I worked on overnight. Please review it." Morrell's eyes were bloodshot, but his spirit was exceptionally excited.

Karl took the plan and quickly scanned it.

He had to marvel once again at Old Morrell's professionalism and efficiency.

The plan was extremely detailed. He had not only surveyed and marked several relatively fertile, easily irrigated, and sunlit areas on the gentle slopes at the foot of the mountain but also recommended specific crops to prioritize based on soil characteristics, such as rye, cold-resistant beans, and a small variety of vegetables.

It meticulously listed the estimated manpower required for reclamation, including plowing, sowing, weeding, and later care, as well as livestock needs, seed quantities, and a list of all necessary farming tools compared to current inventory.

It even included preliminary sketches for a water diversion and irrigation system.

Morrell added, his tone extremely serious, "Sir, it is already time for spring plowing! The frost-free period in the Northern Border is already short, and the sowing window is fleeting! The labor now directly relates to whether we can harvest enough grain in the fall, whether our territory can be self-sufficient in the future, and it can even be said to concern our survival! We must immediately invest the maximum manpower and resources into spring plowing; we cannot delay another moment!"

Hearing this, Karl's expression immediately turned serious. Morrell's words made him realize the urgency of the matter.

Food was the foundation of survival, far more important than short-term mining revenue.

He made a decision almost without hesitation. "Mr. Morrell, you are right! Spring plowing is the top priority! I will immediately allocate personnel to you: the remaining four Slave Brigades, all thirty settled refugees, and all the female slaves are at your disposal. You can draw five of the strongest horses from the stables to pull plows, and all the farm tools and seeds from the warehouse are yours to use. If this manpower is still insufficient, I can temporarily assign Roland's Auxiliary Troop to you."

Such unreserved trust and full support moved Old Morrell beyond words. He bowed deeply. "Thank you for your trust, sir! This manpower and these supplies are more than enough! I promise you, I will do my utmost and not fail your trust! I will go organize the men now and begin spring plowing immediately!"

With that, Old Morrell, clutching the plan, left in a flurry. Soon, shouts of him gathering people and the sounds of busyness could be heard from the foot of the mountain.

After dealing with this paramount matter, Karl finally set off for the northern cliff.

By this time, the scene by the cliff had changed.

Two sturdy wooden pulley systems, built overnight by Vali and his carpenter apprentices, had been successfully installed at the front of the base platform.

Thick ropes passed through the pulleys, one end secured to a large log nearby, the other hanging into the abyss.

Hans was directing the most critical first step—suspended operation.

Two slaves, carefully selected for their courage and meticulousness, with safety ropes tightly secured around their waists, were being slowly lowered down the cliff by everyone with the help of the pulley system.

All the onlookers held their breath, watching tensely as the two ropes gradually lengthened.

The wind below the cliff seemed stronger, causing the two to sway slightly, eliciting gasps from those above.

But the entire process was without incident. The two eventually hung steadily above the Flint Mine, covered in vines, at the spot Hans had indicated.

"Good! Hold steady!" Hans shouted down, crouching at the edge of the platform. "Find the rock crevices! Drive the hardwood wedges you brought in with a sledgehammer! Make sure they're secure!"

The slaves below tried to stabilize themselves, pulled short-handled sledgehammers and sharpened hardwood wedges from their tool belts, found rock crevices, and began to strike forcefully.

The muffled sounds of "dong! dong!" came from below the cliff.

Every few wedges driven in, those above would, as instructed, slightly loosen or move the ropes to allow the workers to cover a larger area. This was a slow and precise process.

After a long while, a shout came from below, indicating that all the wedges in the designated area had been driven in.

The people above began to work together to pull one of the slaves up. He needed to rest, while another slave continued to hang there, awaiting his turn.

Next, they lowered the pre-processed thick wooden planks.

The people tied the wooden planks of suitable length with ropes and carefully hoisted them down.

The slave remaining below was responsible for receiving them, placing the planks one by one onto the sturdy wooden wedges, and further securing them with the iron nails and hemp rope they brought.

Those above, following his instructions, continuously adjusted the position of the planks.

From early morning to afternoon, as the sun moved across the cliff face, this work proceeded with intensity and order.

Karl stood silently behind the platform for most of the time, observing without disturbing Hans's command, but his presence itself was an unspoken show of importance and oversight.

Sweat soaked through the workers' clothes, their arms aching from continuous exertion, but no one complained. Everyone understood what this project meant for the territory.

By evening, as the setting sun painted the cliff face a magnificent fiery orange, a suspended work platform, about ten square meters in area and firmly attached to the cliff, was finally declared complete!

Hans once again personally inspected every wooden wedge, every plank, every fastening point, even having people lightly jump on it to test it.

"Excellent! Very sturdy!" Hans finally revealed a satisfied smile and reported to Karl, "My lord, the platform has been successfully built! Tomorrow, we can have the workers stand on this platform and begin attempting to excavate the first batch of flint samples using fire!"

Karl looked at the small platform, a veritable engineering marvel born on the treacherous cliff face, then at the artisans and slaves around him, exhausted yet filled with a sense of accomplishment, his heart brimming with emotion and hope.