Tunbao Completed

As spring deepened, the construction of the first Tunbao on the Carnford Plain, Stockaded Village Number One, finally entered its final stages.

Thanks to the efficient organization of engineer Morr and the investment of a large number of people, all the functional buildings inside Tunbao have been completely completed.

The wide, cross-shaped main road clearly divides the entire fort area into military barracks, residential areas, work areas, and a central square.

What is even more reassuring is that the outermost defensive stone wall of Tunbao, which serves as its lifeline, has also broken ground, with solid foundations being laid and layers being built.

Although it will take time to fully connect, the basic structure has already taken shape, giving people a glimpse of future security.

The residential area located in the southeast corner of Tunbao was the first to be fully completed.

Although the materials and details of these houses are not as refined as the planned residences in the northeast corner, in order to allow the first batch of residents to move in before spring plowing, they are a world apart from the crowded and dirty shacks at the foot of the mountain.

The uniform stone and wood structure, thick walls, sheltering roofs, and small, independent courtyards for each household filled the wounded soldiers' families and elderly residents who were about to move in with anticipation.

Meanwhile, according to Karl's plan, apart from the military workshops that were set up independently on the riverbank outside the fort for security reasons, other civilian workshops also began to move into the reserved work area inside the Tunbao.

Woodworking workshops, weaving workshops, leather workshops, and small Blacksmith Shop have all opened for business.

The arrival of these workshops immediately provided numerous job opportunities for the residents who had already moved in, especially for women who needed to take care of their families and were not suitable for long-distance travel, as well as some wounded soldiers who had recovered from their injuries. These workshops were a godsend, and various lively sounds of work began to fill the Tunbao.

Business-savvy entrepreneurs followed suit, their actions remarkably swift.

They had already used Edgar's secret connections months in advance to secure several prime shop locations in the southeast corner residential area, near the intersection, at great expense.

That was the core area where the entire Tunbao people gathered. Whether it was residents coming and going or soldiers on duty, they all had to pass through here. It was a prime location where every inch of land was precious.

Almost at the same time that the first group of settlers moved into their new homes carrying their belongings and pushing simple carts, the reserved shops had their dusty wooden boards removed. Craftsmen, with tools and building materials, worked day and night to complete the renovations at an astonishing speed, hung up brand-new signs, and officially opened for business.

Besides the two grain shops that ensured daily livelihoods and the salt and iron monopoly point, what is most remarkable is that these shrewd merchants dared to open three taverns and two small restaurants in this newly built Tunbao, which was mainly inhabited by Military households.

It should be noted that most of the residents in Tunbao were Military households who were used to hardship. In the past, when they lived in the Shantytown Area, they even had trouble getting enough to eat, let alone spending money to go to taverns to get drunk or to restaurants to satisfy their cravings.

This was undoubtedly an extremely bold attempt, but it also demonstrated the merchants' strong confidence in the purchasing power of the Tunbao residents.

They knew perfectly well that these first residents and families of wounded soldiers had just received a considerable amount of combat compensation and resettlement subsidies from the Lord's Residence. The heavy Moneybag had swept away their previous straits, making them the most purchasing power group in the entire Carnford territory.

Sure enough, the grand opening day of the shops proved the merchants' accurate judgment. As soon as the shop doors were removed, a large number of curious residents flocked to watch, crowding around the shops in layers.

The novel products on the shelves, the relatively clean and tidy environment of the shops, and the opening discounts offered by the stores all contributed to the bustling crowds in front of the shops. Shouts, laughter, and bargaining mingled together, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

The newly moved-in residents' eyes sparkled with excitement as they eagerly selected items they had rarely seen in the Shantytown Area.

The taverns and restaurants were packed to capacity.

Many well-off military dependents, as well as single soldiers, were willing to spend a few copper coins to order a cup of strong ale, or a plate of fragrant stewed meat and a bowl of steaming soup, and sit at a clean wooden table to enjoy a hot meal without having to cook for themselves.

They drank heartily and ate heartily, their faces beaming with satisfaction as they enjoyed this rare moment of leisure. In this lively atmosphere, they found a touch of solace after enduring war and hardship.

Hector and Helena, who had just moved into their new home, strolled hand in hand down the street, curiously observing their surroundings.

Looking at the wider variety of grains in the grain shop, Helena considered the family's supplies; when they passed the fabric shop, Hector insisted on buying Helena a brightly colored piece of fabric, saying it would be used to make a new dress for her wedding.

Although the newly opened shops are more expensive than the mobile vendors in the Shantytown Area down the mountain, the quality and variety are more guaranteed, and the environment is much cleaner. This makes people who are hopeful for the future willing to pay the extra price.

While construction inside Stockaded Village Number One was in full swing and commerce was beginning to take shape, another important task undertaken by Steward Edgar and Engineer Morr —the renovation of the welcoming route and the exterior of the fort—had also been quietly completed.

Morr strictly adhered to Karl's principles of "strict budget control, emphasis on practicality, and consideration of appearances," avoiding large-scale construction and instead adopting the most cost-effective "focused renovation" strategy.

The one-kilometer main road, designated as the route for the Princess's procession, had its simple fences, constructed from felled timber, reinforced and decorated with plain Cloth Strip cut from the fabric brought by Lady Eileen. Though simple, they looked neat and uniform from a distance, concealing the mess of the shacks behind.

Near the road, some dilapidated shacks that could not be demolished were urgently reinforced and covered up by a team of carpenters. They nailed planks to flatten the crumbling mud walls and cleared away the piles of garbage, so that at least from the main road, they were no longer so shocking.

The castle itself only underwent necessary repairs and repainting of the obviously damaged parts of the outer walls. Inside the Lord's Hall, traces of war were cleaned up, cracks and ceilings were repaired, and broken windows were replaced.

While it cannot compare to the opulent splendor of southern noble castles, it is at least clean and sturdy, no longer a chaotic post-war ruin, and has at least regained the solemnity and grandeur befitting Lord's Residence.

After all this effort, the total cost was kept to around three hundred gold coins. This was negligible for Carnford's finance department, which held tens of thousands of gold coins, yet it achieved the desired political effect. Karl praised Morr and Edgar for their efficiency and cost control.