Edgar Visits Carnford
"Oh, he's here." Edgar's gaze was drawn to the commotion coming from the direction of the inner city gate in the distance.
Karl was seen leading a small group of men, walking briskly towards them from a distance.
Edgar straightened his robes, signaled the coachman to stop, and then opened the carriage door, got out, and took a few steps forward to get a better look at the seventh young master he hadn't seen in a long time.
Karl's silhouette gradually became clear in the sunlight.
He wore a thick, dark woolen overcoat with a fur collar, a sturdy military belt around his waist, and a wide-brimmed felt hat that cast a shadow on his handsome face.
Months of military service in the Northern Territory and exposure to the elements had angularized his once somewhat frail face, darkened his complexion, and replaced the childishness in his brows with a sense of composure and decisiveness.
His appearance was actually more like his mother, Eileen, with a delicate and refined base, but his temperament at this moment was completely different, a blend of a soldier's ruggedness and Lord's majesty, and he even bore a resemblance to Duke Schmidt in his youth.
Behind him followed several men who looked like military officers.
Edgar only recognized Brendan and Roland, the loyal old knight and the impulsive young knight.
The other officers were unfamiliar faces, but each had sharp eyes and a steady gait, clearly seasoned veterans who had experienced the baptism of war.
Edgar thought to himself, "It seems the young master has acquired a few more formidable warriors."
At the very back of the column were more than a dozen fully armed soldiers with cold, piercing eyes.
They followed silently behind, their gazes sweeping over Edgar and his knights with undisguised scrutiny and wariness.
Edgar could sense that these soldiers didn't know anything about the Schmidt Family; they were loyal to only one person: the young Lord walking in front, Karl von Schmidt.
This scene instantly raised Edgar's opinion of Karl considerably.
This was by no means the pathetic, destitute young master he had imagined, who needed the family's charity, but a powerful Lord who commanded elite troops and had established a firm foothold on the border!
The family knights accompanying him exchanged surprised glances, clearly the scene before them was quite different from the welcome they had expected.
Karl strode forward, a perfectly timed smile on his face, and extended his hand. "Mr. Edgar! You must be tired from your journey! Welcome to Carnford."
His voice was loud and steady, carrying the warmth of a master without losing the dignity of Lord.
Edgar immediately composed himself, a professional, respectful yet humble smile appearing on his face. He bowed slightly and grasped Karl's hand. "Young Master Karl, you are too kind. I am merely acting on the orders of His Excellency the Duke to deliver some family support to you, hoping it will lend you a helping hand in expanding your business in the Northern Territory."
"I will keep your concern in mind." Karl nodded, his tone sincere, but his eyes were calm, and he did not seem particularly excited by this "support".
He released his grip and gestured invitingly. "Everyone must be tired from traveling so far. Please come with me to the castle to rest. I'll arrange for someone to handle the handover of supplies."
"I will follow your instructions, young master." Edgar readily complied.
Karl turned and led the way himself, with Edgar following slightly behind, his gaze like the finest scanner, constantly capturing every detail along the way.
The vibrant farmland and bustling construction sites once again gave him a strong visual impact.
Just then, Karl called out towards the construction site, "Mr. Morr! Put the residential area expansion on hold for now, I have something more important that I need your help with!"
Upon hearing the sound, an elderly craftsman with gray hair but a sprightly spirit immediately ran out from a group of workers who were laying foundations. He quickly approached Karl, slightly out of breath but moving nimbly. "My Lord, what urgent matter is it? And who are these gentlemen...?"
He looked at Edgar and his group with curiosity.
Karl introduced, "This is Mr. Edgar, the family's Grand Steward, and the head of the support transport team sent by my father, Duke Schmidt. This is Morr Edgar, Carnford's clerk and chief engineer; the reconstruction and planning of the estate are largely thanks to him."
Edgar quickly bowed slightly and politely corrected him, "Young master, you flatter me. The family's Grand Steward is Sebastian, and only he is qualified to be by the Duke's side. I am merely a subordinate responsible for some external affairs and errands."
He deliberately kept a low profile while also making his actual position clear.
Karl smiled and didn't continue the topic. He simply instructed Morr, "Mr. Morr, Mr. Edgar has brought the Duke's supplies. Please personally oversee the inventory, handover, and storage. Make sure everything is arranged properly."
"Yes, sir! Please rest assured!" Morr immediately accepted the order and looked at Edgar, "Mr. Edgar, please come with me to complete the handover?"
Edgar gestured to his deputy to follow Morr to handle the specific matters, while he continued to follow Karl toward the castle.
The further Edgar went, the more shocked he became.
Along the passageway leading to the castle, numerous hidden defensive mechanisms were cleverly set up, and rolling logs and stones were piled up, clearly indicating preparations to respond to any attack at any time.
After passing through the passageway, a breathtaking view suddenly appeared before them; the drawbridge had been lowered, and the castle's majestic gates stood open to them.
After crossing the castle drawbridge, which has been repaired and now appears quite imposing, we officially entered the outer city of the castle.
There are many semi-subterranean houses and newly built stone huts scattered around here, making it seem a bit crowded, but clean and tidy.
As Karl walked, he explained, "We're new here, and everything needs rebuilding. It's a necessary measure to have the residents temporarily live in the outer city. Once the new residential area down the mountain is fully built, all the people will move there, and this place will be completely transformed into a military fortress."
"I completely understand, young master. In the early stages of development, practicality and safety are paramount." Edgar nodded in agreement, but his gaze lingered more on the civilians he encountered along the way.
He saw that when the farmers, craftsmen, and even women saw Karl, they would spontaneously stop what they were doing, bow respectfully, or greet him. The genuine respect and affection in their eyes could not be faked.
This gave him a new understanding of Karl's governance abilities.
The group quickly passed through the outer city and headed towards the more heavily guarded inner city.
Perhaps noticing Edgar's gaze fixed on the city gate jammed by the Iron Shutter, Karl turned to Edgar and explained, "This is one of the biggest problems we're facing right now. This Iron Shutter was severely damaged in the final battle and is stuck in its lowered position. We've tried various methods, but we can't raise or remove it. Its materials and structure are too sturdy; forcibly breaking it could cause unpredictable damage to the load-bearing structures of the city walls on both sides."
He pointed to the side of the Iron Shutter: "Therefore, we had no choice but to choose a compromise."
Edgar looked in the direction Karl pointed and saw a section of the original city wall showing obvious signs of collapse and damage right next to the impassable main gate.
The craftsmen of Carnford cleverly utilized this gap, rebuilding it with huge logs and solid stones to create a relatively narrow but sturdy secondary entrance with a new type of hinged wooden door.
Although this secondary entrance is not as grand and spacious as the original main entrance, it looks exceptionally sturdy. The lintel and door frame are reinforced with thick iron bars, and there are also firing ports and ramps above, so its defensive function has not been weakened.
"This is a temporary passage," Karl continued. "While it's not as convenient as the original gate, it's sufficient to ensure the safety and passage through the inner city. Perhaps we can figure out how to deal with this behemoth when we have more manpower and technology in the future."
Edgar carefully examined the jammed Iron Shutter and the side gate built to fit the terrain, a hint of understanding and appreciation flashing in his eyes.
He nodded, his tone conveying understanding and even a hint of admiration. "I completely understand, young master. Given limited resources, this is the most pragmatic and efficient solution. Rather than spending enormous sums and facing unknown risks to deal with a stubborn historical problem, it's better to find another way and quickly establish a reliable new channel. You and your craftsmen have done the right thing."
Soon, upon entering the inner city, a simple yet spacious training ground came into view, where several teams of soldiers were engaged in intense combat, formation changes, and physical training.
The family knights Edgar brought were engrossed in the spectacle, even exchanging whispered comments.
They could tell that the intensity and discipline of these soldiers' training were not the result of just a few days' work, but rather the result of a significant investment of time, money, and rigorous instruction.
Finally, Karl, accompanied by Edgar and other key officials, headed towards the main castle.
Edgar's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the towering, steeply sloping wooden roof structure, which was quite different from the top floor of a traditional stone castle.
Karl noticed his gaze and explained frankly, "With limited funds and manpower, the original three-story stone tower completely collapsed, and reconstruction would be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, we adopted this structure, which is faster, cheaper, and has sufficient and practical interior space."
Edgar exclaimed sincerely, "Adapting to local conditions, pragmatic and efficient! Young master, this is already excellent! To restore a ruin to such a degree in such a short time is enough to demonstrate your courage and ability."
This time, his praise contained less formality and more genuine admiration.
The reconstruction of the castle interior, the well-trained soldiers, the heartfelt love of the people... all of this silently testifies to the young Lord's abilities and skill that far exceed expectations.
Edgar's initial disdain for the other person due to their background and past had vanished, replaced by a cautious respect and reassessment.
This seventh young master seems to have truly honed his remarkable talent in the harsh environment of the Northern Territory.