"Boom!"
Tree after tree toppled along the slope, rocks were hewn into neat, angular blocks, and the uneven ground was leveled.
In just a few days, the former temporary camp had already become a bustling construction site.
This was the result of Old Alec going out once. He had brought back twenty refugees, two craftsmen, and a whole heap of tools.
Most of the soldiers had also joined the construction effort. This had not been easy to begin with. Zhang Yang had hired them to fight, and they did not fear injury, bloodshed, or death. But making them do hard labor like miserable farmers would absolutely have caused a mutiny.
So Zhang Yang chose to persuade them with benefits.
On the first day, he persuaded the veteran Robert with a Pseudo-Dragon Tear. On the second day, he persuaded the veteran Norton. On the third day, he persuaded the veteran Ig. With those three taking the lead, the other soldiers—at least the infantry—would have no problems.
As for the five Noble Scions and the two Gatu People, Zhang Yang left them to Old Alec.
While lumber, cut stone, and other basic construction materials were rapidly stockpiled, Zhang Yang also finalized the camp's overall layout.
This camp—or rather, the future fortress—would be divided into three levels.
The first level would be underground, built around that natural cave. The space inside was spacious and dry. Zhang Yang had deliberately examined the surrounding terrain and confirmed that mountain floods would not pour in, so it could be used to store supplies and shelter the mules and horses.
The second level would be built halfway up the mountain. Using the slope as its foundation, they would carve out a platform. This would greatly reduce the construction time and the amount of materials needed, while its