Chapter 149 The development of the West

Chapter 149 The development of the West

Henry spent the next two weeks organizing and guiding the next steps for the development of the West. He intended to focus the short-term efforts and investments only on Mehis, building a central city where iron would be mined, stored, and then shipped to the capital to be processed. In the long term, Mehis would also become a distribution center, where all the iron mined in the West would be concentrated. Mehis was going to become a specialized area.

"For the next six months, I want you to open six more veins of Cold Iron in the surrounding mountains" - Henry said, his fingers tracing over a spread-open map of the cit - "And you need to speed up the construction of the residential area and new storage facilities. We can't have the new people sleeping in the blistering cold." n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Standing beside the king around the table, Olaro nodded - "The residential area should be ready within the next month. I have arranged for more people to take down the trees to build the new houses, which will allow us to also open up the road to the mine entrance."

A brief silence reigned over the room as the king stared at the map, contemplating if there was anything else to resolve However, only one thing still needed to be done - "I need you to spread the word... say that the lord of the throne is summoning able-bodied men to serve under him, and we want to punish those who invaded our ancestors' lands" - Henry said - "Send those who enlist to the capital."

"How many people should there be?" - Olaro asked.

"I need a thousand people, at least" - Henry responded, and before the general could ask another question, he added - "And, I need it to be within the next six months. Luther needs at least half a year of training to put the new soldiers in the right shape to fight the war. Do you think it's possible?"

"She always scares me" - Olaro shivered, to which Henry only smiled. He had already grown accustomed to it, furthermore.

"The development plan for the kingdom's foundation is almost ready" - Henry murmured, so low that Olaro couldn't hear it, not with the crackling sound of the flickering fireplace - "Soon, those lands will be mine and I will pay back for destroying a year's worth of my efforts in the last war. They destroyed the capital and almost the whole West. They have to pay."

-x-

The next morning, Henry, Leier, and the soldiers were ready to depart. The king sat atop his Snowfire Horse, wearing his long black coat, which gave him an air of royalty. He had regained his strength, so mounting was now much easier and he could hold the reign more easily.

The king gazed at the bustling city for one last time. Henry ordered the people to keep working, there was no need to send him off. He couldn't bear for the reconstruction to be even slightly delayed.

"I will be counting on you, Olaro!" - Henry said - "Don't disappoint me."

Olaro unconsciously scratched his bald head and bowed - "I will not, my liege" - he replied. Henry smiled and waved his hands, commanding the soldiers to march back to the capital. However, as they exited the wooden walls that surrounded the city of Mehis, two figures were there, waiting for them - "General Iosif at your majesty's orders" - a familiar voice reached the king's ears. Henry gave a happy smile upon seeing the muscular figure of Ella carrying Iosif on her back.