System: Build My Own Territory

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Exploring the Forest (3K)

The next day.

Six or seven miles outside the village, on a piece of uncultivated land.

Lynn stood with Guy, Red, and a few guards.

Their eyes were constantly sweeping over the surroundings.

After a short while.

Guy was the first to speak, ”Master Lynn, if you want to build a pasture, this is a pretty good choice.”

Lynn said nothing.

Guy began to explain, ”In my experience, the most important factors in building a pasture are the choice of location and the water source!”

”The terrain of the pasture needs to be relatively flat and open with good drainage. This is more conducive to the livestock’s movement and growth.”

”Water source is a key element for the pasture. Although there’s the Acadia River, we still need to dig wells to access groundwater to avoid rain or flooding, which would cause the water to become extremely turbid...”

Lynn nodded.

Guy continued, ”After confirming the location, the next step is construction...”

”Master Lynn, to build a large pasture, we need to clear out the uncultivated land first, then construct fences to divide the areas,”

”And then build various barns and shelters for the animals to rest, as well as warehouses or silos for feed storage.”

”Finally, there’s the residential area for the pasture personnel...”

Lynn gave Guy an approving glance.

Guy had essentially outlined everything needed to build a pasture and all the key points to note.

Lynn said, ”I will assign you twenty carpenters, twenty stonemasons, and twenty villagers to clear the land and transport materials. I need you to build the barns with red bricks.”

”I want to see this pasture completed in a month’s time!”

There are quite a few villagers with Level 1 or Level 2 [Construction] skills.

Plus, many of the raw materials are already available.

Like some of the red bricks that have been fired, timber from previous logging, lime that’s been prepared, sand that’s been dug up...

As long as the manpower is well organized, construction of the pasture can begin.

With sixty labors, if the pasture isn’t built within a month, it can only mean that Guy’s ability is limited!

Guy’s eyes flickered a few times, and he replied, ”No problem, Master Lynn.”

Lynn nodded, mounted the horse that Red was holding, and headed back to the village.

Red, Guy, and the others followed closely behind.

Back at the village.

Lynn had Kuisi assign sixty villagers.

After a series of instructions from Guy, armed with their tools, he led these people to the selected site for the pasture.

With the pasture matters arranged, all that was left was to wait quietly.

Lynn’s gaze drifted towards the distant farmland.

There, Gavin and Wilbur were organizing the farmers, digging canals.

Retracting his gaze, Lynn looked at Kuisi, ”What is Colin doing now?”

Kuisi pondered for a few seconds and responded, ”He should still be over there making red bricks, I think?”

”I’ll go get him right now!”

With these words, Kuisi strode towards the distance.

After a short while.

Kuisi brought Colin before Lynn.

Colin hastily bowed, forcibly steadying his somewhat chaotic breath, ”Master Lynn, you were looking for me?”

Lynn directly stated, ”I need you to lead people in building a few large water wheels!”

Making red bricks requires a water source, the pasture needs a water source, and irrigation canals for the farmland also require a water source.

The Acadia River has an endless supply of river water, but because the land is higher, only buckets or water jars can be used, which is too inefficient.

Colin didn’t think much and answered, ”Of course, Master Lynn.”

After telling Colin where the water wheels needed to be installed, Colin turned and left.

Colin had previously participated and witnessed the construction of water wheels, so there was nothing to worry about.

With the most urgent tasks handed over, Lynn gave Kuisi a few instructions.

Lynn, accompanied by Red and a dozen guards, left the village.

Mounting their horses, they headed towards the primordial forest in the northern part of the territory.

Lynn needed to continue exploring his territory.

He needed iron, a lot of iron ore.

If he could find a mine that was easy to extract, then Lynn would soar!

He already had a salt mine, a coal mine, and one more iron mine would round it off.

With his ability, building high furnaces for smelting copper and iron is not difficult!

Even if he couldn’t find an iron mine, finding a copper or gold mine wouldn’t be bad either.

...

Morrison Manor.

Around the three-story mansion built from piled stones.

Tents made of linen cloth were set up on the open space.

In the center of the tents was a pile of charcoal burnt to ashes.

With a gentle breeze, trails of white ash were lifted, floating in the air...

Occasional leisurely chuckles could be heard from various tents.

Inside the mansion, in a luxuriously furnished room on the third floor.

Aiden Manor Lord was sitting on a genuine leather seat.

His face was full of gloom, and his eyes kept darting around.

Opposite Aiden, Ford stood cautiously.

He hung his head low, not daring to utter a word.

The Iron Blood Brotherhood’s presence here was due to his suggestion to Aiden.

Letting the tiger devour the wolf.

Using bandits to deplete the lord’s armed forces.

When both sides were worn out, Aiden would swoop in, cleaning up the battlefield.

He could avenge Old Bower’s murder, seize the territory, and eliminate the Iron Blood Brotherhood.

Finally, he could claim credit from Marquis Duca...

It was truly killing many birds with one stone!

At that time, Master Aiden couldn’t help but applaud the idea.

But they never anticipated.

A single wall would brutally shatter their fantasies.

Now, not only was the territory not seized, the members of the Iron Blood Brotherhood were sticking to his manor like a leech.

The entire manor, including the families and the Free People slaves, was in a state of panic.

Aiden looked at Ford and questioned, ”Tell me, how are we going to deal with these thieves now?”

Ford’s face stiffened.

Whether it was the number of thieves or their equipment, they were far superior.

Unless Master Aiden could organize all the slaves and launch an attack.

But... those slaves only know how to farm!

Indeed, this dilemma eventually fell upon him.

Ford hesitated a bit, ”Master Aiden, I... I don’t know...”

Aiden’s tone turned cold, ”Don’t know?”

Ford was terrified, he quickly changed his words, ”No, no, Master Aiden, they... they are thieves!”

Aiden’s tone became somewhat amiable, ”Continue.”

Suddenly, an idea popped into Ford’s mind, ”Yes, they are thieves, since Master Aiden, you can’t deal with them, why not request reinforcements from Marquis Ducas?”

”You are his vassal, after all, you pay him taxes every year...”

”The Ducas Clan can’t possibly turn a blind eye, can they?”

”Moreover, if Marquis Ducas’s reinforcement troops arrive, with a mighty army, you can not only solve these thieves but also inquire about the missing Wood!”

”Even, you might get the long-awaited territory...”

Wood, who went to Marquis Ducas, had disappeared for a long time now.

Something unexpected must have happened.

But they didn’t know, why did the accident happen?

Wood was a very cautious person.

Aiden’s eyes lit up instantly, ”Very good idea.”

”In that case, you shall go to Marquis Ducas’s castle and request reinforcements!”

Ford’s eyes widened immediately in disbelief, ”Huh? Me?”

...

Lynn and more than twenty others rode on horseback, advancing through the forest.

As they ventured deeper, the twenty to thirty-centimeter tree trunks had turned into ones that several people could hug around.

The tall canopies, striving to gain more sunlight, filled the spaces above tightly.

Even though it was noon now, only fragments of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the canopy.

If Lynn intends to construct ships for the sea in the future, these logs will be the best raw materials!

Lynn held the Horn Bow in his left hand and set the string with his right, fixating his gaze ahead.

There, a lone adult roe deer was leisurely foraging.

Buzz!

Swish!

The roe deer seemed to hear this slight sound, its head rose.

Its dark eyes scanning the surroundings.

However, it was too late.

Lynn’s right fingers released instantly, an Arrow shot through the air towards the deer.

The sharp Arrow penetrated the roe deer’s lung, piercing its heart.

Without even letting out a cry, it fell directly to the ground.

The Arrow pierced through and embedded into the ground.

[Hunting Experience +1]

Retracting the Horn Bow, Lynn nodded with satisfaction.

While exploring the ore veins, he can also grind Hunting Experience.

Two Guards sensibly went up, carrying the deer on their backs.

The group continued onward, heading deeper into the forest.

Until dusk fell.

Lynn and others found a leeward spot close to the Acadia River, to camp.

On the cleared ground, they started a campfire, placed an Iron Pot above it, to cook the cleaned venison and wheat.

Around the campfire, they skewered pieces of venison for roasting.

Soon after.

The aroma of meat began to spread across the camp.

Exploring the forest consumed as much energy as reclaiming wasteland!

Even more strenuous.

Not only dealing with the constant ups and downs of terrain but also being ever-cautious of poisonous insects and snakes...

Upon reaching the deep forest, the horses could no longer be ridden; they could only rely on their legs.

The Guards smelled the aroma and couldn’t resist swallowing hard.

Until an hour later.

The forest was completely dark.

Except for the brightness of the campfire, there was no other light.

Silence engulfed everything, suffocatingly eerie.

The cooked food was thoroughly done, with its rich aroma spreading through the camp.

With permission from Master Lynn, the Guards gathered around to enjoy the outdoor dinner.

After eating and drinking, Lynn sat by the campfire to dispel the dense dew in the forest.

Lynn glanced at the Ore Vein Detector, though they had walked and searched the forest for a day, it still showed no information.

Looks like they’ll have to go deeper into the forest.

Initially, she considered bringing Sienna along, but upon consulting, learned that she could only listen now and couldn’t communicate.

Lynn abandoned the idea.

She turned her gaze to Red, ”Did you and Kuisi see any special ore veins while passing through the forest to my territory?”

Red, who was guarding beside Lynn, wore a look of recollection.

But quickly, Red shook his head.

”Sorry, Master Lynn, we were too busy running for our lives, we didn’t see any ore veins...”

Not only didn’t they see, but even if they had seen, they likely wouldn’t recognize them.

Lynn responded; she didn’t mind.

She instructed Red to arrange the Guards for night watch.

Lynn lay down in the temporary shelter and drifted off to sleep.

As for the other Guards, naturally, they had to camp wherever they could.

After all, Lynn is the Lord!