Otto wasn't joking or shouting a slogan.
Regarding the new Eagle Fort, Otto felt that he could no longer just build an earthen fort and fool the system like before.
Instead, a stone castle was built, and the area was several times larger than before. Otto felt that since it needed to be repaired, it should be done at once.
I don’t know how old the castle I live in now is, and I don’t like the layout of the rooms. I might as well repair it and move in when the time comes.
Otto also changed the location of the new Eagle Castle. It was no longer the relatively safe location before, but chose a key location, close to the Jura Mountains, which is the intersection from Switzerland to France. .
The location of Aargauen is naturally on the trade route from South Germany to France.
During this period, although commerce was not developed, there were not a few caravans passing through this road every year. Building castles at key locations on trade routes will greatly improve control over trade routes.
However, the place chosen by Otto is not very populated now, and it is dozens of miles away from the nearest village.
After seeing the position marked by Otto on the map, Wade couldn't help frowning and questioning:
"Master, there are no villages around this place. I have been there, and the terrain is not dangerous. If you build a castle here, who will provide the supplies that the castle needs?"
Most of the castles in this period were built near villages. The main purpose was to facilitate control of nearby villages and to facilitate the acquisition of supplies. The significance of this kind of castle is more economic than military.
A few castles are also built on important roads, checkpoints and dangerous terrain. This kind of castle is entirely for military service.
In Wade's view, the location where Otto built the Eagle Castle has neither economic nor military purposes. It is likely to be like many abandoned castles. It will be useless after repairing it, and it will also require a lot of manpower and material resources. Maintain and eventually give up.
"I've thought about this." During this period, Otto had personally visited the territory and inspected the terrain, so he was naturally prepared.
"The land around the new castle is basically plains, and there is a creek on the nearby mountain, which can also provide water. As long as some farmers are moved around and they rely on the castle to survive, it will be enough to ensure the daily consumption of the castle."
"In addition to building the castle, we also need to relocate farmers?" Wade frowned even more. "Isn't this initial cost too much? Master, are you sure we have enough funds to complete this project?"
"Of course...no." Otto spread his hands and told the truth.
“But, let’s not talk about money first, I have an idea about the issue of relocating villagers.
You said, if I talk about the land around the new castle, it will be owned by whoever cultivates it, and taxes will be exempted in the first year. You think, in this way, we don’t have to pay the cost of relocating the villagers. There should be many villagers voluntarily going to open up wasteland near the new castle. "
"If that's the case..." Wade thought about it for a moment and nodded. "There is indeed a fee left, but it's still the same question as before, Master, do you have enough money?"
"Oh, my dear Captain Wade, don't worry about the money issue for now, I will find a solution for this problem.
Anyway, that’s it for now, let’s raise money while repairing it. "
Wade looked at Otto and felt more and more that Otto was unreliable. He wanted to give some advice, but he didn't know how to say it.
In an era when castles were an extension of noble power, it seemed wrong to advise lords not to build castles. After holding it in for a long time, I couldn't find anything to say, so I could only sigh and agree.
This Young Master Otto is still too young and too impatient.
"Over at the new castle, who are you planning to send to oversee the work, or Bard?"
Otto hesitated for a moment, and the expression on Bud's face that he was about to cry flashed through his mind. Forget it, let's give him another chance.
"Well, let's go to Bard. I trust him. Let him bring a few more guards with him, and let Gente follow. I will also go and check on him often. There should be no accidents this time.
By the way, how did you do on the matter you were asked to check? "
"We have some clues and are still investigating."
"Well, I'm just waiting for your good news."
After a few more casual exchanges with Wade, Otto returned to the castle and ordered people to find the blacksmiths and weapons dealers in the territory.
New soldiers have been recruited, and the supporting weapons should also be prepared. It is time for the knights of this era to experience the power of crossbows.
At dusk, Gent brought several people to Claire.
"Master Otto, the person you want is here."
"Yes." Otto nodded, looked at the three nervous people standing beside him, and smiled on his face.
"Don't be nervous. I came to you just to get some information. Which of the three of you knows how to make a crossbow?"
Make a crossbow? The three people who were originally anxious looked at each other, but no one spoke.
"No way, no one knows how to make a crossbow?" Otto was also a little dumbfounded.
As the well-deserved king of long-range weapons in the cold weapon era, the crossbow still has certain requirements for production skills. Otto, who was a liberal arts student in his previous life, naturally didn't know how to make a crossbow, let alone a crossbow. It would have been difficult for him to make a bow, otherwise he wouldn't have had to find a craftsman.
"Speak, all of them are mutes, right? If they can, they can, if they can't, they can't." Jin Te couldn't stand it anymore and yelled, which made the three of them tremble, and one of them even knelt down. .
"Don't scare them." Otto glared at Gent dissatisfied, and Gent apologized quickly.
"Reply to the young master, I...I will!"
The middle-aged man kneeling on the ground trembled and answered tremblingly.
"Where are you two?" Otto looked at the other two people who could barely stand.
"I...I don't know."
"Won't."
Thump thump, facing Otto's gaze, the two of them knelt down.
Well, am I that terrible?
Otto waved his hand, motioning for Gent to take the two people away, and then personally helped up the middle-aged man who said he could make a crossbow.
"Come on, come on, get up and talk."
As soon as Otto touched his body, he felt that the other person's body was shaking even more violently. It took him a long time to get the other person to stand firm.
"Am I that scary?" Otto couldn't help it. "I'm not beating you or killing you. Why are you so scared? I'm looking for you because I want you to make money."
"No, no, no." The middle-aged man waved his hands quickly, shaking his head like a rattle. "It's my honor to work for the young master. No money, no money!"
"Okay." Otto gave up. There was nothing he could do about this hierarchical concept that was deeply ingrained in his mind. He is not a savior, and he is too lazy to change. As a noble class, he should get used to it and just let nature take its course.
"You just said you could make a crossbow. Do you have a crossbow? Let me see."
"Yes, yes, it's...at my home. I'll go back and get it now!"
Otto looked up at the sunset again. Well, it was still early, so he should be back in time for dinner.
"It's okay, I'll go get it with you."
