Mountain and Forest Kingdom

Dana and other elves soon saw the huge ship they were about to board at the port.

A large sailing ship that is twenty meters high and thirty meters long is quietly leaning on the shore of the rectangular pier, only one step away from the land.

The sailors on the ship have been waiting for a long time and are now dragging the sail up through the cable.

Smelling the summer sea breeze, Dana said casually: "This should be the biggest ship here."

In addition to the newest and largest sailing ship, there are only some small boats of a few meters and more than ten meters in the port.

Dana, who is familiar with many Western languages, does not understand the language of the barbarians, but the barbarians here and members of the Kingdom of Stars have all taken the initiative to learn Elvish.

"No." The pastor of the church explained: "Our harbor is being expanded. The current width cannot accommodate large ships. There are larger merchant ships docking at the outer seaside and Dumu Port."

"There is a war in the south this year, and many ships are going out to carry goods and goods, and they will not come back for a few days."

The priest explained the reason for the scarcity of ships now. The main reason is that a large number of ships were requisitioned for the war to transport military supplies, and several land and coastal countries also leased some warships.

The rise of war caused a large number of merchant nobles to gather towards the Starlight Fortress in the south.

Once the war starts, consumption of slave trade and all kinds of wine and meat will occur very quickly. This time, the Kingdom of Stars will not occupy land or take the initiative to attack, but will only be responsible for providing a stable rear area and market.

After the war began, business and manufacturing were developing at an accelerated pace.

These have had an impact on ordinary people, and they have also had some impact on visitors like Dana.

Dana and other elves did not pay attention to this. Their personalities were not the kind to continue chatting with the person they were chatting with, even if the other person was answering questions.

It's not that I'm arrogant, it's that I think from the bottom of my heart that the two sides are different and there is no need to talk to such people.

Soon the elves quietly boarded the boat, and the priest and accompanying staff also kept silent and did not continue to talk to these arrogant elves.

This ship is used as a luxury passenger ship and can only be used by people of noble status. It is equipped with a clean kitchen and a single bedroom, as well as a single-use bathroom.

Bathrooms and single bedrooms are located on the upper floors, which are not usually available below decks.

Dana lay down in her own bedroom, sleeping on a soft bed made of wild goose down and white fabric. She quickly sat up again and tried to swing in the hammock.

Not long after, someone approached the door.

"Danna-sama, it's lunch time."

A nun's voice came from outside the door.

Dana looked at the door of the room and said, "I just ate."

The nun replied: "This is lunch. The other adults are eating lunch. Do you need lunch?"

Because I don't understand the habits of some elves, even elves and elves have many strange habits because they don't live together. In addition, this Dana is obviously the nobler elf.

Judging from the exaggeratedly long hair that normal people cannot maintain, as well as the special colored eyes and temperament, this elf is no ordinary elf.

The strong naturally have strong rules.

The door was quickly blown open by the wind. Lawrence didn't lock the door at home, so he never had a spiral door handle to close the door.

Doors in this era were used as gates for special buildings, and doors were rarely used in interior buildings. In most places, just like Lawrence's house, there were no doors.

After all, most places live in shacks, especially if a large family is crowded together and there is no private space, so there is no need for a bedroom door.

Even as a substitute for the door, door curtains are only available on rare occasions.

Although no Lawrence pays attention to this matter, because of the improvement of living standards and the differences in status between people, some people need a kind of isolation.

Just like cabinet doors and house doors, house doors have also begun to become popular in some high-end places.

After Dana used the cold wind to open the unclosed door, a woman wearing a white and black nun's uniform was pushing a food station at the door. At this time, the nun's attitude was even more respectful and humble.

"Danna-sama, this is today's lunch, matcha red bean bread, salt-baked sturgeon vegetable soup, honey grilled chicken..."

Dana frowned and looked at the nun, "How many times do you eat here a day?"

The nun carefully replied: "Three times a day, with the Prophet it is five times a day."

Dana showed an indifferent expression, "It makes no sense."

The nun didn't understand what the elf was saying. She could understand the elf language, but she just couldn't understand what it meant.

"Then do you need to eat?" The nun was very careful not to offend such a strong person.

Dana said coldly: "Get out of here."

Dana looked at the dining car that the nun was holding with her hands. When her cold hands hugged her, the loose and thick silver hair behind her quickly turned into a water snake. With the support of her tail, she raised her body and reached the iron frame of the dining car.

The nun was so frightened that she quickly bowed and left, leaving behind the dining cart filled with food.

The door closed quickly, and Dana was eating while thinking about when she should eat her five meals a day.

The passenger ship arrived at the port of Dume the next morning.

At this time, Dumu Port was very lively, and merchant ships from all over the world gathered near the port.

The expanded and consolidated Wing Harbor can accommodate ships with a width of less than thirty meters, and can provide shelter for up to a hundred large ships at the same time.

Lawrence is planning the construction of a new ship.

After the war began, the shipbuilding industry ushered in a period of vigorous development.

The Cement was originally only considered to be used for defense. It was very difficult to sail such a large ship out, let alone the open sea, so its practicality was extremely poor.

The first-generation ship, the barque, was equipped with sailing technology.

The second-generation ship Rees, the true first-generation warship, was designed as a turtle shell structure suitable for landing on shoals, with houses and other residential and observation buildings added, and it was also fully equipped for robbery, ramming, boarding and seizing the ship. Be strengthened.

The third-generation ship Oak is equipped with a rudder, iron planks, refined sails, anchors and oar power rooms, fully arming a warship in the traditional sense.

The fourth generation ship Revenge, the first gun ship.

The fifth-generation ship represents the Cement. Although it was a failed and useless cement ship, it provided a lot of experience in building super-large warships and laid the foundation for the era of heavy iron ships and boiler ships.

At the same time, it also provides great technological and process improvements to the cement manufacturing industry in the ice land.

What Lawrence wants to build at this time is the sixth generation ship.

Reese, a shipwright at the shipyard, asked: "Prophet, what will the sixth-generation ship be called?"

Lawrence was in trouble at this time and showed a hesitant look.

It was originally planned to be named Catherine as the name of this ocean-going clipper, which also expressed recognition of Catherine's hard work and meritorious service.

But now it is Cassandra who is pregnant. The Cement was originally built to celebrate Delenn's pregnancy, and now...

"Skyrim." Lawrence quickly decided: "I hope this ship can quickly reach the edge of the sky and sea we see. It is called Skyrim."

"Skyrim will go to various ports in the future. Among our current ports, the widest one is Gran Port, with an entrance of more than two hundred meters, and the narrowest one is Sea Breeze Port in the Hokuriku Kingdom, which is only fifteen meters. "

"The width of the Skyline should not exceed fifteen meters. Fourteen meters is enough. I will write to the Land and Sea Kingdom to expand the bay."

"The draft should not exceed seven meters, otherwise we will not be able to go to Langlang Port."

Lawrence stopped naming ships after people, but instead named them according to their functions and meanings.

Several shipwrights remembered Lawrence's requirements. Whether they were superficially logical requirements or other unattainable requirements, they were mission requirements that these shipwrights must take seriously.

A group of people all have experience in shipbuilding many times. Lawrence has also been busy at the shipyard for many days and nights, and is a senior shipwright.

After discussing the technical and functional requirements, Lawrence chatted with several shipwright leaders about craftsmanship.

"What's going on with the shipyard's recruitment lately?"

"The situation is not very good." Reese replied solemnly: "Although some skilled shipbuilders have been recruited, many places in foreign countries are now recruiting shipbuilders, not only Haisenli in the west, but also Te Te in the east. Landata City is also recruiting shipwrights."

Lawrence nodded, "This is normal. There is a shortage of big ships and shipwrights everywhere now."

Since the barbarian expeditions to the west, large ships that can go to sea have become an urgent need for major countries.

This time the land war has intensified this need. If you want to fight the Holy See, you need a big ship, otherwise you will not be able to cross the obstructive mainland mountains with your legs.

Not only the shipyards of several major countries, but also private businessmen who make a fortune from the maritime trade will stimulate more private groups to individually develop ships.

Many sailboats with unique technologies will also be manufactured by people of different nationalities and colors. Although there will be many strange boat technologies that are unusable, the best among them will soon stand out and be imitated and surpassed by the rest.

The shipbuilding industry on Lawrence's side is responsible for warships and small ships, and the Kingdom of Hessenry is responsible for large commercial and military ships.

According to the rules originally formulated, Haisenli is the main force in developing the shipbuilding industry. Whether it is warships or other ships, Haisenli can do it.

In order to maintain the rules he established, Lawrence thought about it and expressed his opinions to the surrounding craftsmen.

"I will invite the shipbuilders in Haisenli to come and participate in this construction to provide technical and experience support for their country's manufacturing industry."

Reese and others nodded and did not object to this matter, because most of the craftsmen in the shipyard came from Western countries, and there were not many Pumixiu people.

Lawrence has always been willing to share technology. From the Oak to the Revenge, except for gunpowder technology, basically shipbuilding technology has been shared with envoys from various countries.

Seeing that no one else objected, Lawrence thought about this matter again.

Some technologies should indeed be retained and cannot be shared without a bottom line.

This time, the main consideration was that the kings of the three kingdoms personally led their troops to the expedition.

In order to stabilize the rear and build trust and lay the foundation for future cooperation and war, it is worthwhile to give up some interests during this period.

This time the Star Alliance cooperation experience will become a historical experience, and this historical experience will make the nobles and civilians of other countries support a series of subsequent actions, and it will be easy to form a second war alliance.

Even if the successors of these kingdoms do not recognize the current situation in the future, the country's aristocrats, soldiers and merchants will feel that their punishment is the king's fault, not the problem of the Covenant and the Prophet.

Where do you have successful experience and you don’t leave but insist on messing around on your own?

Lawrence didn't have that kind of soil if he didn't unify the continent. After all, he was considered a foreigner to the entire West.

Being able to talk well now is the result of more than ten years of hard work.

Before the entire West has removed the image of barbarians from the image of barbarians, being able to rule three-fifths of the land is already the limit, and continuing to do so will only lead to overstretch.

Of course, the most important thing is not to think that way. Lawrence has always felt that it would be very, very tiring. It’s not that the Kingdom of Gran and the Kingdom of Io are rebelling. Lawrence doesn’t want to fight these two places at all. He just wants to control Feiyu Port and the Land of Ice. Keep in good health.

The early value of Feiyu Port was to solve the food problem and give some barbarians a way out. Lawrence had long felt that the Ice Land could not accommodate too many people, so it gave him a way out.

After occupying a piece of land, Lawrence's desire to attack actually disappeared. The Kingdom of Waves he defeated was even directly given to the Kingdom of Gran, without any thought of occupying it.

Even now, I am too lazy to manage all kinds of things. I just leave the war matters to my younger brother. I can party every day if I want. When I get tired of playing, I will go out to work and get some skills, or go to school to teach.

After coming out of the shipyard, Lawrence planned to visit the Chamber of Commerce, but soon received a report from his subordinates, so he went to the church to wait for the arrival of the guests.

As people became more numerous and wealthy, the various responsibilities of the church began to be divided.

Churches and monasteries began to be clearly distinguished.

The church is a place for prayer and study and work for clergy, both men and women, who also have their own industries, such as candle factories, breweries, bakeries, and a large amount of land.

The priests and bishops of the church were responsible for managing these properties for Lawrence, and Lawrence would pay these people wages based on the output and income of these places.

The main body of the monastery is women, and it mainly hosts female nobles from various countries to retreat here. It also generates revenue from land, forestry, mills, shops, etc.

Not all rules are feudal dross. Lawrence quite likes the tradition of foreign female nobles bringing their own dowries to study in the monastery.

After all, he has to provide food and accommodation, so it is reasonable for these women's families to give them some dowry.

If the dowry is large, you don't have to work and you can continue to be a noble lady.

The dowry was small, so she could get paid through technical work such as copying and translating books, or she could work at the Lawrence family to gain work experience.

The church faces the public group, while the monastery mainly faces the aristocratic female group, as well as some ordinary female groups who need to learn.

Most people are still brutal and violent. Lawrence believes that now is not the time for co-educational schools. Letting men and women study separately is to protect the vulnerable groups.

Especially for adolescent men and women, keeping them together encourages them to do things.

What Lawrence is guarding against is not love itself. There is nothing wrong with kindergarten children falling in love. The main troubles are the various troubles teenagers cause because of men and women, such as duels caused by anger, jealousy and other emotional fluctuations, or messing around and trying to please others. caused order problems.

Besides, there were not many literate people as teachers in this era, and some people were destined to be unable to receive education, so the Saint's College, which could accommodate a few hundred people, was enough. Lawrence did not believe that a land rich in barbarians could suddenly produce tens of thousands. Talented woman.

Most people's parents are illiterate, and out of a dozen people in a family, not two can write their own names.

The biggest use of the monastery at present is not to select nuns, nor to educate women, but to collect foreign money!

No matter what, the families behind the female nobles have given a lot of money and donated a lot of food slaves and treasure books.

The Kingdom of Stars' early income mainly relied on plundering. Later, after the plundering stopped, it relied on collecting land output and operating its own commercial trade.

The monastery's endowments were important to Lawrence.

Lawrence began to think about how to formulate taxes. Only by maintaining taxes can the country's operation be guaranteed.

Taxation cannot rely solely on donations but also on coercion.

The lords under him must pay taxes. This is an unquestionable issue. Otherwise, if he makes a bad start, he will become a hindrance in the future.

Lawrence soon discovered that most of the tax revenue during this period still came from agriculture.

The problem is that my territory has always been exempted from agricultural taxes.

Agricultural taxes in places such as Pumixiu Town and Wakili are exempted. In the Sidel Territory, the tax is reduced. Only a portion of pork, chicken, eggs, and wheat millet are collected. The rest includes forest land tax, water well tax, mill tax, marriage tax, and birth tax. All classes are exempt.

In addition to grain, the province also harvests minerals.

The food produced in Aio is directly used by the local garrison. Some places where the roads are remote and difficult to travel are simply not allowed to go... In general, they cannot make ends meet.

The two places of Ao and Glen are still living mainly on the wealth of the royal family that was wiped out in the past. It will not be a problem to persist for another thirty to fifty years.

The ruthless behavior of the royal ruler who was ruthlessly determined to destroy him in the past two years has become more and more correct the more he thinks about it in the past two years.

Outside, places such as the Hokuriku Kingdom and the Kogako Kingdom collect agricultural taxes, and they charge a lot. With these countries as examples, it will be easier to do anything in the future.

As soon as Lawrence divided the tax into two standards: sea tax and land tax, the envoys from the Elf Kingdom arrived.

Soon Lawrence also put on the prophet's uniform and received the envoys.

Dana is undoubtedly the most eye-catching beauty elf in the messenger group.

She is not the only woman, but compared with those old men and women, she is too conspicuous.

Lawrence was very polite and warmly welcomed these wise men to their seats.

The two parties soon sat near the conference table, with some fruits placed on the table.

Just as Lawrence was about to talk to Green Hardwood, Dana looked at the fruits on the plate and asked, "Why are the fruits here bigger and more beautiful than those in the forest?"

Lawrence frowned and thought for a second or two. He could only understand the witch's language when he felt mentally stimulated.

Dana's witchcraft energy was not concealed, and she looked at Lawrence with those colorful eyes when she was talking to Lawrence.

Lawrence quickly understood what he said and explained: "This is a screened out biased cognition."

"In fact, the fruits here are not as good as the fruit trees of the elves. It's just that there are many people here who are responsible for picking the fruits. They only take out the best fruits to entertain guests and for me to taste, so what you see is... It’s the best fruit of this kind.”

Lawrence objectively explained the reasons.

Dana was not surprised that Lawrence could speak Elvish, which was not Elvish, but continued to discuss the issue of fruit.

"So when will you eat the bad fruits?" Dana needs to prepare in advance and know when she must eat the remaining bad fruits.

Lawrence has his own thinking ability, so when talking to Dana, he was unable to understand what the other party meant.

Fortunately, he often talks to barbarians and other foreigners of this era. Lawrence has long been accustomed to this kind of dialogue where everyone uses their own thinking to talk and think.

Just tell the truth.

"Those are either still on the trees, or they have been sold to the market, or made into fruit confectionery, wine and snacks."

Lawrence explained with a serious expression: "We have a lot of fruit trees here. The fruit trees on several mountains can provide a lot of fresh fruits to eat. Except in winter, there is basically no shortage of fruits."

"Even in winter, there are pears, oranges, sweet berries, blueberries, apples, grapes, etc. stored in the cellar that you can eat."

Dana looked at Lawrence in surprise. In the Elf Forest, a tree cannot be full of beautiful fruits. In many cases, even the bad ones have to be eaten.

"You people here won't eat fruits that don't look good, right?"

Lawrence still didn't understand what the other party was saying, so he continued to answer: "It's not that I don't eat the ones that look good. There are such sweet, beautiful and big fruits, so why eat fruits that are obviously not delicious? "

Dana asked seriously: "What will you do after you have finished eating such good fruits?"

Lawrence was a very patient person, but he was a little annoyed by always answering questions that he couldn't understand and felt strange.

"Then find a way to plant more fruit trees!" Lawrence said impatiently, but firmly and unquestionably: "Not only should there be endless delicious fruits in spring, summer, and autumn, but there should also be fruits that can be picked at any time in winter!"

Dana asked curiously: "How to do this?"

Lawrence said directly: "I will create a room where strawberries and berries can grow and ripen even in the cold winter and eternal night. I will also let them ripen on different days so that I can eat them fresh every day." of fruit!”

Dana looked thoughtful.

Lawrence recognized the beauty and power of this female elf, but now he only needed agricultural technicians, not beautiful noble ladies or witches.

Lawrence quickly looked at Green Hardwood, "Is this Miss Dana also a master of plants?"

"No, she is not." Green Hardwood replied: "She is the incarnation of ice and snow, the powerful Ice Sage."

Lawrence suddenly lost interest. This woman had no value at all.

Now, whether for personal enjoyment or for the future of the country, some economic crops that can be used as spices and seasonings are needed, and the person who can solve these problems is not the ice and snow mage, but the plant master.

After understanding that Dana was just a powerful ice witch, Lawrence's attitude became much more perfunctory. He no longer spent time answering her questions and spent the remaining time discussing with several old elf masters about suitability for the cold zone. flowers and trees.