Struggle in the Steam Age

The territory of the Viscount Surrey is located on Green Island, the largest island in the Northern Archipelago. This is a huge island of nearly 4 million square kilometers, and it is also the largest colony of Britton, an old powerhouse, in the New World.

However, it is different from the tropical island in Lawrence, which has a bad start, but can be said to be very rich once it is developed. This huge island close to the cold north can be said to be extremely barren.

Except for some places in the south where some cold-resistant rye can be grown and livestock can be raised because of ocean currents and geothermal heat, most of the land in the north is some cold glaciers or wastelands that are not suitable for any animal larger than the size of a mouse.

Also because of this poor natural environment, even the Briton nobles who have a strong desire for the territory have little interest in this territory.

As a result, more than 500 years after the island was discovered, only 1/10 of the entire territory was subdivided, and the rest of the territory was still all royal territory.

The acquisition of fiefdoms by the nobles is not just a handover of some documents. This power corresponds to obligations, the core of which is the task of developing the territory.

And the civilized race is also relying on this set of primitive rights distribution methods to continuously march towards the wild, and step by step rise from the edge of the world and occupy a place in this world.

Therefore, the granting of territory is a two-way choice for both the nobles and the royal family. Before the royal family entrusts a territory, it has to carefully consider it, and those nobles may not receive these territories every time.

For example, this colony called Green Island is like this. According to Viscount Surrey, many nobles would rather stay in the capital to be inferior court nobles than acquire a territory on this island.

"There was no way my family was moved here." When disembarking, the Viscount Surrey introduced the history of his family's relocation to Lawrence with a helpless expression.

In the distance, a cargo ship full of coal was slowly leaving the port and heading towards the White Eagle Federation.

"Because my family was involved in a cult case because of my in-laws. Although we had nothing to do with this case other than blood relationship, some local nobles used this as an excuse to swallow us up. Lots of benefits."

Having said that, Viscount Surrey showed a very helpless look on his face.

"In that case, my ancestors could only choose to give up their local manor and everything to avoid the opponent's attack. So they chose this territory."

"Compared to the original manors in the mainland, this territory is poor. The only thing better than the original territory is that it is near the sea and convenient for transportation."

"There are good and bad things in everything." After getting on the carriage, he watched the carriage drive on the newly paved road with cinders and felt the smooth driving of the carriage. Lawrence said with a smile.

"At least this place can now see that it has a very good future, and it can be seen that the discovery of coal mines has a strong role in promoting the development of this territory."

Unlike Lawrence, who built Port New Sauer, the ruling center of the entire island, directly by the sea, Fort Surrey, the capital of this territory, was built in a valley more than 20 kilometers away from the coastline.

After several generations of construction by the Viscount Surrey, this valley has been built into a small but completely fortified city.

Or to be precise, the city is a large-scale defensive fortress. For example, Lawrence saw a large number of small platforms built from bottom to top on a cliff in the valley, and all of those small platforms were built with stone buildings.

In addition, Lawrence also found that the road up the mountain was narrow and winding, and there were some small bunkers in the middle that were obviously used for defense.

"Welcome to my city." After getting off the carriage, Viscount Surrey pointed to the buildings on the hill with a proud look on his face. "And the city you see now is only a small part of the city."

"A small part, what do you say?" Viscount Surrey's words successfully aroused Safir's curiosity.

"Come with me, you will soon know what this city is about." Viscount Surrey said, leading Lawrence and the others towards the largest building on the upper floor of the city.

Walking on the road, Lawrence became even more sure that the city was built as a military fortress when it was being built.

Because on the way to the Viscount's mansion located high in the city, Lawrence found that the whole road was crooked and the height of each step was slightly different.

If someone who is not familiar with this area has just come here and walks on this road quickly, it is easy to be confused by those strange roads.

"Those roads can actually be used to fortify the entire city." Safir also discovered some abnormalities at this time.

"Look, if the passages used to connect the various buildings are combined with the low walls that look like protective fences, they can be constructed as lines of defense facing the valley below."

With these doubts, Lawrence and the others walked into the Viscount's Mansion on the top of the cliff. This is also a stone building built on a platform.

Compared with other buildings, the only feature of this building is that it looks bigger.

But the four small bunkers at the four corners that can cover each other's firepower, as well as the soldiers in gray military uniforms and snow-white cloaks standing at the door, can clearly explain the identity of the owner who lives here.

"I see that the firearms you equip the soldiers are the latest models." Lawrence turned his head and said to the Viscount Surrey when he walked into the black steel gate.

"And I also saw a lot of glass greenhouses outside the city. I think these should be built after you dug the coal mines in the territory."

"Yes, because I don't know how to invest next. So I simply saved most of my money and waited for investment opportunities." Viscount Surrey shrugged his shoulders and said.

"However, I still used part of the money to update my armed forces, and at the same time build a number of infrastructure related to people's livelihood."

"Your choice is correct. At least when I went to New Sauer Island, I slowly cultivated my strength on the island through such infrastructure construction, and at the same time gathered a group of people."

Lawrence also shrugged. "Of course, you are a hereditary aristocrat who has been here for several generations in your family, so you shouldn't need to start all over again like me. But at least when there is a sum of money that you don't know how to spend, it is a safe investment to spend on infrastructure. .”

"Thank you for your compliment." Viscount Surrey showed a smile on his face. In fact, after knowing Lawrence's identity, Viscount Surrey silently regarded Lawrence as his idol.

Because compared to a hereditary nobleman like him, a self-made existence like Lawrence can indeed be his role model.

"Oh, little Robert, are there any guests here?" Just as they walked through the hall and entered a room, a thick middle-aged man's voice came from the side.

"Yes, Uncle Huck." Viscount Surrey turned his head and said to a dwarf who came out from the corner, "This is the Earl of New Sauer, a new friend I just met. He came here to Help me find out if there is any way to promote development in my territory."

"Is that the earl who developed a deserted island into a vibrant territory in a year?" The dwarf said after squinting his eyes for a few seconds, then walked in front of Lawrence.

"Welcome, Your Excellency Earl Sauer. I am Huck Conglomerate, the steward of the Viscount Surrey's domain. I hope you will enjoy your stay here."