After listening to Gesen’s introduction, Su Li imdiately had a clearer image of the Dragonforge. Originally a Dwarven stronghold atop the mountains, was there also a Holy Land among the firmant and clouds above?
Visitors probably couldn’t even see the fiery red entirety of this Dragonforge through the clouds. This grand forge was like a blazing sun suspended atop the white clouds.
The question was whether this Ladder of Courage was like a space elevator reaching into the sky or a massive spectacle of a high tower.
If given the opportunity, Su Li definitely wanted to visit this Dwarven Holy Land. He felt that the Dwarves in this Holy Land, just by climbing the 3000-ter Courage Ladder that soared into the clouds daily, could hone their unrivaled strength.
It was possible that in the capital of this Dwarf Kingdom, there could be hundreds or even thousands of champion-level Dwarves, making their military strength not at all weaker than an Elector’s Territory.
However, the Ladder of Courage being a Dwarven wonder, Su Li did not inquire much further. His recruitnt of so many Dwarf Engineers was to build his Flash Spear City!
In about half a month, the Ramsey family was going to deliver the Heaven’s Lance.
The construction of Flash Spear City was crucial to the western expansion of the Hesse Territory, serving as a strategic forward base. His site selection wasn’t even within the current boundaries of the Hesse Territory, but among those Pioneer Territories that Marshal Orstein was currently expanding.
Aside from enhancing control over this newly conquered land, it was also to serve as the logistical base for Hesse Territory in any conflicts against Blue Mirror Territory and Swamp Territory.
If Flash Spear City could also have a population of 3000 to 5000, combined with the population of Heisen City, the total territorial population could easily exceed 10,000, and all of them urban residents.
Adding the population of White Castle and the various villages and farms, the population would directly exceed 20,000.
Such a scale could definitely be rated as Baron status.
However, this process currently did not look very promising. At least before this year’s assessnt, given the current progress, it seed very difficult to complete.
The main issue was that the construction at White Castle was too slow. The apprentices from the Imperial Engineering College hadn’t even excavated 1/10 of the foundation yet.
At their current pace of construction, Su Li felt that for White Castle to be built, it would take at least a 10-year project, or even 20 years if slower.
Of course, this was not intentional delay. Building a castle in a human territory should indeed take this long. After all, supporting them were just a few villages and nomadic tribes on the Bloody Highlands, enough to only count as a Kingdom Knight’s Territory at most.
Heisen Castle and Bauhinia Palace could be built so quickly entirely thanks to when, last year, the Dwarves from Redbeard Castle ca to the Hesse Territory and gave him a Baron Experience Card, which propelled his construction speed to soar directly.
With the end of the Baron Experience Card, the territory’s various constructions returned to normal speed.
If Su Li wanted to continue large-scale construction today, he had to find a strong external helper. He needed to employ thousands of Dwarves to accelerate the construction of Flash Spear City.
And for this external help, Su Li currently had his eyes on the engineers from the Gray Rock Tribe. After all, they were relatively poor and had nothing better to do than hamr iron and mix grout.
Therefore, following Gesen’s self-promotion, Su Li continued with his proud words: "Of course, I’ve long heard of the reputation of your Gray Rock Clan. I intend to entrust a Holy Land project of my territory to you, for you to help erect the Heaven’s Lance on this land of the Border Prince’s Territory."
"You have also seen that my territory produces a lot of this Dwarf Beer. If you agree, I will use grain, Barley Beer, and Giant Brew as remuneration. My friend, what do you think?"
Gesen heavily patted his own chest and said with a serious face, "My big friend, you’ve co to the right people with us! The engineers from Gray Rock Castle work even more ticulously and are hardworking. With us building Flash Spear City, this Holy Land construction ti would be shortened by at least 15% compared to other Dwarf Clans, and the cost would be at least 25% lower!"
"Hmm~ Let calculate. If your Hesse Territory can help us with defense, we can dispatch an engineering team and labor force of at least 1,400 people, with no less than 300 Elite Level mbers."
"Their wages are roughly 1500 Golden Crowns for the Elite Level, and 1000 for the regular level, totaling 2500 Golden Crowns. Since you are a friend of our clan, you only need to pay 2000 Golden Crowns. All this can be converted into wheat, approximately 1000 tons per month, with the remainder converted into beverages, military arms, and Dwarf Oath Gold. What do you think?"
Su Li also took a deep breath. Once construction started, large-scale construction in the territory would inevitably lead to spending money like flowing water.
Building a hospital, an armory, a large barracks, etc., would all cost thousands of Gold Coins each. The construction of Flash Spear City would likely consu tens of thousands of Gold Coins!
Not to ntion, just the monthly Dwarf wages could reach two to three thousand Gold Coins, not even counting material costs, transportation costs, and the later various supporting civic buildings, military buildings, comrcial buildings, and so on.
To even think of laying the foundations of this city well, Su Li figured that without 50,000 Golden Crowns, it would be impossible.
So the territory always being financially strained was truly not because Su Li’s inco was low, but because the expenditures were just too vast.
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