Chapter 43: If You Want to Prosper, Build Roads First
Bruno had a comprehensive plan for road construction.
The slogan "If you want to prosper, build roads first" was not just empty words.
Underdeveloped transportation would slow down the process of transforming local resource advantages into economic advantages and would also become a bottleneck for social and economic development.
In Bruno's view, roads were like the arteries of the Idar Territory, connecting every part of it together.
Bruno planned to construct four roads.
One would connect Idar City to Cape Salt Field, another would link Idar City to the harbor dock, and a third would connect the harbor dock to Cape Salt Field.
These three roads would form a triangle, covering the core area that Bruno intended to focus on for development.
The fourth road, and the most important one, would connect Thorn Valley, Idar City, and Mann Fortress.
Thorn Valley was the western gateway of the Idar Territory and the most crucial passage linking Idar to the empire's interior.
At the same time, Thorn Valley was also the main supply route for the northern side of Mann Fortress.
Heading west through Thorn Valley led to Idar, while heading south led to the Norman Empire's frontier stronghold—Mann Fortress.
In times of peace, this route was frequently traveled by merchants moving between the Basel Kingdom and the Norman Empire, and that was the main reason why Bruno decided to construct this road.
To Bruno, it was inconceivable that the Idar Territory had never built a proper road between Mann Fortress and Idar City.
After all, apart from nobles, traveling merchants were some of the wealthiest people on the continent.
Wealth meant purchasing power, and purchasing power meant revenue for Idar!
Thus, Bruno planned to build a road from Thorn Valley to Idar City and then from Idar City to Mann Fortress.
As for the old trail that directly connected Thorn Valley and Mann Fortress, it would likely soon become infested with bandits.
If bandits were robbing travelers there, what did that have to do with Idar?
Of course, Bruno would only allow "bandits" to rob merchants. He wouldn't be foolish enough to attack imperial troops transporting supplies.
However, given a choice between a muddy, rugged mountain path and a smooth cement road, the increasingly corrupt and decadent lower-ranking officers of the empire would probably choose to stop by Idar City for a mug of ale before moving on.
With that in mind, all nine work teams (the original eight plus one made up of former gang members) would be fully committed to this grand road-building project.
To stimulate the economic development of Idar City, Bruno decided that the first road to be built would be the one connecting Thorn Valley, Idar City, and Mann Fortress.
The laborers in the work teams were thrilled to hear about another major project. They were as eager as soldiers preparing for battle, all desperate to get to work.
After all, working hard and earning merit points could truly allow a serf to rise and change their fate!
Clearly, Bruno's decision to free 45 serfs had greatly inspired them. Even though there might have been some inaccuracies in the overseers' records or flaws in the rules that left some deserving serfs unfreed, none of that mattered!
Bruno had given them something real hope!
To further motivate them, Bruno announced that he would continue his previous promise: on the day the road was completed, another 45 serfs would be granted freedom!
With this incentive, the road connecting the three locations was being paved at an astonishing speed…
However, to Bruno's great regret, the gang members would soon be leaving.
With the arrival of the second letter, the date for their transport to the imperial capital for the statue construction project had been finalized.
Thus, they would only be able to work on the road for a few more days before being sent away (see Chapter 2 for details).
…
Krell and his father were among the first serfs to be granted freedom.
Even now, he felt as if he were in a dream.
A noble had actually released his own serfs?
The shadow that had loomed over his family for decades had suddenly vanished?
It was hard to believe, but it was true.
According to Bruno's plan, the freed serfs would still work in the labor teams.
However, a new team consisting entirely of freedmen would be established, and they would work as free citizens earning wages!
Forty copper coins a month!
Not much, but just enough for a hardworking man to support himself.
Of course, once a freed serf found a better opportunity or saved enough money to lease farmland from Lord Bruno, they could apply to leave the labor team and live like any other free citizen of Idar.
As the leader of the third labor team, Claire received an extra reward from Bruno a house in Idar City.
Though the house was in an obscure corner of the city and wasn't very large, not even having a small courtyard, it was still a house!
No matter the era, a house that provided shelter from the elements was never cheap, yet his lord had given him one so casually.
"Krell, we must work hard and repay the lord's kindness with all our efforts!" Claire's father said emotionally as he looked at the house before them.
"I think so too, Father," Krell replied. "Now that we're free, do you have any plans for the future?"
"Plans?" Krell's father lowered his head in thought.
It felt good to have a choice. When he was a serf, he never had to think about such things.
Serfs were merely property of the nobility. Whatever the lord ordered, they had to do.
But now, he could decide his own future. It was a long lost feeling.
The last time he had truly thought for himself was decades ago.
"Maybe I'll save up some coins and lease a piece of land?" Krell's father said uncertainly. "I'll talk with the others at work tomorrow and see what they think. Honestly… staying in the labor team might not be so bad either…"
As he spoke, he suddenly turned to his son and asked, "What about you, Krell? What are your plans?"
Claire was silent for a moment, then he lifted his head, his eyes filled with determination.
"I want to join the army!"