Reviving the Economy

(20 Days Later)

The news of the fall of Astapor had exploded across Essos, plunging the entire continent into a fit of fervent discussions. It had sent ripples through every city, and soon all of Essos was caught up in debate over the shocking events that had occurred in Astapor.

Lord Aeos, the man who had conquered Astapor, was now a widely discussed figure across the continent.

The ruling elites of many cities scrambled to gather any information they could about this mysterious man who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

The discussions might have remained mild had Astapor simply fallen.

But the speech Jon gave at the Plaza of Pride to his army had inflamed things even further. Such news could not be suppressed, and Jon's ambition to create the greatest kingdom known to mankind was no longer a secret. His speech had been like oil in fire fanning the debate even more intense.

The way he had spoken of establishing a vast empire set off alarms throughout Essos, especially among the other cities of Slaver's Bay.

But perhaps what amazed people most was that this conqueror, a boy no older than sixteen or seventeen had captured an entire city with only two people by his side. Himself and a girl slightly older than him.

Two main opinions had formed about Jon.

Some dismissed his victory as a mere fluke, fuelled purely by luck. A campaign like Jon's was nothing but a reckless gamble bordering a reckless suicide. If not for his luck, this group believed, that his head would have been mounted on a spike by now.

Others, though in minority, believed that this boy Aeos was no simple character. They agreed luck might have played a part, but even reluctantly, they had to acknowledge the brilliance it took to pull it off. That was no ordinary feat. To capture a city from the very forces that it had trained and prepared. Extraordinary!

A third, larger group, mostly people from cities far removed from Astapor, chose to not form an opinion and reserve their judgement judgment. They decided to watch and wait for Aeos's next move before forming an opinion on his capabilities. They did not want to react in haste. They were keeping all their options open.

Although Jon had declared his ambition to build an empire, many took that claim with a grain of salt. It was believed nothing more than a moment of spur, a pretence to rouse his army. They doubted anyone would truly dare attempt to conquer the whole of Essos.

The task Jon had entrusted to Freydron was also completed. With skill and diligence, Freydron had divided the army exactly as Jon had instructed, placing men into positions that matched their abilities.

Meanwhile, Astapor had changed dramatically. The bustling markets that once teemed with people were now mostly empty. In the wake of Aeos's rise, merchants avoided the city out of fear of further violence.

Only a few ventured in, and they were mostly grain traders who were willing to take risk to profit from the precarious situation of Astapor.

With slave trading halted and brothels shuttered by Jon's orders, the city's economy had collapsed almost overnight. While some other trades still functioned, they were nothing compared to the scale of the slave markets and prostitution that once dominated Astapor.

Even so, Jon was not overly concerned. For immediate needs, the wealth he personally possessed, now supplemented by the fortunes of the dead Good Masters was more than enough to sustain things for a while. That span of time was all Jon needed to begin reviving Astapor's economy.

Before establishing a proper administrative structure for his growing domain, economic recovery was his first priority and he was already moving to achieve it.

To rebuild the economy and establish a stable source of income for himself and his future conquests, Jon had moved ahead with two fields immediately.

The first was alcohol. Alcohol was immensely popular across both Essos and Westeros. Whether it was a wealthy merchant, an aristocratic lord, a common tradesman, or a dirt-poor beggar. Everyone sought alcohol. Both continents were already saturated with countless varieties.

Into this crowded market, Jon planned to introduce his own. He had taken over the local breweries in Astapor, though they were still employed in running the brewery.

Alcohol brewing was something Jon had studied in detail in his previous life. Although he had never stepped inside a real factory, he had watched enough instructional videos to know the processes by heart.

For his venture, Jon chose five types of alcohol to produce. Vodka, Wine, Whisky, Rum, and Beer.

He secured the necessary raw materials, grains like wheat and barley, and grapes and had already demonstrated the process once to the brewery workers.

Mass production was now underway, and soon Astapori alcohol would flow across Essos and Westeros.

The second field Jon targeted was the construction industry.

Stone masonry in Essos was an expensive affair. Most buildings were made of stone, which had to be quarried, transported, cut, and carved. These were luxuries only wealthy merchants and nobles could afford.

The majority of common folk lived in houses made of mud. Jon intended to transform the construction industry by introducing simpler, more cost-effective materials. Bricks, cement, and limestone powder.

He planned to bring in kiln-fired bricks, the backbone of construction in his previous life. These bricks would be joined and reinforced with cement, then coated with white limestone powder for a clean finish.

While not as sturdy as stone for defensive structures, they were perfectly adequate for most needs. Even for fortifications, unless faced with heavy siege weapons like catapults, thick brick walls would hold. For instance, Dothraki horsemen would never breach a properly built brick wall.

Fortunately for Jon, Essos was rich in the necessary resources. The stones needed to make cement and the limestone for powder were plentiful.

Paints in Essos and Westeros were naturally derived and expensive. Limestone would provide a much cheaper alternative. A wall painted wall with limestone might not be as decorative, but it would serve its purpose.

This was the path Jon had started to move towards. His priority was to consolidate and transform Astapor. Although, he would be investing a certain amount of time in Astapor, he believed it was necessary.

Once the transformation was complete and its effects visible, Jon would garner humongous local support from the poor of the other cities. And by that time, the economic might of Astapor would also be a challenge that could not be ignored by other cities.

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