CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107: COLLECTIVE WISDOM AND EFFORT_1

It seems that the threat of the Evil God isn’t limited to Hamlet; all over the world, various odd things are beginning to surface.

Or rather, humanity in this world is constantly suffering from the encroachment of Supernatural Power. It’s just that these affairs are all concealed by the Church, along with the Empire’s officials, so the common people remain unaware.

Difficult indeed.

Lance frowned in deep thought, and for a moment, Dismas and the others fell silent as well.

"Go and call Susan and Walter for me. I am going to announce the next arrangements for the territory."

Soon, everyone gathered around the table.

"You are all here today as the key personnel of this territory. Next, I will explain what the territory needs to accomplish, and I hope you won’t disappoint me."

Lance wasted no words and directly spread the recently drawn map in front of everyone.

"To put it simply, the territory needs to do only three things next. First, continue to advance the urban planning and reconstruction projects. Second, survey the existing farmland while simultaneously reclaiming wasteland. Third, form a merchant caravan to restore external trade."

With that said, Lance looked at everyone.

"Barton, I will hand the project blueprints over to you. You’ll be responsible for the follow-up. The main focus will be on the South District, which was more than half-destroyed by bandits. Repair those houses. Any with damaged structures are to be demolished and rebuilt. I need housing for at least a thousand people. Do you have any problems with that?"

"No!" Barton responded immediately, sensing this mission held special significance for him.

Rebuilding the structures he had destroyed was also an opportunity for him to atone for his sins.

Lance, however, didn’t quite understand why Barton was being so solemn. He had assigned Barton this task simply because, with his military academy training, Barton was unlikely to misinterpret the blueprints. Apart from Lance himself, few others could decipher those planning diagrams.

But he didn’t dwell on it, instead turning to point at the map.

"Walter, you’re in charge of surveying all current landholdings and then cataloging them. Mobilize the prisoners to reclaim wasteland around the town. I’ll have Balistan lead soldiers to assist. Susan, you’re in charge of managing logistics."

As he spoke, Lance’s gaze once again fell on the map, his hand tracing the distance from Hamlet to Ovando.

"I, along with Dismas and Reynard, will lead ten soldiers to form a merchant caravan to Ovando. We’ll sell the territory’s resources and bring back necessary supplies."

The next moment, his fingertip traced the route from Ovando to Totnes on the map.

"Reynard and the soldiers will be responsible for escorting the supplies back. Dismas and I will take a ship to Totnes. Afterward, I plan to bring back roughly a thousand refugees. Do you all understand my arrangements?"

Lance’s logic was simple: development required people.

Where would the people come from?

Refugees were scattered everywhere. Those who managed to reach Totnes would have undoubtedly undergone a selection process, filtering out the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

And people needed food and lodging. They also had to be provided with farmland to cultivate or stable jobs.

Therefore, surveying the land was preparation for future land allocation. Reclaiming land and the reconstruction projects would create many job opportunities, giving them work.

Once he integrated this new population, he would have the capability to advance toward the dungeon. Otherwise, the town, currently with fewer than a thousand people, simply couldn’t support his operations.

Development! Development! And still, development!

"Do you have any questions?"

"My Lord, I must remind you that even if Hamlet’s land is fertile, it will take at least a year to turn wasteland into arable farmland, and two years for the first crop of grain to mature. Must we support these refugees until then?"

Susan, worried that the Lord might not be aware of these matters, had deliberately brought it up.

"I don’t plan to sell grain. The goods this merchant caravan will carry are mainly wool, linen cloth, refined salt, and preserved sea fish. The town’s grain supply is more than sufficient for our own consumption."

As he spoke, Lance sighed. "Several provinces in the central Empire are experiencing a drought that has caused a complete crop failure, leading to famine. Countless victims are now fleeing to surrounding areas. You have all experienced hunger, so you should know that feeling. We should save as many as we can. After all, they are human beings."

Lance didn’t reveal any overly complex calculations. To some extent, the emotions in his words were genuine.

The refugees could accelerate Hamlet’s development, and at the same time, he could save many people. Why not?

Only then did Walter understand why the Lord had previously asked him how long the granaries would last. It turned out the Lord had long considered providing relief to the refugees.

He had rarely encountered a Noble Lord like this, and the lingering resistance in his heart dissipated.

Initially, he had joined only under duress, compelled by force. But now, he truly admired Lance. Perhaps Hamlet would become great again under his leadership.

With this in mind, he sincerely offered his suggestions to the Lord.

"My Lord..."

Lance had only outlined the general direction; there were certainly many underlying problems that needed to be solved.

Detailed plans and arrangements slowly took shape during their discussion. Among them, Walter and Barton, possessing far greater insight than the others, were more adept at proposing suggestions and solving problems.

Now, Lance finally realized the importance of administrative talent for a territory. After all, he had been an ordinary person in his previous life. In this life, he was a scholar who hadn’t even graduated from an academy and possessed no governance experience.

"Alright, that’s the general plan for now. Everyone, go back and consider the specifics. If any issues arise, come find me."

Lance concluded the meeting that would determine the territory’s development direction for the foreseeable future.

He used to hate meetings, mainly because they involved listening to his superiors spout nonsense.

But now, having experienced it himself, he realized that collective brainstorming was indeed an efficient method. The real problem wasn’t the meeting format itself, but the people involved.

Everyone had matters to attend to and dispersed, but Lance kept Barton behind under the pretense of discussing the blueprints.

Barton had seen large cities with populations of one hundred thousand, so he hadn’t paid much mind to a small town. However, when Lance took out the blueprints and explained them, the modern design concepts left him profoundly shocked.

Sewer systems that typically only appeared in large cities, unique wastewater treatment systems, and individual toilets...

Even now, walking through some streets in Totnes, one risked having "feces poured over one’s head." Only the wealthy districts, which employed dedicated cleaners, were spared such indignities.

Of course, Lance hadn’t kept Barton behind merely for that reason; he needed more information about Totnes.

"You lived in Totnes. Tell me about the situation there."

Barton didn’t hesitate and proceeded to roughly describe the city.

Totnes was divided into three main areas: the Inner City, the Central City District, and the outer areas.

The Inner City and the Central City District were separated by the first city wall built during its initial construction. The Inner City was a typical wealthy enclave, boasting a pleasant environment and good public order, predominantly inhabited by the rich and powerful.