Chapter 116: Chapter 57: Desire of the Black Rose—Chamber of Pleasure

The construction of Lake Reiflin is not only for fish farming, but also serves as a reservoir and water conservancy facility.

To its west and south, dwarf engineers have led people to construct a continuous dam here, setting up gates, with irrigation channels below.

With this magnificent lake, the territory’s most important agricultural area, Jorn Shallow Bay, can ensure stable harvests regardless of droughts or floods, covering an area of 300,000 mu.

And in response to the disaster approaching Tal, this will also be the territory’s most critical flood control facility.

Su Li then asked Vandar, “How is the dam construction going here?”

Considering the time, Tal’s hurricane has already started making landfall on the northern coast of the Sea of Grey Mist, and it won’t be long before the torrential rain brought by the hurricane hits, so the completion of these water conservancy facilities is crucial for the territory’s farming and agriculture.

Speaking of this, Vandar’s expression became somewhat grave. He shook his head and said, “Not optimistic. Due to the reduction of ogres, our progress on water conservancy facilities has been significantly delayed. Even if we take mud from the lake nearby to construct the dam, the dam has barely reached 80 li. This is even with the accelerated command of the dwarf engineers.”

The addition of dwarf engineering masters has indeed provided great help to the territory.

They possess a long history and engineering experience; in terms of water conservancy construction, no ordinary person in the territory can compare to them.

Su Li remembered that even his own nation, which was extremely skilled in farming in his previous life, historically only managed to integrate the lakebed silt with embankment dams effectively during Su Shi’s governance of West Lake and Su Hang.

The dwarf engineering masters also have expertise and tools at their disposal. If they can’t build it fast enough, it means that with the current capacity of the territory, no one can expedite the project further.

The shortage of manpower in the territory is indeed a big problem; however, the Forest Robber Gang has been mostly eradicated, the position of the Mountain People remains undiscovered, the dwarf exploration teams are still wandering in the deep mountains, and the northern followers of the Fiery Sun Goddess moving southward are on an unknown and long migration journey.

In trying to address the manpower issue in the territory, Su Li didn’t have any optimal solutions and could only collect a little bit each day.

Vandar also said, “It seems unlikely that we can achieve a surge in manpower in the short term with the current situation. So the dwarf engineers have also devised a backup flood control plan.”

Saying this, he led Su Li to the side of the dam, pointing to the fertile tens of thousands of acres of the shallow bay plain below, indicating a channel under intense construction, “The dwarf engineers’ plan is, since building a dam might not be timely, to prepare for two outcomes. In case the rain is too severe for the current dam, we can use the channel below for drainage.”

Su Li looked at this wide channel, noting that several drainage ditches had already been planned in advance in the plain below, but none was as large as this one. He sensed this channel was nearly twenty meters wide, too extravagant for mere drainage!

So Su Li’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Could the dwarves be planning to construct this channel into a canal?”

The Jorn Shallow Bay below is currently the territory’s most important project; all the territory’s construction, including reservoirs, dams, channels, even bridges and roads, support this fertile farmland.

Around this wide channel, thin and long channels cross horizontally and vertically, segmenting the land into blocks of flat farmland. Interwoven roads connect all the land, and in the future, if trees such as jujubes, mulberries, and elms are planted along the roads and field edges, forming tree belts, this place will become a pastoral scene of idyllic beauty. At that time, when the crops mature, winds passing over the expansive golden wheat fields, the scenery will be strikingly beautiful.

Vandar smiled and explained, “Lord, you’re indeed perceptive. Indeed, this large channel is planned to be constructed into a canal, connecting to both the Black Water River and Brionne River. Then, the grain from the fields can be shipped directly to the castle and docks in Hesse Town, and then stored in granaries. Also, the surrounding channels link to this canal, providing some drainage effect.”

This grain is all Su Li’s property; the output of the territory’s serfs belongs entirely to Su Li.

However, transporting and storing so much grain is not an easy task. Historically, transporting grain via canal has been the most efficient and convenient method.

If all these tens of thousands of jin of grain are rapidly transported to the castle, the castle truly lacks sufficient granaries.

Su Li asked, “Some of the grain still needs to be ground nearby; how are the windmills and mills coming along?”

Vandar pointed far to the south, saying, “The threshing area is already prepared; it’s only a matter of leveling the ground. Each village and each farmstead nearby has such a facility. The West Merchant Association has already established three windmills and mills around the Brionne River, using their own workforce. Their workers cut the wood and built the facilities. By then, they might charge us a fee.”

Charging is only natural, as profit is what attracts investment from these merchants.

Su Li smiled and said, “Let them charge as they will, their funds can’t flow out, only enhancing the prosperity of our territory. The more merchant associations visit, the better. Ultimately, the money they earn either pays taxes or is spent purchasing goods within our territory.”

Hesse earns, Hesse spends, not a penny wanting to take home. This is not an exaggerated slogan.

Despite the overall poverty of the Hesse Territory, Hesse possesses high-quality specialties. Merchant associations visiting Hesse are sure to spend every gold coin and then return fully loaded.

If they stay in Hesse for a while longer, things could get serious; these merchants, with their somewhat gambling personalities, might even end up pawning everything they have here.

Su Li successfully built the first brothel in Hesse Territory, named Desire of the Black Rose.

Indeed, it has emptied every penny from the caravan workers and mercenaries.

This pleasure chamber does not follow the vulgar path of carnal desire, where scantily clad girls stand seductively in front of patrons, twisting their thighs, breasts, and buttocks, pure yet alluring, brimming with spring allure.

On the contrary, under Su Li’s guidance, the focus is on massage and relaxation, giving these travelers a feeling of returning home.

Inside, there are over forty female slaves, each with her own unique tragic story, emphasizing understanding and touching the heartstrings.

For example, a few wise girls would say: “Brother, don’t come next time, you’re running around, licking blood off the knife’s edge, earning money isn’t easy, save well. If you really miss me, choose the lowest package, sister will normally take care of you, save up to marry a good wife, don’t come to someone like me.”

“Thank you for always helping me with my performance, appearing when I need it. Unfortunately, sister is cursed, didn’t meet you during happier times. Next life, I won’t do this, I will marry you. I love you, the money you spent on me these days, I’ve saved it all for you, haven’t touched a single coin, don’t come again. Find a better woman than me, treat her well.”

This emotional impact is absolutely unparalleled. How can these lifelong struggling lumberjacks and mercenaries withstand this? This is not a beauty trap, clearly it’s a loving yet ill-fated lover placed by destiny! It’s a test from the Goddess of Love.

Thus they angrily scold the owner for his lack of humanity, then lavishly spend gold coins, and crazily opt for the pricier 92 package over 98.

92/95/98 correspond to the services offered by the fairies in their eyes, the lowest surely being manual relief, while the slightly higher one, a taste of widely sampled lips, and the highest level package doesn’t need much explanation.

A simple change in style brings great satisfaction to both parties involved. Sometimes, an intoxicated customer rushes in anger, making a scene to take away a lost lover, even spending ten Golden Crowns for her ransom.

The way things are going, Hesse Territory might soon produce a few courtesans attracting countless dashing playboys and minstrels to linger here.

However, at the end of the day, this is a lowly affair, for the territory to be prosperous, it must rely on industry and agriculture.

No agriculture, no stability; no industry, no wealth; no commerce, no vibrancy; no knight, no strength!

So Su Li only thought briefly about the territory’s commercial activities before quickly refocusing on Jorn Shallow Bay, telling Vandar: “We still need to find a way to increase the number of ogres and speed up territory construction. This project at Jorn Shallow Bay has consumed too much of our energy, and the ogre engineering team lacks the capacity to build more houses and facilities.”

Although Hesse Town has developed to some extent, due to limited engineering resources, there are only thirty or so new buildings, while the remaining forty to fifty are the old dilapidated, humble houses patched and repaired over and over.

As he was speaking, the Minister of the Seal, Lauren, rode over, the galloping hooves carrying excitement and vigor. If not for his emphasis on etiquette and bearing, he might have shouted from afar.

But indeed, his manners were commendable, consistently maintaining the demeanor expected of a Minister of the Seal, until he rode up to about ten meters from Su Li, then dismounted, handing the reins to the Apprentice Knight, Carl, who came up to greet him.

After adjusting his attire, he briskly walked up to Su Li and said: “My Lord, the best news for the territory right now, the Balantangborne Clan has returned, bringing back more than a hundred ogre mercenaries!”

“More than a hundred ogres!”

“More than a hundred ogres?!” Su Li and the Minister of Agriculture, Vandar, exclaimed in unison.

Then Su Li excitedly and joyfully asked: “How did they bring back so many ogres all at once?”

This surprise was truly overwhelming, almost bordering on scaring!

He and Vandar were just worrying about the shortage of manpower in the territory, but now the situation has taken a sharp turn, perhaps he will worry about too much manpower and insufficient food.

After all, these ogres are extremely capable, comparable to engineering machinery, yet they also eat significantly!

Only a large amount of food can ensure their immense strength, even outperforming ordinary people when moving bricks on a construction site, contributing to prosperity.

Lauren smiled and said: “They brought not only these ogres, but also many other immigrants. The situation is very complex, hard to explain briefly. The patriarch of the Balantangborne Clan, Hartskline, is waiting with people in the castle to discuss matters with you.”

Now Su Li couldn’t care less about the current project, if he could negotiate with these Half-Elves, having over a hundred ogres join the engineering team, all current difficulties will be easily resolved.

So he dusted off the dirt on his hands, immediately mounted his horse, and said: “Let’s go, back to the castle. Let’s see what’s going on, where did they get so many ogres?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep