Besides these two major projects, Henwell is also preparing to try building bridges. 

Constructing a bridge over a wide river like the Ouse, which spans several hundred meters, is quite challenging. 

But that doesn’t mean Henwell isn’t willing to give it a shot. 

Peace Haven will inevitably need high-tech structures like this. 

Planning ahead, learning through trial and error, training the team, and gaining experience, Henwell has plenty of reasons to pursue this. 

Of course, progress can’t be rushed or too ambitious at once. 

They start small and build up gradually. The canal bridges planned for the upcoming canal excavation present a perfect opportunity. 

Never built a big bridge before? No problem! 

First, build the bridge, then dig the canal underneath. 

Henwell has blueprints and technical specs to support the team’s training. 

Once the land-based bridge construction is completed and inspected, they’ll try building bridges over flowing canal waters. 

Next, they’ll construct smaller bridges over tributaries of the Ouse River. 

The final step will be building a large-scale bridge spanning the main Ouse River itself. 

With infrastructure plans settled, attention turns to factories. 

Smelting plants are the most critical. The three smelting factories now relocated by the Ouse River begin harnessing water power. 

The previously secret smelting plant has been transformed into a new experimental smelting zone focused on developing extraordinary alloys. 

Last year, Peace Haven aimed for 15,000 tons of steel production but exceeded expectations with 18,000 tons by year-end. 

This year, the three smelting plants have stabilized production and are expected to reach 25,000 tons of steel. 

As the use of water power becomes more refined, steel output will continue to rise. 

Peace Haven doesn’t plan to build new steel factories this year. The smelting furnaces are already the latest generation, and technology keeps improving. 

Once smelting workers master the current methods, further improvements are sure to follow. 

Only after another round of technological iteration will Henwell consider expanding the smelting plants. 

For now, the annual steel output of over 20,000 tons is sufficient. 

Rather than wasting resources producing excessive basic steel, it’s better to wait for more advanced technology and better steel before scaling up production.

Peace Haven is now focusing on selling high-quality steel rather than competing in the low-end market. 

The simplest smelting processes will be delegated to industrial zones across the region to maintain local steel and equipment sales. 

Mining, closely tied to smelting, remains a key focus for Henwell. 

With the growing experience of exploration teams, Peace Haven has built a sizable and increasingly specialized geological survey group. 

Several important mineral veins have been discovered within Peace Haven’s territory. 

Among them are some high-quality, open-pit mines, most notably iron and coal deposits. 

The tough labor of mining attracts many newcomers, who must first spend a year or so working in the mines to save their initial capital. 

Only then do they get a chance to come to Peace Haven to learn various technical skills. 

In other industries, a few sectors still suffer from a shortage of highly skilled workers. 

The watchmaking industry stands out the most, with demand far exceeding supply. 

The head of Peace Watch Industry has offered many products and even convinced Battle Knights from the military to moonlight as pocket watch craftsmen. 

It’s understandable, producing such delicate, finely crafted pieces requires the steady hands only a Battle Knight can provide. 

However, as tools become more specialized and precision improves, knights of lower rank can also step in as watchmakers. 

Peace Haven has no shortage of knights, allowing Peace Watch Industry to ensure at least ten knights work in the factory daily. 

Of course, this is still a luxury. 

Now, master watchmakers are researching ways to improve technology. 

It won’t be long before knight attendants can fully handle this work. 

Meanwhile, high salaries attract and train more watchmaking craftsmen who will gradually take over the role.

Beyond watches, the second best-selling product is Peace Haven’s telescopes. 

These devices are incredibly useful, and even now, official orders from Vorry haven’t been fulfilled yet! 

Henwell originally thought advances in glassmaking technology would come only after mirrors became widespread. 

But the telescope’s popularity has driven continuous improvements in glass production, leading to significant breakthroughs. 

Peace Haven’s glass factory now produces not only high-performance glass for telescopes but also begins installing standard glass on carriages. 

Even several government departments have purchased glass for aesthetic and practical reasons. 

With trade picking up, Peace Haven’s Grand Carriage industry has received many orders. 

Every merchant caravan arriving in Peace Haven leaves with several carriages, not freight wagons, but two- and four-wheeled passenger carriages. 

The comfort of Grand Carriage vehicles has earned widespread praise. 

It’s not just nobles from the Vorry Kingdom; aristocrats from neighboring countries also rave about them. 

The shock absorption system is straightforward, and many places can now replicate this type of carriage. 

But the problem remains: cost and quality still lag far behind Peace Haven’s Grand Carriage industry. 

At the same price, Peace Haven’s products are better. 

At the same quality, Peace Haven’s products are cheaper. 

This is the enormous advantage brought by industrial standardization. 

Add to that Peace Haven’s prestigious reputation, and buyers naturally prefer to purchase carriages here. 

If you can afford a carriage, you can afford horses and drivers too. 

This isn’t something ordinary people consume, so price differences hardly matter. 

The steady stream of orders and constant feedback have pushed Peace Haven’s carriage makers to keep improving their craft nonstop. 

Each type of carriage has already undergone multiple rounds of upgrades. 

During Henwell’s westward journey, he spent several months as a carriage mechanic, experiencing all kinds of terrain and offering many constructive suggestions for improvements. 

Other civilian products have also steadily improved thanks to Peace Haven’s aggressive exports. 

Small workshops in surrounding areas have been squeezed out, forcing many artisans to leave their hometowns and seek work in Peace Haven. 

Henwell offers these grassroots engineers attractive pay to integrate them into the industrial system, contributing to the iterative development of industrial products. 

Moreover, seemingly minor components like bearings, springs, and gears, which play crucial roles in the industrial ecosystem, have also seen significant breakthroughs. 

Everything grows little by little over time. 

Technology especially works this way! 

Geniuses with sudden flashes of inspiration are rare. 

More often, progress depends on those grassroots engineers making small, steady improvements.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep