Early the next morning.

After breakfast, Lynn gathered all the villagers together.

Looking at the mass of figures on the empty ground before him, he felt an inexplicable sense of emotion.

Once starting off alone in hell, he had now become the lord of fifteen hundred villagers!

Looking at those honest faces and those pairs of eyes.

Lynn took a deep breath and began to speak.

The most important thing was for Lynn to reassign work to all of them.

Only through reasonable division of labor could the maximum labor force be exerted.

The total population of the village had now reached fifteen hundred!

Excluding the 150 in the Guard Team, 15 at Lex's Brewing Workshop, 15 at the Blacksmith Shop, and 10 at the Carpenter's House.

30 in the kitchen, plus Gavin and Wilbur with 10 farmers for weeding the 3,000 acres of pea fields.

200 at the Salt Factory and rock salt excavation, they just needed to maintain a daily output of 700 pounds of fine salt.

These 700 pounds of fine salt were the main economic source for the entire territory's survival.

Five people led by Guy for Breeding, Priest Old John with 20 children, and 200 digging the open-pit coal mine!

Anthracite was crucial for continuing to burn quicklime and for burning red bricks later.

The excavation could not stop.

Lynn assigned the remaining 850 people entirely to the construction of the city walls.

...

Gurgle gurgle!

In the pit, quicklime reacted with river water.

Under immense heat, plumes of white mist rose.

Before Lynn, there were over thirty pits, all fervently burning lime.

Forty to fifty villagers continuously loaded the burnt and cooled lime into wooden barrels, which were then placed on wagons.

Under the guidance and urging of the villagers, wagons moved along the lime trail through the forests toward the mountain entrance.

By the distant banks of the Acadia River, fifty to sixty villagers were digging river sand.

River sand, unlike desert sand, had distinct particles.

It often contained much soil, grass roots, and other impurities.

After excavation, it needed to be washed, processed, and dried.

This ensured the river sand mixed more thoroughly and evenly with lime and stones.

Lynn, with Red, rode behind the wagons to inspect.

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

The hooves of ordinary horses clicked crisply on the ground.

Passing through the wasteland, Lynn arrived at the forested area.

Teams of figures busily worked there.

Groups of twenty, under temporary captains' leadership, cleared trees and soil at the mountain pass.

Cross pickaxes struck rock continuously, producing deafening sounds.

Trees, cut and sawed by either an Iron Saw or Iron Axe, after limb removal, were neatly piled together.

These logs could later be used to transport stones for city wall construction.

Massive stones were also being pulled to the mountain pass by draft horses.

Ahoy!

Ahoy!

Ahoy...

Uniform chants echoed continuously in the forest.

...

Not far away, Colin wore a stern expression.

Lynn had appointed him as the chief in charge!

Such a massive project even felt taxing for an experienced craftsman like him.

However, after last night's instructions from Master Lynn, Colin felt confident they could complete it.

He shifted his gaze, seeing Lynn indeed riding and inspecting from a distance.

Colin fully understood the importance of the fortifications and recognized Lynn's trust by entrusting such a large project to him.

He withdrew his gaze and addressed the dozen or so people ahead, "Gentlemen, have you completed the site survey? Now, what we need to do is organize the personnel for construction!"

The dozen or so people ahead withdrew their gaze.

They quickly responded, "Of course, Colin, whatever you say, we will do."

"Yes, although we are stonemasons, our skills are nowhere near as professional as you, Colin..."

Colin nodded.

These were ordinary stonemasons, usually only building stone houses at most.

Seeing the entire forest bustling and the city wall being built as planned, Lynn finally pulled the horse's reins, heading back to the village.

Red closely followed.

As Lynn returned to the village, Lex came briskly to greet him.

Stepping knowingly in front of Lynn's horse, he held the reins, bringing the horse to a stop.

Lynn dismounted, and Lex said with a beaming smile.

"Master Lynn, I have good news!"

Lynn raised his eyebrows, silent for a moment.

Lex continued without pause.

"The hops you fenced in have all blossomed!"

A look of surprise spread across Lynn's face.

However, after pondering briefly, he realized it was already August.

The season of hop maturation.

Lynn stepped forward, walking toward a spot not far from the village.

Lex and Red followed closely.

With Rose in charge of training and handling the territory's defense forces, Red had become Lynn's personal guard.

No matter where he went, Red shadowed him.

Walking along the newly paved lime road, Lynn stood amidst lush green plants.

Hanging above the greenery were clusters of off-white bracts.

Even before picking them, Lynn could clearly smell the hops' aroma.

His hand moved, plucking a hop flower, its soft feel covering him immediately.

[Mature Hop]: Can be used for brewing beer, adding flavor and aroma; can be used in medicine, with effects like improving digestion, anti-tuberculosis, calming the nerves, and diuretic.

Examining the hop in his hand, Lynn nodded in satisfaction.

After nearly half a year of waiting, the hops had finally matured.

Lynn looked at Lex and said.

"Call over all the apprentices from the brewing workshop, let's harvest these hops while the weather's good."

"Of course, Master Lynn."

Lex didn't hesitate, quickly heading to the brewing workshop.

In just a few minutes, a dozen or so people arrived at the hop plantation.

Lynn moved, taking a sickle from Lex's hand and began harvesting.

Growing hops wasn't easy.

Forming a scale like the current, with branches over a meter high, was even harder.

To ensure future collection, Lynn skillfully cut down the hops' vine bracts, placing them in the wicker basket at his feet.

[Collection Experience +1]

[Collection Experience +1]

[Collection Experience +1]

...

Experience points steadily increased little by little.

Lex organized the apprentices to join in harvesting.

Under the scorching sun, beads of sweat appeared on Lynn's face.

His back, even more so, was soaked through with sweat.

At this moment, Red, with a woven hat in hand, approached Lynn.

"Master Lynn."

Lynn glanced at him and said, "Help me put it on."

Red, adept at gauging people, wasn't as stern as one might imagine.

Without hesitation, Red helped Lynn put on the hat.

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