With the bridge construction proceeding in full swing, Arthur did not slack off on the discipline and reform of the wildling captives.
He stationed himself in the four-story watchtower, from where he could overlook both the bridge construction and the captive camp at all times.
After all, the captives numbered over a thousand. On his side, he only had 50 Starfall guards, 10 cavalrymen, and their commander, Ser Bard.
In addition, he had hired 50 spearmen from the disbanded levies, paying them a daily wage of 30 copper stars.
Many landless commoners and second sons were more than willing to accept this well-paid job.
Having been baptized and tempered by war, these levies were far braver and sharper than before. Holding their spears, they looked the part of proper soldiers.
Knock, knock, knock.
Jimmy Sunderland entered carrying a basin of bloody meat. "My Lord, the boat to the other bank is ready."
Arthur looked down at his breakfast of flatbread and purple olives. "While I am away from the tower, tell Ser Bard to keep a close eye on the wildlings. Don't let any trouble start."
"Understood," Jimmy replied, walking to a corner of the room with the basin.
Hanging there was a large cage containing the giant vulture Arthur had shot down with two arrows.
"My Lord, when do you think this vulture will yield?" Jimmy Sunderland's shoulder wound had largely healed after rest. He stood a safe distance from the cage, tossing meat inside.
"It's been almost a month since we captured it, and it's still as wild as ever."
Once, while feeding the giant vulture, Jimmy had tried to tease the injured bird and got too close. It pecked him.
His hand bled instantly. Adding a new wound before the old one healed was a painful lesson that kept him from getting too close to the cage again.
As he tossed chunks of meat from afar and watched the giant bird flap and eat, Jimmy thought to himself, How did My Lord shoot this vulture down and capture it? It's truly incredible.
"Grind it down slowly. There's no rush." Arthur washed down the bread with a cup of Summerwine. "We have plenty of time to tame it."
After warning Jimmy again not to get too close to the cage, Arthur went downstairs to head for Violet Canyon on the opposite bank.
As the boat crossed the river, Arthur could clearly see the cofferdam the wildlings had built under Quentyn's direction and the Stone-Goat chieftain's supervision.
The cofferdam must still be leaking somewhat, as Arthur occasionally saw wildlings standing inside, passing buckets to bail water out.
Nearby on the bank, a simple crane device had been set up to hoist wooden piles into the cofferdam.
"The wisdom of the working people is timeless."
Before Arthur could muse further, the boat reached the other side. He mounted Shadow and arrived at the camp set up by "Ledger" Pate in less than a quarter of an hour.
The camp was rudimentary, consisting of hide tents surrounded by a perimeter of sharpened wooden stakes.
The cleared ground around it was piled with timber and stone, while tools were stored inside the tents.
Although such a temporary camp wasn't comfortable to sleep in, it had the advantages of being cheap and portable.
When Arthur arrived, many people were gathered in the center of the camp, where the camp cook and several helpers were distributing boiled soup and food.
Guided by a Black Mamba swordsman, Arthur found Pate and Jal Bhar in a tent.
As soon as Arthur entered, he heard Jal Bhar speaking.
"I plan to use stone to build a settlement first. Solve the living conditions before thinking about anything else."
Jal Bhar looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot. Clearly, he hadn't slept well.
Arthur: "What were you doing last night?"
"My Lord, don't mention it. With this endless wilderness, what could I do?" The Summer Islander grimaced upon seeing him.
"At night, the howls of animals from the Red Mountains keep everyone awake."
Pate added, "It's not just Jal Bhar. Many people in the camp are worried about wildlings or beasts coming down from the mountains. They don't sleep well at night and have no energy to work in the morning."
"Especially the refugees who experienced the wildling raids. They fled to the east bank to escape, and now they've returned to the west bank. They live in a daze every day."
Arthur nodded. Building a territory from scratch on a blank slate was undoubtedly difficult, especially at the beginning.
Arthur comforted them. "There are indeed many problems, and conditions are tough. Let's solve them one by one. Build watchtowers, guard posts, and houses first."
Next, Arthur went to inspect the large iron mine and the simple quarry built nearby.
In the simple quarry, workers didn't even need to excavate; they simply moved the abundant raw stone blocks from the surface.
Pate: "Being close to the Red Mountains, stone is easy to get. Timber isn't bad either."
"In terms of supplies, we mainly lack food and basic tools. And everything has to be transported by boat from the other bank."
"But the main shortage is manpower. Workers, farmers, craftsmen, shepherds, guards... we lack everything."
Arthur: "Even with high wages, you can't recruit anyone?"
Pate shook his head with a bitter smile. "No one comes. Even raising the daily wage doesn't work. The war with the Vulture King was widely known."
"Even though we won, the smallfolk are still afraid."
"They would rather stay on the east bank than come to the west bank near the Red Mountains. Especially since this place is still a wilderness with nothing here."
"Maybe once the houses, watchtowers, and the bridge are built, the situation will improve."
Arthur nodded. He knew that territory development couldn't be rushed; it had to be done step by step.
When he established the Peach Orchard Manor in the Wolfswood back in the North, he had also proceeded one step at a time, solving problems as they arose.
Arthur summarized Pate's feedback: "Lack of safety, comfortable housing, and manpower. Are there any other urgent issues?"
"Those are the main ones," Pate thought for a moment and added.
"In this wilderness, many commoners need spiritual comfort. My Lord, if we could find a Septon of the Seven to come and preach, it should settle their hearts."
"A Septon?" Arthur clicked his tongue and thought carefully.
Indeed, in harsh and high-pressure environments, faith could bring comfort and release.
After all, chicken soup for the soul is still soup, and the illiterate smallfolk eat it up.
"But ordinary smallfolk don't want to come here. A Septon willing to come..."
Arthur sighed inwardly. "Looks like I'll have to persuade a man against his will."
After discussing the development issues of Violet Canyon with Pate, Arthur spent the afternoon surveying the surrounding area before taking the boat back to the four-story watchtower on the opposite bank.
Apart from Pate's few hundred people, Arthur saw no other souls in Violet Canyon—not even a shepherd.
The lowlands of the canyon contained only lush grass, trees, and wild animals, with many birds nesting on the cliff walls of the adjacent Red Mountains.
At the foot of the mountains, Arthur found some long-abandoned field ridges and dilapidated houses.
There were also a few sheep pens piled up with loose stones, likely built by the wildlings who had occupied the area previously.
Violet Canyon lacked people. It desperately needed people!
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