In the days that followed, Blackstone Pass entered an unprecedented state of busyness.
Under Roderick's command, the entire territory, like a sleeping giant awakened, began to rumble.
On the training ground, Captain Beren led the Old Guard, wholeheartedly immersed in the training provided by Shadow Guard Number One and its elite.
Initially, the members of the Old Guard were still somewhat unconvinced, believing that those "soldiers from the sky" were merely lucky and well-equipped.
However, with a command from Shadow Guard Number One, the one hundred elites of the Blackstone Guard displayed astonishing tactical proficiency and physical superiority.
Their formations were neat, every sword swing and shield block precise and fluid, as if operated by a single person.
Running, weighted marches, and combat techniques, they were proficient in all.
What shocked the Old Guard even more was the strange tacit agreement among these Guard members; whether coordinating defense in a formation or collaborating in a small team assault, they demonstrated efficiency as if their arms were extensions of their will.
Shadow Guard Number One was not just about displaying strength; he was also an excellent instructor.
He strictly followed the training outline provided by Roderick, integrating modern military concepts into Westeros's cold weapon combat.
For example, understanding formations, small team tactical coordination, the importance of battlefield discipline, and how to remain calm in a melee while finding enemy weaknesses.
At first, the Old Guard complained bitterly, many were exhausted, and some even wanted to quit.
But Roderick personally visited the training ground every day.
He was no longer just an observer but personally supervised the training, occasionally engaging in demonstrative sword sparring with Shadow Guard Number One.
In these spars, Roderick's swordsmanship impressed everyone.
His swordplay was concise and practical, without flashy moves, yet always capable of subduing opponents in the most direct and effective way.
This was not only the original Roderick's swordsmanship foundation but also incorporated his understanding of modern combat techniques from his previous life, as well as some combat instinct bonuses brought by the system.
"Courage alone is foolishness; strength alone is barbarism."
One time, Roderick told the panting guards on the training ground, "Only by combining courage with wisdom, and integrating strength with discipline, can one become a true warrior!"
His words, coupled with his innate leadership charisma (Charm Aura effect) and extraordinary swordsmanship display, gradually ignited the enthusiasm of the Old Guard.
They began to believe that following such a My Lord might truly lead to great achievements.
Captain Beren was even more convinced by Roderick, as if he saw the hope of the Blackstone Family's rise.
Meanwhile, Maester Greg was also incredibly busy.
Following Roderick's instructions, he gathered all the craftsmen in the territory, especially blacksmiths and masons.
Under the guidance of the [Elementary Mineral Prospecting and Smelting Technology] dictated by Roderick, he had them take simple tools and dig at several locations Roderick marked on the map.
Initially, after several days of digging with no results, the craftsmen all thought Roderick was fantasizing.
But Roderick showed extraordinary patience and persistence.
He even personally went to the site, guiding them on how to identify signs of ore veins and how to dig deeper.
The assistance of the system's [Intelligence Insight] allowed him to precisely point out the digging direction, greatly improving efficiency.
Just as everyone was about to give up, a miracle happened.
"My Lord! We found it! Oh my god! We really found it!"
It was the morning of the fifth day when Greg burst into Roderick's study, his face covered in mud, his voice trembling with excitement.
In his hands, he held several heavy ore samples, black with a hint of dark red, clearly different from ordinary stones.
Roderick took the ore, and the system immediately popped up a system prompt in his mind:
[High-quality iron ore sample discovered!]
[Congratulations, Host! Mission "Activate 'Elementary Mineral Prospecting and Smelting Technology' and successfully mine the first batch of high-quality iron ore" has been completed!]
[Mission Reward: overlord points x200, partial system store functions unlocked, special reward: 'Elementary Mining Tools Blueprint' set, 'Elementary Miner Training Camp' construction blueprint.]
Roderick was overjoyed internally, but showed no emotion on the surface.
"This is high-quality iron ore, better than any ore we've mined before.
Greg, immediately organize manpower for large-scale mining, and as I said, build an open-pit mine, and at the same time, begin constructing a blast furnace ironworks near the mountain spring.
Prioritize recruiting strong vagrants and idle laborers; Blackstone Pass has work for them!"
Roderick's tone was filled with excitement and decisiveness.
Greg nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with fervor.
He had never imagined that this barren Blackstone Pass contained such a treasure!
And it was this young My Lord, with his mysterious ability to seemingly see through the earth, who had discovered it!
Similarly, the work on Chief Steward Rolan's side was also effective.
He strictly followed the [Advanced Agricultural Technology Blueprint] provided by Roderick, organizing farmers to conduct crop rotation trials and, under Roderick's guidance, digging irrigation canals to improve irrigation.
The farmers were full of curiosity and doubt about this new farming method, but when they saw that after spring plowing, the germination speed and growth of seeds in the trial fields were significantly better than in traditionally cultivated fields, everyone was shocked.
Roderick also took the opportunity to tour the territory, conversing cordially with the farmers.
He described to them a future of abundance, free from the worries of hunger.
His words were highly infectious, and coupled with the effect of the Charm Aura, they brought a long-lost sense of hope to these struggling common folk.
[Public sentiment increased: Blackstone Pass territory public sentiment +5.]
[system prompt: Your territory's public sentiment has reached the "Slightly Improved" level, gaining overlord points x50.]
All tasks were proceeding in an orderly fashion, and the changes in Blackstone Pass were visible to the naked eye.
The Guard became more elite, new iron ore was transported out of the mines daily, the blast furnace ironworks began to take shape, and the fields started to show vibrant life.
Just then, Roderick received news from Winterfell and Riverrun.
Robin Arryn, the new My Lord of the Vale, became increasingly unstable after the death of his father, Jon Arryn.
And Eddard Stark of Winterfell also received a letter from King Robert Baratheon, and was about to set off for King's Landing to serve as Hand of the King.
The gears of the plot had already begun to turn.
"Rolan, what did the letter from Winterfell say?" Roderick asked.
Rolan handed a letter sealed with direwolf wax to Roderick: "It's news brought by a raven from Winterfell; Duke Eddard Stark is about to go south to King's Landing to become King Robert's Hand. The letter is just a routine notification and does not mention the Blackstone Family. However, there is also news from Riverrun that Lady Catelyn Tully is heading to King's Landing for this matter."
Roderick nodded; everything was as in the story.
He looked at the map; Winterfell was far in the North, King's Landing in the South, with the Narrow Sea coast and large inland areas in between.
Blackstone Pass, however, was located on the edge of The Riverlands and the Westerlands, a somewhat awkward geographical position, yet it also had its strategic value.
"Also, there's another letter from Riverrun, My Lord." Rolan handed over another letter sealed with Riverrun's red leaping fish wax.
Roderick opened the envelope and quickly scanned it.
The letter was written by Edmure Tully, son of Duke Hoster Tully, and its tone was full of the condescension of a superior towards a subordinate, informing the Blackstone Family that due to the sudden death of his father, Herman Blackstone, Riverrun would send an agent to Blackstone Pass in half a month to "condole," ostensibly to inspect family affairs, but in reality, to probe for weaknesses and seize opportunities.
"Heh, as expected." Roderick sneered.
This was to be expected.
Duke Hoster Tully was old, and his mediocre heir, Edmure Tully, was clearly unable to withstand the pressure from Tywin Lannister, nor could he truly control The Riverlands.
Roderick knew that the Tully Family's move was not a simple condolence.
They either wanted to take advantage of the situation to further weaken the Blackstone Family, to prevent him from "growing too powerful";
Or they wanted to use the opportunity to interfere in the affairs of Blackstone Pass, especially its mineral resources.
It was even possible they were scouting for the Lannister Family.
After all, in the original story, it was Catelyn Tully's arrest of Tyrion Lannister that completely ignited the fuse of the War of the Five Kings.
And before that, the Lannister Family had already been eyeing The Riverlands covetously.
He had to demonstrate the Blackstone Family's formidable strength and his personal authority before the Tully Family's "agent" arrived.
"Rolan, spread the word that there has been a major discovery in the Blackstone Pass's ore veins, and large-scale mining is about to begin. At the same time, tell the vagrants that anyone who seeks shelter and work with the Blackstone Family will receive ample food and fair compensation." Roderick's tone was calm, but his eyes were full of deep meaning.
"My Lord, this..." Rolan hesitated, "If the news gets out, it might attract more covetousness."
Roderick shook his head: "Attracting covetousness is inevitable. But if they think we are lambs to be slaughtered, then they will truly bite. What we need now is to let them know that Blackstone Pass is no longer the Blackstone Pass of the past. We have the ability to protect our output."
"As for the envoys from the Tully Family, we need to give them a 'surprise'." Roderick's lips curved into a playful arc, "Go and give the order, those one hundred elite Blackstone Guard need no longer hide. Have them wear their best armor, patrol the city walls, and demonstrate at the city gates. Captain Beren, also mobilize half of the Old Guard to drill using the new Blackstone Guard's training methods."
"Additionally, I want my Guard to be fully equipped with new fine steel weapons." Roderick looked at Greg, "Greg, how is the ironworks progressing?"
Greg excitedly replied: "My Lord! The blast furnace ironworks has been completed, and a batch of pig iron was successfully produced yesterday! The quality is many times higher than our previous blacksmith shops!"
"Excellent!" Roderick's eyes lit up, "Immediately organize all blacksmiths to re-smelt and temper this high-quality pig iron according to the blueprints I described yesterday, to forge stronger armor and sharper longswords!"
[System Side Quest: Forge the first batch of "Blackstone Fine Steel" weapons, equipping at least 50 soldiers.]
[Mission Reward: overlord points x100, unlock "system store" intermediate weapon and equipment options.]
Roderick felt even more certain.
He wanted the Tully Family's envoys to know that Blackstone Pass now had enough confidence!
He returned to his desk and spread out the map.
His slender finger lightly traced the road on the map leading to Riverrun.
The game of thrones, he had officially entered.
And this small piece of land would be his first chessboard.
The storm was coming, but he was no longer the helpless youth he once was.
He, Roderick Blackstone, would personally control this storm, and perhaps, become the storm itself.