Inside the council chamber of Crystal Radiance, King Rodney XVIII and his ministers engaged in a heated discussion about strategies for attacking Paradise Basin.
Everyone looked troubled. The terrain, surrounded by mountains on three sides, was inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack. In addition, the family had built fortresses and arrow towers at the pass over the years. If the enemy was determined to hold the position, it seemed that there was no more effective way than a direct assault. However, if they launched a direct assault, the Royal Army would pay a heavy price, which was an outcome that no one wanted to see.
Just as the meeting reached a stalemate, the new army commander Harrison Abbott stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion. Since the defenses of Paradise Basin are so strong that ordinary weapons cannot break through them, why not purchase large mortars for siege from the Marquis of Glaeman in Northwest Bay?"
Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, he explained in detail: "When we reclaimed the territory occupied by the orcs, I personally witnessed the power of the mortar. Although the weapon is large, it can launch shells weighing over a hundred pounds over a kilometer away. The fragments that explode upon landing can destroy even sturdy stone walls. Even the orcs' log fortifications cannot withstand more than a few rounds of bombardment. If we can equip ourselves with such mortars, we can simply set them up outside the passage to Paradise Basin and bombard the Veblen Family's fortress from a distance, without having the soldiers brave a hail of arrows to launch a direct assault. This would reduce casualties and speed up the siege."
Harrison Abbott's words caused a stir in the council chamber, with many ministers nodding in agreement, believing it to be a good solution to the terrain dilemma.
However, Prince Jassim, sitting beside the King, frowned. After the discussion subsided, he expressed his concerns: " While Sir Abbott's proposal can solve the siege problem, I worry that it will make the Kingdom's new army even more dependent on Northwest Bay for technology and weapons. The Marquis of Glaeman's power is already growing, and if the new army has to buy even siege weapons from him, wouldn't we be at his mercy if our interests conflict in the future? In the long run, the new army's independence will be completely lost, and it may even be indirectly influenced by the Marquis of Glaeman, which is definitely not a good thing for the royal family."
Prince Jassim's concerns were like a bucket of cold water, instantly silencing the ministers who had initially favored purchasing mortars. King Rodney XVIII also fell into deep thought, torn between the allure of minimizing casualties and a smooth siege, and the concern about the new army's reliance on Northwest Bay. The choice he faced was a difficult one.
The debate in the council chamber over whether to purchase mortars stalled. King Rodney XVIII, looking at the silent ministers below, tapped the table lightly, temporarily setting aside the difficult issue of the siege strategy: "We'll discuss the mortars later. Right now, in the campaign against the Veblen Family, military provisions are also crucial. Lord Rupert, tell me about the royal domain's food reserves. Can they sustain a prolonged war?"
Duke Rupert immediately stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, last year was a bumper year. The agricultural harvest in the royal territory exceeded that of previous years, and the collected grain was enough to support the new army's campaign needs for more than three months. If it is allocated as needed, it can support the army for a year without any problem."
No sooner had he finished speaking than someone asked curiously, "Wangling has had occasional bumper harvests in the past, but never such abundant reserves. Why has there been such a breakthrough this year?"
Rupert explained with a smile, "This is all thanks to two things: 'Golden Fertilizer' fertilizer from Northwest Bay and the agricultural machinery there. Farms that used 'Golden Fertilizer' saw their wheat ears nearly twice as full as in previous years, and their corn stalks grew taller than a person, directly increasing yields by 30%. As for the agricultural machinery, the iron plows that can quickly turn the soil and the efficient sickle harvesters saved farmers a lot of manpower and allowed them to complete sowing and harvesting in a timely manner, avoiding yield reductions caused by delays in the planting season. It is these two things that have brought Wangling an unprecedented bumper harvest this year."
"Golden Fertilizer?" King Rodney XVIII's eyes flashed with curiosity. "This stuff has such miraculous effects? Can we produce it ourselves instead of relying on buying it from Northwest Bay?"
At this opportune moment, Count Merlin, the Minister of Intelligence, spoke up: "Your Majesty, I have investigated the source of 'Golden Fertilizer.' It is not artificially synthesized, but rather processed from 'guano mines.'"
"Guar guano mine?" The king frowned, clearly having never heard of the name before. "What kind of mine is that? Could it be some kind of special ore?"
"It's not ore, it's real bird guano," Earl Merlin explained in detail. "According to our intelligence, the Northwest Bay expedition fleet discovered several uninhabited islands in the Tranquil Ocean. These islands have no human activity, but because seabirds have lived there for thousands of years, they have accumulated thick layers of bird guano, some of which are tens of meters deep. The Northwest people mine this bird guano, remove impurities, mix it with a small amount of minerals, and then process it into 'Golden Fertilizer.' These islands have become Northwest Bay's 'fertilizer treasure trove.'"
After hearing Earl Merlin's explanation, King Rodney XVIII first showed surprise, then sighed softly, his words tinged with complex emotion: "Speaking of which, my brother-in-law Paul really is always one step ahead. Now he has found such a 'fertilizer treasure trove.' Northwest Bay's current prosperity is truly a testament to his vision and courage, which are unmatched by others." These words drew nods of agreement from the ministers in the council chamber. Whether in military or civilian affairs, Marquis Paul Greiman consistently produced impressive results, a fact universally acknowledged.
After his initial reflection, the king composed himself, his fingers unconsciously stroking the armrest of his throne. "However, as much as I admire it, the kingdom's needs cannot be neglected. Rupert, immediately arrange for people to purchase large quantities of 'Golden Fertilizer' from Northwest Bay. This is not only to meet the agricultural needs of the royal domain, but also to reserve sufficient food supplies for any potential future campaigns."
After finishing his explanation, Rodney XVIII said thoughtfully, "We've been confining our gaze to the land beneath our feet for far too long. If it weren't for the exploration fleet in Northwest Bay, we probably would still think that the continent we live on is the whole world, and that the earth is flat. Now we know that the world is so vast and boundless, with countless unknown treasures waiting for those who dare to explore."
He looked at Earl Merlin: " Lord Merlin, you shall immediately begin recruiting sea explorers and assembling the kingdom's own exploration fleet to explore the Tranquil Ocean. If the Northwest people can find such an island, then perhaps we in Crystal Radiance cannot. If we can find the kingdom's own 'guano mining island,' we will no longer need to rely on Northwest Bay for supplies!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Rupert and Earl Merlin replied in unison.