The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 316 "Construction Captain" Hammerton

The air in the tent was slightly heavy.

General Hamelton did not answer immediately, but stared into Luo Yan's eyes. After pondering for a moment, he spoke slowly as if he had made up his mind.

"Since Your Highness is so frank, I have nothing to hide... In fact, our Saint Ilburg—and even the entire eastern coast of the New World—is facing the dilemma of supply shortage."

The moment he heard this, Tiqi, who was drinking, almost spit out his drink and coughed several times before stopping.

It is true that General Hamelton had previously proposed purchasing grain through Deadwood Port, and the deep-water trading port currently under construction was prepared for this purpose.

But he never imagined that behind the words "the more the better" there was such a heavy hidden story, and he never expected that the general would confess this top-secret information to His Majesty the Demon King.

certainly--

This demon king is now called Prince Colin.

Not only Teach, Luo Yan's eyes also flashed with a barely perceptible surprise, but he quickly hid it behind his furrowed brows and said after pondering for a moment.

"This is indeed a difficult problem... But General, you may not know that the food reserves in Deadwood Harbor are not abundant. We are not yet able to achieve complete self-sufficiency. I am afraid it is difficult for us to provide you with much practical help on this issue."

General Hamelton was not discouraged when he heard this. Instead, he sat up straight, stared at him with his sharp eyes and said.

"Your Highness has misunderstood. I know the situation in Deadwood Harbor very well! Given the disaster situation on the northern coast, you really can't help, but your neighbors may not be able to help!"

After a pause, he stated the purpose of his visit and said seriously, "I would like to ask you to act as a lobbyist and help us buy food from the United Kingdom of Gutaf!"

Luo Yan was stunned when he heard this, and an expression of surprise appeared on his face just right, but then it turned into a look of interest.

"The United Kingdom of Gutaf? We do have some exchanges with them, but the food we import is only enough to meet the needs of Deadwood Port, and I think you probably need more than just rations for a few hundred people... With so much food, are you sure they are willing to export it to the Empire?"

Hamelton was silent for a moment, then looked at Luo Yan seriously and said.

"This is exactly why I'm asking you to help!"

Having said that, Hamelton didn't wait for Luo Yan to speak, and immediately told him the information he had and the speculations he made based on the information.

"According to what I have gathered, the United Kingdom of Gutaf has already widely used steam engines in farming. They are way ahead of us in this regard. In addition, the climate of the Janna continent is hot and humid, with abundant rainfall, which is most suitable for growing crops such as corn and rice."

After a pause, he suppressed the excitement in his tone and continued.

"And corn and rice are precisely one of the staple foods that we purchase from various ports in the New World all year round! If we can purchase food from the closer Janna Continent, our supply pressure will naturally be alleviated, and the saved transportation capacity can be allocated to places where it is more needed!"

"Deadwood Port is strategically located. I think it has the potential to serve as a supply port for the eastern coastal areas of the empire. I think our enemies saw this and sent the devil's minions here to cause trouble at this critical moment."

Luo Yan listened to General Hamelton's clear analysis, a look of admiration appeared on his face, but he smiled faintly in his heart.

It is true that this reasoning was drawn by Hamilton himself, but it is also possible that he deliberately guided his thoughts in the direction he desired through a series of chess pieces such as Lumir, Teach, and Kedesen.

This is a compulsory course for Demon King Academy—

The devil never promises to give anything to believers, but guides believers to have a heartfelt desire for the bait in his hand that has not yet been thrown.

After thinking seriously for a long time, Luo Yan looked up at General Hamelton with eager eyes and spoke slowly.

"What the General said reminded me that I do have some connections with the royal family of the United Kingdom of Gutaf. If it's just a matchmaking, I'm willing to give it a try!"

General Hamelton was overjoyed when he heard this and made a solemn vow.

"Whether this can be accomplished or not, the Empire will always be grateful for your help!"

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"General, you are too kind. I am also a member of the empire, so I naturally have the obligation to contribute to the cause of the empire. It's just that..."

Hearing Luo Yan's change of subject, General Hamelton suddenly became anxious and asked nervously.

"only?"

Luo Yan: "With the current transportation capacity of Deadwood Port, I'm afraid it can't undertake such a large-scale grain transportation task-"

Before he finished speaking, Hamelton laughed and immediately spoke up.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness! We can solve the problem of insufficient transportation capacity! As long as you are willing to help us contact the United Kingdom of Gutaf, the expansion of the port will be left to the Imperial Navy! We will send the best engineers to ensure that the port can accommodate large cargo ships!"

His decisive tone startled Luo Yan a little, but he immediately showed an embarrassment and continued speaking with a slight frown.

"The expansion of the port can certainly solve some of the problems, but there are still difficulties. The United Kingdom of Gutaf is located on the south side of the Stairway of the Sun Mountains, and Deadwood Port is located on the northern coast. There is no road network connecting the two places, not to mention the steep mountains between us. Even if the food can be transported to the port, I'm afraid that transportation on the road will be a big challenge-"

"Your Highness, please don't worry about this!" General Hamelton patted his chest without hesitation and said confidently, "The engineering technology of the Imperial Engineers is unrivaled in both the New World and the Oss Continent! You just need to negotiate with those Lizardmen, and leave the work of building bridges and roads to us!"

When Luo Yan heard this, his frown finally relaxed and a happy smile appeared on his face.

"In that case...I think it shouldn't be a big problem."

Tichy, who was sitting nearby, was stunned. He even forgot to hide the surprise on his face and his mouth opened into an O shape.

A chill quietly rose from behind him, and at the same time, his admiration for Luo Yan involuntarily deepened.

As expected of the Demon King—

He hadn't even looked at the corn in Saint Ilburg yet, but he had already gotten the deepwater port and road network of Deadwood Harbor for free from the Empire...

The imperial general personally built the road for the demon king.

If I tell this to others, I'm afraid even the demons in the Demon City won't believe it, right?

……

The next morning, the rising sun slowly rose from the sea, just like the infinitely bright future of Deadwood Harbor.

The imperial soldiers on the dock had already gotten up early, even earlier than the sailors who were forced to work. Some were patrolling, some were drilling, some were moving bricks... It was a very lively scene looking around.

The entire port is filled with unprecedented vitality, which is hard to imagine. It was still a wasteland until a month ago.

Under the gate tower of the fortress, Luo Yan changed out of his dusty robe and put on clean clothes. He took the reins handed to him by the servant and reappeared in everyone's sight, leading the warhorse that had also rested for a night.

That handsome face and lifelike purple moon emblem were like a hero in an epic poem in the eyes of the soldiers, making them involuntarily look at him with admiration.

certainly--

What they worshipped was not the lifelike purple moon, but the rum that His Royal Highness the Prince gave them last night.

They hadn't had such a good time drinking for a long time.

Luo Yan nodded slightly to the soldiers who saluted him, showing his friendly side.

Unfortunately, after the system update of "Natural Disaster OL", he could no longer observe that tiny change, otherwise his power of faith would surely be rising rapidly at this moment.

Climbing onto the horse, Luo Yan pulled the reins to change direction, looked back at General Hamelton behind him, and spoke loudly.

"General, my guards are still on their way back to the northern coast. I need to rush to the Stairway to the Sun Mountains to join them. After that, we will go directly back to Assam City to meet the king of the United Kingdom of Gutaf... I'll trouble you here!"

Hamelton nodded solemnly and gave him a standard imperial military salute.

"Don't worry, Your Highness! Baron Cosia and I are here, and we will not let you down! I believe that when you come back next time, you will see a brand new harbor!"

"Haha, then I'll just look forward to it! Bye!"

Luo Yan smiled slightly, nodded deeply, then rode away on his horse, heading towards the Sun Stairway Mountains.

I heard from Youyou that the Council of Chiefs of the United Kingdom of Gutaf has already elected their king.

As their master, it is indeed time for him to meet his subjects.

Hamelton watched Luo Yan's back as he rode away on his horse, until the figure gradually disappeared into the jungle and mist in the distance, and then he reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

What a nice person...

After learning about the problems in St. Ilburg, the respected Prince only rested for one night and then returned to Assam City without stopping.

Thinking of this, Hamilton suddenly felt a little sorry for him. I must thank him properly next time we meet!
Teach, who was standing next to him, coughed lightly, looked at General Hamelton, put on a smile and said.

"Your Excellency General, what do you think we should do next--" Hamelton suppressed the admiration and admiration on his face and quickly regained his usual dignity and decisiveness.

"Need I say more? Of course we should gather the construction team immediately and start preparing immediately—"

Before he finished speaking, he looked at his adjutant and immediately gave the order.

"Pass my order down, send a construction team from the port to follow me to the suburbs. I will go there first to wait for them!"

"Yes!" The adjutant beside Hamelton responded quickly, turned around quickly and trotted away to call his men down.

Hamelton mounted his horse, said goodbye to Teach, and walked towards the camp on the outskirts of Deadwood Harbor.

Watching the general leave in high spirits, Teach breathed a sigh of relief.

The Demon King is above——

This old man finally found a new job, and I can finally have a few days' rest without having to accompany him and talk nonsense.

……

At the same time, on the other side, on the crowded dock, a team of imperial soldiers was quickly assembled.

Several officers were directing everyone to organize the construction tools and materials, while a team of imperial engineers quickly got ready and rushed to the land outside Deadwood Harbor.

Hamelton followed several engineers to the high ground near the port.

He took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and then gave orders decisively.

"We will start with surveying today to clarify the direction of the road and the location of the infrastructure. Our goal is to build a main road that can accommodate at least four carriages in parallel as soon as possible, ensuring smooth traffic from Deadwood Port all the way to the southern plains of the Stairway of the Sun Mountains!"

His order was concise and clear, but the engineers looked at each other in confusion, with embarrassed expressions involuntarily showing on their faces.

One of the older engineers hesitated for a moment, looked up at the rolling hills and endless mountains in the distance, and reminded carefully.

"General, are you sure you want to build such a wide road? I'm afraid it will cost a lot of manpower and resources..."

This is not a project that can be completed in a short period of time. They may have to be prepared for long-term construction, and they may have to mobilize more personnel from other ports.

After all, there was no way Deadwood Harbor could gather so many people, and those sailors were exhausted just from building the houses they lived in.

Hamelton glanced at him and said seriously.

"Transporting food is no small matter. How can a narrow road be enough? What's more, we are not only transporting food. In the future, there may be ores, wood and even other resources sent to Saint Ilburg! Not to mention a little manpower and material resources, you must build this road for me no matter how much it costs!"

"Yes! General, you are wise!" The engineer was startled and quickly lowered his head to write this down.

Hamelton nodded with satisfaction and continued.

"In addition, after this road is built, we will set up post stations and warehouses every ten kilometers or so along the way to facilitate the transportation of supplies and the rest of the soldiers. The entire road project must be constructed strictly in accordance with the standards of the Imperial Military Supply Line. Do you understand?"

No one has an opinion.

Everyone responded in unison.

"Yes, General!"

Looking at the motivated soldiers and engineers in front of him, Hamelton's heart also became excited, and he waved his hand to signal them to start working.

With the sound of commands and hurried footsteps, the Empire's construction team began to get busy on the outskirts of Deadwood Harbor.

They shuttled back and forth on the land on the outskirts of Deadwood Harbor with surveying tools, and quickly outlined a wide and straight road plan line, extending all the way from the port to the majestic and steep Stairway of the Sun Mountains in the distance.

Standing on a high place, Hamelton looked down with satisfaction at the orderly and busy scene before him. Although the land in front of him was still barren, a grand and magnificent blueprint had already been drawn in his mind.

A broad imperial road, with stable post stations and warehouses along the way, and carriages loaded with supplies and food traveled on it in an endless stream, eventually completely resolving the supply crisis on the eastern coast...

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but raise a confident smile on his face, with a fiery light flashing in his eyes.

However, unlike General Hamelton, the quartermaster next to him had an expression of ecstasy.

Repairing the port is fine.

Now we have to build a road over the mountains!

The general seemed to have no idea of ​​the cost.

Even if it was an emergency, this was too much of a concession, wasn't it?!
He had no doubt that after all this trouble, it would be better to cooperate with the merchants of the empire.

At least when working with those businessmen, the prices are clearly marked. Unlike here, although no one has talked about money from beginning to end, it seems like a bottomless pit that can never be filled.

Finally, someone couldn't help but say something.

A young adjutant stepped forward, looked at the ambitious General Hamilton, and whispered something.

"General... Even if Mr. Colin is a prince of the empire, do we really need to do this?"

He always felt that they paid too much.

So far, apart from some seemingly promising prospects, they have not seen any practical benefits.

That gentleman didn't even promise that the deal would be done.

Faced with the doubts of his subordinates, Hamelton actually realized that he was too arrogant.

But he has already invested a lot of money. If he regrets it now, wouldn't it be tantamount to admitting that his decision was wrong?

In this case, how to calculate the costs invested previously? Who will bear the responsibility for the wrong decision?

It is for this reason that Hamilton would never admit that he had agreed hastily.

Besides, he was not wrong—

Whether from the perspective of the empire or from the perspective of a general, it is absolutely necessary to win over this prince.

This is not just about solving the problem of supplies.

It is also for long-term interests!
They must gain a foothold in this land faster than hell and gain the friendship of those lizardmen as much as possible.

At least we can't let them fall into hell!

If these Lizardmen who mastered advanced steam engine technology defected to Hell, not only would the supply lines along the eastern coast be exposed to the threat of Hell, but the entire power map of the Vast Ocean would also be affected.

And Hell will no longer be without a navy.

Those demons no longer need to rely on the teleportation array. They can directly reach out to the whirlpool sea and even threaten the safety of the holy city!
That's right.

This is for long-term consideration.

Looking at the young adjutant, Hamelton spoke in a dignified voice.

"...Kromil, you don't understand. I'm planning this from a long-term perspective."

The adjutant named Kromir said with a wry smile.

"Long-term planning... isn't it about solving the problems at hand?"

Hamilton grinned.

"Yes, but not all of them... You will understand sooner or later. If we shed a little more sweat here, the young men in the future will shed a little less blood. Even if it's just for ourselves, let's do our best!"

Seeing that the general had made up his mind, Kromir quietly withdrew without saying anything more.

Hamelton did not want to waste time arguing about this matter that had already been decided, so he handed the supervision work to an officer nearby, then walked to his warhorse, turned over and rode on it.

After staying in Deadwood Harbor for so long, he finally achieved some results.

He should also go back to the ship and spend some time writing a report to report the good news here to the rear...

(End of this chapter)