Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

Matthew slept very well that night, not only because the mattress Conrad bought was comfortable, but also because of the peace of mind and hope he felt.

Like Matthew, this was also the most restful and peaceful night's sleep Conrad and Will had had since arriving at Emberstone Ridge.

Matthew opened the window, and the rising sun shone on his face. The morning breeze carried a cool and refreshing feeling, which invigorated him.

The air was no longer filled with the desolate atmosphere of the past, but with a mixture of fresh wood chips, soil, a faint smell of smoke, and the constant clanging and banging of things.

Breakfast was also cooked by Will. Although it was still very simple, Matthew ate it with relish. He believed that it wouldn't be long before he could eat real meat and fish.

"Good morning, Your Highness!" Conrad returned from outside, his face beaming with a smile, clearly in a good mood.

He got up much earlier than Matthew and had already toured the territory.

Overnight, Jinshi Ridge had changed its appearance again, and the wooden frame structure that had been relying on the gap in the wall had been closed up.

The sturdy logs were joined together by intricate mortise and tenon joints, and the space between them was filled with stones and rammed earth. Although the exterior was rough, the structure looked exceptionally stable, with a height and thickness far exceeding that of the original rubble wall.

A simple wooden watchtower had been erected with a complete platform and roof, and Conrad even saw a goblin sentinel standing on it, watching the direction of the Misty Mountains warily.

The outermost trench was also deepened and widened considerably, and the excavated soil was used to build more orderly earthen mounds on the inner side.

Some key locations were also equipped with sharpened wooden barricades, which, although rudimentary, already possessed a basic deterrent effect.

The blacksmith's shop and carpentry workshop were also filled with various farm tools and weapons, and Conrad was amazed by their work efficiency.

After breakfast, Will went to gather the people to begin the day's work arrangements.

Matthew then summoned them back at the agreed time, along with professors and experts such as Zhang Hongjian, Zhao Lanxin, and Li Jianguo, who had returned the previous night, as well as some craftsmen.

The total number of goblins summoned has reached 136.

Actually, summoning a hundred goblins at the same time is not Matthew's limit. To be precise, how many goblins he can summon depends entirely on the amount of magic power stored in the crystal pendant.

If Matthew didn't consider the long-term implications, he could easily summon thousands of goblins at once.

But that would be like cutting off the fuel supply, and would be counterproductive.

After all, the current manpower is sufficient to meet the territory's current development needs.

Matthew held a brief morning meeting with the team leaders and experts to make arrangements for the day's work.

In fact, Matthew only listened to the reports from each group and synchronized the information. The specific work arrangements had already been formulated and perfected by each group on Earth.

Zhao Lanxin will lead her team members and some residents to start composting today. The detailed plan, including the timeline, has been clearly outlined.

Li Jianguo's team is going to lead people to mine limestone and build kilns for burning quicklime.

Professor Wang Qinian, on the other hand, will begin to conduct in-depth research on the application, grinding, and refining methods of ash.

Meanwhile, Professor Zhang Hongjian led his team to work with Wang Qinian to develop grinding tools and sieving equipment.

Of course, before that, he had another important task: to check the quality of the soap.

So after the meeting, Zhang Hongjian, Matthew, Will, and Conrad went to the soap drying area together.

The two goblin soldiers guarding the spot gave a standard military salute.

After solidifying and drying overnight, the soap has basically taken shape.

When Professor Zhang Hongjian carefully tapped open the mold and took out the solidified soap, Will and Conrad, who were holding basins of water, couldn't help but widen their eyes, looking at the so-called "treasure" with great anticipation.

It was a square solid, pale yellow in color, with a uniform texture and a slightly transparent appearance. Its surface was smooth, and it faintly emitted a light, oily fragrance and a distinctive alkaline aroma.

Although it looked quite good, they still couldn't associate it with a treasure.

"Comrade Matthew, why don't you give it a try?" Professor Zhang Hongjian said with a smile.

Matthew deliberately touched the sticky grease and blood inside the wooden bucket that held the water, then wiped his hands with soot from the bottom of a pot, making his hands instantly filthy.

He then picked up a bar of soap and began washing his hands. As the foam rose, the grease instantly dissolved, and when Matthew took his hands out of the basin, they were clean again.

"It worked!" Matthew exclaimed joyfully.

Professor Zhang Hongjian's face also showed a smile, and Will's eyes lit up. He immediately understood why His Highness said it was a treasure. It turned out that it was a cleaning product, and judging from the process just now, its cleaning power was comparable to a magic cleaner.

Judging by the price of the magic cleaner, these pale yellow cubes in front of us are indeed piles of gold coins.

Most importantly, he witnessed the raw materials and process of making these cleaning blocks, which did not use any expensive materials.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the goblins used magic during the process.

But in any case, this is enough to completely change the financial situation of Ember Ridge.

"We're going to be rich! We're really going to be rich!" Will exclaimed with delight.

Conrad was stunned for a moment before he suddenly realized what was happening, and a joyful smile appeared on his face.

"Your Highness, what are the names of these cleaning products?" Will asked eagerly.

"Soap!" Matthew shoved the soap into Will's hand. "Experience its effects, then give it a... reasonable price."

Soon after, Matthew and Conrad traveled together in a horse-drawn cart to Ironrock to sell the soap and purchase some resources.

After entering the city, he and Conrad began to act separately. Matthew went to buy new clothes, preparing to dress himself up like a traveling merchant, and also bought a mask to conceal his identity.

He didn't want to be recognized because when the profit is big enough, some people will take risks.

Conrad, on the other hand, went to inquire about the city's chambers of commerce and look for potential partners.

After a long time, the two met at the agreed location, which was a secluded alleyway and an area where poor people lived.

Matthew had changed into brown coarse cloth travel clothes, with a cloak over his head, a hood over his head, and a plain leather mask covering his face, revealing only his eyes and chin.

Conrad also draped himself in a cloak, with most of his face hidden in the hood.

"My lord," Conrad said in a low voice, "we have basically found out the situation. There are currently two major merchant guilds in the city that can handle our shipment and have sufficient distribution channels."

Matthew leaned against the mottled wall, nodded slightly, and gestured for him to continue.

"The first one is the Black Bear Merchant Guild, which is the most powerful and deeply rooted merchant guild in Ironrock City, without exception."

Behind it is the Earl of Cress family, and the chairman is a distant cousin of the Earl. It is said that the Earl also has a stake in the Chamber of Commerce.

They virtually monopolized the trade in weapons, armor, minerals, and precious spices within the city.

"The second one is the Golden Flower Merchant Guild. They are outsiders who came from the capital about a dozen years ago. Their background is very mysterious. There are rumors that they are backed by a member of the royal family who does not want to reveal his name, or by a wealthy Eastern business alliance."

They mainly deal in high-end luxury goods such as silk, porcelain, jewelry, and magical materials, following a boutique approach and having extensive connections within top aristocratic circles.

Both companies possess considerable strength and financial resources, but they have been engaged in fierce competition for many years, resulting in deep-seated resentment.

"A powerful outsider versus a local bully..." Matthew mused, perhaps this competitive relationship could be exploited.

Conrad paused, lowering his voice even further, and continued, "I also heard that just a few days ago, the Golden Flower Merchant Guild somehow obtained a batch of refined white sugar from the southern free city-states. The quality is extremely high, causing quite a stir in noble circles and stealing the limelight from the Black Bear Merchant Guild. The Black Bear Merchant Guild seems very dissatisfied, and the relationship between the two seems to be even more tense."

……