The Black Iron Glory
Dad's plan
Chapter 19
Dad's Plan
"How did you find out about that?" claude asked to know.
Borkal whispered in Claude's ear, "My father came home very excited and went to his study for some time. When I went inside the next morning, I saw a wide-open map with three lines drawn on it.
"A black line runs from Whitestag to Port Neru. That's a route that's been around for a long time. There is another red line that runs from Whitestag to the north and connects to several islands in the Stormy Sea before continuing straight north to Tyrrsim in Nubissia.
"So, I think my father and our father intended to embark on such a trade route." Borkal rather eagerly shared the secret plan that these fathers were preparing with Claude.
"My father told me earlier that the Whitestag would not get a chance to be promoted to city status and break away from Baromiss control based on population and trade growth alone. However, it would be possible if Whitestag became a more strategic location for the kingdom. .
"Being one of the main crossing points of many roads in all three southwestern prefectures, we did not play a significant role during peacetime. The traveling merchants only stopped here to rest and resupply. We are not a centralized trading hub or material distributor.
"So, my father believed that if we could let the Whitestag get city status, we should hold a more important role in the kingdom. Although we cannot compete with the three southwestern prefectures in terms of market, industry, and raw materials. But Whitestag is close to the ocean. We also have Lake Balinga, a perfect spot with enough depth, making us perfectly suited for the harbor.
"I really hope that our father's plan will come true. If this maritime route is successful, the development of the Whitestag is well worth the wait. Even if the Banjis Isthmus plan in Simlock prefecture gets the green light, they won't be able to stop the Whitestag for soaring! "
Claude nodded. What Borkal said made sense. If the maritime route is successful, the Whitestag's interest in the kingdom will continue to rise. Obtaining city status would no longer be a short dream.
According to the Aueras map, the three southwestern prefectures looked like bottle gourds. It was surrounded by mountain ranges from all four directions and even the north coast was just a high cliff. Whitestag on the other hand is located near the 'opening' of the gray-bottle shape and it is an important outlet from the three southwestern prefectures to the outer region.
Moreover, from Freia's map, three southwestern prefectures were located near a huge bay that looked like a bite of a biscuit. Whitestag is located in the deepest part of that 'bite. It took a day sailing on the waterway to travel from the bay to the Whitestag itself.
So, the royal ships that traveled along trade routes to countries in Western Freia largely ignored small fishing ports such as the Whitestag and sailed out of the bay in a straight line. Only ships damaged by storms or experiencing other problems would think of sailing to the Whitestag for repair.
That is the reason why royal officials did not consider considering the Whitestag when they planned to expand their navy. Whitestag has an advantage over Port Neru because Lake Balinga has enough area and depth for three long-range warships to dock, not to mention being protected from strong winds and ocean waves. However, the waterway leading to it stretched for approximately five kilometers and it hampered the speed at which the ship could be deployed.
That is the reason why royal officials did not consider considering the Whitestag when they planned to expand their navy. Whitestag has an advantage over Port Neru because Lake Balinga has enough area and depth for three long-range warships to dock, not to mention being protected from strong winds and ocean waves. However, the waterway leading to it stretched for approximately five kilometers and it hampered the speed at which the ship could be deployed.
In addition, in an all-out naval battle, the fishing port of Whitestag could be considered a non-strategic location. All the enemy had to do was close the waterway with some ships to seal the troops in Lake Balinga. They could also create a second line of defense in the bay itself. The fleet would be enough to prevent the ship from sailing into the sea from the bay.
Lastly, the three southwestern prefectures were too far away from Port Neru. It takes three days of sailing to travel from Whitestag to Port Neru. Moreover, if the Fearless Fleet engaged in a major naval battle with allied naval forces from five countries, the battlefield could only be located in the eastern or northeastern waters of the kingdom. By the time the ships from Lake Balinga arrived in the conflict zone, the party was long over.
Maritime traders and the royal military alike ignored small fishing towns like Whitestag, leaving no choice but to develop the fishing industry. The problem is that poor transportation also affects the fishing industry. For example, a train would take a day to travel to the prefectural capital, but the demand for fish there was not that high. Not everyone wants to buy fish. Apart from the rare catch that would sell out, the fishmongers might even suffer losses if they brought too much to the prefectural capital.
Selling it elsewhere is also not an option. There are many hilly areas in the three southwestern prefectures, so aside from the capital of Balivia, Baromiss, it will take about three days for people in the city to reach other areas. The fish will be broken before they arrive. Therefore, fresh seafood is Whitestag's largest industry and a well-known local specialty.
If Borkal guessed about their father's plan to embark on a maritime route from the city to Tyrrsim in Nubissia right, Whitestag would become a strategic location for the kingdom if they succeeded.
Regardless, the new route would be invaluable to the city's industry. Whitestag can be the center where goods from Nubissia are traded. They could be one of the first distributors of such items. No wonder Borkal's father was so excited last night after returning home and staying in his study for so long. As a famous Whitestag trader, he could see the business opportunities and profits that awaited him.
Thinking back to how Eriksson's father was there during dinner as well, Claude knew that this plan definitely could not ignore the famous Captain Altroni. It was common knowledge that Captain Altroni was familiar with the situation at Storm Seas, which was located near the bay. His Red Sea Shark had traveled several times there for fishing, so he knew the islands there quite well.
Thinking back to how Eriksson's father was there during dinner as well, Claude knew that this plan definitely could not ignore the famous Captain Altroni. It was common knowledge that Captain Altroni was familiar with the situation at Storm Seas, which was located near the bay. His Red Sea Shark had traveled several times there for fishing, so he knew the islands there quite well.
The involvement of the captain will ensure that the Storm Seas will not be a threat. The remaining ones traveled north through the Quiet Ocean located between the two continents. That would be the biggest trial yet for their efforts to forge a new maritime path. Compared to the route that crossed the Quiet Ocean side, the sea region itself was several times wider. There were countless dangers in the area.
"Do you know where my father drew the other red lines?" Borkal asked curiously, "I'm sure you won't be able to guess that he drew a red line through Lake Balinga, the Muda Swamp, and the Normandis River in Tordesass prefecture. I believe they intend to build waterways through all three locations to create canals. That way, the goods from the three southwestern prefectures no longer had to go through the difficult mountain routes. They can be sent directly to the Whitestag via that canal and cut the cost and time required to transport them. "
Borkal waved his hand happily. "Think that. If the beginnings of these two routes were successful, Whitestag would be one of the most important locales in the southwestern part of the kingdom! Even the capital of all the prefectures would not be as important as the Whitestag! We will develop into the largest port city in the southwest region! "
Claude pulled it and said, "Hush, don't be so loud. You just got Instructor Vincent's attention. Also, are you really excited for it?"
"Ah .." Borkal hurriedly said back. Seeing Instructor Vincent no longer paying attention to him, he whispered, "Are you not surprised at all that our father is about to embark on those two new routes? This is a plan that can really change the Whitestag! The more I think about it, the more excited I am! It's like our history instructor William said. We are at a time full of change. We are witnessing the creation of history itself, and history is also watching our every move. "
"Gift!" Claude really can't take it anymore. After all, 16-year-old Borkal like him and young people of that age are most vulnerable to high school delusions. Borkal was proud of the fact that he was born in Whitestag thanks to constant brainwashing by history books, which hailed the city as the origin for the restoration of the kingdom.
"Boa, I understand what you said just now. I was also a bit surprised by our father's plan. But think. We're just 16-year-old high school students. What can we do to help our father? carry out this plan?
"As you might expect, our father is planning to forge two new routes. However, they are still in the planning stage. The Banjis Isthmus plan in Simlock prefecture has been on hold all along because of its huge budget. And now, we don't even know how much these plans cost and where they're going to get the money. "
"Boa, I understand what you said just now. I was also a bit surprised by our father's plan. But think. We're just 16-year-old high school students. What can we do to help our father? carry out this plan?
"As you might expect, our father is planning to forge two new routes. However, they are still in the planning stage. The Banjis Isthmus plan in Simlock prefecture has been on hold all along because of its huge budget. And now, we don't even know how much these plans cost and where they're going to get the money. "
Due to its geographical layout, the three southwestern prefectures are the most remote areas of Aueras and are only connected to other regions through the Whitestag, causing its economy to be far less developed than other regions of the kingdom. Therefore, some scholars at Simlock suggested the plan of the Banjis Isthmus. They will take about five to six years and 100 thousand young workers to make the exit path to the Banjis Isthmus in the Falins Mountain Range.
If the plan goes well, the three southern prefectures will have another road connecting them to the outside world. The earth yield of that area could then be transported across the kingdom and it would greatly improve the economy of the three prefectures and allow them to assimilate with the development of the kingdom.
The only downside to that plan was that if it was successfully completed, it would greatly reduce the significance of the Whitestag to the three southwestern prefectures. At that time, itinerant merchants who frequented the city would undoubtedly choose to go to the Banjis Isthmus because the route there would be much shorter.
So, when the Whitestag Dawn Edition published an article about the plan, the townspeople reacted very negatively to it. But the good news soon spread and it was said that the project would cost 300 thousand kron of gold, which is equivalent to 1.5 million thales of silver. If each silver thale is equivalent to 100 dollars, then the budget for the project is 150 million dollars.
Of course, the high-cost project was immediately shut down when it was brought to the lower house. The upper house of the nobility would definitely not support a project that cost a lot to fund, especially when the budget was only an initial estimate. The additional cost is still unknown and no one wants to assume the responsibility of approving such a project.
"Do you understand now?" Claude asked Borkal, "What we can do now is not to spread it and leak their plans. Since we have no way to help them, we can only pray for their success."