Bruce was discussing with a craftsman how to build a charcoal kiln, at this time people on the continent in winter people would only pick up firewood for heating, although the vegetation of the whole continent is actually very dense, but the heating efficiency of firewood is very poor, and Bruce wants to improve the technology of wrought iron, so charcoal must be invented.

"You're saying that by putting firewood in these kilns and heating them, you can turn them into a new black dye?" The craftsman frowned and tilted his head, listening to Bruce's description.

The craftsman's hair was gray, and as a mid-level craftsman in the artisan guild, he had worked on various technical improvements, but what Bruce said was long beyond his knowledge.

"That's right, because by heating in the kiln, the firewood will change physically." Bruce tried his best to explain to the skilled craftsman, but the craftsman was still confused.

"With all due respect, my lordship, firewood turns to ashes when it is put into the fire, do you want ashes?" The craftsman gestured with his rough hand and said to Bruce.

"Stupid, I'm not going to be ashes." Finally, Bruce couldn't bear to be angry, he really couldn't explain it to this craftsman who was full of personal experience, he could only use his aristocratic rights and forcefully order the craftsmen to build the kiln according to his orders.

"Yes, Lord Baron." When Bruce was furious, the craftsman realized that the young man with a gentle attitude in front of him was actually a noble baron, and if he immediately drew his sword and stabbed himself to death now, the craftsman had no doubt, so he did not dare to disobey the baron's order, and quickly nodded in agreement.

"Whew, there's really no way, it seems that universal education is necessary!" Looking at the craftsman who bowed and withdrew, Bruce said to himself with a wry smile.

"Bruce, what are you talking about rudeness, and what is universal education?" Suddenly, a voice came from behind Bruce, startling Bruce and turning to see Mavis staring at him with a curious baby look.

"Ahem, don't ask that, kids." Bruce coughed softly, and then remembered that this was not the spacious Locke Manor, but his narrow lord's house in Greenton, and he thought that he had taken care of the low roof and creaking wooden doors, and felt that when the development of the territory was on the right track, he should repair and expand his own house.

"All of them." Suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps, and Bruce looked curiously at the door, only to see a cavalryman hurrying in.

Grinton's cavalry came from Locke Manor, and they were all yeoman farmers with arable land in Locke Manor, who were more liberal than serfs, but as vassals of the baron, they still had to serve Bruce.

In order to better care for the horses of these yeoman farmers, Bruce also expanded his lord's stables and hired five children and three prime men to take care of the horses, which were very valuable animal power and strategic goods in this era.

"What's going on?" Looking at the cavalry who hurriedly walked in, Bruce asked with a slight frown.

"My lord, it's not good." The cavalry hurriedly walked in and said to Bruce.

The cavalrymen were dressed in the same way as ordinary serfs, with a felt hat on their heads, coarse linen on their bodies, and rudimentary leather shoes on their feet, but they usually had a spear and a wooden shield for battle, all of which were provided by the homesteaders.

"According to your orders, Lord Baron, my companions and I patrol the borders of our territory every day, and today we have found something unusual at the border, so we are anxious to come back and report to you." The cavalryman swallowed and said nervously to Bruce.

"Say." Bruce asked hurriedly.

"On the border close to Lord Jeffrey, we found them building watchtowers and camps." The cavalryman said to Bruce.

"Watchtowers and camps?" Bruce wondered why the cavalry was so nervous when the other party was building a camp in his territory.

"Don't you know, Lord Baron? Oh yes, I forgot to explain that the construction of the watchtower and the camp was an attempt to invade our fortifications. The cavalry remembered that Bruce was a young man after all, and he was still relatively inexperienced in some military knowledge, so he quickly explained to him.

"Attack us?" Bruce frowned, and he smacked his mouth.

Soon, Bruce gathered his retainers and sent them to various places to preside over the construction in order to develop the territory, so it was Annie, Mavis, and Monica who conveyed the order to summon him.

"Ping-pong." The wooden table was smashed, and the cups on the table seemed to jump, and Bruce raised his eyebrows as he looked at the angry Splitter Danny.

"This is a provocation, even to build fortifications on the border, the next step is probably to gather troops in the camp!" Shield Splitter Danny said loudly.

"How do you know so clearly?" Bruce asked curiously.

"Haha, when I was a pirate, every year when the harvest at sea was bad, I would find a remote territory near the sea to plunder, and then I needed to build a camp on the coast in advance." Splitting Shield Danny said with a laugh, as if he had returned to the bold era of wanton plunder.

"Looks like you still can't forget those days, hahaha." Stukov, who was sitting next to Danny Split, laughed and patted him on the shoulder, both of whom missed that kind of life at sea.

"They're right, Jeffrey is trying to invade our territory." Eve leaned against the fireplace and said to Bruce.

"Won't he declare war on me? Not even a reason? Bruce held the wine glass in his hand, and Anne poured him wine.

"Ugh." There was silence in the room, everyone seemed to be talking and stopping, they looked at each other and didn't know what to say.

"Hey, hey, what's going on with this awkward silence, I didn't shut your mouth." Bruce said to them with some displeasure.

"Your Excellency, your reputation has been greatly damaged by the Duke's accusations against you." Elder Warren's eyebrows twitched, and he said to Bruce with a deep groan.

"Do you mean kinship? Can others believe this kind of rumor? Bruce said with some annoyance.

"Lord Baron, it doesn't matter if we believe this rumor or not, the problem is that the nobles will have doubts, and your vassals may have doubts about the character of their loyalists, and if they take the opportunity not to fulfill their vassal duties, the world will not accuse them." Elder Warren patiently explained to Bruce.

"Meaning we won't have reinforcements?" Bruce asked, looking at Elder Warren and the others.

"Yes." Bruce's retainers said in unison.

"Ha, it's good that those guys don't get in the way, and since people are coming to the door, I can't be rude, right." Bruce's mouth said lightheartedly, but his eyes were full of anger, if these grandsons dare not come to support, see that I don't write them down in a small book, Bruce swore in his heart.

At this time, Jeffrey rode his horse and watched the busy serfs, who were carrying timber to the border to build a camp, two watchtowers had been built, and the archers were looking around vigilantly, and if Bruce tried to cross the border and demolish the camp, these archers would not hesitate to stop them.

"Lord Lord, the arrow tower has been built, and the other party has not reacted, it seems that they are defenseless." Phoebe said flatteringly to Lord Jeffrey.

"Today the archers reported that there were two cavalrymen peeping at the camp on the border, and they have found it now!" Jeffrey was not careless, he stared at the Grington territory opposite, where all kinds of buildings have been being built, although it is just a barren territory, but as long as he controls it, his territory will be connected, and when he is strong enough, he can even take away the baron title that has been controlled by the Locke family for hundreds of years, which is very tempting for Jeffrey.

"Don't worry, I'll arrange for spearmen and swordsmen to take precautions." Phoebe hurriedly assured Lord Jeffrey.

"Very good, haha, don't think that hairy boy is proud of inheriting the title of baron, I will let you know that it is very uncomfortable to inherit the title of baron without strength." Jeffrey narrowed his eyes, touched his beard, and said proudly.