What is it that makes civilization spiral? First of all, there must be progress in science and technology, and cultural reform. Then there was a transformation in the economy. In the end, politics comes into the picture, and reform or revolution emerges.

What Evan had to do was not to start a political revolution, because political reform would inevitably be accompanied by bloodshed and sacrifice. Under the pressure of the stranger, this was the last thing he wanted. What he wants to do is a technological advance, a slight adjustment of the mode of production. This includes the reform of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, the most basic industrialization, the adjustment of production methods, and the initial urbanization process......

Back home, Evan thought about this, but didn't know how to proceed. He only clarified the general direction of the reform, but he couldn't think of a reason for the details. Ai Wenming confessed that he first wanted to carry out reforms on Bear Island, and he had to have a deep understanding of all aspects of Bear Island.

So he took the bachelor and ten guards for a whole month. Traveled all over Bear Island.

Talk to the fisherman, the peasant, the blacksmith, the prostitute, the mountain people, the old man, the nobleman, and the knight. Along the way, the Bachelor kept recording, and Evan was silent, just listening quietly.

A month later, he returned to his family quarters, and looking at the ruined houses and mud fences, he estimated himself to be the poorest lord in the North. Truth be told, Bear Island is a place where real birds don't, no wonder Jorah Mormont would want to sell slaves to make money.

However, Evan was not discouraged, and he had a detailed understanding of Bear Island this month. Bear Island is located in a concave sea, and because it blocks the sea breeze and is a confluence of warm currents, it is rich in fish. This is the main subsistence material of the people of Bear Island.

But on the islands, there is no sea breeze and there are few trees, so the land is depleted of minerals, as in some parts of Australia, the land is too barren. An agrarian society of 100,000 people could not be sustained.

As a result, Bear Island is a half-farming, half-fishing society. There are also no rare ores in the mountains, let alone gold mines. It is impossible to form an iron and stone industry chain. Most of the iron ore used for iron smelting is transported from the Iron Islands. Although fish stocks are abundant, they simply cannot withstand long-distance transportation, even in the north. The only thing to be commended is that there is no shortage of coal resources on this island, and there are very many coal resources. It's just that people rarely use coal in their daily lives. It may be that thousands of years of tradition have constrained people's thinking.

Wood is usually used to make fires, but fortunately the island is large enough that the relative scarcity of trees means that it is for the island as a whole, not for the needs of the people.

The half-dead situation, with no large-scale products to trade, makes life extremely difficult for the people here.

But for Aven, the quality of coal is the island's most valuable asset. Just because Jorah won't take advantage doesn't mean Evan won't.

The Iron Islands, not far from Bear Island, have a large amount of cheap iron ore resources, and there are a lot of coal resources here. It is entirely possible to establish a coal and iron industry.

As for what iron is smelted for? It can be used for many purposes, from industrial machines to small living objects, farm tools, weapons, knives, and can also sell stoves, and if you sell stoves, you can sell coal. In the north, it is believed that the invention of the furnace will not lack sales channels.

And in the desperate Great Wall, these iron furnaces. Coal will be a strong support for them. At least heating is not a problem. Advantageous support for future and demon wars!

Evan took action the next day, took out the finances he had "provided" from the George family and the Henry family, and half-threatened and half-lured Maygie Mormont to invest some, at least enough to start up.

So Evan started his own coal and iron business. At the beginning, it was very difficult, coal mining, coal transportation, coal and iron base site selection, iron ore transportation......

If you don't pay attention to these problems, it will cause problems of one kind or another in the future. The coal and iron base chosen by Evan was five hundred miles east of the Mormont family. The place was close to the coast, there was an excellent port, and not far from it was a large high-quality coal mine, and the iron ore from the Iron Islands was easily transported, and the port was convenient for the transportation of steel. Simply the perfect place.

It's just that although the terrain is perfect, what Evan wants to build is a large coal and iron base, not the current small workshop-style armory. No one understands this, only Aven alone.

Therefore, at the beginning of the business, he could only do it himself, and he had to check everything. As time passed, the burden on Aven's body gradually became much lighter, and Maggie Mormont's two daughters and two aunts were able to take charge of themselves under Aven's training, and it had been a year since Evan returned to Bear Island from the Great Wall of Desperation.

I invested almost all the time throughout the year without any profit. Fortunately, Evan later took a trip to Winterfell and received a sum of money from Eddard, otherwise the project might have broken down halfway.

Finally, when the harvest season came, the 100-acre industrial park was built, and the first molten iron in the blast furnace came out, shocking everyone. Everyone has been suspicious of Evan since the start of construction, but these doubts have now turned into admiration.

The monthly steel output of the coal and iron base is more than the annual steel output of all the small workshops in the north. These steels are made of swords, armor, and saddles that can be used to equip all armies throughout the North.

Everyone's eyes on Evan changed, but Evan didn't have any pride, he knew that now was the most critical moment for the entire Bear Island and the Mormont family!

Standing around were all cronies of the Mormont family, and he spoke, "Meggie Mormont obeys! ”

"Yes."

"Now I order you, lead the family army, guard the coal and iron base, no one is allowed to leave without my order!"

"Yes!"

"Daisy Mormont, Alexandre Mormont obeys!"

"In!"

"I hereby order you to keep the factory running and mass-produce weapons and armor, which must equip every member of the Mormont family."

"Yes!"

Evan then looked at Lyanna Mormont, who was already more than a year old, who later became the Bear Girl. He said, "Come, I'll take you on a trip to Winterfell!" ”

In the days that followed, Evan prepared to meet Eddard Stark's supplies, and on the other hand, he settled everything in his family, blocked all news about the coal and iron base, and released confusing rumors that the coal and iron base had failed and could not produce any steel at all.

Fourteen days later, he had packed up everything and was ready to embark on his second journey to Winterfell.