85_85536 And in this way, Duke Otto set out on his way to Krakow. At the same time, the entire Duchy of Mystia, also under William's operation, entered a state of full mobilization. Craftsmen began to work overtime to produce weapons and equipment. Officially renamed the Mestia New Army, three infantry regiments, two cavalry battalions and one artillery battalion, nearly 5,000 new troops are also in full swing to intensify training.

At the mediation of the merchant John, a large number of engineers from the Polotsk region arrived in Mystia and at William's request, they were to help him build a fortress-type fortress southeast of the dukedom, near a shoal on the Vistula River, to counterbalance the possible attack of the Centaur army.

It's just that the time required to build a fortress won't be too short. According to the analysis of Polotsk's engineers, it would take at least half a year to build a large fortress that would satisfy William. And that's when all the conditions are perfect. Whether it's materials, or money, or manpower. It even includes the external environment, the weather, and the convenience of politics. That is, the centaurs will not attack the construction site.

This made William feel very helpless:

"Haven't we invented cement in this day and age, and it would be nice if we could have fast-acting air-drying cement......

Of course, William's statement is not too true. There are actually cement-like things in this world.

It was an alchemical product developed by alchemists. When water is added, it expands rapidly and then solidifies to form a powder that is as strong as a stone.

The use of this powder is very similar to turning mud into stone magic. That's why it's also called cement.

It's just that the price of this "cement" is very expensive. At the same time, the yield has not been very high. The usual use is to build large buildings, villas, sculptures, to show the nobility and wealth of using these alchemical cements. Some sculptors regard this kind of cement as a special material for creating sculptures, and it is also a kind of "correction fluid" that can be used to modify sculptures anytime and anywhere.

All in all, no one has ever thought of building large buildings out of alchemical cement, let alone such a military structure as a fortress.

William felt that he could make a breakthrough.

Speaking of which, William still has some understanding of cement. He didn't know how to make those more advanced cements. But the most basic Portland cement, he still knows. Limestone plus clay. Calcined in a ratio of three to one, and then it can be calcined into the most basic cement.

Originally, this kind of technical reserve William did not want to take out too soon. But now is not the time to dwell on such things. No more, defeated, without Mystia, no matter how much technical reserves he has, it is useless.

This is not the time for small-bellied chicken intestines to be careful. In the face of a formidable enemy like Tartaria, you have to use as much strength as you want.

So William immediately recruited enough brick-burners - clay and lime deposits were not uncommon. Also found in the territory of Mystia.

After that, after some realization, the cement was finally made.

Although the effect of this cement is very bad. But something is better than nothing. Cement plus mortar plus crushed stone to form concrete. Add iron reinforcement (because steel is expensive, so iron is used instead) to form iron reinforced concrete. Although it will not be as sturdy as modern buildings. But in this era of mixed use of hot and cold weapons, it is enough.

Originally, William preferred to use Roman cement made of limestone and volcanic ash rather than the original Portland cement. This Roman cement is more resistant to corrosion than Portland cement. It is more suitable for building a fortress by the river.

It's just a pity. There are no volcanoes in all of Mazovia. Otherwise, William would have gone to Ritjord in the far north. Otherwise, you'll have to go to Lombardy in the south. These are the only places where there is a volcano, and only these two places where volcanic ash can be found. So William had no choice but to settle for Portland cement.

So William asked the engineers to take a look. They were shown how to use concrete.

After indicating that he had on hand, there was a cement that was slightly less effective than alchemical cement, but could be produced in large quantities. William asked the engineers to calculate how much time they could save in the case of large-scale use of cement.

The engineers in Polotsk consulted with each other, and then gave William an answer that satisfied him:

"If you can provide enough of this new cement. And if you mobilize more than 20,000 serfs in your territory to participate in the construction, then in two months, we can build a large fortress that can hold three infantry regiments and enough supplies. ”

"This ......," William thought for a moment.

Considering the secrecy that could not expand production, as well as the skill of the craftsmen, as well as the supply of raw materials, William did not think that he would be able to provide enough new cement.

"All I can say is do what I can. But I don't know if enough cement can be provided to come out. William replied.

"Then it is a pity, Your Excellency. We are also unable to provide you with an exact date, we can only tell you that we will do our best. That's our answer. The Polotsk engineer at the head of the group said such an answer that William felt like wanting to hit someone.

He believed that if it was his father, Duke Otto, who was asking this bastard now, then he would never, never dare to answer that.

"It seems that my prestige is still not high enough. William sighed in his heart. Then put the matter aside.

Now it's time for him to get busy with something else. That was the arrival of his aunt, the sister of Duke Otto. As a nephew and the voice of the Hereford family, William needs to welcome this man and enlist her help in order to make his fundraising and volunteer army, or "crusade", plans come to fruition.

"Speaking of which...... Aunt's words...... I don't think we've seen each other in a long time. In the study, only William and Charum were left in the study, and William was frowning and thinking about what he had told his aunt before this.

It's just a pity that there is no intersection between the two people. William only knew her name as Freya. He is in his thirties. He was brother and sister to his father, Duke Otto. At the same time, I can vaguely remember her appearance and figure. It is also known that she has also inherited the excellent bloodlines of the Hereford family, although not as outrageous as the strength of Duke Otto. But the strength is solid at the mentor level, and it has been a few years. It's also a rare master.

Unlike Duke Otto, who inherited the family background of a knight and then worked hard among the secular aristocracy. Freya von Hereford joined the Gothic Order at an early age. With his talent and the merits he has established, he has been greatly valued, and it cannot be said that he has risen to the top, but it can also be said that he has become the head of the knight branch in charge of the direction of Wende.

Although the two siblings chose different paths, it didn't affect their relationship too much.

In William's impression, the relationship between Duke Otto and his sister Freya was still good. You can also feel the faint warmth of Duke Otto when she is mentioned. It's that feeling of family.

"Speaking of which, how do you feel about Aunt Freya?" asked William to Charlumie.

Although there is a little less kinship than William. But William clearly remembered that Aunt Freya seemed to prefer Charlumie to him.

Maybe it's because Charlotine's personality is closer to her, or maybe it's because Charlumi is a girl. All in all, relatively speaking, she treats Charlumie, a cousin niece, better than William, a genuine nephew.

"Aunt Freya......" Hearing William's question, Charlumi showed a yearning expression:

"She's a very powerful woman, and a very good knightess. She said to William in a very excited tone:

"She is very assertive, very strong in ability and swordsmanship. Although she is a weak woman, she can discipline her subordinates, a group of arrogant male goth knights. To be honest, I've always wished I could be like Aunt Freya!"

"That's so......" William thoughtfully said, "Then she thinks ...... of me"

"It should be...... Not so good. "But that's only because, William, you used to be too thin, and you always stayed in a dark place to read. The spirit is not very good either. That's why my aunt doesn't like you. If you meet your aunt now, she will definitely like you very much. I dare to assure you. ”

"That's right......" William nodded. I already have a preliminary plan in my heart: "If that's the case...... Then I have a solution. ”

In this way, with a total of fifty horsemen, one hundred and fifty horsemen, and a total of twenty lancers, he escorted a large mixed merchant group, and brought with him several times more than before, more than two thousand immigrants.

In the depths of autumn on 22 October, Freya von Hereford arrived in the Duchy of Mystia. Her caravan and guards slowly moved forward, towards Circassiaburg at the end of the road.

The female knight, of her golden age, wearing a full suit of Gothic plate armor and not even taking off the face of her helmet, rode her warhorse. Be at the front of the line.

Unlike the black hair, which is the most inherited in the Hereford family, the dazzling and shiny blonde hair peeks out from the gap in the helmet. Unlike the usual men's Gothic plates, the women's plates, which have more slender and smooth lines, are also very conspicuous. This qiē can make people, at the first time, focus all their attention on her.

It was at this time that the drawbridge gates of the Circassian Castle were opened. The welcoming procession walked out of the castle to the sound of a trombonist—and Freya stopped at the sight of this scene. The body seemed to freeze, standing still. After that, she opened the visor of her helmet, revealing a delicate, beautiful, and at the same time shocking face