In the spring, when the time finally came, Duke Otto and most of the nobles returned to their respective territories to check on the spring ploughing. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 At the same time, William was also leaving, temporarily with the Duke of Otto, returning to Mystia. After returning to Mystia, William did not make too many stops, but seized the time and continued north to Polotsk.

In the parting time, William went on to elaborate for Duke Otto on the next path for the Duchy:

"Administratively, listen to Bishop Peter, and other than that, these people ...... Including Paul, who was born as a shepherd, was a useful talent. In the military, the expansion of the new army, the selection of talents, and the opening of military schools are such things, father, your own ability is sufficient. I won't say more.

However, the gun factory is our lifeblood, and we must firmly grasp it in our hands. This is the most important thing. After all, half of the combat effectiveness of the new army is based on new weapons. As for the question of raw materials. There are a small number of coal and iron mines in the Mazovia region. Enough production in a short time. However, we still need to pay attention to finding new sources of supply.

There are two closest high-quality iron ore mines to us, one in Shilonsk and the other in Ruthenia. As far as I know, Grand Duke Henry of Shilonsk was equally interested in the development of industry. He won't give away his coal and iron resources. Even if we were to be allowed to share, it would certainly come up with some harsh conditions that we would not accept.

Therefore, the only one we can really obtain from heavy industrial resources is Ruthenia. ”

Hearing William say this, Duke Otto couldn't help frowning: "But ...... Didn't you say before that Ruthenia would not be touched for the time being?"

"Not moving Ruthenia for the time being does not mean not developing Ruthenia's coal and iron resources. William said, "The soldiers do not enter Ruthenia, but the prospectors and miners do." Or, in other words, the entry of prospecting teams in exchange for the refusal of the Mystian army to enter Ruthenia. ”

"With the threat of force, let them hand over the mining rights to us?" asked Duke Otto.

"Yes, that's what it means. William nodded: "Sarida Khan is a smart man, he will listen to us." And as a bonus, we can also help him a little - his shield is necessary until we are ready, father, you understand that, right?" William forced Duke Otto to look. Duke Otto, who felt quite dissatisfied in his heart, nodded helplessly: "I know." ”

Although the Duke had a straightforward temperament and did not like to use these tricks, he also knew that William was right.

"Then there's no problem. William nodded: "I have already found time to write documents on these policy priorities. Father can take a look. As he said this, he handed Duke Otto a stack of manuscripts that he had already prepared: "So be it, then." ”

After William finished speaking, the carriage also stopped. He and Duke Otto got out of the carriage one after the other. The carriage stopped at the very point of the dividing line between the Duchy of Mystia and Polotsk.

"Take care, father, I will write to you often. William said to Duke Otto.

"You too...... Take care. ”

Otto couldn't help but hug his son, and then kissed him on the forehead: "If you're tired outside, come home quickly." ”

"I'll be back, father. William replied. At the same time, the door of another carriage opened. Charlumi jumped out of the carriage. They ran up to the two of them, and after saluting Duke Otto, they also said goodbye to each other.

Yes, Charlumi is leaving with William. This has been said before.

"So...... I'll go back. ”

Although I am very reluctant to have a son and niece. But Duke Otto couldn't keep them. I sighed secretly in my heart, and after feeling that I was very no, I reluctantly smiled, and then said something like this.

"We'll take care of ourselves, uncle. Shalumi replied—

It was at this time that the sound of horses galloping was heard not far away. The voice caught the attention of the three of them. And when they turned around, they saw a convoy of horses running towards them.

"Elise?" saw the familiar silhouette of the horse. William couldn't help but smile wryly......

When the horse team arrived, Elise von Trieste, William's fiancée, turned over and dismounted. Then her legs trembled slightly, and she barely stood up - it was evident that she had been riding for an unknown amount of time.

However, she still gritted her teeth, walked up to William in two or three steps, and then couldn't help but ask:

"William—why did you leave me behind?!"

“...... I ......" William opened his mouth in the face of Elise's questioning, feeling a little speechless for a moment. I don't think it's appropriate to say anything.

But Elise wasn't stupid either, and she wasn't messing around. After saying something that embarrassed William, she threw herself into William's arms the next moment:

"Take me with you. I'll follow you wherever you go. Although she was shy, although she was embarrassed, Elise did not hesitate to say such things.

“...... I won't let you down. In the end, William gave this answer.

"......" was by their side, and Xia Lumi was naturally very unhappy and angry. I want to talk but don't know what to say. As soon as he stomped his feet, he turned his head away from them. On the other side, Duke Otto shook his head with a wry smile, also not knowing what to say.

That's it, there were two more people in the Hereford family's convoy, Elise and her personal maid. At first, William was a little worried. But when you think about it, it doesn't seem like a big deal. It's relatively high, and there is nothing to hide from what I have to do this time. It's all about the right things. And even if she does something out of the ordinary, Elise should be able to trust her.

In addition to this, William decided to find an opportunity to go one step further with Elise. After the marriage, she was tied to the chariot of the Hereford family. Then there will be no problem at all.

That's it. Along the way, except for Elise and Charlumie, who didn't deal with each other and made William feel a headache, nothing else was a big deal. Because William believes that this small difficulty will eventually disappear with his own efforts. Elise and Charlumi don't say they're like sisters, but they don't want to kill each other like they do now.

Reluctantly accept the existence of the other party. William felt that all he had to do was to do that.

Of course, now it seems that even this seemingly very "simple" task is difficult to complete...... It may even be more difficult than crushing the Tartariya Khanate and destroying its army of 200,000 men.

Luckily, though, William had the time to make it happen. After all, this is a lifelong task, and the time limit of the task is a lifetime.

In fact, the distance between the Duchy of Mystia and the Republic of the United Province of Polotsk is not very far. After Mystia declared its sovereignty over several forests, swamps and wastelands, the two sides already bordered each other. And the territory of the United Republic of Polotsk is not very large. From the southern border to the capital, Riga, it takes only three days by horse-drawn carriage.

For the three-day journey, William walked for twenty days.

He's very busy, busy and happy. It's like all foreigners who go to bankrupt countries to buy the bottom. It felt very comfortable.

After a speculative frenzy, the bursting of the bubble, Polotsk was complicated by numerous economic syndromes. The once bustling cities, business districts, workshops, thriving towns and villages were all dead - of course, none of William's concerns.

William's concern was that he could buy things from all over Polotsk at unimaginably low prices that money could not buy before.

From the bankrupt workshops to some steam engine factories that have begun to take shape. William acquired a large amount of mechanical equipment. In addition, the bankrupt factory owners and the skilled workers who lost their jobs were also reconvened by William.

These are skilled workers who make agricultural tools, weave cloth, make pottery, make works of art, make iron, make woodwork, furniture, tables and chairs, and other skilled workers. Some of them were all moved away with their families, as well as machinery and equipment, and were ready to go to the Duchy of Mystia. There are also preparations for the resumption of production in the same place - the products are not practically unmarketable, and the products of the Polotsk United Voivodeship, as a manufacturing center that radiates throughout the large border region, have always been very marketable.

In fact, after a large number of manufacturing factories had to go out of business, business became even better, and dealers who were in a hurry to pick up the goods in large quantities but could not find the source of the goods were willing to beg their grandfathers to sue their grandmothers to raise the price by several percent, and were only willing to get the goods before they defaulted on their debts.

So William came at the right time. If he had come a few months later, suppliers whose supply chains had broken down would have gone bankrupt in large numbers due to debt defaults and contract defaults. At that time, the entire industrial chain will be completely broken. The market in Polotsk is really out of luck.

William quickly understood the problems facing Polotsk. It is not that they lack raw materials, they do not lack machinery and equipment, skilled workers, supply channels and distributors or markets. They just don't have a single amount of money to get the industry moving.

The whole of Polotsk is like a steam engine that is intact, but without fuel. All William had to do was invest enough money before the machine was completely scrapped. As long as he does this, he will be able to make a profit without losing money.