The Engineering and Architects of the Crow's Nest

Chapter 109 The Engineering and Architects of the Crow's Nest

Several days later, at dawn, outside Crow's Nest, the sounds of hammering and sawing wood mingled together.

The workers poured the mixture of gravel and soil into the interlayer, then pounded it down hard with huge wooden hammers. From the direction of the city gate, wagons drove in, fully loaded with stones and timber, and piled them up in the open space in the center of the outer city.

Ron stood at the foot of the city wall, his gaze sweeping across the entire construction site. Then he looked up at the section of the wall that had been completed. The timber was cut directly from the nearby forest. The bark had not been completely removed, but each log was shaved straight and coated with moisture-proof grease.

"Looks like progress is going well," Ron turned to Erwin. "How many men have we deployed?"

Erwin, holding a notepad, adjusted his glasses and turned to a page.

"Currently, there are over two hundred people, which is quite a lot more than initially. They are all residents from the Crow's Nest and the manor area, many of whom are newly arrived migrants who are looking for work. Our job benefits have attracted a lot of people, and some tenant farmers from the manor have also come to participate. After all, the spring crops have been harvested, and there isn't much work to be done in the fields. They're just sitting around doing nothing. Moreover, we provide two hot meals during the work period, which is an offer they can't refuse. At the current pace, the basic work will be completed in another month."

Ron nodded slightly. "After the basic work is completed, what other steps are needed?"

Erwin glanced around, then waved to the short figure by the city wall. "Oliver! Over here, come quick, I have something to ask you about the project."

Oliver dusted himself off and walked over. He was only up to Erwin's belt. His brown curly hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead, and there were a few gray marks on his face.

"Ha! Erwin, I thought you'd been buried alive by those ledgers and documents!"

"You're underestimating the perfect harmony between my brain and my quill pen."

Erwin's tone carried a hint of helplessness between old friends, "Oliver, this is our lord, you haven't officially met him yet."

Oliver blinked, immediately abandoning his casual demeanor, and exaggeratedly patted his chest and bowed, performing a polite gesture that was impeccable yet somewhat comical.

"My lord, I am Oliver Green, your architect. It's a pleasure to meet you. Erwin mentioned many of your deeds in his letter, but to be honest..." He looked Ron up and down.

"He didn't mention at all that you're that tall!"

Ron looked at him, a smile playing on his lips. "Erwin mentioned that you're the best architecture lecturer in Orsonford."

"Haha, it's not that exaggerated, but it's no problem to say that I'm one of the best architects," Oliver winked at Elwin.

Oliver pointed to the city wall under construction.

"My lord, regarding the procedure that Erwin just mentioned, the method we are currently using is rammed earth construction. Simply put, it involves using wooden planks to form a slab, filling the middle with soil, and then compacting it layer by layer to form a solid rammed earth layer."

The advantages of this method are low cost, fast construction time (it can be completed in a few months), and considerable defensive capabilities, sufficient to withstand attacks from most conventional weapons and catapults.

"It's certainly much more convenient than a stone wall," Ron said, looking at the heavy wooden frame and gently stroking his sword hilt. "But what are the disadvantages of using it as a temporary fortification?"

Oliver's expression turned serious. "First of all, wooden walls are definitely vulnerable to fire. Secondly, the fortifications are not durable; they will need constant repairs due to sun and rain. Finally, they are not high enough. Our current plan is a height of four meters and a width of two and a half meters, which is the limit. This type of structure cannot be built as tall as stone walls."

"This size outer wall is sufficient for Raven's Nest as a temporary defense," Ron commented. "Also, regarding its weakness to fire, is there a way to overcome it?"

"Of course," Oliver patted his chest vigorously.

"We can build a layer of stone bricks on the outside of the city wall. This will not only make use of the rammed earth's strength, but also help the stone wall resist fire attacks and enemy digging. If the territory has sufficient funds later, it will be very convenient to carry out a second upgrade on this basis, making it higher or thicker."

"Very good." Ron looked at Elwin. "Oliver, you are in charge of the land's engineering work. If you need any assistance, just tell Elwin. If you're short-handed, recruit more people. If you're short of materials, make a list."

"Understood, thank you for your trust, sir!" Oliver nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Please rest assured, I will keep a close eye on every part of the project, and I won't let even a single stone be placed in the wrong place."

After saying this, he bowed and turned back to the busy construction site.

Ron and Erwin walked along the road toward the inner city; the dilapidated wooden bridge connecting the residential area and the outer city was gone.

Instead, a wide bridge was built, large enough for two carriages to walk side by side, with a thick oak deck and rough but sturdy railings along the edges.

"When was this bridge built?" Ron stepped on the bridge plank, and a dull, heavy echo came from his feet.

"Oh, Oliver just happened to have the broken bridge fixed up with him," Erwin explained.

"The horse-drawn carts carrying materials had to pass through here every day. The old bridge couldn't withstand the carts fully loaded with stones, and the wheels would often get stuck in the wooden planks. I think that was the main reason he repaired the bridge."

The two crossed the bridge and entered the residential area.

The once muddy main road has been paved with smooth stone slabs, the drainage ditches on both sides have been cleaned up, and although most of the houses are wooden structures, they have all been renovated, with the thatched roofs replaced with more durable wooden planks or tiles.

The streets were bustling with people, the cries of vendors rose and fell, and the air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and fried meat. Several horse-drawn carriages were slowly passing by, the drivers skillfully dodging pedestrians, and the clanging of hammering metal came from the blacksmith's shop on the street corner.

"This place has changed so much," Ron said, raising an eyebrow slightly as he looked at the scene before him.

As they were walking, an old man stepped out from the crowd ahead. Upon seeing Ron, he quickly walked forward and bowed respectfully.

"Sergeant...no, Lord, good day!"

Ron stopped in his tracks. It was the villager who had once asked him to hunt the petrified chicken snake. He was still so thin, but his expression was much more relaxed than before, and his eyes had a bit more light in them.

"It's you. Long time no see," Ron asked gently. "How have the residents been lately?"

"My lord, the bandits and monsters in the surrounding area have basically disappeared, and life has become much more stable." The old man's face was beaming with smiles, and his tone was full of gratitude.

"In the past, it took three or five men to travel together, but now one person can go alone. Many villagers have started small businesses, and many young men have chosen to join your army. He paused, puffed out his chest, and his voice became louder. "Oh, right, my youngest son is also serving you, sir. To be honest, before you came, I never thought that Crow's Nest would be like this today."

Ron listened to the old man's words without saying much, but simply patted the old man's shoulder gently.