Building a Base

The cave entrances had been blocked and camouflaged. With all the work scheduled at the farm, Chu did not have the time to sit back and concentrate on this veritable gold mine. He did not spread the discovery to his core members, simply instructing them to keep the location a secret.

In the next week, Clod had everyone out in the fields. Another temporary quarters was built near the south entrance for the village members. It was not unusual for villagers to seek work in the outlying farms, so the mass movement of the household did not raise any concerns by the neighbors.

"Doug and his group will handle the preparation of the new fields at the north. The girls will get the vegetable garden started, expanding its size by four times. The rest for us will begin planting in the eastern fields."

Sue, Mrs Thomas and Ms May became exempted from the farm work on mornings. They were delegated to cooking for the entire group. Rose and Miki manned the lookout in turns, while Lucy was on guard duty in the fields.

In the evenings the cooks tended to vegetable and herb gardens around the farm. They also provided clean clothes and hot water in the barrels beside the new workshop. There, everyone ate the food served while Clod allocated the next days work after dinner.

They did not have the time to construct the walls around the workshop. Because of this Chu had them construct a solid wooden fence like the kind they first made in the barn. This would serve as an adequate defense against wild animals.

Unless he had no other choice, Lucy's ability was still kept a secret. The fighting skills and the weekends heading into the forest to hunt was chalked up as training received from the known ex-Adventurer Mr Thomas.

Under the constant interactions, he felt that the three small children would be the first to be absorbed into his group. They were a timid lot all under the age of ten. As with the typical mentality of the village, the girls were abandoned just before winter in the slums.

Fortunately for Chu, Ms May kept an eye on them and dragged them into the village home. Though they were shy, they were dedicated and hard workers.

Besides Ms May and Jim, there were two other older couples in the farm. Before taking them in, Chu might have sworn they were clocking ninety.

Now after the most comfortable winter they had probably spent in their entire lives they were finally looking like middle-aged people.

Spring passed them by concentrating on the farm and the new invention. Griz remained true to his word. When summer rolled in, so to did his family owned merchant caravans filled with the tools, equipment and materials necessary in creating a forge.

Though the technology was seriously middle ages, a smithy in the Empire represented cutting edge technology. Only the Tower Mages could compete in terms of new products.

If the Tower Mages represented a group of inventors and pioneers, the Smithy was the core of engineers and technicians that brought it to life and concurrently to the common man.

Because of the focus on Magic, the technological advancement slowed in the Empire. For Chu whose brain was useless in creating modern technology, this was a gift from Heaven. Sooner or later the simply machinery of gears would be discovered and developed. Ushering in another leap in technology.

He had to strike now to make his fortune. Once the product hit the market, others would copy it. When that happened he must be ready to blast out another invention when the sales dropped. Because he was running on limited time, he was going to follow the plan of outsourcing.

The smithy in the farm was going to be the place he could tinker to provide working inventions. As such, the wagons did not return empty but filled with lumber. A chest containing a sample and a letter was place under the care of the guards.

The blacksmiths under Griz would be taking over the as the main producer. Under Chu's guidance the assembly and trial of the iron gear assembly for a drawbridge and portcullis would finish.

Karst will receive the final product by the first month of autumn. By using his newfound contacts in the Tower and the backing of the Merchant Guild, Griz was hoping to sell his rights on the product to the Empire. Instead of negotiating a price, Chu's idea was to him revolutionary.

Under the protection of both the Empire and the Merchant Guild, he was to demand a 'commission'. Any one who wanted to manufacture their products, would simply have to pay them a small fee. This 'percentage' according to the boy would quickly add up while serving two very important functions.

Firstly the Merchant Guild and the Empire were undoubtedly the two most powerful heavy weights when it came to the economy. By including them into the fold, he was certain that his product would receive a boost in manufacturing and spread across the country in quick time. With so many customers for the Well handle modification and others, a simple fifteen percent fee was going to rake in big money.

The second reason behind this plan was to make use of the Empire and the Merchant Guild to act as enforcers. When Griz sold the rights to any merchant they would undoubtedly monitor each other. Obviously none of them wanted to get blacklisted for failing to abide by the rules.

Throw in some new products and it would only serve to increase the amount of Merchants sucking up and fawning over Griz. That would be the best for Chu, since he and his farm would be seen as the usual side investment. By releasing the invention in the Capital they would never have to worry about some big Merchant family gobbling them up.

If anyone decided to venture out into the boondocks to find the manufacturing base, Chu would long be waiting and ready. In this place only he had access to the complete plans.

All they had to do was sit back and rake in the money. Chu wrote to Griz stating that they could give a five percent of the fee earned back to the Merchant Guild for services. That service was to prevent merchants from robbing them blind.

By selling their own product while raking in the benefits from commission, it was a win-win plan. Chu planned to remain in business for the long haul. By the time he clocked a ripe old age and finally finished his adventuring days, he intended to retire in style.

Chu had Dareck move to the farm. As an apprentice blacksmith, the young man had experience in setting up the layout for the new smithy. With it in progress, the assembly work on the gears could begin.

***

Dough and his group were training hard in the evening. The Elder was sitting on a log teaching Rose to sharpen a sword.

"I know we promised to set you guys free as soon as the fields got sown. A man's word is his bond, but I have three choices for you young men.

The first one is that you can leave now, and as promised I will get a word in to the merchants trading in the village. We will not have anything to do with each other again.

The second choice is to work until the end of summer. By then I can guarantee a work as guards on a convoy heading into the city of Haven. That convoy will sometimes bring you men back to the farm now and again.

The third choice is to work here until autumn. We have a special delivery going out to Karst. From there it is heading out to the Capital. If you want to experience the life at the center of the Empire, this is a great opportunity. You can also choose to stay there or return working as guards."

The Elder spoke to them while checking on Rose's work.

Doug and his group were no fools. During the past few months they had been working alongside the older men recruited from the village. Through normal small talk Singh and Chong had gained valuable information on their current employer.

This farmer had a deep connection with the Master of the Trading Post. If that was not scary enough, the new blacksmith at the farm boasted about how his Patron and the Farmer was apparently close. A farmer with such ties could never steer them in the wrong direction.

Additionally he had a son who ran this farm in the background. Countless times they heard the 'little boss' boasting about her brother's amazing skills.

The benefits since their 'abduction' far outweighed the cons. They had eaten better than most villagers and now given the once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to the Capital.

"Elder, we have no problems in working until autumn. We want to go to the Capital."

Doug replied.

The only thing the group did not do was bow down and break out in tears.

All the hard work finally paid off. Unlike most if not all of the inhabitants living in these parts they had the opportunity to visit the Capital city of the Empire.

'How many people live their entire lives wishing and dreaming they could hear these few words?'

"Very well, you brats are growing up. When its time to leave I will get some spending money for you. Make sure you reserve yourself and come back in one piece. The world outside is cruel and unforgiving."

Mr Thomas seemed pleased in their choice. They were not ungrateful as to bail on him now.

"Alright, settle yourself. Rose, grab the wooden sword. Its time for you to spar with these scoundrels."

Mr Thomas continued in a pleased manner.

On the opposite side of the farm, Clod and Chu were taking a walk inside the fields. Rows of green corn lined both sides of the road. Halfway down the road between the farm and the north south road they stopped.

"Here. In this spot here I want to build it."

Chu looked around as if making sure he choose a prime location.

"So far from the barn?"

Clod asked. He stared at the ground. There on the dirt road, Chu had made a crude drawing.

"Yep, we want to make sure it does not disturb us at the barn. Also we can use it both as additional income and as another watchtower. Too close to the barn will cause trouble, we will have endless worries if it falls into enemy hands. Out here it can serve its purpose perfectly."

Chu replied.

"Very well then. With the fields under control I can allocate additional lumber for this project. As soon as Dareck gets his forge going, we can have nails and rivets to set it up. I think we will only be able to frame it up before winter though."

Clod spoke as he looked at the doodle on the ground again.

"Don't worry, when we meet Dareck for dinner later in the workshop I will have him help me construct a small model. Both of you can use it to help in the construction. All you need to know is that it needs a large base for adequate support."

Chu gave Clod some reassurance as he headed back.