Chapter 231: The Power of the Workers

  The sound of hammering filled the air.

  Rows upon rows of furnaces were lined up ly in three rows.

  ons and swords that had already taken shape were tinuously being hammered and refined.

  Several new young workers followed their master respectfully, listening as he expined each step of the process, its key points, and teiques.

  After his expnation, the master had them try it themselves.

  First, they attempted it indepely, and ohey were done, he patiently corrected their mistakes with detailed expnations.

  He ehey fully uood before proceeding with demonstrations.

  Ohey had gained a deeper uanding, he let them practice again.

  Repeating this process multiple times, eaerentice made signifit progress.

  Their rapid progress brought a wide smile to their master's face.

  The nerentices, however, felt somewhat embarrassed because they had ruined so many on bnks.

  Notig their uhe master calmly reassured them:

  "As long as you work hard and learn, wasting a bit of material is no big deal."

  "These materials will be remelted and refed, and aside from wasting some effort, nothing is truly lost."

  Upon hearing this, all the apprentices rexed.

  They listeo their master’s guidance while hearing stories from his past:

  "Back when we were young, learning this trade was not easy."

  "First, you had to tend the fire for two years, learning to judge the heat just by looking at the fme."

  "If you couldn’t learn, you'd keep tending the fire, earning no wage, and still having to do the master's chores."

  "I tehe fire for four whole years before I even touched a pair of tongs."

  "Only after that could I start hammering."

  "Now, you all have such great opportunities, you must treasure them."

  "Learn quickly, but also learn well. If you think you sck off under my watch, that's absolutely impossible!"

  "..."

  Around each furhis se repeated itself over and over.

  There were tless examples proving that hard work led to a better life.

  No oppressive taxes hanging over their heads.

  No ruthless bureaucrats sug them dry.

  No more famine days, with uainty over their meal.

  And no fear of warring armies deliberately or iently destroying their homes.

  Moreover, before they even began work, each person had already been given a promise at the settlemeer:

  "Once you officially join Bay Territory, each family will automatically receive a house."

  "All children will be raised and educated by the territory until they reach adulthood."

  "Outside of work, everyone will have opportuo improve their skills."

  "As your knowledge and skills improve, you receive higher positions and rewards."

  "Innovations in manufacturing or produ that be the territory’s progress will earn special reition and rewards."

  "Earn tribution points. The higher the tribution, the more rewards you’ll receive from the territory."

  "..."

  The various clear aailed ws of the territory.

  Explicitly told every person:

  "If you want a better life, then work hard!"

  This left all the refugees deeply moved.

  They had never been given su opportunity before.

  They didn’t uand why, but they all cherished the ce they had.

  ing to Bay Territory...

  ...was the greatest fortuhey had ever had!

  Matthew was satisfied with the spirit of the apprentices and their masters.

  The atmosphere was harmonious, filled with an eagerress and succeed.

  The ongoing ideological education courses ierritory had finally borne fruit.

  The other factories were also doing well; not only was the atmosphere good, but the scale and number of workers were visibly growing.

  Matthew spent aire day.

  Iing the dition of the entire factory district.

  Meanwhile, he also gathered information.

  Looking for spies, iing improvements in factory processes, and identifying challenges in product quality enha.

  This was tthen the overall productivity of the factories and the territory through a prehensive assessment.

  Soon, the territory and the eerial pne would enter a period of upheaval.

  There wasn’t much time left.

  Returning to his study.

  Matthew flipped through the dots in his hand, asking Butler Ralph about the steps in the factory upgrades:

  "Each master and fe should focus on perfeg one specific step, ensuring that it is done as effitly and effectively as possible."

  "Each apprentice foastering oep, allowing them to learn the full craft as quickly as possible."

  "To ehe masters are motivated to teach, within a set period..."

  "For every apprentice a master successfully trains, they will receive a monthly bonus of one silver for three years."

  Hearing Ralph’s pn, Matthew’s mind briefly wao thoughts of full automation, but he quickly set it aside.

  It wasn’t suitable yet!

  Cultivating skilled workers would never bee outdated.

  Without a rge number of skilled workers and a solid system, the territory’s overall development would always rely on just a few individuals.

  Even an Arist couldn’t spare the time and energy for everything.

  Matthew had tried shortcuts and failed. Even if it required more resources, full support was necessary.

  So far, it was w well.

  The ons factory had gone from merely repairing equipment to produg quality ons and armor—a signifit step forward.

  Ohese apprentices grew into their roles, the territory would likely have a Mage Tower by then!

  Other manufacturing factories were following a simir trajectory to the ons factory.

  Fulfilling orders pced by Bay Territory, with the goal of training more skilled workers, steadily expanding the factory’s scale and capabilities.

  Simple assembly line produ, bined with educational courses outside of work, was rapidly turning the influx ees into valuable skilled workers.

  After firming the superiority of the Mage Tower’s produ capabilities, Matthew finally solved a lingering mystery.

  The heril Empire didn’t ck advanced produethods; they were simply suppressed by the caster-first system.

  Ordinary soldiers could use any on, as they were sidered expendable on fodder.

  Soldiers with armor were already sidered elite.

  Except for noble families like the Carlisles, few pces outfitted every soldier with high-quality protective gear like Bay Territory did.

  Without a market for this, development was naturally stifled.

  But Matthew knew what the future held, which was why he id the groundwork in advance.

  Oep ahead, and you’ll stay ahead.

  With the factories progressing acc to pn, and even exceeding expectations.

  The territory would now further enhas promotion of skilled workers and their bes.

  "Knowledge ges destiny, skills build a life!"

  FAL