Miguel was sitting in his office, the candles casting flickering shadows on the walls as he pondered deeply. Maps, sketches, and documents were scattered across the desk, silent witnesses to his tireless efforts to transform the kingdom of Drakmoor. He had achieved impressive advancements so far, but he knew that the key to true progress lay in efficiency.
The idea of Ford's assembly line lingered in his mind. He remembered how Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry in his original world by simplifying the manufacturing process into standardized steps. Each worker performed a single task repeatedly, increasing the efficiency and speed of production. Instead of an artisan producing an entire object, different workers specialized in a single step, passing the product to the next stage.
Miguel thought about how this approach could be applied in Drakmoor. He visualized blacksmiths and carpenters, each focused on a single step of the manufacturing process, increasing the production of weapons, tools, and other essential items. But he knew that implementing such a system would be a massive challenge. It would require intensive training, coordination, and a significant cultural shift.
He sighed, knowing that this would not be an easy task. "Everything must be planned carefully, every detail meticulously considered," he thought. "Any failure in execution could result in disaster." He made a mental note to dedicate time and effort to planning the production line, but he knew that for now, there was another priority.
Another project occupied his mind, something that could drastically change the future of Drakmoor. Something that would give his kingdom an extreme advantage over the others. But it would require resources, knowledge, and above all, secrecy. "For now, this secret will remain with me," Miguel thought, with a satisfied smile on his face. "First, I have to note down everything I will need to put this into practice."
He stood up and went to the window, observing the city that was growing and prospering under his leadership.
--- Duke's Mansion ---
Aurélio Vonmain was in the imposing duke's hall, his gaze serious as he analyzed maps and documents spread across the table. Beside him was Augusto, the younger but no less determined brother. The hall, decorated with tapestries and luxurious furniture, reflected the power and wealth of the duchy. The tall windows let in soft light, illuminating the tense faces of the brothers.
"So, our dear bastard brother has decided to rebel and declare independence," said Aurélio with a tone of disdain. "Miguel really thinks he can get rid of us that easily."
"He is more foolish than we thought," replied Augusto, crossing his arms. "But we cannot underestimate him. He has been surprisingly effective in gaining local support and that of the beastmen."
Aurélio nodded, agreeing reluctantly. "We need to crush him once and for all. Show him and the people of Drakmoor that rebellion comes at a high price. How many soldiers do we think will be necessary?"
Augusto picked up a scroll with the duchy's troop numbers. "We have a total of 40,000 soldiers. If we are serious about this, we can mobilize six thousand in a month. It's a significant portion of our army, but we need to ensure he is completely crushed."
Aurélio looked at the map, his eyes fixed on the barony of Drakmoor. "Six thousand soldiers... yes, that should be more than enough to quell any resistance. We cannot allow this affront to continue."
"Agreed," said Augusto. "But we need to be swift. We don't want the kingdom to discover this little rebellion before we can deal with it. The last thing we want is royal troops interfering."
Aurélio grumbled, his frustration evident. "Why didn't Miguel accept his fate and just die? That would have been much easier. Now, we have to deal with this mess."
Augusto placed a hand on his older brother's shoulder. "Calm down, Aurélio. We will deal with him. And when we do, everyone will know that challenging the Vonmain is a fatal mistake."
Aurélio let out a heavy sigh. "Let's start the preparations. Send messengers to the troop commanders. I want everyone ready to depart in a month. Miguel chose his death, and I will ensure he receives it."
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As the two brothers continued to plan, their determination to crush Miguel's rebellion grew. They were willing to sacrifice a significant part of their army to ensure that Drakmoor returned to the duchy's control and that Miguel paid dearly for his audacity.
The duke's hall, usually a place of political decisions and long-term strategies, now became the center of a conspiracy to crush the rebellion of a brother who dared to dream of independence. And for Aurélio and Augusto, there was no turning back.
Amélia was behind the closed door, listening to the brothers' conversation. Her expression hardened as she heard Aurélio and Augusto's words. "That bastard Miguel should have made things easier," she murmured to herself. She was serious when she said she would protect him, but now everything seemed more complicated.
What made her extremely angry was not Miguel, but the fact that Aurélio knew about the independence. "Aurélio is spying on me," she thought, clenching her fists. "He wants to get rid of me the same way he tried to get rid of Miguel?" She didn't like being underestimated, and this was the last straw.
The shadow of a cold smile crossed her face. "He will pay for this," she whispered. Amélia stepped away from the door, her mind racing. Aurélio had crossed a line, and she was determined to show that no one spied on her with impunity.
---
Amélia was in the stable of her personal mansion, watching her favorite horses as she thought about the urgency of her mission. She knew she needed to act quickly to warn Miguel before her brothers launched an attack against the new kingdom. Around her, the stables were full of activity, with horses being prepared and riders gearing up for the journey.
She called her most loyal riders, about 100 men who had proven their loyalty in countless battles. They were well-trained soldiers, all with serious and determined expressions, ready to follow their leader at any moment.
“Listen carefully,” Amélia began, her voice firm and authoritative. “We are not setting out to attack Miguel's barony. On the contrary, we are going to warn him of an imminent danger. My brothers are planning a massive attack, and we need to reach him before they do.”
The riders nodded in unison, mounting their horses efficiently. Amélia mounted her favorite horse, a sturdy black horse with bright eyes and a long, wavy mane. As she adjusted the reins, she looked at her men with a mix of determination and concern.
“We will depart immediately. Every moment counts. Our loyalty and speed could make all the difference for that little bastard Miguel and his new kingdom, of course.” She continued, “My brothers Aurélio and Augusto disrespected me... They will certainly try to kill me at some point... So let's give them a reason for it.” She smiled maliciously and raised her sword.
The soldiers did the same and raised their swords in unison. They left at night to avoid suspicion. Due to the spies likely working in her mansion, her brothers would soon know she had left and the reason why.
With one last look at the stables, Amélia turned her horse towards the gate and gave the order to advance. The riders followed her, the sound of hooves echoing through the courtyard as they galloped out of the mansion.
--- Kingdom of Drakmoor ---
Miguel was sitting in his office, with various papers scattered across the desk. His eyes fixed on a large map of the region, he knew he needed something grand to interconnect the entire new kingdom with brick roads. The 200 bricks produced daily by the workers were just a fraction of what was needed to accomplish this task. He needed a more efficient solution, a true production line that could meet the colossal demand.
He decided that the best way to test this production line was by building a brick factory. The space within the city was limited, so he opted to construct the building outside the urban limits, near the south gate. The flat, wooded area there would be perfect. The location also offered easy access for transporting materials, being only two hours by cart from the city.
Miguel began sketching the building plans. The ground floor would have a large space, with various sections dedicated to different stages of production. He envisioned a rectangular structure, about 50 meters long by 30 meters wide, enough to house all the necessary operations.
At the entrance of the building, there would be a reception and sorting area for materials, where carts would unload clay and other supplies. Next to this area, Miguel planned a large storage area for clay and limestone, as well as bags of lime and coal. This would ensure that the production line never stopped due to a lack of materials.
Just after the storage area, Miguel drew a processing section. Here, the clay would be mixed with limestone and lime in large tanks, forming the mortar that would be used to mold the bricks. He imagined huge stone wheels, powered by horses, to mix the ingredients evenly.
Next was the molding section. Miguel sketched several long tables where workers would place the mortar into wooden molds. Each mold would produce a set of bricks, and the tables would be organized in rows to maximize efficiency. Once filled, the molds would be taken to a drying section.
Miguel thought about the brick drying process. The area would be covered and well-ventilated, allowing air to circulate freely to speed up the process. Wooden racks stacked on top of each other would hold the bricks while they dried, with enough space for thousands of units.
Finally, the firing section would be the heart of the factory. Giant kilns would be built to bake the bricks, making them hard and durable. Miguel planned kilns capable of operating continuously, fueled by coal and wood. He drew a complex network of chimneys to ensure the smoke was properly expelled, keeping the work environment safe.
After firing, the finished bricks would be stored in a large adjacent warehouse, ready to be transported wherever needed. Miguel calculated that with this structure, they could produce up to 1,000 bricks a day, depending on the number of workers and the efficiency of the process.
To build this facility, Miguel made some quick calculations. He estimated that about 20,000 bricks would be needed to erect the outer walls, plus 5,000 for the internal partitions. The foundation would require a large amount of mortar, and he also had to consider the construction of the kilns and chimneys.
Miguel, after spending hours in his office drawing and calculating the details of the brick factory building, took stock of the available resources. He found that there were 8,000 bricks in storage, plus the 200 bricks produced daily by the workers. This gave him the confidence that, although the construction would be a major undertaking, they had a good starting point.
He decided that the next day, he would visit the chosen site for the factory, near the south gate. He wanted to examine the area personally, check the terrain, and plan the start of the foundation. He knew this initial step was crucial to ensuring the factory was built with maximum efficiency and safety.