Mine expansion

Artys was currently planning to improve mine development. Supplies would be brought in to improve the mines and projects were drawn up by mining safety standards and industrial-age improvements. The last thing Artys wanted on his hands was a collapsed mine. As such, he pretty much overhauled the system in place, which mines had been using for centuries at night.

One of these critical inventions was the safety lamp that would provide adequate lighting in volatile areas where other lamps and candles could be dangerous. Mining was dangerous and strenuous work; the least Artys could do was apply safety standards and equipment and an adequate paycheck to compensate workers for work hazards that may arise. What would really speed up the mining process was dynamite. Although he knew the chemical equation to create such a thing, he lacked an experienced chemist and a production facility to manufacture it. He seriously needed to get his hands on one of the alchemists in King's Landing so he could personally teach chemistry.

However, he decided that it was better to have a chemical laboratory that he could use in his spare time than not having the ability to produce chemicals. As such, he would begin building a chemical laboratory and the equipment needed to equip it. So the young lord quickly drew up the necessary plans for such a production. Although he had little free time these days, he needed to produce supplies that required basic chemistry. It was better to have a system before having a suitable chemical than a suitable chemical and no means of production.

***

When dawn woke Artys from his slumber, he quickly dressed. Today would be a busy day for Artys, as he would personally visit the mines to oversee their expansion.

For the next two weeks, Artys would be in the mines near Graymine village. The village was currently under the direct control of one of House Royce's bannermen, Lord Uthor Tollett of Grey Glen; it was a perfect opportunity to leave a favorable impression on the lesser lord and his family.

After having a quick snack in which the chefs woke up early to prepare for the trip, Artys left his family's Castle leaving only a letter to inform him of his absence.

When he arrived, Artys descended from his carriage to greet Lord Uthor and his family; he had sent a raven in advance to inform the Lord of his arrival. As the son of Lord Yohn Royce, he still had to follow proper etiquette when approaching his family's vassal territory. After stepping out of their carriage, the expressions on the family's faces went from forcing a graceful smile to one of deep shock. Artys looked very different from the last time they'd met. Though they couldn't see the extent of his physical form beneath his thin doublet, they could tell his skin had a healthy glow and his cheeks were no longer sunken. Evidently, the sick boy they knew had recovered from his childhood illness.

Artys approached Lord Uthor, who bowed before him; after all, the young lord was still the son of his Lord Overlord and Protector of the Vale, and as such, he held a position superior to him.

"My Lord, it is a great honor to host your stay in our humble abode."

Lord Uthor was a man in his early thirties, and his wife was nearly ten years younger. They were a young couple, and Uthor had recently acquired the title of Lord from his late father. In her hands, the woman held a boy, who was Uthor's third child. Beside the couple were two other boys who were in their formative years. The little ones looked at Artys with a sense of wonder. It was the first time they had encountered a family member of Lord Royce and they were well aware of his position in the house.

Artys motioned for the family to stand up as he put on a charming smile.

"You honor me with your words, Lord Uthor. I am only here on business and will spend most of my time in the mines. However, I will not refuse the hospitality you have shown me."

Artys' words were chosen wisely; he didn't want to offend Lord Uthor or his House, but he also needed to make it clear that he would be overburdened overseeing the expansion of the mines. Thus, he would not be able to properly entertain his hosts. On the other hand, Lord Uthor almost sighed in relief at these words.

Uthor quickly dismissed his family when Artys made it clear that he wanted to get to the mines as soon as possible. He personally elected to guide the youth into the mines; if this young lord was overseeing the expansion of the mines, he'd better stay close and avoid any mishaps. As the two nobles got into the carriage and set off for the mines, Uthor couldn't help but ask about the project.

"So what are the plans to expand the mines?"

A smile appeared on Artys' face as he started a long discussion about the new safety standards that included a more robust support system to prevent mine collapse and the safety lamp. He also demanded adequate working hours and sufficient pay, which House Royce would personally take care of. There was also a ban on child labor in the mines where Artys had won his father's approval.

After hearing all of Artys' plans in great detail, the man couldn't believe that the sickly young lord he'd met years ago had devised such an extensive plan to reform the mines. It would take weeks to implement, but if done successfully, mine productivity would skyrocket, especially as Artys brought with him some of the unemployed farmers to act as additional labor. Until Artys could build steam engines and a proper rail system, he would be forced to relocate families to the territory ruled by Lord Uthor to increase mining productivity.

Artys also gave the Lord a set of documents that contained all the details of his four-field system. He would also supply the Lordship's fields with enough fertilizer to last the season. However, Artys had no plans to inform Uthor about the irrigation system at the moment. Until the Runestone fields were all supplied, he would not lend the knowledge behind its implementation to Uthor. For now, he wanted to increase crop yields in the territories of House Royce's vassals, and gifting the four-field system to his vassals was no disadvantage.

When Uthor examined the designs of the four-field system, he could not believe his eyes. He had to ask the question in his mind at that moment.

"Did you…did you make this up?"

Artys smiled gracefully as he answered Uthor.

"I came up with the theory, but I had the help of a good friend testing it. We won't know the effectiveness of the results until this year's harvest. However, I and many others are pretty sure there are at least no downsides to this system. ."

The man couldn't believe what he was hearing; Artys had given him that information without asking for anything in return. This knowledge would greatly affect the yield of your crops and, in turn, the income your Earth would earn. Why would Artys give this tremendous knowledge away for free?

"What do you want in exchange for this information?"

Artys continued to smile as he assured the Lord that he wanted nothing to do with the information exchange.

"There is nothing I want in return for these projects. The more food we produce on our land, the better it will be for everyone and the fewer farmers will be needed. Unemployed farmers will be able to work in the mines, I have plans for the resources these mines contain, and I will need every hand to produce them."

Uthor struggled to believe that Artys was so benevolent; was he really giving him this knowledge for free, just so his commoners would be more productive? The Lord had difficulty understanding such a concept, of course, he had no way of knowing how grandiose Artys' plans were for the industrialization of the Royce lands and his vassal territories. As such, he could barely think about the need for a massive workforce.

Ultimately, after some time to think for himself, Uthor accepted the plans and promised to implement the four-field system and use the phosphate fertilizer he had received as soon as possible.

"I humbly accept the projects and will do my best to implement them as quickly as I can."

Artys smiled at the man's humble demeanor; Lord Uthor really knew his place in this world. A quality he couldn't say they all had. After a long conversation about the changes taking place in Runestone, the supply caravan finally arrived at the mines, where they saw a camp set up outside its entrance. Many of the miners had a hard time returning to their families after all the work they had to do and as such they built a slum just outside the mine entrance.

Artys was disgusted with the conditions these poor peasants were forced to live in and promised that he would at least make some improvements to their temporary housing. After getting out of the chariot in which the two nobles had traveled, the miners were attentive as they perceived the arrival of their Lord, who ruled the territory in which they were. It was sporadic for him to visit the mines, and many men did not react.

Artys had a lot to take care of over the next few weeks and he didn't have time to mingle with the locals. Eventually, dozens of men began to leave the caravan and bring in supplies to improve the mines. Seeing the handsome, well-dressed men beside their lord and giving orders, the more common-sense miners understood that Artys was their boss's boss and quickly obeyed his orders and went back to work. Just asking each other and the newcomers who the noble man was.

After several hours, the miners got used to Artys giving commands as he looked at a map of the mines and their current excavation process. It would be a long and arduous journey to get these mines into code. Only after the whistle had blown and the miners had returned to their shacks did Artys finally rest. He would work as hard as miners and lead by example. That was always the way he handled things when he was in a leadership position and he wouldn't change it now just because he faced the dangers of mines. Artys lay on a makeshift cot under a sloping shelter as he looked up at the moon and stars above, and eventually fell asleep.