It is not easy to convert a merchant ship into a warship. It requires the removal of the excess part of the hull, making the ship more flexible and easy to chase or escape when on the sea surface. A flamethrower space is reserved at the stern of the ship. Of course, not every ship has such a flamethrower device. Other ships will install crossbows and medium-sized catapults on both sides of the ship's side. This is a great innovation in this era.

Because when the Romans fought naval battles against the Mediterranean nations, they were completely defeated at the beginning until they set up a bridge in the shape of a raven on the bow to leech, so that the enemy ships could be hooked through the raven on the sea battle, so that Roman soldiers could board the enemy ships without facing the deadly long-range bows and arrows shot by the swaying seas by the peoples on the sea.

This tactic of the Romans seemed to have been spread to most parts of Europa. In naval battles, they usually approach the ships and board the springboard after a single archery, and the sailors engage in hand-to-hand combat. The advantage is that the winner can capture the enemy's ships, but Arud thinks why you have to risk hand-to-hand combat when you can defeat the enemy at a long range.

"Sir Earl, we have no experience in fighting on the sea. Besides, we don't know how accurate the crossbow is on bumpy ships." Johnberg reminded him when he watched the ship improvements in the port with Arod.

"We need to equip the crossbow with a sight. As for experience, let the ships conduct military training. Only by constantly training can we accumulate experience. Put some empty oak barrel targets on the sea surface and let the sailors conduct shooting training." Arod could only order the improved ships to conduct sea training. Merchant ships generally consider more about the stability of navigation and the wide cargo warehouses, but warships do not need these.

"The craftsmen are working hard on my Lord Earl," Johnberg explained to Arod.

"Where are they? Let me see them." Arod immediately took the horse led by Harlen, rode up and galloped towards the smelting base. Five inner-domestic knights and John Berg immediately followed closely behind him. The smelting base is not far from the port, because the hydraulic tempering device in the smelting base is operated by the tidal power of sea water. Arod widely used various natural forces in his territory to improve productivity. The number of mills in Mecklenburg has increased to three, and it is still under further construction. These mills operated by wind can grind wheat into fine flour and maximize the use of wheat energy.

"It's the Count, please open the door." When Arod led his guards along the coast to a cliff built by the seaside, a wall was built on the cliff here using the boarding method, and there was a team of thirty-person Swiss mercenaries guarding it. Rolling black smoke rose from behind the wall. When the guards saw Arod, he quickly opened the gatehouse.

"Yeah." Arodzun immediately walked forward through the gatehouse. He looked at the wall eroded by sea water, intending to use bricks to rebuild a wall after solving the invasion of the Viking warriors. This is his technological innovation and production base, and it must be strictly and effectively protected.

"Sir, why are you here?" Oun and Master Newman were directing the apprentices to brush iron. As a result, they saw Arod leading the knights into the base, quickly met and bowed to Arod.

"Master Oun, Master Newman, I'm here to see how the craftsmen make the crossbows and stone-cat machines I requested." Arod immediately nodded to the two weapons and armor masters, and then he jumped off his mount and stepped on the solid ground with his feet. The knights of the inner palace quickly dismounted and stood behind him.

"Oh, the weapons craftsmen are working day and night in the southeast corner. I believe that the number of weapons you will be explained will be completed soon." Oun replied to Arod.

This smelting base is divided into four areas. The center and near the gate tower are the area where iron ore is smelted into iron ore through clay melting furnaces. The south to the sea is the forging area. There is a hydraulic honing facility built by Arod. Driven by the sea tide, two groups of heavy hammers take turns to hammer the iron blocks on the iron felt into weapons or armor. The southeast corner is followed by the living area of ​​woodworkers and leather craftsmen. They are responsible for making woodworking and leather weapons. Carpenters are actually very important in the entire history of human beings. Wood is a very plastic material that has been very plastic since the beginning of human birth. Whether it is the spear body of a spear, the bow body of a bow, or the crossbow or the stone catapult, they require exquisite wood craftsmen, and leather craftsmen are experts in making leather armor and bow strings.

In addition, the areas are warehouses and residential areas. Materials for making weapons and armor are stored in the warehouses. The long houses and houses built in the residential areas are areas for craftsmen to rest and live. Of course, there is also a centralized kitchen with special kitchens to make food. In addition to these, Aruod also built a public toilet, which forced craftsmen to excrete where to discharge. It is absolutely prohibited to urinate and defecate anywhere in the smelting base. The excrement will flow directly into the sea, which is very clean and environmentally friendly.

"Master Earl." When Arod came to the workshop where the craftsmen worked, he saw that they were cutting and suppressing the wood, making the wood more flexible. The craftsmen learned that Arod came and put down their work. Except for Arod, a large part of these craftsmen were members of the Blood Drop Brotherhood in the Swallow Plan and kidnapped from other territories. You should know that Mecklenburg County was the territory of the pagan Slavs. To the Germans, it was a barren barbarian land. No one wanted to venture here. However, after these craftsmen came to Mecklenburg, they found that life here was actually pretty good.

Craftsmen generally belong to local craftsmen guilds. They must start from the lowest apprenticeships, and then work like slaves without any reward. Until the masters of craftsmen feel that they have a value to continue to rise, they will become the best craftsmen. Even so, most of the income of craftsmen will fall into the guild. The reward they receive is only enough to make a living, but it is different in Mecklenburg. When they come here, they do not have to worry about their living and food and clothing. The Count of Mecklenburg burdened them all, which made them become Arod's private craftsmen. Being able to become a nobleman's private craftsmen is a dream for many excellent craftsmen. In this era when even eating is a problem, what better way to find a noble who is willing to pay for your food and drink.

"How many crossbows and catapults do we have now?" Aruod asked the person in charge of the craftsmen, a bald man in his forties with a thick brown beard. He called Pine with only nine fingers. Because he lacked a little finger on his left hand, he had this nickname, but this definitely did not affect his woodworking skills.

"Report to the noble Count, we have made three crossbows now, but the progress of the catapult has never been made, so the progress has been a bit slow. So far, we have only made one." Pine, who had nine fingers, reported to Arod. He felt a little embarrassed. Before coming to Mecklenburg, he was an unvalued craftsman. When he was kidnapped by members of the Blood Drip Brotherhood to Mecklenburg, he was still in a daze all day, but then he found that he had become the leader of these craftsmen and the quality of life had also improved. When he realized that he had become Arod's personal craftsman, he was simply ecstatic.

"It doesn't matter, just be proficient. If you have any requirements in life, you can send someone to tell me that I will ask Monk Elvit to help you arrange it. The only thing you have to do is to complete my task and a more important thing." Arod said to Pine and the craftsmen with nine fingers.

"What's more important?" Pine, who had nine fingers, asked curiously.

"Take your apprentices well and let them master your skills. Don't worry, you are the craftsmen of my Earl of Mecklenburg. Not only now, you are also old, but I will be responsible for your life. As long as I have the rights in Mecklenburg, you will not be hungry or frozen." Arod said loudly to the craftsmen. He knew that the craftsmen were most worried about, one day they would be kicked out of Mecklenburg and become a lonely and helpless beggar. Arod promised them that this was not surprising to Arod. This was just copying the retirement system of later generations. This system allowed these skilled craftsmen to serve themselves without any worries. Talents of any era are very important, and what Arod lacked the most is talents and the cultivation of talents.

"Is this true?" Pine, who had nine fingers, blinked and looked at the extremely noble count in front of him. The other craftsmen also thought in their hearts that Aruod was talking big. You must know that the nobles they knew were all extremely greedy guys. Once the craftsmen were old and had no strength to work, they would definitely be driven away. The nobles were unwilling to raise a guy who was incapable of working and eating.
Chapter completed!