Chapter 4
(Kyle Calendar
Year 498: Age 5)
First Arrow,
the First Move for Change
Translator : PolterGlast
Although I couldn't go
every day due to my parents' watchful eyes, after several months of visiting
the workshop, the first thing I had planned – a model far too big to be a
child's toy – was finally complete.
What I had been making
were models of an undershot waterwheel for pumping water and an overshot
waterwheel for power, as well as a model of gears to attach to the power
waterwheel, and wooden leaf springs and pulleys.
At first, desperately
trying to recall what I had read about waterwheels in books in my previous life
(Japan), I made a very crude model, which I then developed into a slightly more
proper one.
In parallel, with the
help of professional craftsmen, I repeatedly experimented with whether it would
properly rotate in the water flow, the efficient placement and size of the
blades, and the rotation axis.
I truly felt that this
would never have been completed without professional help.
The finished product
was less something I made and more a masterpiece by Karl-san, the woodworking
craftsman, to the point where it wouldn't be wrong to say so.
The leaf springs and
pulleys had another purpose, and I was still improving them.
They weren't quite the
usual carriage suspension...
More on that later...
"I wonder if that
Takuhir kid is alright? He's been going in and out of the workshop almost every
day lately..."
"Well, the boy
seems happy, and perhaps it's best to let children do as they please for a
while. Let's give him some freedom for the time being."
Some time after my
parents started having such conversations, I was given an opportunity to
present my work to them.
"Father, Mother,
thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules today. I really wanted
you to see this experiment."
My parents attended
what took place in the courtyard of the mansion with a lighthearted attitude,
as if they were watching a child's independent research presentation.
"Lord Takuhir's
proposal... I, too, have joined to hear it."
Raymond-san, the
steward and number three in the Solis baronial family, hadn't been invited, but
it seemed he had directly asked my parents.
"I want to see
the young master's achievements."
Yes, I'm happy, but...
it's a bit of pressure.
In the end, the
participants were my parents, the maid Anne, and the steward Raymond-san,
making a total of four people.
In the previous
history, I didn't like the steward (Raymond).
He was originally from
my mother's family's territory, the Cornell barony, where he served as a
trainee butler and later as my mother's personal attendant.
When my mother married
my father and came to the Estol territory, he followed her.
With his inherent
talent, he understood my mother's intentions and demonstrated his abilities in
internal affairs. Within a few years, he rose to the position of steward of the
Solis barony, becoming number three after my father and mother.
The Estol territory
was short of manpower, and his rapid promotion at a young age, when he could
still be called a youngster in his twenties, initially caused much resentment
and opposition.
However, with his
natural competence, he brushed aside the resentment and opposition and became
the pillar supporting the Solis barony from behind the scenes.
He was appointed
steward at a young age, and to top it off, he was a refreshing-looking, blond,
handsome man... he had all the elements of a popular character.
Many of the maids
serving in the mansion were also big fans of his.
I had seen many maids
who would get incredibly excited just by talking to him and then work
incredibly efficiently.
In the previous
history, when my parents were still alive, I had brought proposals to the
steward several times.
Each time, the flaws
in my proposals were pointed out so thoroughly that I was left speechless and
almost gave up.
However, in the end,
he approved all my proposals and reflected them in the internal affairs...
Therefore, I, who was
like a failing student always getting red marks, was full of dislike for him.
I also think there was
some jealousy because I never felt as popular as him...
After inheriting the
territory, I realized what a great loss it was for the barony when we lost him
early on due to an epidemic.
Whenever I was stuck
in my duties and delayed making decisions, I would often complain about how I
wished he were still here.
Now, Raymond-san,
Anne's direct superior, must be receiving reports on my actions through Anne.
Probably, in terms of
who knows the current me well, it would be Anne first, followed by Raymond-san,
and then my parents.
Standing before the
suddenly participating steward (Raymond-san), I began the demonstration with
more nervousness than usual.
"First, I would
like you to see this experiment."
Saying so, I set to
work.
"First, I
submerge the waterwheel model in the water flow and make it rotate.
Then, the rotating
waterwheel scoops up water and lifts it.
That water flows into
the trough next to it, and through the trough, the water flows to a position
higher than the original water flow."
My parents were still
just silently watching.
"And please look
at this as well."
This time, it was the
power waterwheel.
"I connect gears
to the rotating shaft of this waterwheel.
Then, the gears change
the direction of rotation and move the attached rod."
The rod was repeatedly
lifted and dropped, and the other gear continued to rotate a small disc.
My parents watched the
demonstration with smiles, as if watching their child's science project, but
the steward had been watching with great interest from the beginning.
What is this
waterwheel for...? This is no mere toy.
The steward seemed to
have already grasped its purpose.
He was glued to the
movement of the power waterwheel with a surprised expression.
I added a word to help
my parents understand.
"If we use this
undershot waterwheel, I think we can pump water to a place higher than the
river level and create irrigation water.
I thought we could
send water even to land that couldn't be used for farming until now..."
My mother's expression
changed.
"This power
waterwheel can change the rotation axis using these gears. If we do that, we
can replace work that was done by human power and keep it running without
rest."
"Lord Takuhir,
how do you think this will be useful?"
"For example, if
we use this to turn a stone mill, it will keep running all night without rest.
With this, I think we
can easily and efficiently produce a large amount of flour..."
My father's expression
changed as I answered the steward's question.
"Lord Takuhir,
where on earth did you acquire this knowledge?"
The steward asked the
question I had expected.
Looking at my
surprised and anxious (well, of course) parents, I continued.
"I saw something
similar to this waterwheel in a book from some country a long time ago. It
doesn't seem to be used much in the Kyle Kingdom..."
Saying that, I looked
around.
I was relieved that
they didn't seem suspicious.
"That's when I
thought. If we utilize this power waterwheel and the undershot waterwheel using
the power of water, it might be helpful for the development of the
territory..."
While feigning
innocence, I answered with the most embarrassed acting I could muster.
Well, in reality, I
just imitated ideas from manga, light novels, and anime that [Nishida Takahiro]
had seen...
I hadn't told my
parents everything yet, but the waterwheel was just the beginning.
Firstly,
By connecting the
power waterwheel to a stone mill, we would greatly expand the production of
flour.
This would improve the
efficiency of manual milling.
If we did that, a
large amount of flour could be produced cheaply.
And then, we could
sell it using the price advantage of mass production as a weapon.
Secondly,
By expanding the
arable land through irrigation, developing areas resistant to floods, and
increasing harvests.
If the water volume
increased, we could extend and expand the irrigation canals.
If the number of new
irrigation canals increased, the arable land would also increase.
If we did that, we
could secure water and turn higher ground, which has a lower risk of flooding,
into farmland, and also expand production.
Thirdly,
By developing
easy-to-carry flour products from the cheaply and mass-produced flour, we could
gain a commercial advantage.
This would start with
commercializing delicious dried noodles, something that doesn't exist in this
world, and through commercialization, we could increase the demand for flour
even more than it is now.
And under the guise of
product development (manufacturing), we could buy up large quantities of flour
during bumper crops.
That was what I was
planning.
Through these
measures,
To avoid the damage
from the coming bumper crops and famines.
To be useful to the
supply units in wartime.
To expand arable land
and distribute the risk of flooding.
If, as a result, we
could aim to increase the options for disaster response and be able to build up
reserves...
That was what I was
hoping would go well.
As a result, with
Raymond-san's strong support, a survey of potential installation sites was
conducted the next day, and soon after, the baronial family officially placed a
large order for waterwheels with the woodworking workshop.
Because of my previous
consultations, Gail-san, the master craftsman, and the other craftsmen quickly
understood.
Large waterwheels,
incomparable to my model, were developed and manufactured under the leadership
of Karl-san, and they were delivered one after another within a few months.
Currently, my mother
and Raymond-san are in charge, and irrigation work using the waterwheels is
progressing, and the development of the land chosen by my mother is also
proceeding one after another.
My father was working
tirelessly to develop sales channels for the flour and to prepare for
effectively utilizing this business opportunity.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Swagaraga
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
[Silver]
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Matthew Fraser
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
