The territory where Viscount Surrey is located is located on Green Island, the largest island in the Northern Islands. It is a giant island of nearly 4 million square kilometers. It is also the largest colony of Briton, an old power, in the New World.
However, unlike the tropical island in Lawrence, which had a bad start but could be said to be very rich once developed, this huge island close to the cold north could be said to be extremely barren.
Except for some places in the south that can grow some cold-resistant rye and graze livestock due to ocean currents and geothermal heat, most of the land in the north is cold glaciers or wasteland that are simply unsuitable for any animal larger than a mouse to survive.
Because of this poor natural environment, even the British nobles who had a strong desire for territory had little interest in this territory.
As a result, more than 500 years after the island was discovered, only 1/10 of the entire territory was enfeoffed, while the remaining areas were still all royal territory.
The acquisition of fiefs by nobles is not just a handover of documents. This power also comes with obligations, the core of which is the task of developing the territory.
And civilized races also rely on this primitive distribution of rights to continuously march into the wilderness, and step by step rise from the edge of the world and occupy a place in this world.
Therefore, the granting of territory is a two-way choice for both the nobles and the royal family. The royal family must consider it repeatedly before entrusting a territory, and the nobles may not always receive these territories.
For example, this is the case in the colony called Green Island. According to Viscount Surrey, many nobles would rather stay in the capital and become inferior palace nobles than acquire a territory on this island.
"There was no way my family was moved here." When getting off the ship, Viscount Surrey introduced to Lawrence the history of his family's move here with a look of helplessness.
In the distance, a cargo ship filled with coal was slowly leaving the port and heading towards the White Eagle Federation.
"Because my family was involved in a cult case because of our in-laws. Although we had nothing to do with this case except blood relations, some local nobles still used this as an excuse to devour us.
A lot of benefits.”
Having said this, Viscount Surrey showed a very helpless look on his face.
"In that case, my ancestors had no choice but to give up their local estates and avoid the enemy's attack. So they chose this territory."
"Compared with the original manors in the mainland, this territory is extremely poor. The only thing that is better than the original territory is that it is larger, and it is close to the sea for convenient transportation."
"Everything has its good and bad aspects." After getting on the carriage, he watched the carriage drive on the newly paved cinder road and felt the smooth driving of the carriage. Lawrence said with a smile.
"At least this place can now see that it has a very good future, and we can see that the discovery of coal mines will greatly promote the development of this territory."
Unlike Lawrence, who built the entire island's ruling center, New Shore Port, directly on the seaside, the territory's capital, Surrey Castle, was built in a valley more than 20 kilometers away from the coastline.
After several generations of construction by the Viscounts of Surrey, this valley has been built into a small but completely fortress-like city.
Or to be precise, this city is a large-scale defensive fortress. For example, Lawrence saw a large number of small platforms built from bottom to top on a cliff in the valley, and those small platforms were all made of stone.
building.
In addition, Lawrence also found that the road up the mountain was narrow and winding, and there were some small bunkers in the middle that were obviously used for defense.
"Welcome to my city." After getting off the carriage, the Viscount of Surrey pointed to the buildings on the mountain with a proud look on his face. "And the city you see now is only a small part of the city."
"A small part, what do you mean?" Viscount Surrey's words successfully aroused Saphire's curiosity.
"Come with me, you will soon know what this city is about." Viscount Surrey said, leading Lawrence and others towards the largest building on the upper floor of the city.
While walking on the road, Lawrence became more certain that this city was built as a military fortress when it was built.
Because on the way to the Viscount's Mansion located high in the city, Lawrence discovered that the entire road was crooked and the height of each step was subtly different.
If someone who is not familiar with this area just comes here and walks quickly on this road, it is easy to get confused by the strange roads.
"Those roads can actually be used for the layer-by-layer defense of the entire city." Saifeir also discovered some unusual situations at this time.
"You see, if the passages used to connect various buildings are combined with low walls that look like protective fences, they can form a line of defense against the bottom of the valley."
With these doubts, Lawrence and the others walked into the Viscount's Mansion located on the top of the cliff. This was also a stone building built on a platform.
Compared with other buildings, the only feature of this building is that it looks larger.
However, the four small bunkers at the four corners that can provide fire cover to each other, as well as the soldiers wearing gray military uniforms and snow-white capes standing at the door, clearly illustrate the identity of the owner who lives here.
"I see that the firearms you equip the soldiers are the latest models." When walking into the black steel door, Lawrence turned his head and said to the Viscount of Surrey.
"And I also saw a lot of glass greenhouses outside the city. I think these were built after you excavated the coal mines on your territory."
"Yes, because I didn't know how to invest next. So I simply saved most of the money and waited for investment opportunities." Viscount Surrey shrugged.
"But I still used part of the money to update my armed forces and build a number of infrastructure related to people's livelihood."
"Your choice is correct. At least when I arrived at New Saul Island, I slowly developed my own strength on the island through such infrastructure construction, and at the same time gathered a group of manpower."
Lawrence also shrugged. "Of course, you are a hereditary noble whose family has been here for generations, so you shouldn't need to start over like I do. But at least you can spend it on infrastructure when you have money that you don't know how to spend.
It is a sound investment.”
"Thank you for your compliment." A smile appeared on Viscount Surrey's face. In fact, after knowing Lawrence's identity, Viscount Surrey silently regarded Lawrence as his idol.
Because compared to a hereditary aristocrat like him, a self-made man like Lawrence can indeed serve as his role model.
"Oh, little Robert, are there guests?" Just as they walked through the hall and entered a room, a rich middle-aged man's voice came from the side.
"Yes, Uncle Huck." Viscount Surrey turned to a dwarf who came out of the corner and said, "This is the Earl of New Sauer, a new friend I just met. He came here to
Help me find out if there is any way to promote development in my territory."
"Is he the count who developed a desert island into a vibrant territory in one year?" the dwarf said after squinting his eyes and thinking for a few seconds, and then walked to Lawrence.
"Welcome, Your Excellency, Earl of Sauer. I am Huck Conglomerate, the steward of the Viscounty of Surrey. I hope you will have a pleasant stay here."