Chapter 57 Enter again
Hekou Town, a commercial district built beside the Hanshui River.

Rod rushed here from Pingdingshan this morning and is now standing at the dock on the river bank, watching the busy scene of workers moving goods not far away.

Although it is called a pier, it is actually just two rows of wooden stairs extending from the river bank into the water.

The previous lord, Mansaru, did not attach importance to the business of the river mouth town.

When Rhodes took over here, the so-called dock was actually a river beach.

The transportation of goods depended entirely on workers rowing small boats back and forth between merchant ships and the river bank.

Most of the time it is just buying and selling fish, there is basically no bulk trade.

This is a complete waste of the estuary town’s superior shipping location.

Low transportation efficiency, lack of local specialty products, and outrageous commercial taxes directly led to most caravans abandoning this route.

Instead, they traded with the interior of the North through other tributaries of the Hanshui River.
This situation had to change when Rod took over the town of Bayou.

Therefore, a construction team was arranged to build this commercial area long time ago, with priority higher than the ranch.

Today, brick and stone houses have been built here.

At first glance, the road is smooth and clean, making people feel comfortable.

The castle, which is second only to the center in terms of luxury, forms a sharp contrast with the dilapidated scenes in other areas of the estuary town.

Rhodes divided the commercial area into three areas.

The first was adjacent to the river bank and served as a dock area for loading and unloading cargo.

He plans to rent out the houses here to different chambers of commerce after attracting them to move in.

The second middle area is for use by the major guilds and officials in Hekou Town.

The third internal area is used as a talent reward.

By giving them away or selling them at low prices, they are used to reward those with outstanding military achievements or technical workers with advanced skills.

Rod stood on the dock and looked over.

The surface of the Hanshui River began to freeze only a month later, and shipping has not been hindered so far.

Large quantities of bricks and stones are being carried by the town's residents onto merchant ships, which are then transported to the territories of other pioneering knights.

In order to attract caravans to settle in, he promised the outside world that Hekou Town would be exempted from commercial taxes for one year.

This was due to his status as a Knight of the Round Table, as well as the publicity given to the town’s brick and stone business.

The chambers of commerce that smell business opportunities will naturally not miss the opportunity.

And Rhodes also needs their help to continuously transport the resources needed for development into the territory.

These mainly include two major consumptions: food and coal.

There is no need to say much about food, and coal is used to ensure heating for the two territories.

The territory has limited wood, and the boiler cannot burn wood forever.

After walking around the dock and confirming that there were no major problems, Rhodes walked inside.

The commercial district was established not long ago and many houses are still empty, but there are quite a few pedestrians walking here.

Most of them were caravans coming from outside, and most of them gathered in front of a stone building.

There is the newly built craftsmen's guild.

Residents of the territory can spend money to find a construction team within the guild to rebuild their houses.

Caravans from outside bought bricks and stones from there and then transported them to other developed territories to make a profit from the difference.

Rhodes did not disturb them, but looked at Maren who was jogging over.

"Master, Maren has already arranged the reward for that soldier for you. Please rest assured!"

After getting closer, Mullen hurriedly slowed down and reported respectfully.

"Well done." Rhodes nodded.

Through the raven's perspective, he saw the scene not far away.

The change in Maud's life was enough to inspire the other serf soldiers.

Let them begin to believe in the role of merit points, so that they will be more motivated during daily training and fighting.

The framework for the territory's development had already been set, and after confirming that his men were executing well, Rhodes felt relieved.

At night, he returned to Pingdingshan and closed his eyes in the room.

Today is Monday. Tonight is the time for him to enter the Northern Shadow again.

A familiar feeling of soul sublimation came, entering the Star Spirit Heaven.

When Rhodes opened his eyes, his soul had arrived at the place where he left last time.

It just gave him a headache.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw myself being stared at by three pairs of curious big eyes.

Daxue, Erxue, Sanxue, these are the names of three sisters.

Rhodes is now in their home.

To be precise, it was on Sanxue's bed.

It was the last time I left the dwarf blacksmith.

During the battle with the barbarians in reality, Rhodes entered here again.

Sanxue did not show much emotional change in response to his sudden departure and appearance.

Just happily took him back home.

But judging from the performance of these three sisters now, it is obvious that they have been waiting here for a long time.

They seemed not to care on the surface, but they were full of curiosity in their hearts.

Just as Rhodes was thinking about how he should smile to fool people.

The three sisters suddenly looked at each other with a surprised expression.

"She really looks like the princess in the legend. So amazing!"

The one who spoke was Daxue, one of the three sisters. She leaned forward in amazement.

He stretched out his hand to pinch Rhodes' face, but was pulled back by Sanxue with a red face.

"Big sister, please go away! Don't act like a hooligan!"

Sanxue quickly dragged her away from Rhodes, then opened her arms and stood between the two of them.

"Let me touch it. I haven't tried a man's touch yet! Just once, okay? Just once!"

"Get out of here!" Seeing that she was still not giving up, Sanxue dragged her out of the room angrily.

Ignore the wailing and struggling of the heavy snow along the way.

Rhodes looked at them with a wooden face, trying hard not to laugh.

But at this moment, I noticed another burning gaze.

Erxue, who was hiding in the corner, stood still and silent.

I act like I'm a wooden man and you can't see me.

Seeing Sanxue dragging her elder sister out of the room, she couldn't help but smile happily.

"Second sister, you are not allowed to stay here! Get out!"

"Hey, why? I haven't done anything yet!"

Before she could be happy, Sanxue, who was passing by, grabbed her clothes.

He resisted with a sad face, but was finally suppressed by Sanxue one by one on the spot, and was dragged out together with Daxue.

Hearing the noisy noise coming from outside, Rhodes laughed but did not go out to join in the fun.

He was thinking about what Daxue had just said.

"Same as the legendary princess?"

There was confusion in Rhodes' eyes. Judging from the scene Daxue described, it seemed that the princess was the same as him.

Will it only appear at a specific time every Monday?
If it is true, it means that he is not the only outsider in this northern remnant.

"Will that be the key to the gate?"

Rhodes guessed that the reason he could only enter on Monday was because he lacked the key to open the door.

So he could only wait for time and let some existence open the door for him.

But his entry here was an accident. There was no one to greet him behind the opened door. It was obviously not opened for him.

That so-called princess might be the key to his understanding of this place.

(End of this chapter)