As the dozen or so craftsmen brought by Felix joined the construction army of the Valley Knight Territory, the main framework of the two-story Lord's Mansion in the isolated courtyard of Wood Fort was quickly completed. The craftsmen were piecing together smooth, thick timber onto the framework, and a two-story wooden mansion framework, approximately sixty feet in length and width, had already taken basic shape.
Early that morning, Art had just emerged from his tent outside Wood Fort. Instead of going directly to the army training ground on the open space to the south, he walked straight into Wood Fort, arriving at the busy construction site in the isolated courtyard. The framework of a two-story wooden house was complete, and craftsmen and laborers were fitting neatly cut wooden planks into the framework.
Cooper, who was sketching on a parchment blueprint, saw Art approach and quickly put down his quill to greet him. “My Lord, the wooden framework of the mansion has been completed. The ground floor of the mansion has been raised one foot with earth and stone, and the wall base five feet up from the foundation is entirely built with stone blocks and sealed with prepared clay. The upper parts are all constructed with high-quality wood, ensuring the house's foundation is stable and less prone to dampness. The first floor has five rooms of various sizes; the widest in the center is the Lord's Hall, the two rooms on the left are your office and storeroom, and on the right are the kitchen and guest room. Outside the kitchen, a wall will be opened up to build a small wooden house as the servants' quarters. The second floor is your private space, and as per your request, it includes one Lord's bedroom, one honored guest room, one small office, and two utility rooms. The Lord's bedroom also has the washroom you requested, and there's a secret room next to the bedroom. On the inner side of the second floor, a latrine will also be built, with a stable below it. On the outer side of the second floor, facing the valley stream, there is a small terrace. Additionally, with a sufficient number of craftsmen now at Wood Fort, we can add another attic roof level to the second floor.”
Art gently took the blueprint from the wooden board in front of Cooper and examined it carefully. Cooper was indeed a Master Craftsman; the blueprint he produced had a clear structure and reasonable layout. “Very good, proceed as planned. You must balance speed and quality. This is my first mansion, and I don't want to encounter various problems right after moving in.” With that, he returned the blueprint to Cooper.
Cooper took the blueprint with both hands and promised, “Rest assured, my Lord, I will devote all my energy to the construction of the mansion.”
Cooper pointed to the busy craftsmen and laborers going in and out of the construction site and said, “All the craftsmen and laborers have been working day and night during this period. It is estimated that it will be basically completed in about twenty more days. At that time, you will only need to place all the tools and equipment transported from Talburg into the mansion, and you can move in.”
Art nodded with satisfaction and said, “The craftsmen and laborers have worked hard. Everyone has been working strenuously during this time. You must instruct the mess hall to provide ample food for the craftsmen and laborers. Also, tell the craftsmen that besides their due wages, I will also give an additional reward when the mansion is completed. The laborers will receive the same.”
“Yes, my Lord, I will certainly convey your generous reward.”
With numerous craftsmen and laborers at the mansion construction site, Art did not need to personally intervene. So, after a quick tour, Art left the isolated courtyard and went to the parish school next to the central chapel in the expanded Wood Fort.
The parish school was adjacent to the chapel, but it was slightly larger than the chapel. It had three rooms: a large hall serving as a classroom, a bedroom for apprentices to sleep and eat, and another smaller room which was the room of the Persian Medical Officer Farnaz. Since she was a woman, Art found it inconvenient to arrange her to live in Thomas's Valley Medical Clinic, so he could only allocate a separate room for her in the school. This arrangement both facilitated Farnaz in teaching medical skills at the school and allowed her to supervise the daily life and routines of the school apprentices nearby.
Art walked into the school. The morning class at the school was taught by Father Hamish, who instructed the apprentices in basic theological knowledge.
Father Hamish had been dead drunk last night, and even now, while teaching the apprentices, he kept hiccuping from the alcohol. Art stood outside the classroom door, listening through the gap in the wooden door as this irreverent Father recounted Bible stories to the children: “After this, Abraham, despite the doubts around him, led his people on a perilous journey. Along the way, he endured countless trials and witnessed the destruction of wicked Sodom. His work was inherited by later generations; Moses led his people out of Pharaoh's bondage, established the status of the Israelites with various miracles, and made a covenant with Jehovah through the Ten Commandments.”
“Alright, children, that’s all for today’s Bible story. Write down the five new letters you’ve learned.” Hamish saw Art’s shadow outside the door, ended the lesson, and came directly to the classroom door.
“Good day, Father Hamish.” Art bowed slightly to Hamish in greeting.
“Good day, Lord Art.” Hamish nodded in return.
“You've been in the Valley for over a month now. How is it? Are you getting used to it here?” Art asked.
“Very good. Here, at least no one will scold me for drinking, and the fruit wine here tastes quite good.”
Art also found this Father very strange. He did not possess the ascetic devotion of other Fathers, was usually unrestrained, and completely disregarded the strict rules of the church. However, this eccentric fellow could still return to his proper role when presiding over church sacraments. Therefore, Art not only did not deliberately correct anything but even had Cooper provide Hamish with ample supplies of wine. As a result, this fellow, who was not well-regarded elsewhere, lived a very comfortable life in the Valley. Now, Father Hamish was not only responsible for affairs in the chapel but also had to assist with the parish school.
According to the previous arrangement, the parish school was directly managed by the Civil Affairs Officer, but later Cooper and others reminded Art that to avoid suspicion, it would be more appropriate to fully affiliate the school with the church. Art adopted everyone's suggestion, and the parish school was publicly declared as a place for training believers and adopting orphans. Moreover, the parish school primarily taught simple common script, arithmetic, military training, theology, medical skills, etc. Additionally, the army would also select some clever and intelligent Soldiers to periodically enter the school for study.
“Father Hamish, all the church's supplies will be provided by me from now on. In addition, I will also have the Civil Affairs Officer allocate one hundred and twenty fenny to the church each month for your use.” Art did not want the church's influence to spread unchecked in his territory, nor did he want Hamish to use religious power to interfere with his rule over the territory. Therefore, from the beginning, he intended to satisfy Hamish's appetite with money and supplies.
Hamish was a clever man; he understood Art's deeper meaning and said, “For me personally, it doesn't matter, but in time, the church will certainly notice your fertile land. At that point, if the church wishes to collect holy tithes (tithing) on your land, that will be beyond my control. However, I will not interfere with your secular affairs, and you cannot interfere with my personal life. I did not leave prosperous Lucerne to come to this remote Valley to listen to you preach about asceticism and cultivating virtue.”
Art was amused by the chubby Father in front of him. He knew this Father was inherently kind, just addicted to wine and always unkempt, but this was harmless to his rule, and indulgence within limits was acceptable.
“Yes, I agree to your terms.”
“Excellent!” Hamish hiccuped, lifted the hem of his robe, took out the wine skin hidden inside, and took a sip.
As the two were talking, Farnaz, the Persian woman carrying a large bundle of various herbs, walked into the school from outside. She bowed slightly to Art and Father Hamish in greeting, then pushed open the wooden door and entered the classroom.
Hamish's eyes followed the Persian woman for a moment, then he frowned and turned to Art, saying, “Lord Art, I just said I didn’t want to meddle in your territory’s mundane affairs, but isn’t it a bit inappropriate to have a pagan woman teach the orphans of saints? Furthermore, the medical skills this Persian woman teaches are mostly things not recognized by the church, and the Medical Officer Thomas is the same, always using strange treatments to heal the wounded. Your subjects are not many now, and this place is still relatively isolated, but if there are more people and more talk in the future, I fear it might attract the attention of the church, and then it might be the people of the Inquisition…”
Hamish was originally a very open-minded clergyman; he could reluctantly accept these medical skills with miraculous effects. However, as someone who had been immersed in religion since childhood, he was very clear about the church's attitude towards heresy, so he couldn't help but remind this kind young Lord.
Art lowered his head and pondered for a moment. For his part, he absolutely accepted the medical skills of Thomas and Farnaz, and he himself often used medical knowledge from his previous life to treat the wounded. However, as the spiritual ruler of this dark age, the church would not tolerate the appearance of heretics who challenged God's authority.
“Father Hamish, thank you for your advice, but you have also seen that Thomas and Farnaz’s medical skills are indeed very effective and have helped me treat many wounded Soldiers. Moreover, Thomas is already a devout saint, and Farnaz is also willing to be baptized and become a saint. Since they are both saints, then the medical skills they use are merely transmitting God’s holy light, allowing saints to be free from the erosion and torment of illness. I think this is what God would want to see, isn’t it?” Art knew that such pretense would not convince Hamish, but he hoped Hamish was not a nit-picker.
Art's sophistry was clearly unable to convince Hamish. He shook his head and said, “Lord Art, I am merely reminding you to pay attention to these matters. Believe me, I understand what those leaders in the temples think about all day better than you do.”
“However, your idea of having that Persian woman baptized is a good one. At least when people consider her a pagan, we will have an excuse to deflect.”
Art nodded in agreement, then peered through the door crack into the room. He saw the Persian woman Farnaz holding a calendula plant high, letting the apprentices carefully distinguish it, and then she said, “Children, remember this plant is called calendula. Its main purpose is to treat festering wounds, accelerate wound healing, and this plant, when ground into powder and mixed with a small amount of belladonna powder, can alleviate pain, but the dosage must be carefully controlled…”
“I really found a treasure!” Art thought to himself, then turned to continue discussing the baptism of this pagan woman with Father Hamish.