"Dear Mr. Alms. Please read on. We've got the gist of it all ready for you.
　Ismaila presented me with a plan.
　It's very rough, not a very good plan, but not a plan at all.

　But it's very good for a plan I've only seen for three days.

　As for the water volume of the river and the geological survey of the proposed capital construction site, we are waiting for reports from Tetra-sama and Pervert Nikolaos. Therefore, we intend to make minor revisions depending on the results of the survey.
　Hmm....

　Ismaila has designated a site a little east of the confluence of the three rivers as the site for the project.
　According to the plan, the land in this area is slightly tilted to the west, so when the river floods, the water will head west.
　So if you build a building on the east side, you will be safe.

　It seems that there are seven gentle hills in this place, so there is no danger of flooding if you build important facilities on the hills.
　But if the flood occurs once every ten years, the hilltop may be safe, but the low-lying areas underneath the hill could be flooded.

　Flood control is essential, since it is expected that common people's houses will be built in the lowlands below the hills.

　These are the reports on the capital city.


　What about flood control?
　"We're going to make a concrete plan for flood control after hearing the report, but for now we're going to deal with it by dividing the water and dikes. It's a troublesome place, but it's not so much a raging river.
　Diversions and levees.

　Water diversion is good. It's good for irrigation and reduces damage to flood control.
　Two birds with one stone.

　Yeah, yeah. Actually, I want to show you something.
　I clapped my hands, and the slave brought out the example with two attendants.
　'A sludgy grey liquid and a grey stone.

　'What's this?'
　It's this stuff called concrete. It's usually a sludge, but over time, it hardens to this degree.

　I hand the hardened concrete to Ismaila. Ismea looks at it curiously.

　It is made from a mixture of volcanic ash and lime. There are plenty of ingredients, use them as you see fit.
　

　Ismaila crowded me with an excited look on her face.
　It took me so long to develop it, I couldn't tell her. And it's not a good idea to make them nude.

　'So how long are you going to spend that much manpower and how long are you going to spend on it?　I don't really want to wait too long, but...
　It's going to take us a year to build the dyke and divide the water. It will take another four years to reinforce the levees, water diversion and irrigation. If we do this kind of careful construction, the river will never break unless a natural disaster occurs.

　Five years.....
　Is this a long one?　It's the short one I don't know if it's the short one or not.

　''As for the construction of the city.......as I explained earlier, we will build it from the top of the hill. I think it would be best to start it after a year has passed since we started the flood control work. We'll be able to settle down for a while. It will take a year to build the walls, and three years to build the palace and other government buildings. At least the functions of the capital city will be ready to be moved in four years.

　Well from what I've heard earlier, that's a pretty short estimate, but.....

　How many do you need?　For it to go according to that plan.
　'Two thousand. Considering the power of this country, it's all we can do to support four thousand men at all times. However, if we have too few, it will take too much time and, conversely, cost too much. If we want to do the construction work with maximum efficiency, 2,000 is the best number.

　Two thousand people.
　Our standing army is 1,000. So, that amounts to 3,000 people being cut off from agriculture and driven into military and construction work.
　That's about 1.2% of the population. Well, that's a manageable level. It's a bit of a headache to think about keeping it up for five years, but not enough to bring you down.

　"And Ismail. Actually, I'd like to build a road... can you do it?
　Road?　It's still there, isn't it?

　Yes, we have the easy road. There's an easy road.
　I mean, where people walk, the ground is hardened and naturally becomes a road.

　It's about 4 meters wide, and it's pretty wide. If it is a sunny day, there is no inconvenience.
　But on a rainy day, it's a different story.

　Since the road is made of earth, it becomes waterlogged and muddy when it rains.
　The feet are taken away. The carriage is plunged into the mud. Horses fall.

　Good infrastructure I can't say it's a good infrastructure.
　I'd like to see more commercial activity and more tax revenue.


　I want roads to be laid out in such a way that horse-drawn carriages can run at full speed. The route from the current palace to King Domorgal's country, to King Evil's country and to Belvedil's country. This one doesn't need to be added so heavily. And the route from the new capital to King Domorgal's country, King Evil's country, and King Belvedil's country from the new capital to King Domorgal's country, King Evil's country, and King Belvedil's country. I want this one to be solid.

　The current palace will not be used in five years if things go according to plan.
　Well, it's not a waste of time because the palace was just put there, the population is large and the land is rich.......but it's more efficient to prioritize and focus on the new capital city.

　'What exactly?'
　The road leading from the palace now has to be paved with crushed stone. For the time being, the roads won't be too muddy to be used. The road leading from the new capital city should be paved with cobblestone. I've been to Rezad I'd like to see a road laid out that is as good or better than that one.
　I see ... so how about this?

　Ismea shows the paper the design of the road on paper.
　The ground is dug deep and the bottom layer is filled with gravel and the second layer with a mixture of clay soil and gravel.
　The third layer is filled with stones about the size of a fist or larger, packed into a loose bow shape.
　Then the top layer is filled with large square stones cut out to meet the tangent surface.

　The reason for the bow shape is probably to prevent water from pooling up when it rains.

　'In case you're wondering, this is the most advanced road structure in Cilicia. The key points in Clarice and Alto are roads like this one. I have no doubt that when it's completed, it will be a better road than the one in Rezad.　
　Can our technology handle it?
　' ... perhaps it is possible?　It shouldn't be that difficult a task. The only thing I'm worried about is the stone we're going to put on the top layer but I think we can handle it.

　Well, that's good. It seems that our country's technology is not that inferior.
　Well, if you think about it, the palaces and houses around the capital are well built.

　In the countryside, pit dwellings are common, but they were handcrafted by commoners who couldn't afford to spend money on a house.

　I have something to add.
　What more?　
　"I want a drainage channel on the side of the road. And I want a sidewalk. You can't make the carriage fly if the path the carriage takes is the same as the path people take.

　We need to make sure people and cars live separately. Unfortunate accidents happen.
　We also need to make sure there's enough room for everyone.
　The path for carriages should be at least 4 meters wide. The sidewalk should be at least 3 meters wide. Ten meters in total.
　It depends on the amount of traffic, though.

　At least that's the minimum standard for the main roads.

　"How many men do we need?
　How long do I have to lay it down?
　'I want the crushed stone paving done quickly in a year. The cobblestone paving I'd like it done within four years.

　Is that a little demanding?
　If my calculations are correct, they should each be about a hundred and ten kilometers long.

　''A thousand.........something like that.
　Okay, we'll just mobilize a thousand more men.

　This means that the total number of people our country will maintain will be 4,000.
　One and a half percent of the population. It's a bit tasteless, but ... but considering the growth in tax revenue, it's manageable.

　''Then when the geological survey report comes in, we'll refine it and submit it officially.
　Yeah. That's very nice of you. I'll take care of the land rights and all that stuff. You just keep the river and the land in front of you.







　While Ismea and Almus were discussing the matter, Tetra and Nikolaos were working on a survey under Almus' orders.
　They examine the geology of the proposed capital city site, and examine the volume, velocity, and shape of the river.

　All of this is essential for flood control.
　We compiled and organized the stories of the residents in the surrounding area.

　This is a very tedious task.
　They work in silence.


　To tell you the truth, Tetra-sama, I'm very interested in your magic. Can't I design it too?
　It's theoretically possible. It's just a matter of drawing a line. But for someone who can't use magic, the senses can be difficult to understand.

　As he said this, Tetra gave Nikolaos a light explanation of his theory of magic.
　Nikolaos nodded his head.

　''What is zero?''
　Nothing.
　'You put a number on nothing?　Isn't it funny?

　Nikolaos frowned.

　'It's more convenient to have.'
　Nikolaos looks a little frustrated. It's not good, he can't accept zero.

　'By the way, I was wondering, what are those weird tools?'
　Nikolaos points to the tool Tetra is holding in his right hand.

　'The abacus. Almus made it recently. It makes the calculations easier.
　Huh....
　Nikolaos looks at the abacus handed to him with interest.

　'How to use it...'
　Nikolaos tries using the abacus while Tetra shows him how to use it.

　'Oh!　This is awesome.....

　Nikolaos felt his world open up a bit.

　'I knew math was good,'
　I understand!　Math is great, isn't it?

　The two hit it off for a while with their amazing math skills.
　But suddenly the conversation turns sour.

　'Mathematics can be expressed as any number. It's wonderful, isn't it?
　That's impossible. There's an impossible number.
　An impossible number?
　Like the square root of two. Rational numbers don't do it justice.

　There is a slightly suspicious air between Nikolaos and Tetra.

　'No, no, I can show it,'
　I can't show it.

　Tetra first explained the theorem of the three squares, and then took the time to explain the square root of two by writing it on the ground.
　He then explained that the square root of two is an impossible number using the backwards method.

　
　Numbers are a concept that people make up as they go along. Therefore, it is unreasonable. It's unavoidable.

　They threw their work out for a while and showed each other what they knew.
　Tetra examines mathematics, physics and witchcraft.
　Nikolaos discusses his specialty, astronomy and philosophy.

　'What do you think is the source of all things?　Is it still a number?
　"...I don't know. I suppose there's a blueprint that exists, like a mathematical equation. But it can't be expressed in numbers. Perhaps something else. What about you?
　They say there is a thing called an atom. The world is made up of tiny invisible grains. But what are those grains made of, don't you think?

　The two men begin to argue sterilely about a problem that could probably take thousands of years to solve.
　The people around them are skipping work and looking at the two of them as they talk uselessly and distantly with white eyes.

　They look at me and say, "What are they talking about?

　'You know I'm a geocentric advocate, don't you?　What do you think?
　'I think the heliocentric theory is right in the ordinary course of events. Astronomically, the heliocentric theory is also correct. A mathematical formula would require complex calculations, but I think it can be adequately expressed. But...

　Tetra trails off once.

　'After all, we won't know unless we observe it. As long as there is no solid evidence either way, like the earth being a sphere, it's barren.

　No matter how much we argue about it, if we can't prove it, it's useless.
　If you call it useless, that's all there is to it.

　''I see........''
　Nikolaos draws a frustrated expression.
　Even Nikolaos, who has a reputation for not reading the air, refrains from being the queen, Tetra, as expected.

　He hesitated to insist on going against Tetra's suggestion to stop the inconclusive conflict.

　'It's time to get back to work. Alms will be pissed.'
　Yes. Let's get this investigation over with.

　They finally got to work.








　'First, we need to build the capital city. For that, we need flood control. We can kill two birds with one stone if we can improve the irrigation system as well, but after we finish the flood control around the new capital, we have to round up and build the roads first...''

　Roads are important for both the economy and the military.
　A well-maintained road would allow merchants to move more, and the military to move more quickly.

　Depending on where it's located, it has to take precedence over flood control.
　The financial resources will be sufficient.

　The problem is still human resources.

　The territory has increased several times, and they can't handle it properly.
　Currently, the only land that's being inspected and taxed is the former As territory and the land around the palace. We can't very well cover the entire territory under our direct control.

　We can't continue to favor orphans and give them an education for that long.
　It makes me feel less guilty about abandoning my children.

　We don't want them to be abandoned just because they are a little bit poor, thinking that the government will raise them anyway.


　We need to introduce a system like a criminal justice system....
　That one ultimately failed. I'm not in the least bit interested in asking my country's bureaucrats for their poetic writing talents.

　And you need all the materials and teachers you can get in order to lavish them with difficult exams. So only the rich the rich and powerful can become bureaucrats.
　There's no point in having a bureaucratic system.

　And if the power is concentrated in the hands of the bureaucracy, the country will end up following in the footsteps of history.

　The bureaucracy becomes bloated because it concentrates too much power in the hands of kings and emperors.
　After all, even if the power is concentrated in the bureaucracy, the king and the emperor must be excellent in order to run a government.

　That is why politics becomes completely dependent on the bureaucracy.
　This increases the popularity of the bureaucracy and makes the examinations more competitive, but the problem is that they go up too high.

　You have to memorize poetry to make the questions difficult enough to pass, or you won't be able to select them.
　The end result is that the content of the exams will be completely divorced from bureaucratic competence.

　So, it's all well and good to have centralization, but power should not be concentrated in the hands of one person.
　But that doesn't mean I can't leave the great families behind.

　What should I do?



　Well, we'll figure out the test later, but we have to find people for the job as soon as possible.

　It is not only the bureaucrats who are important.

　It's not only the bureaucrats who are important, but also the field commanders who can direct the construction work. There are not enough of these people either.
　We've got all these people at the top, but we don't have a middle class.

　Yeah, we've got a lot of problems.
　I'd rather pretend I don't.

　"The King.
　I was suddenly called out to them.

　I looked ahead and saw Yulia and Tetra.

　'When did you guys get here?'
　What are you talking about? You're the one who gave me access to this room.
　You're thinking too much.

　They both puckered their lips.
　'Sorry, bad.

　'What's up?'
　In fact, there is one matter of human resources that I would like to see resolved as soon as possible.

　Julia and Tetra held out a piece of paper to me.
　There it was.....

　'I am proposing legislation to crack down on false sorcerers and the control of sorcerers across the country. Please, please.
　They smiled.