Bjorn’s words were tactful, but the problem he hinted at was very real.

The King’s castle was broken. The Armoury had no funds. And forcing craftsmen to work for free would only spark outrage, undoing the reputation Simon had just started to rebuild.

"The work is yours, but the money is mine." Simon gritted his teeth.

Even if he had to sell everything, he had to get the Armoury up and running.

If he didn’t, then with Brambleford’s poverty, even if he were as wise as the legendary Solomon, he’d still end up slaughtered by reavers within two years. Bjorn studied Simon’s frowning face in confusion.

The Armoury had always been neglected in the Eldorian Empire. Why was the King suddenly so concerned?

However, remembering Simon’s past erratic behaviour, Bjorn dared not ask too much. Perhaps this was just another whim. Since it was an order, he could only obey. "Understood, My Lord."

Simon instructed him to gather all carpenters and blacksmiths in the city, then returned to the royal castle, pondering how to raise money.

Calling for Roland, Simon asked. "How much silver do we have left in the estate?"

"My Lord, including the funds Consort Isolde sent with Ysabeau and Joan, we have about 1,000 caps of silver."

"Only 1,000 caps?" Simon frowned.

The old Simon had no skill in making money, but he was an expert at spending it. He had wasted much of the funds Consort Isolde sent on extravagant indulgences.

As a result, despite being familiar with Brambleford’s economy, his castle was on the verge of bankruptcy.

In the Eldorian Empire, 1 cap of silver was worth up to the present-day 100 USD.

At first glance, 1,000 caps sounded like a lot. But it was barely enough to cover the castle’s expenses. After all, the servants, stable hands, and cooks all needed wages.

For example, Roland earned 20 caps per year, Joan and Ysabeau earned 15 caps each. Plus, food and household expenses were significant.

"Give me 500 caps," Simon ordered.

Roland hesitated. "My Lord, this is the annual allowance from Consort Isolde. Please spend wisely."

He feared Simon would waste it again, like in previous years.

"I’m not spending it on brothels; I’m doing something useful." Simon scoffed.

Only after much hesitation did Roland finally hand over 500 caps in silver notes to Simon.

Taking the silver, Simon commanded. "Prepare ink and paper, I need to write to my father."

By now, Roland had grown numb to Simon’s bizarre behaviour. He immediately called for a servant to prepare the writing materials.

Of course, this wasn’t a casual letter; it was a plea for funds.

Simon exaggerated the hardships of his domain, claiming that the people were starving and that, despite the difficulties, he was personally funding the war effort against the reavers.

He highlighted his recent victory, having captured thirty reaver cavalrymen, but lamented the heavy losses and the Armoury’s lack of funds for making weapons.

"Send this to Eldora immediately, by fast horse!" Satisfied with his 1,000-word masterpiece of financial distress, Simon tossed it to Roland.

If Emperor Aleric still had any family affection, he might send financial support. And if not, at least the letter would irritate him.

Simon had one last option: the wealthy noble families of Brambleford. But these power-hungry aristocrats would never willingly donate money.

In fact, they hoped the King would remain weak, so they could continue their unchecked dominance.

However, Simon had no intention of letting them off the hook.

These noble families were fat sheep, and he was a man who plucked feathers from every passing goose; how could he not shear these woolly targets?

Robbing them outright wouldn’t work. But tricking them into spending money? That was easy.

Most nobles were officials or merchants. If he introduced a new and valuable product, they would eagerly pay for it.

For the next three days, Simon remained at the Armoury, overseeing operations. With 500 caps of silver, the once-dormant facility came to life. Wood, coal, and iron ore flowed in daily. The once desolate workshop bustled with activity.

Inside, thirty craftsmen sat in a semi-circle. Standing before them, Simon lectured passionately. These thirty men represented all of Brambleford’s skilled artisans, mostly carpenters and blacksmiths.

[Knowledge transfer for lathe in progress...]

[Knowledge transfer for the lathe is complete.]

Today, Simon introduced them to a completely new concept. Lathe.

After analysing the system and reviewing the First Industrial Revolution, Simon concluded that the lathe was the key to industrialisation.

These included Boring machines, milling machines, grinding machines, Drill presses, and Gear-cutting machines.

Before the Industrial Revolution, these tools were essential for producing precise mechanical components.

And only with precision-machined parts could engineers build steam engine cylinders. The steam engine then further advanced the lathe, creating a cycle of technological progress.

During the Warring States period, every empire had basic lathes. They were mostly wooden, powered by foot pedals, and used for shaping water wheels.

The problem was that wooden structures were unstable, and tool bits couldn’t be securely fixed. For a proper lathe, high-quality steel was necessary to secure cutting tools and shape metal parts.

"A craftsman is only as good as his tools."

Lathes embodied the technological progress of craftsmen. And they were the foundation of the Industrial Revolution.

Before lathes could be made, Simon needed to improve steelmaking.

Observing the Armoury’s weapon-forging methods, he noticed they still used the traditional crucible steel technique.

It was workable, but not efficient. He considered introducing crucible steel smelting, but graphite crucibles were unavailable.

However, according to the system, the state where his provinces were located was rich in graphite deposits.

If he could pinpoint a graphite mine, he could start large-scale steel production.

By now, it was the late 17th century. The Eldorian Empire resembled the Great Transition era, completely oblivious to changes in the outside world.

Simon still didn’t know how much progress the outside world had made.

But if conquests had begun, then the outside world might have developed freely, potentially advancing beyond historical timelines.

Either way, he had to prepare.