Chapter 129: The County Development Plan

By the following morning, the administrative meeting chamber had become considerably more crowded than usual.

Raymond had requested the attendance of nearly every official responsible for Althoff’s development, and judging by the stacks of documents accumulating upon the long conference table, his summons had caused considerable speculation throughout the Administration.

Alaric occupied his customary seat beside Raymond, organizing reports into separate piles.

Mara had arrived carrying construction schedules, while Lucan brought architectural drawings large enough to cover half the table. Edric was examining several drainage diagrams, and Talia had already begun arguing quietly with Corvin about the placement of temporary material depots.

Ysabel sat opposite them, reviewing commercial records with an expression suggesting she had anticipated another expensive proposal.

Harlan and Gideon represented Agriculture, while Kael Ormond, Roderic Vann, Selene, and Boris had also been invited.

Raymond surveyed the assembled officials before setting his notebook aside. "Good morning, everyone. I appreciate you coming on such short notice. Before we begin, I should warn you that today’s discussion concerns something considerably larger than our usual construction projects."

Mara folded her arms and regarded him suspiciously. "My Lord, the last time you said something similar, we ended up expanding three districts simultaneously. Should I be worried?"

"That depends on how much you enjoy having work," Raymond replied pleasantly.

"Then I am definitely worried," Mara answered, earning several amused looks around the table.

Alaric cleared his throat and opened the meeting. "His Excellency has requested a comprehensive assessment of Althoff City’s remaining development requirements. Each Department should provide an accurate account of unfinished projects, available resources, and anticipated difficulties."

Raymond nodded before addressing the gathering. "The Crown has formally recognized our elevation to a County. That recognition brings opportunities, but it also means Althoff must begin operating on a different scale. We’ve accomplished a great deal since winter, yet much of our city remains unfinished. I intend to change that."

Lucan straightened in his chair. "Are you proposing another expansion of the Master Development Plan, Your Excellency?"

"Not an expansion," Raymond answered, shaking his head. "Completion. I want us to finish the entire first-stage city plan rather than continuing to develop individual districts whenever circumstances force our attention toward them."

Silence settled over the chamber. Mara slowly lowered the report she had been holding, while Talia looked toward Lucan as though checking whether she had heard correctly.

Even Alaric, who had received advance warning, appeared momentarily troubled by the sheer ambition of the announcement.

"Your Excellency," Lucan began carefully, "the approved plan encompasses residential development, commercial facilities, public institutions, industrial infrastructure, military installations, and several extensive road networks. Completing everything would require an undertaking far greater than our current construction schedule."

"That’s why we’re discussing it together," Raymond replied. "I don’t expect every project to begin tomorrow. I want a coordinated program with clear priorities, realistic schedules, and departments working from the same plan."

Mara unfolded her construction report and spread it across the table. "Then we should begin with what remains unfinished. Several primary roads still require permanent surfaces, and the Residential District has numerous occupied buildings surrounded by temporary access routes. We’re also behind on warehouse extensions, public facilities, and the planned defensive works."

Edric leaned forward and placed a finger upon one of the marked streets. "The roads cannot all be completed immediately. Several sections still require underground drainage channels, and parts of the water distribution network must be extended before permanent paving begins. If Construction proceeds without coordinating with my teams, we’ll end up digging through newly finished streets."

Raymond winced at the prospect. "That sounds expensive."

"It would be exceptionally expensive, my Lord," Edric replied gravely. "And I would prefer not to explain to the Treasury why we paid to build the same road twice."

Talia pulled another map toward herself. "There’s also the matter of development sequence. The Residential District must expand alongside employment centers, markets, and public services. If we concentrate workers in one area without improving access to water and sanitation, we’ll create problems that become much harder to correct afterward."

Raymond listened as the officials began comparing their reports. Their arguments were practical rather than obstructive, and he found that encouraging.

Months earlier, most decisions had required his direct involvement. Now his administrators possessed enough experience to challenge proposals, identify complications, and offer alternatives.

"Let’s establish the dependencies first," Raymond suggested. "Water and drainage before permanent roads, roads before heavy commercial expansion, and housing alongside employment. What else?"

Corvin opened his logistics ledger. "Material storage, Your Excellency. We can increase deliveries from the quarry and sawmill, but our existing depots are already handling supplies for ordinary construction. Expanding every project simultaneously would overwhelm our transport teams."

"Then we establish temporary distribution yards near the major construction districts," Talia proposed. "That would reduce the distance materials must travel through crowded streets."

Corvin considered the suggestion before nodding. "Provided the locations don’t interfere with future construction, that would help considerably. I’ll need additional wagons, drivers, and supervisors."

Mara tapped her pencil against the table. "And laborers. Skilled masons are already divided between public buildings and private construction.

Carpenters are in equally high demand. We can hire more workers, but new arrivals won’t immediately possess the experience required for complicated projects."

"Could we organize apprenticeships through established workshops?" Raymond asked.

Roderic nodded thoughtfully. "We can, my Lord. Experienced craftsmen could supervise additional apprentices, although training would initially reduce their output. We’d also need to compensate workshops for taking on workers assigned to public projects."

"Then include those costs," Raymond instructed. "I would rather develop our own skilled workforce than spend the next several years competing desperately for every competent mason who passes through the gates."

Ysabel finally raised her eyes from the commercial reports. "Your Excellency, I should point out that purchasing materials in larger quantities will not necessarily reduce their prices. Merchants are already aware that Althoff is expanding. If they discover we’re preparing an unprecedented construction program, some will attempt to raise their margins."

Raymond smiled faintly. "Then we shouldn’t announce our entire purchasing requirements to every merchant in Zulor."

"Precisely," Ysabel replied. "I recommend negotiating supply agreements with several merchants rather than relying upon one association. We should also expand local production wherever practical, particularly stone, timber, bricks, and ordinary metal fittings."

Kael shifted forward at the mention of local materials. "Our surveys have identified suitable clay deposits, although commercial brick production will require proper firing trials. The managed forest can provide additional timber if harvesting remains controlled. As for the iron-bearing rock, I would caution against including it in any financial projections until we establish whether extraction is worthwhile."

"Agreed," Raymond answered. "No imaginary mines in our budget. We already have enough real expenses."

A few officials chuckled, but Alaric continued writing with an increasingly serious expression. The Chief Administrator had begun dividing the proposal into categories, and the growing number of entries suggested that Raymond’s ambitious declaration was developing into something considerably more complicated.

Selene raised another concern. "My Lord, the Medical Hall and sanitation facilities must receive priority as well. Construction brings injuries, and population growth increases demand for medical services. We cannot wait until the residential districts are finished before improving those institutions."

"Put them among the essential projects," Raymond replied. "The Administrative Hall and Elementary Academy should also be included. We have postponed both long enough."

Alaric glanced up. "An Academy, Your Excellency? Are you intending to establish formal schooling during this development program?"

"Yes," Raymond answered firmly. "A city of our size should not depend upon a handful of private tutors and literate clerks. We need a proper school, qualified teachers, and an organized curriculum. Children growing up in Althoff deserve more opportunities than their parents had."

Harlan nodded approvingly. "That would benefit farming families too, my Lord. Even basic arithmetic and reading would help the next generation manage records, purchases, and cultivation agreements."

Boris, who had remained silent throughout most of the discussion, finally spoke. "Your Excellency, if we’re completing the first-stage development plan, the military facilities cannot remain unfinished. The barracks, training grounds, equipment stores, and defensive positions all require attention. Our soldiers have expanded considerably, but their accommodations and training arrangements haven’t kept pace."

Raymond regarded the Captain-General thoughtfully. The System’s mission had specifically demanded improved military institutions, but even without that requirement, Boris’s concerns were justified.

"Prepare a separate military development proposal," Raymond instructed. "Coordinate with Mara and Lucan concerning construction, and consult Jonathan regarding facilities suitable for Knight training. I want something capable of supporting our present forces and future recruitment."

Boris inclined his head. "Understood, my Lord. I’ll have the preliminary requirements prepared within three days."

For the next hour, the meeting became an exercise in organizing competing priorities. Projects were divided into essential infrastructure, public institutions, commercial development, military facilities, and supporting works.

Each Department received responsibility for preparing detailed estimates, while Alaric coordinated the overall schedule.

Raymond insisted that construction continue without disrupting ordinary city services. Agricultural production had to remain stable, merchants needed functioning roads, and residents could not be displaced merely because a development schedule demanded faster progress.

Eventually, Alaric gathered the preliminary figures and began comparing them with the Treasury’s latest reports. His expression grew steadily more troubled as additional estimates arrived from Mara, Lucan, and Corvin.

"Your Excellency," Alaric said at last, removing his spectacles and rubbing the bridge of his nose, "I believe we have identified our greatest obstacle."

Raymond looked toward him. "The construction materials?"

"The materials are certainly a problem," Alaric replied. "As are labor, transportation, and scheduling. However, even using conservative estimates, the combined expenditure required to complete the first-stage development plan will be extraordinary."

He turned the ledger toward Raymond, revealing several columns of projected costs.

Raymond studied the figures. His eyebrows rose, and the faint smile disappeared from his face.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the total.

Then he slowly looked up at Alaric.

"Well," Raymond remarked, "I suppose becoming a Count really is expensive."