According to the stories from street vendors, the most crucial part of large-scale nitroglycerin production lies in temperature control. The significant heat released during the reaction can easily cause the sensitive explosive to detonate. As long as the temperature of the large reaction vessel can be kept constant, nitroglycerin can be safely produced in batches.

Ice can be used for cooling during laboratory testing, but using ice for large-scale production is a bit inadequate – the heat absorption effect of ice-water mixtures is limited, the cooling speed is slow when faced with a large amount of heat release, the consumption is fast, and the preparation is also very troublesome. However, Agatha's ice coffin can easily produce temperatures close to minus one hundred degrees Celsius, which is undoubtedly an excellent guarantee for cooling the container.

Roland didn't know if these messages were reliable, but it didn't stop him from trying them one by one. Even if an accident occurred, Nana would be the last line of defense.

Back in his office, he wrote a letter of introduction to the guard, instructing the latter to take Agatha to the chemistry laboratory and deliver the letter to Kaimo. Streel.

In the letter, in addition to introducing Agatha's abilities, he also fabricated a noble identity for her, claiming that she came from an upper-class family but unfortunately ended up here. He hoped that the alchemist would restrain his temper and treat this witch, who could bring great help to chemical experiments, well. After the guard left, Roland was still a little worried. Kaimo had a straightforward temper, while Agatha was a highly self-regarded ancient witch. He hoped they wouldn't argue too much.

Just as he was wondering if he should go to the laboratory to take a look later, Scroll pushed the door open and walked in.

"Your Highness, the results of the second batch of education popularization assessments are out," she said with a smile in her eyes. "This time, there are seven hundred and sixty-two qualified people, half of whom are adults."

"So many?" Roland was delighted. Compared to the first batch of more than fifty children from Karl Academy, the fact that half of the graduates were adults this time meant that the night school training had been effective, and at the same time, it verified the feasibility of the series of teaching plans formulated by the Ministry of Education for situations with large differences in progress and different study times.

"Yes, it has been almost half a year since you promoted popular education, and these students are generally under twenty-five years old, so mastering basic writing is not too difficult."

It's probably also related to the writing itself. It wouldn't be this fast if it were Chinese, Roland thought, even though he always felt that this worm-like writing was as awkward as it could be.

When he started to implement popular education, he was not sure what level he could achieve – after all, this was the first time such a thing had happened in Graycastle, and there was no precedent to follow. Based on the principles of encouragement and subsidies, he discussed with Scroll for a long time and formulated an education plan that opened underage classes during the day and worker classes at night, supplemented by a series of encouragement policies to entice workers to come to study. So far, the effect has been quite good.

Of course, all of this is inseparable from the specific implementer, Scroll's responsible management.

"You've worked hard," Roland nodded.

"It is my honor to serve you, Your Highness," she said with a slight bow.

As the oldest witch in the Witch Alliance, Roland found it difficult to compare her with little girls like Anna and Lightning – Scroll always gave him the feeling of being unhurried, organized, and able to listen quietly to his thoughts when discussing issues, and also directly point out his mistakes. Sometimes, he even felt like a junior in front of her.

Perhaps... she was born to be a teacher.

Roland shook his head with a smile and put these thoughts aside.

In any case, with the addition of a new batch of fresh troops, some long-prepared factories can finally start operating.

"Please help me call Barov over," he said with great interest.

...

The chief of the City Hall quickly arrived at the castle. Since starting the city construction, his workload had increased day by day. The blank area on his forehead was increasing, and the wrinkles were also growing. However, there was no sign of fatigue or sleepiness on his face; instead, he looked more and more energetic.

"Your Highness, are you looking for me about the recruitment of workers?"

The other party probably knew about the news that a new batch of people had graduated from the town and took the initiative to ask.

"That's right," Roland nodded. "Taking advantage of the fact that the Evil Moon is early this year, and Timothy cannot harass the Western Territory, I want to expand the size of Border Town's army to prepare for next year's war, and at the same time, expand the number of people in the existing factories."

"And the City Hall," he quickly added. "After the city is built, the area of your territory will be five to six times larger than it is now, and the City Hall staff must also be expanded to the corresponding scale in order to manage such a vast land."

"Don't worry," the prince smiled. "I won't forget you." He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote as he spoke, "The City Hall will provide 20% of the jobs for the newly graduated seven hundred people, the Sulfuric Acid Plant will take 40%, and the rest will be absorbed by the Steam Engine Factory and the Bicycle Factory. The Bicycle Factory needs at least one hundred people. The salaries will be set according to the previous standards. The Sulfuric Acid Plant can increase it slightly. Recruit the required number of people as soon as possible."

As for the Soap Factory and the Perfume Factory, the main work is done by witches. Ordinary people only need to repeat a few simple steps, which they can do without literacy, so they are not included.

Roland believed that education can not only improve a person's knowledge and vision, but also improve his sense of responsibility and sociality. The meaning of enlightenment lies in this. This is why high-level factories need a large number of people with primary education – a worker who has opened up his social attributes understands the importance of cooperation, altruism, and conscientiousness better than an ignorant person who does not know a single word. This is crucial for complex and step-by-step fine work.

"Yes, Your Highness," Barov replied. "How many people does the army need to expand?"

"At least one thousand people, open recruitment to newly promoted civilians and refugees from the Eastern Territory," Roland instructed. "As before, the City Hall will release a notice, and the First Army will be responsible for reviewing and recruiting."

"O...one thousand people?" Barov was stunned. "This is equivalent to the total number of people in the current First Army, Your Highness. If they are all equipped with materials and weapons according to the specifications of the First Army, the cost will not be low."

"I've considered all of this. Just do it."

Now that he knows the crisis of the demon invasion is imminent, he naturally can no longer take it slowly as before. In addition to incorporating the entire Western Territory into his rule, the first thing to do in the spring of next year is to completely defeat Timothy. As long as he eliminates this power that is tit-for-tat against him, even if he does not occupy other areas, the new city in the Western Territory will become a veritable "capital." At that time, whether it is expanding the population or promoting trade can be carried out freely, unlike now, where there are restrictions everywhere.

However, these plans do not need to be revealed to Barov for the time being. He only needs to arrange the financial allocation and material distribution for himself.

After the chief of the City Hall left, the guard brought a new message.

Maggie's trade caravan had arrived.