Once we completed the basic inspection of the project, we reached the initial site where construction began.
The site was filled with workers chatting about mundane stuff while waiting for us to arrive before they began their assigned work. The blacksmiths were making the last bit of preparations with strange tubs around them. The tailors were ready on standby for some tasks that the king and his entourage did not understand. The doctors too had made a temporary base by the side-lines. The masons were all standing in a line waiting for my signal to begin.
It was my father who asked me about the masks and long leather shoes that a few workers were wearing. Shoes were a novelty item in this era and even my father had a right to be confused when he saw my workers wearing them. I explained to him and the curious ministers that the final product of coal that we will be using for the project was in liquid form and it was extremely hot when poured.
Since the process was to be completed manually the workers had to be provided with gear so that they do not injure or burn themselves.
The masks were self-explanatory considering the amount of dust present on a construction site. Though it was not the norm in this era, me doing it did not result in him questioning the need.
It was the right minister that asked about the metallic boxes that the blacksmiths were surrounding. I explained that these were the containers in which the tar would be carried form the tank to the site for pouring. I described the shape and design of the container that will help in easily pouring of not just tar but almost any liquid.
Once the basic curiosity of elders was answered, the king gave me permission to begin the work.
For demonstration purposes, we were only going to complete half a kilometre of the road. The entourage was only here to visit for a day. They would leave after dinner and return back to the capital.
I gave my nod to Aakash and everyone started moving around.
The first step was to pour crushed rocks along the road. After this the workers with protective covering transported the tar filled cans to the road. The workers there will then sprinkle the rocks with tar all over their surface. They are then flattened with the help of elephants and their heavy rollers. The next step involves placing of even finer crushed rocks such that they fill the spaces that were left by the previous layer. The layer is once again covered with tar only to be rolled over for the last time.
The process seems simple enough and it was, but the amount of time I took to describe the process and the amount of time to actually execute it was totally opposite.
By the time we finished it was around six in the evening and this was the result when nearly a thousand workers worked on it.
The time required for placing the rocky layer, the cooling down of tar to be able to be rolled over and the repeat of the procedure was long.
The final product was a source of delight of me and my workers. All our hard work over the month and a half had reached its fruitful ending. The half-kilometre road now looked like a long, black, smooth snake.
The first person to transverse the road was naturally my father and the king of our kingdom. He trotted proudly along the road on his horse followed closely by his guards and the ministers. After the ride he came by my side and gave me a strong hug.
It was then that I finally heaved a sigh of relief. This was the approval that I was waiting for.
The ministers too were all praises for me and my ideas. They even went as far as to congratulate my father on having a genius and hardworking successor for the kingdom. They were now assured that I will truly be able to strengthen the kingdom through my efforts.
The king then addressed the workers and artisans that had worked diligently on the project and promised them adequate gold for their hard work.
After the king and his entourage left, I stayed behind to show my appreciation towards everyone. I too had to return to the mansion to attend the feast before my father left for the palace.
After the feast, my father met me in private.
Once we were alone, he showered me with praise. He inquired if I was in need for any more help regarding the project. When I declined, he asked me to visit the palace more often now that the initial work was done. I consented. He asked if the project will be completed within three months seeing the speed we showed today. I reminded him that the display in front of them was the optimal one and the actual time required for the completion of the project will be much more.
I discussed with him my estimations regarding the project timeline. According to my estimates the first stage will now be completed in a month even if everyone worked from dawn till dusk. Due to the familiarity of the process among the workers, the next two stages will require two months each. Then the final concrete roads connecting the main road to the village and the capital will require another fifteen days while working simultaneously.
This placed the deadline I had set for myself at six months from now.
By the time the project ends and the path is open for all, it will be time for my sixteenth birthday.
He praised me once again while asking me to believe in myself.
The entourage finally left the mansion.
I was sure that after seeing the success with their own eyes there will be some who will try to replicate the production of tar for personal benefit. But I had already discussed it with my father at the beginning of the project. This was the reasons that the masons were all directly appointed by my father. Everyone who knew the process to make tar that was fit enough to be used in construction was loyal to my father.
The most they could get was the knowledge that tar was produced by heating coal. This was nowhere near to actually produce it.
Coal tar was a thick dark liquid which was a by-product of the production of coke and coal gas from coal. It is obtained as a by-product during the production of coal gas, by heating coal in closed iron vessels to form coke. Escaping gases are condensed to get coal tar.
Without the knowledge that one needs to collect the escaping coal gas and the by-product of that will finally be coal tar, everyone will keep on burning coal without understanding why their coal just leaves ash and smoke.