Arthur woke up early in the morning. As soon as he got out of bed, he stood in front of the mirror. Determined to break free from the laziness of his former self, Arthur resolved to reintroduce the training regimen he had neglected. Shortly thereafter, he dressed in a simple tunic and trousers and headed to the training yard.
In the castle courtyard, a few soldiers had already started their morning routines. Arthur found a space designated for sword practice and began rehearsing his stances and strikes. At first, his movements were clumsy and unsteady, but after some time, his muscles warmed up, and his actions became fluid.
After an intense hour of training, Arthur was left breathless but satisfied. As he finished, one of the castle guards approached and saluted him. "My lord, your breakfast is ready," the guard said. Arthur wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "Thank you. After breakfast, I will visit the steel production site. Inform Foreman William of this," he added.
After a brief rest and completing his breakfast, Arthur mounted his waiting horse and set off for the steel production facility. The construction site was located in a large clearing just outside the castle walls. Upon arrival, he observed the workers in a frenzy of activity. Carpenters and stonemasons were hard at work completing the towering chimney of the facility.
Foreman William approached as soon as he noticed Arthur's arrival. "Good morning, Your Majesty," he said, offering a slight bow. "Everything is progressing as planned. The outer structure of the furnace is complete, and we are now installing the internal mechanisms."
Arthur nodded in approval and carefully inspected the structure. Leaning toward the base of the massive chimney, he examined the details. "Are the smithing forges and ventilation systems inside ready?" he asked.
William smiled and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. The first steel production trial can begin in a few days. However, for the safety of the workers, we will need to conduct several tests during the initial firing."
Arthur was pleased with William's diligence. "Very good. Let me know once the construction is complete," he said. After briefly speaking with the workers to motivate them, he decided not to return to the castle immediately and instead set off for the harbor.
The harbor was bustling despite the early hour. Ships were unloading their cargo, merchants were negotiating their goods, and laborers were hauling large crates. Arthur asked the harbor master to accompany him as he toured the warehouses. Among the hundreds of goods, his attention was drawn to large bales stacked neatly in a corner.
Cotton.
The bales bore stamps indicating they had come from Indoria. Arthur recognized this country from his past world: a place renowned for its fertile lands, rich agriculture, and exotic products. Pointing to one of the bales, he turned to the harbor master. "When did these arrive?" he asked.
"Last night, Your Majesty. They were brought by a merchant ship from Indoria. They claim it's of very high quality," the master replied.
Arthur walked over to the bale and took a handful of the cotton. Feeling its softness and purity, his mind began to race. The Industrial Revolution in his former world had started with the textile industry. Since traders were already bringing raw materials, he wouldn't need to travel to Indoria himself. With a modest supply, he could initiate a textile industry. Once his trade fleet was established, he could send larger expeditions east for more raw materials. Collecting his thoughts, he turned to the harbor master. "Arrange a meeting with this merchant. I want to make a deal for more cotton from Indoria," he said.
The harbor master nodded. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Arthur continued to tour the harbor, refining his plans. Steel production would soon begin, and after that, he could move forward with the textile industry. He also recalled that the southern regions of the kingdom held large deposits of kaolin—the key ingredient for porcelain. In the West, however, no one knew how to produce porcelain. Most of the porcelain he had seen in the harbor came from the Far East, and due to its limited availability, it was prohibitively expensive, reserved only for nobles and wealthy merchants. Arthur realized the potential for great profit in this sector and mentally noted the need to establish a porcelain manufacturing facility.
As he was walking, he noticed a well-dressed man in his late twenties approaching him alongside the harbor master. The man greeted him formally. "Your Majesty, my name is David Johnson. I understand you summoned me. How may I assist you?" he asked.
Arthur pointed to the cotton. "I'm interested in this product," he said. David smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, you have a keen eye. This cotton comes from Indoria. It is used in clothing production, is easier to process than wool, and produces a higher-quality fabric."
Arthur nodded. "I want you to bring me as much of this cotton as you can. I will purchase all of it at market price," he said. David's eyes lit up, and he responded enthusiastically, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Arthur purchased the entire stock of cotton and struck a deal with David for regular supplies. He then bought large quantities of kaolin and hired a potter named Samuel. Arthur explained the recipe for making porcelain to the potter. At first, Samuel was astonished, but he began experimenting with small amounts of kaolin based on Arthur's instructions. A few hours later, when they removed the dried mixture from the mold, Samuel was amazed.
Arthur, seeing Samuel's astonishment, remarked, "It's still a semi-finished product. It will need glazing and firing for another week." He then instructed the potter on using engraved copper plates to apply transfer prints, enabling mass production. As Samuel listened, his excitement grew. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We can have the first finished products ready for sale within a week," he assured. Arthur smiled and replied, "I look forward to hearing your good news," before returning to the castle.
Once back at the castle, Arthur began planning for textile production. Existing cotton processing methods were inefficient despite some progress. Arthur recalled the water-powered factories of the 18th century in his former world, but these relied heavily on proximity to water sources, complicating logistics. After some thought, he dismissed the idea. With steel production set to begin in a few days, he could skip water-powered factories and move directly to steam-powered ones.
Arthur began designing a steam engine. Once steel became available, he planned to establish a factory dedicated to its construction. He then focused on designing a steam-powered textile mill. Breaking the process into steps, he devised machines for cleaning, spinning, and weaving cotton, all machines constructed from iron and steel to maximize efficiency and durability.
As the night grew late, Arthur poured himself a glass of wine and sat by the fireplace to relax. Sipping his drink, he reflected. Steam engines and a mechanized textile industry—both would be impossible without affordable, high-quality steel and iron. "Tomorrow, I must visit William to check on the production status," he thought. Finishing his wine, Arthur felt his exhaustion take over and retired to bed.