From 2:00 p.m. to almost 6:00 p.m. in the evening, the sky gradually darkened, and the Easter family's massive convoy finally stopped in an open wasteland.
The 400 freight carriages were once again pulled to the outermost perimeter of the camp. Their tails were tied together to form a circle, becoming the most solid barrier around the encampment.
Jon, McCann, and the masons directed the old men and women to set up the rain-proof tents that Jason Liu had bought from the modern world.
He really disliked the tattered animal skin and sackcloth tents set up by these poor farmers' families. To prevent them from freezing or getting sick at night, Jason Liu bought a batch of 4×10-meter construction tents.
Each tent cost 1,500 yuan, and he bought 300 tents in total, spending 450,000 yuan—not too expensive in his opinion.
At least spending some money meant he no longer had to look at those beggar-like tents these people previously used, which might ruin Lord Jason's mood.
These tents featured snap-on steel tubes and were simple enough for anyone to assemble—practically foolproof.
Thousands of people worked together to build 240 units of the 4×10-meter green tents.
That number was sufficient, and the remaining 60 tents were stored on the carriages.
Each tent was equipped with a battery-powered horse lamp, suspended from the center of the ceiling for lighting.
Open flames were strictly forbidden inside the tents, and firebreaks were dug with iron tools between each tent to prevent fire hazards.
For cooking in the evening, a special area was set aside in the camp where the cooks built fires and prepared food.
After supper, the elderly, women, and children returned to sleep in the designated tents.
Soldiers and young laborers were divided into five groups and took turns working the night shifts.
Jason Liu had dinner and, still worried about the camp's defense, personally led a patrol around the entire area.
Dick and Kent followed closely behind, along with Jon, McCann, Rubin, Chris, and more than a dozen of his bodyguards.
"At night, the soldiers must stay sharp while on duty. Don't get careless. We've got so many old people, women, and children here—nothing must go wrong!" Jason ordered while observing the hundreds of carriages.
"Yes, my lord. We'll take turns leading the soldiers and young men on duty to ensure nothing gets overlooked during the night," Jon replied.
He had already coordinated with McCann, Rubin, and Chris to rotate groups of soldiers for night patrols.
"Good, very good," Jason Liu nodded, leading them through the one-meter-wide passageways between the tents. "I also told the elderly, women, and children not to wander around at night. If anything happens, stay calm and head to the emergency area."
As he spoke, they arrived at a specially designated open space outside the tent area. In the event of a sudden attack, the old, weak, women, and children would gather there.
This precaution was taken in case the tents were set on fire during an ambush—it was absolutely not safe to remain inside if that happened.
After inspecting the camp, Jason Liu felt satisfied. Although there were still some shortcomings, for a first attempt, the camp wasn't bad.
From Winterfell to Lake Saylor, at their current pace, the journey would take four days, which meant they would need to camp twice along the way.
Not many stops, but Jason Liu remained cautious.
At night, Jason Liu slept in his personal carriage, lying on a large 2×3-meter bed, which was far more comfortable than a tent.
Lina and Bella laid out soft quilts on the floor of the carriage and slept there as well.
Jason Liu had initially asked them to sleep in the tent with the maidservants, but Lina dragged Bella with her to stay in the carriage instead.
Even so, Jason Liu had refused Lena's offer to help warm his bed and had the two girls sleep on the floor.
Lena regretted not being able to climb into Lord Jason's bed, so she had to settle for the floor with her quilt.
Nothing happened that night. The attack Jason Liu had feared didn't come, and everything passed peacefully.
He began to wonder if he had been overly cautious.
It seemed he had indeed been too sensitive and careful.
On the 400-kilometer road from Winterfell to Lake Saylor, the East family's long convoy traveled for four days and finally arrived in the afternoon at their destination—the wasteland by the lake.
At last, Jason Liu could relax a little. His previously tense heart finally settled.
The entire journey had been safe. It really did seem he'd been overly suspicious.
Although everyone still wore the fatigue of several days' travel on their faces, their spirits lifted at the sight of the vast, clear surface of Lake Saylor.
While the elderly and women who had enough energy began setting up tents once again, the men—having walked the full 400 kilometers—were allowed to sit and rest.
The camp was being built again, and this time the labor was assigned to the more energetic among them.
Soon, the cooks and hundreds of helpers built stoves and a wooden shed by the lakeside.
The necessary logs had been chopped from a forest over ten kilometers away. Dozens of freight carriages and hundreds of people had transported back a massive pile of timber.
Some logs were used for cooking fires, and others for building the kitchen shed.
Jason Liu directed the soldiers to line up the freight carriages along three sides of the lakeshore, forming a semicircular barrier with a 1,500-meter diameter.
Inside this semicircle was the future long-term camp.
Since Lake Saylor formed the inside boundary, the area enclosed by the 400 freight carriages was even larger.
It was spacious enough to separate the workers' quarters from the soldiers' quarters, and the distance between tents could be increased for better fire safety.
That night, Jason Liu no longer slept in the carriage but in a tent built especially for him.
Farmers skilled in carpentry quickly crafted a desk and some wooden cabinets, and Kent had the guards carry them into the tent.
They had planned to build a wooden bed for Mr. Jason, but he refused.
No way was he going to sleep on a damp wooden bed.
That evening, he sent Lina, Bella, and the other maids to their own tents, ordering them not to enter without his permission.
Then, he teleported back, drove to the warehouse to find Ethan of IronForge Props.
The spears he had ordered were ready—Brilliant Props had completed 1,000 of them.
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I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be launching a new Game of Thrones fan fiction!
Join the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryens as they embark on a thrilling adventure filled with political intrigue, new enemies, and unexpected allies.
Get ready for epic battles, heartbreaking betrayals, and surprising twists in the Seven Kingdoms!
I can't wait to share this journey with you all. Stay tuned for more updates!
Thank you for your support, and may the Old Gods and the New be with you!
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