Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Solving Sanitation Problems
Although conditions were harsh, Louis would never allow sanitation issues to affect the future of the territory.
"First, we have to build toilets." Louis’s gaze swept over the gathered craftsmen and laborers: "Install multiple public toilets in every residential area, start preparing."
The craftsmen nodded at Louis’s command, but many still had puzzled expressions.
Build toilets?
Isn’t it just a matter of digging a hole?
Louis didn’t explain much but directly led people to choose the locations.
He chose locations away from water sources, avoiding the main roads of residential areas, and downwind.
Ensuring it wouldn’t pollute the drinking water nor affect daily life.
The double-pit alternating method was adopted.
Each toilet would have two adjacent pits, separated by one meter. Each pit would be at least two meters deep and 0.8 meters wide.
The first pit would be covered and left for fermentation after 6 to 12 months, turning into fertilizer, and then the second pit would be used, cycled like this.
To ensure the people truly followed the new regulations, Louis even arranged something special.
Pictorials of the "Ten Commandments of Toileting" were made and hung on every toilet wall.
Since the vast majority were illiterate, he simply had straightforward illustrations drawn.
For example, "Do not relieve yourself anywhere", "Cover the pit after use", "Do not litter in the toilet", etc.
He issued a strict prohibition on these: "Everyone must use the toilet as per regulations, violators will be heavily punished."
When the new rules were first implemented, many residents were perplexed, they were used to relieving themselves anywhere since childhood and never thought using a toilet would require rules.
But no one dared to refute, perhaps not understanding why, but they believed the Lord’s words were absolutely correct.
Building toilets was just the first step; the next focus was on water treatment.
Louis frowned, pointing at the map near the rivers of Red Tide Territory: "We can no longer let everyone fetch water from the river as they please, we must build a water purification system."
He sent people to sample from several fast-flowing rivers, eventually selecting the cleanest water source.
Here they constructed a stepped sand filtration pool using a three-layer filtration method to purify the water.
The first layer was coarse gravel, which could intercept mud and large particulate impurities;
The second layer was laid with fine sand, which could adsorb the suspended substances in the water, making it clearer;
The most crucial layer was the topmost birch charcoal fragments, which could not only remove odors from the water but also filter out some bacteria, making the water safer.
Louis watched as the first batch of purified water slowly flowed into storage barrels, clear enough to see the fine sand at the bottom.
He scooped up a cup and confirmed there was no odor before nodding: "Not bad, this water is drinkable."
To ensure water quality, he even specially arranged a few reliable soldiers and stewards to test the water quality daily and report any abnormalities immediately.
The surrounding residents gathered to see, carefully sipping the water in their hands with surprised expressions on their faces.
"Sweeter than river water..."
"And without that strange earthy taste!"
Thus, the residents gradually accepted the rules for fetching drinking water here.
With the new water source system operational, the water source problem in Red Tide Territory was no longer a hidden danger.
And the cleaning work must be thoroughly executed.
Louis gathered about a dozen reliable residents, pointing at the filth: "From today on, you are the cleaning team, responsible solely for maintaining the territory’s cleanliness.
Tools like brooms, wooden buckets, and lime will be issued to you, and inspections must be conducted daily with no blind spots."
But relying solely on these people was not enough; hygiene had to be everyone’s responsibility, so he established a big cleaning day.
"Once every month, everyone in the territory must participate. Whether they are soldiers, civilians, or slaves, even Knights, no exceptions."
The first big cleaning day officially started, and the sound of morning bells rang out, with streets in Red Tide Territory bustling with people.
Soldiers, civilians, slaves, all holding brooms, wooden buckets, and shovels, gathered in the square, ready to start today’s cleaning work.
Though people didn’t say much, many still had faces full of resistance.
But just when they hadn’t started yet, a familiar figure had moved first.
Louis picked up a broom and started sweeping the dust and fallen leaves on the ground.
Swish—
The sound of the broom dragging across the ground was distinctly audible, especially loud in the quiet air.
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
The soldiers had subtle expressions, they originally thought they were just there to maintain order and never expected the Lord himself to get involved in the task.
Slaves, even more incredulous, a Noble doing the same work as them?
But before they could think much, a few soldiers were the first to react, whispering "the Lord is doing it," before bending down to start cleaning as well.
With the soldiers leading the way, the remaining residents also began to take action.
People gradually dispersed, main streets, alleys, enclosures, markets, every corner had people cleaning, quickly transforming the formerly dirty and chaotic environment.
Louis didn’t say a word more, he just focused on doing his own cleaning among the crowd.
Looking up, he saw those residents who initially resisted were now fully engaged in the cleanup too.
As the sun set, the garbage and excrement in Red Tide Territory were thoroughly cleared, leaving a hint of freshness in the air.
......
At first, Louis’s series of "troubles"—building toilets, purifying water sources, digging drainage ditches, organizing cleaning teams.
Many thought it was just the young Lord’s whim, that it wouldn’t last long before it fizzled out.
But as time went on, observant people began to notice something was different.
"Hey? Where’s the trash on the street?"
"Wait, why isn’t there that stench in the alley?"
Even more surprising was that when drinking, there was no longer the previous muddy smell!
In the past, people often had diarrhea, but now such cases had almost disappeared.
In the past, everyone thought dirt and mess were natural since everyone was used to it anyway.
But looking back now, they realized a place could truly become so clean, so livable.
The most visible change was fewer sick people.
Unconsciously, the initial complaints of "the Lord is too troublesome" disappeared, replaced by silent acceptance of the new rules.
After all, who wouldn’t like a more comfortable environment?
Bradley stood high up, overlooking the newly transformed Red Tide Territory.
As the old steward of the Calvin Clan, he had seen the domain management across the Empire.
Even the core city where the Calvin Clan’s mansion was located, Cloud Tide City, had most neighborhoods with poorer environments than here.
"Interesting..." Bradley murmured to himself, raising his evaluation of Louis by several notches.