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Emperor Qin's Great Wall

A massive engineering project is underway. Our venerated emperor, Shi Huangdi has ordered that a long wall, measuring 10,000 li from eastern coast to western desert be erected along the northern border. Being a proven and able administrator, you have been appointed to construct a critical section of this great wall. Once complete, it will serve as a solid impenetrable barrier, protecting the northern commanderies -- indeed, the entire empire -- from incursions by despoiling northern barbarians.
Your first priority should be to establish one, or perhaps several, settlements for the influx of workers expected shortly. Once the peasants have arrived, put up some laborers' camps at appropriate intervals, connected by roads to the wall's construction site, that has already been marked by engineers. Use the abundant natural resources found in the area to construct the wall.
Meanwhile, do not neglect your defenses, as Xiongnu never sleep.

City - Badaling
Starts Feb 215 BCE
14400 starting cash on Very Hard

Requirements:
  • Earthen Great Wall must be built

Badaling isn't half as tough as I supposed... well, maybe if you take too long, there are some invasions, but I didn't see anything of the kind. Not even threats. At the beginning, you already have 4 trade partners - and unless you have something special in mind, you don't have to open any more routes. By "something special" I mean for example elite housing, because silk is not available from the existing sources. I didn't bother to build elite houses this time - I decided that Badaling will be a small border city, designed mainly for soldiers and workers, not upper classes. Probably they will arrive later anyway, but we have to strengthen our defenses first, and complete the wall.

Land is fertile; you can grow 3 types of food and hemp, and there are pheasants in the less cultivated areas behind the wall. Main resources of this city are iron and clay; it is possible to export iron, weapons and ceramics. Trade can start as soon as you have something to sell, no need to send any diplomats and negotiate... so money should not be a problem. Monument construction requires lots of dirt and wood, that is, lots of employees to run smoothly; add those needed for industry, and you see that the city can't be small. As usual, industry and trade must go first and only when everything is running, workers will be assigned to build the monument. Elegant dwellings are highest possible housing level (no acupuncturist); I decided not to distribute ceramics - simply because I like Spacious dwellings more than Elegant.

I started two blocks at once to get the employees quickly. City reached 1000 after a year and 2 months, another year later population was 2000. At that time, in May 213, first wood was delivered to the monument site. 9 logging sheds and 2 warehouses were supplying wood for monument construction; there was only 1 carpenter, but more were added soon. It took 1 year to complete the wooden "form", in June 212 workers from workcamps started to bring dirt, and in February 211 first layer was complete. I had 4 carpenters and 5 workcamps, all near the place, where road crosses the site of future wall. Later I found out that they would enter the site anywhere, if there is a road from their camp to this point, but it didn't seem to help much anyway. Second layer was finished in only 15 months, the last one required just a little over a year. Then carpenters tore down the wooden railing, more dirt was delivered to build towers and a gatehouse, and in February 208 the wall was complete!

Result:

  • February 208 BCE
  • treasury 21249 cash
  • population 2706
  • all living in Spacious dwelling
  • perfect harmony
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