Chapter 7: Dreams of a New Land
[Knowledge of Fertile Soil (White): You have a clear understanding of the characteristics and fertility of the land, can determine what types of crops are suitable for planting, and can identify which herbs might grow naturally in the surrounding area. Your observation skills are increased by 10%.]
A flood of information rushed into Rhodes's mind, all of it about land features and crops.
It included not only the characteristics of fertile soil and its possible locations, but also knowledge on improving soil nutrition and proper cultivation techniques.
Most notable was a set of standards for scoring land fertility; any plot scoring above 60 could be cultivated with the corresponding crops.
"This works even better than I expected!"
Rhodes breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly impressed.
With the [Knowledge of Fertile Soil], he could now accurately determine which farmlands could continue producing crops and which needed to lie fallow.
Beyond grains, the information also detailed herbs—what could grow naturally in the area, how to harvest it, and how to teach others to collect efficiently.
Standing still, Rhodes looked around. The land near him scored 69 points for wheat and 78 points for rye—matching his earlier visual judgment, but now far more precise.
Rhodes immediately ordered the fields to be marked, then ran to inspect the plots he had previously assumed barren.
Wheat cultivation scored 52, rye 65.
Plot by plot, day after day, Rhodes classified every field on the hillside according to its suitability.
Farmland in the more distant wastelands still needed inspection, while town plots would be reserved for vegetables.
Classification was only the first step. This year, he would ensure that crops were properly sown and tended.
Upon returning to town, Rhodes gave Otto his next order:
"Pass down instructions to collect all manure in town and store it in a centralized pit outside the settlement."
Otto opened his mouth to question the purpose, but recalling the scolding from before, he shut up and nodded respectfully.
"No one may dump manure or relieve themselves anywhere in town," Rhodes added firmly. "Anyone caught doing so will be fined fifty bushels of rye!"
This wasn't just about unlocking the next system entry—it was about creating a clean, functional living environment.
In this era, no one had toilets. People defecated anywhere, even at night or in winter, leaving puddles of waste in the streets. Summer heat worsened the stench, attracting swarms of flies.
Fortunately, Frostleaf Town was still cool, and the ground had just thawed. Rhodes would not allow filth to become the norm.
"If we go outside the town every time…" Otto whispered.
"Dig several pits throughout the town," Rhodes snapped. "Fence them in and use them specifically for excretion!"
Rhodes fixed Otto with a piercing gaze. "You're human. Don't you want a clean, tidy town?"
Otto blinked, nodding repeatedly, this time genuinely convinced.
"You have one day," Rhodes continued. "We'll assign you two soldiers; find your own workers. If there's a pile of waste on the street the day after tomorrow, expect to be whipped!"
"Understood! It will be done thoroughly!" Otto promised.
After a long day running over hillsides, Rhodes wanted nothing more than a hot bath. Gunther was ordered to have the slaves boil water, though with three slaves handling over twenty people, delays were inevitable.
"You need a butler and a servant," Gunther reminded him. Rhodes agreed. The three slaves from Matt's household were now focused on serving the guards and Rhodes himself.
Meanwhile, Lawrence appeared with a stack of records.
"You have completed the tax collection and population census I assigned."
Rhodes reviewed the records. Frostleaf Town had 358 people: 99 adult males, 97 adult females, 15 elders over 60, and 147 children under 16, including 97 under nine. Detailed family accounts followed.
"Good work, Lawrence. I like your method."
In this era, fifteen-year-olds counted as full laborers, 10–15 as half-laborers, and the elderly were considered weak laborers. Few survived beyond sixty, with rare exceptions like Cavaliers such as Durant.
Most families had accumulated some wealth, particularly grain. The issue was population size, not poverty.
"Any families paying taxes but still short on food?" Rhodes asked.
Lawrence revealed a few families, including one mother with two daughters and a child, possessing barely fifty pounds of rye—not enough even for porridge.
Rhodes nodded. "You understand what I want."
Lawrence beamed, aware that while Rhodes appeared fierce, he would not let his people starve. This was why Rhodes had spent two full days personally tending farmland.
Lawrence grinned expectantly. "Since you said I did well, will you reduce my fees?"
Rhodes waved a hand. "I don't want any ransom."
"Thank you, Your Excellency Baron. You are the most generous lord in the Shattered Rock Empire…"
"You shouldn't leave either," Rhodes said, lowering the records and fixing Lawrence with a serious gaze. "Do you have a dream?"
(End of Chapter)