With the forest land on the south bank of the Chishui River being cleared out gradually, the day of farming is getting closer and closer.
To facilitate travel between the banks of the Chishui River, Roland ordered the construction of a floating bridge spanning nearly 100 meters. The structure consisted of dozens of wooden rafts crafted by carpenters, interconnected by thick hemp ropes. He specifically instructed the carpenters to form sharp corners at both ends of the rafts to reduce water resistance. The hemp ropes were wound around four wooden stakes driven into the shore, securing the rafts in place. Each raft featured four long wooden planks laid across its center as the bridge deck, with a combined width of about two meters that allowed four people to pass side by side.
The log raft floating bridge is remarkably easy to construct and boasts a long lifespan. As long as the river doesn't experience sudden surges or drops that could tear the hemp ropes, it can last for two to three years. The trees in the Hidden Forest are of exceptional quality. For instance, the piers and planks at the town's dock are crafted from giant logs sourced from the forest, with a lifespan nearly matching that of the town itself. Despite the creaking sound when walking on them, there are no signs of collapse yet.
West of the floating bridge, the first cultivated land was Ye Zi's experimental field. Now fully enclosed by wooden boards, the entrance was guarded by soldiers from the First Army. These days, Ye Zi spent his days in the field, aside from meals, classes, and sleep. From his third-floor office window, Roland could catch glimpses of the scene within the wooden fence—where wheat was growing wildly, its green ears at dawn turning into a golden sea by afternoon.
The Golden No.1, fueled by Magic Power, is producing seeds at a breakneck pace—almost daily. If outsiders caught sight of it, they'd likely kneel and chant' God's work!'
With land, population, and seeds all in place, Roland decided to finalize the plan by appointing a supervisor.
He brought in Barov, the Minister's Assistant who had been swamped with work lately.
"Your apprentice should be capable of handling responsibilities independently now," Roland inquired. "I need to establish two new departments at City Hall." "Your Highness, this... there's simply not enough staff," Barov protested.
You used to agree without hesitation and then negotiate the details later, but now you've learned to complain first. Roland thought to himself, though he remained outwardly indifferent. "How could it be insufficient? Didn't I just assign you a batch of Knights?" Roland had initially screened over fifty qualified Knights who could read and write. Since the teachers needed fewer, he selected the best of the best, ultimately choosing nine Knights as junior teachers. The rest were assigned to the town hall, starting as apprentices.
"Your Highness, those people are slow, lazy, and slow to react. They can even copy a document and make several mistakes. As apprentices, they're simply not up to the task." "How to discipline them is your decision," Roland tapped the table. "Those who disobey orders should be sent straight to the North Slope mine. But I must establish these two departments." "Alright, Your Highness, you're the one who decides," Barov said helplessly.
Roland said, "The first is the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for overseeing crop cultivation and production in the territory." Barov froze, clearly hearing for the first time that the municipal government would even manage farming. "Your Highness, shouldn 't this be the serfs' own business? How they farm and harvest has nothing to do with us—we just need to collect sufficient taxes." "So you... no, I mean past harvests were so low," Roland said, raising his glass to cover his slip. "A responsible municipal government should manage even the people's basic needs." "Basic needs... aren't you joking?" "Of course not. Let's not even talk about food. Failing to feed the citizens is the municipal government's failure, and mine too. As for the latter part, wasn't the public toilet project built precisely for this purpose?" He softened his tone and said earnestly, "I don't know how the capital's municipal government operates. Perhaps the lives of commoners mean nothing to them. But in Border Town, I want to establish a comprehensive political institution that must fully understand the territory and its people's conditions. Only then can it gain wholehearted support and efficiently enforce its decrees. Now I'll explain the department's composition and responsibilities. Remember this." "Yes, Your Highness," Barov wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Go to the archives and find three or four people who have worked in agriculture before, then register them with the Ministry of Agriculture. Then assign two apprentices to handle the documentation and statistics. Six people should be enough." "Wait... You want commoners to serve as municipal officials?" Barov looked shocked.
"They're not only obedient but also highly motivated in their work—why can't they serve as officials? Being an official isn't the same as being Noble, and the Ministry of Agriculture needs professionals to guide future farming practices." "But most of them can't even read..." "That's why you need to send two apprentices first to handle paperwork," Roland interrupted. "And this situation won't last long. I'll soon launch an education expansion program across the territory, aiming to make literacy universal. Then you won't have to worry about a shortage of staff." Clearly, this news shocked Barov more than the idea of commoners entering the town hall. He opened his mouth slightly but remained speechless for a long time.
Regardless of Roland's acceptance, he continued: "Returning to the Ministry of Agriculture, uneven land preparation inevitably occurs among serfs. Some till the soil deeper, while others sow more densely. This presents an excellent opportunity for observation. The six Ministry staff must number the divided plots and meticulously document every farming step—detailed records of soil depth and sowing intervals. I'll provide them with measuring tools and teach them how to use them." "You mean... comparison?" Barov might appear somewhat rigid in certain ways, but his mind was quick-witted.
"Indeed, the initial harvest need not be overly concerned. Maintaining grain imports and... utilizing new wheat varieties would suffice to ensure no one goes hungry. I must identify the most suitable method among these approaches and document it in a manual. All future wheat cultivation shall follow this method, with the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for promotion, guidance, and supervision." Though Roland had limited knowledge of farming, this did not hinder him from applying scientific reasoning to formulate an optimal solution. With this system in place, whether expanding cultivated land or adding new agricultural laborers, the land's average yield could be maintained at a high level.
Barov nodded hesitantly before speaking: "Your Highness, I have a question. Why do you only collect 20% of the crops as land tax after serfs become free citizens? Even if you demand 50%, keeping the remainder would show your benevolence." "Because storing coins in the basement serves no purpose," Roland explained. "After collecting 20%, I'll buy their surplus grain at a fixed price—grain trade in Border Town is the Lord's exclusive domain. This way, the castle gets the grain while they receive payment. Once they accumulate savings, they'll want to purchase things... like oxen, iron farming tools, beef, cotton clothes, and premium brick houses—all of which I can provide. Town residents who want grain can only buy it from the castle. So the coins ultimately return to my pocket, but through this cycle, it steadily improves everyone's living standards. Do you understand?" Barov frowned, hesitating to respond, clearly perplexed by the explanation.
Roland shook his head with a smile, "If you're not sure, go back and think it through later. Just follow my instructions for now." The Minister's Assistant stood up with a dazed look, then suddenly turned around as he reached the door. "By the way, Your Highness, you mentioned creating two departments earlier. What's the other one?" "The Ministry of Education," Roland replied, "I'll be personally in charge of that."