Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 111: Chapter 94: Seizure and Hard Cultivation, I’ll Take Both

On his way back to Westwood Laine, Henry also observed their houses.

Their living conditions were relatively good; they lived in sturdy houses built of wood and stone, with thatched roofs to withstand inclement weather.

During their breaks, the self-employed farmers might sit in front of their homes, enjoying the afternoon sun or discussing farm matters with their neighbors.

The clothing of the tenant farmers was much plainer, typically simple garments made of coarse cotton or linen in single colors.

Their diet was also very simple, consisting mainly of the grains they grew themselves, with the occasional vegetable or fruit.

Their living conditions were average. They lived in simple huts built of mud and straw, with roofs that might just be a simple thatch covering, but it was still better than eight people crammed into a single small hut.

During breaks, they would find a shady spot at the edge of the fields, cover their faces with their straw hats for a short nap, or sit in a circle to share a simple meal while talking about the weather and the harvest.

Compared to the first two groups, the lives of the serfs were the most arduous.

They all wore tattered clothing, either assigned to them or their own, that was dull in color and made of coarse fabric. Often, they only had the most basic black bread to eat, with only an occasional share of vegetables.

Their living conditions were very poor. They lived in crowded thatched huts or simple shacks with almost no privacy to speak of.

On their rare breaks, they would find a relatively flat spot in the fields, lay down a straw mat or a piece of tattered cloth, and simply lie down to rest.

They rarely had opportunities for any form of recreation; most of their time was spent toiling for survival.

As Baron Henry made his rounds, he began to understand more deeply the lives of these different social classes.

He also discovered that the self-employed farmers didn’t panic at the sight of soldiers, the tenant farmers would be overtly obsequious, and the serfs... the serfs had no reaction at all.

Henry saw self-employed farmers leisurely smoking their pipes in the sun, tenant farmers taking simple rests under the shade of trees, and serfs dozing wearily in their crude shacks...

’Reduce taxes? The rates I’m collecting are already low enough. Any lower and I won’t be able to support the army...’

Henry had a headache. He had considered the idea of cultivating a merchant caravan to earn extra income and subsidize the fief, but this method would take too long to show results, and he lacked the right talent to shoulder the responsibility.

During the two-day journey back to Westwood Laine Castle, Henry’s mind was filled with worry and contemplation.

Although the upcoming autumn harvest would temporarily alleviate the food shortage, in the long run, he needed to find a more stable and reliable method to ensure the domain’s food supply.

Expanding the army and developing new lands both required large amounts of grain and livestock, and he also had to consider emergency reserves for unforeseen needs.

As he rode his horse, his gaze fixed on the vast fields in the distance, his mind repeatedly weighed various possible solutions.

He couldn’t rely solely on trade with merchant caravans. That created too much dependency; if the trade routes were ever blocked, the entire domain’s food supply would be severely affected.

Henry planned to introduce more agricultural techniques and tools to increase crop yields. At the same time, he also wanted to improve the irrigation system to ensure a stable water supply even during dry seasons.

To reduce reliance on a single crop, Henry considered promoting diversified planting, including grains, vegetables, and fruit trees. This would allow for harvests in different seasons and reduce the risks associated with seasonal changes.

Moreover, with these crops, Henry could sell them for money to buy potatoes and pearl rice to feed more serfs and shepherd slaves.

Besides grain, livestock was also an important resource for both civilian life and military affairs. Henry planned to expand the pastures and increase the number of livestock, especially cattle and sheep, which could provide not only meat but also labor and hides.

The commercial development of Westwood Laine Castle also gave him some ideas. He planned to offer preferential policies to attract more merchants and artisans to the domain.

He would increase the domain’s income through trade and handicraft production, thereby having more resources to invest back into agriculture.

Some might ask, did Westwood Laine have anything worth trading? Henry’s answer was that wherever people gathered, merchant caravans would follow.

As the sun set, Henry’s mounted party proceeded slowly on their journey home. He already had a rough plan in mind, but implementing it would not be easy.

As night fell, Henry and his Cavalry finally returned to Westwood Laine Castle.

After dinner, he summoned Claude and Tommy to begin discussing and formulating a concrete implementation plan.

A few candles and oil lamps brought light to the somewhat dreary room.

Henry explained his ideas in detail, wanting to hash out a specific plan of action.

Claude, who had been working on the front lines, spoke up immediately. "My lord, to increase agricultural output, we first need to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the land. We must understand the fertility of each plot, its water sources, and which crops are suitable for it.

Only then can we introduce the right tools and techniques in a targeted manner. This year’s spring planting was rushed, but next year will be better."

He took out a sheet of parchment, on which were densely recorded the growth cycles, water requirements, and expected yields of various crops.

"We can start by improving our seeds, selecting varieties that are more resistant to drought and pests. At the same time, we should promote crop rotation to prevent the soil from being depleted by continuous planting. I’ve traveled through all the villages and farms with the Record Keepers, and this is the information we’ve gathered."

Henry took the parchment, and after examining it carefully, he generously rewarded Claude with ten Dinars.

Seeing this, Tommy thought, ’I can’t look useless, either!’

"My lord, for commercial development, we can upgrade the open-air market. We can offer some initial tax incentives to encourage merchant caravans to set up shop here."

He took a map from the wall, spread it out on the table, and pointed repeatedly with his hand. "My lord, we can also place some soldiers in the tavern to act as customers. From those merchants, we can get timely information on market demands and price changes in various regions, which will help guide our production and trade."

For the next few hours, the three of them made detailed arrangements for the specific measures.

First, organize the self-employed farmers to train the serfs in crop rotation, irrigation, and the use of new farm tools.

Second, improve the irrigation system: repair and expand existing canals and reservoirs to ensure a water supply during the dry season.

Third, continue to renovate and expand upon the foundation of the open-air market to provide a trading place for merchants and artisans.

Fourth, encourage and support artisans in opening workshops within the domain to produce daily necessities such as textiles and pottery.

Fifth, in coordination with the previous point, provide tax reductions and land-use incentives for merchants and artisans who come to develop their businesses in the domain’s early stages.

Sixth, store sufficient grain in newly built granaries as a reserve for emergencies.

Seventh, select suitable areas to establish pastures and increase the raising of livestock such as cattle and sheep.

The night grew late, and the trio’s discussion finally came to an end. Henry stood up and stretched his weary body.

"We have a plan, but this is only the first step. Tomorrow, we will begin to implement these plans to make Westwood Laine Castle more prosperous."

Claude and Tommy also agreed, relieved by Henry’s foresight.

Claude and Tommy’s deepest worries were finally eased. They had been concerned that Henry would become too obsessed with military conquest and neglect the fief’s economic development and the improvement of the people’s living standards, which directly affected the fief’s output.

But tonight’s discussion had shown them another side of Henry.

As they were leaving the meeting room, Claude couldn’t help but say to Henry, "My lord, your decisions today will bring unprecedented prosperity to our domain. I believe that in the future, Westwood Laine Castle will become the most bountiful place in the surrounding region."

The next day, Henry sent out riders to summon all the important clerks and village heads in the domain and announced his new plan.

Holding the parchment, he explained each measure in detail and demanded that everyone strive to achieve these goals.

’Conquest brings rapid growth, and diligent farming brings stable growth. Why must I choose only one?’