Chapter 995: Chapter 434: North First, Then South (Part 3)
"Prepare the plan." Mathew Bade stopped thinking further and signaled his men to get ready to leave.
......
Golden autumn, Old World, Brittania, Count Glamorgan.
Laine was riding his pure-blooded elf warhorse Grapes, patrolling his domain. His army, apart from the Dwarves and Knights, had been temporarily disbanded. The soldiers were busy returning home for the harvest. This year was another bumper harvest. Golden grains filled the barns, smiles were on everyone’s faces, and groups of children played and frolicked in the countryside.
The peasants used carts or yokes to transport the grain. First, the Lake God Prophets under Mogiana collected the tithing, followed by Laine’s tax officials collecting the fixed tax. After these taxes were paid, the remaining grain belonged to the peasants.
A carriage transport industry was emerging in the domain. Some peasants began transforming into carriage drivers, hustling for business. Laine even saw some peasants hiring others to help them harvest grain. A market was gradually forming in the villages. Some merchants transported fruits, meats, and lamp oil by carriage, selling along the village roads. Even some Dwarves from the Angland Clan joined them, selling Dwarven tools and household items.
The number of windmills and water wheels in the domain was increasing. In some places, Laine’s artisans couldn’t keep up with building water wheels fast enough, so peasants pooled their money to hire Dwarves to build them first. Some peasants who learned a craft moved into the cities, relying on their skills and craftsmanship to make a living, or they opened shops, worked for Master Knights or merchants, gradually earning wealth and higher social status through their hard work or impressive military service.
A burgeoning new class was sprouting, known collectively as Free People. They represented an ambitious collective of peasants eager to change their destiny. These individuals were gradually becoming the glue bridging the seemingly unbridgeable gap between peasants and nobility.
The oracle from the Lake Fairy brought immense hope to this emerging class. Every ambitious peasant realized that to become Free People or even Master Knights, they must go to battle and earn military accomplishments. Thus, they prepared full sets of soldiers’ gear and purchased weapons waiting for conscription, meanwhile, refusing to return to the countryside for laborious work. The towns might lack farmland, but they brimmed with opportunities.
"What a prosperous rural scene this is. Over the past few years, the number of Free People has risen from just a few hundred to now several thousand." Laine looked at the fervent harvest scene and the smiles on the peasants’ faces, saying to Surya beside him, "There will be more in the future. At this rate, my army can gradually be freed from their duties."
"Alchemist, armor forger, bow maker, brewer, scribe, carpenter, cartographer, gem cutter, musket maker, herb dealer, peddler, shipwright, blacksmith, mason, tailor, and weapon craftsman—in your domain, I can almost see every type of craftsman from the entire Old World." Surya raised her chin, the Countess threw an alluring glance at Laine, and coyly said, "Laine~ you have done well; my trust in you has not been wasted~"
After speaking, the female Knight covered her mouth with her small hand, giggling softly, "Interesting~ so interesting, now all the Dukes in the nation are secretly learning from your reforms, you are injecting fresh blood and bringing new airs into this country, well done."
"???" Laine felt something strange in his heart and tentatively asked, "Surya? What’s going on? This isn’t like you."
"Oh? How is it not like me? Am I not your beloved wife?" The female Knight continued giggling, riding her pure-blooded elf warhorse Richter closer to Laine, whispering in his ear, "Or do you prefer me more serious?"
"You..." Laine’s face slowly darkened, "You’re not Surya!"
"Hehehe~ You’ve found out, this is your reward~" The female Knight playfully patted her ample bosom, causing it to bounce, then gently kissed Laine on the cheek, "That’s an advance payment, more later when we reach my tower."
"What’s wrong? What happened?" Laine keenly sensed the issue.
"The situation has changed, my Champion." "Surya’s" expression also turned serious, "Go to my tower, so we can discuss it in detail."
"Alright."
