The Power of Belief

The Power of Belief

White Bear Territory's Castle stood atop a small rise on the west bank of the White River, at the eastern edge of the territory and far from its five manors.

Previous barons had chosen to live here mainly for the convenience of trade.

A little over a hundred meters east of the Castle lay the territory's only port.

In the vast Northern Border, where the terrain was complex, the population sparse, and transportation abysmal, rivers were practically the only commercial routes.

White Bear Territory had a simple economy, with grain as its main export.

After each Autumn Harvest, merchants sailed upstream along the White River to purchase the territory's surplus grain, bringing back necessities such as salt, iron, and cloth.

As long as the Lord controlled the window for foreign trade, kept a tight grip on the purse strings, and backed it up with overwhelming military force, he could easily keep the entire territory in hand.

White Bear Territory also had a small town called White Bear Town, so small that it had only one street. It was located two kilometers west of the Castle, right between the five manors.

Most of the territory's Free People lived in the town, including craftsmen such as Blacksmiths, tanners, and Carpenters. It also had the territory's only small tavern.

Lynn's route today was a round trip from the Castle to White Bear Town, with inspections of two serf villages along the way.

West of the Castle, flat farmlands stretched endlessly on both sides of the road.

White Bear Territory had around three thousand serfs, roughly six hundred households.

Even at the minimum estimate of sixty mu of Allotment Land per household plus sixty mu of Public Land to cultivate, that amounted to a massive seventy-two thousand mu of farmland.

By later standards, that was already comparable to the cultivated land of a small county.

Not to mention that White Bear Territory possessed vast pastures far exceeding its farmland in area. Otherwise, it could never support the tens of thousands of livestock of all kinds.

Though the cultivated area was vast, its yields were pitifully low.

It was not because the serfs did not work hard enough, but because their farming methods and ideas were far too backward.

White Bear Territory mainly grew Rye and Oats, sowing them in early April and harvesting them in mid to late September.

At first glance, it seemed like they only worked for around five months.

But the serfs worked far more than just those five months every year.

Apart from the spring sowing and Autumn Harvest seasons, they had to perform Corvée labor during every other season.

Summer usually lasted one to two months, while winter and spring together lasted as long as four months. Only during the coldest month of the year could the serfs barely rest.

Repairing roads connecting the various manors, renovating the Lord's Castle, dredging irrigation works, transporting harvested crops—

Every arduous task in the territory was included in the serfs' heavy Corvée labor.

At nine in the morning, Lynn's inspection party passed a Strip Field that had yet to be plowed.

More than a hundred serfs were dredging drainage ditches under the Farm Manager's supervision. Some dug earth, some carried it, and others hauled it away in wheelbarrows.

Since unlocking the Follower Dispatch function yesterday, Lynn had spent all five dispatch slots on the Farming life skill.

[Tier One Farming: 13/100]

Based on Lynn's past gaming experience, life skills gained experience quickly at low levels.

In less than a day, he had gained a full thirteen experience points, and his understanding of agriculture and soil had also deepened.

Sitting astride his horse, Lynn gazed over the fields and reminded them, "Don't just repair the irrigation ditches. Pay attention to the channel connecting to the White River as well."

It was now early March, while White Bear Territory's planting season began in early April.

After the seeds were sown, the Northern Border's long rainy season would arrive in May. If the drainage ditches and river channel were blocked, waterlogging could easily occur, affecting the growth of the wheat seedlings and even causing total crop failure in severe cases.

Just as yesterday, Albert rode on Lynn's left.

He was now certain that the new Lord truly understood agricultural production. He was not merely a musclebound Lord who knew only how to hone his martial skills, nor some noble brat who knew only how to indulge himself.

"My Lord, as early as last year—

—in December, during the dry season, the river channel had already been dredged. Repairing the irrigation ditches is the final Corvée labor before Spring Planting."

Before a Lord so knowledgeable about farming, Albert naturally did not dare conceal anything.

At the same time, it demonstrated his precise grasp of the territory's agricultural production as its steward—a small bit of self-praise.

"So, once the irrigation ditches are repaired, the serfs will have no Corvée labor at all until the first week of next month?"

The moment Lynn asked that, Albert felt that something was wrong.

Could my Lord be planning to levy more Corvée labor?

Did he not sleep comfortably in the Castle last night and decide to expand it?

That absolutely cannot happen!

Though worried inside, Albert kept a humble smile on his face. "Yes, my Lord. But the serfs have worked without rest for four months, from last December until now. They need time to rest and prepare for the demanding Spring Planting."

Lynn did not respond. Keeping his eyes on the fields to the right of the road, he continued, "How is livestock manure usually handled in White Bear Territory?"

The field was still blanketed in white snow, with no sign of having been tended to. It was clearly a field left fallow this year.

Albert was visibly stunned by the seemingly simple question.

How else could manure be handled?

"My Lord, livestock manure is generally spread directly over fallow fields or buried in pits. This helps the Pasture Grass grow in summer, and the following year's wheat seedlings will be sturdier as well."

Albert—or rather, the agricultural experts of this era—all clearly understood how livestock manure benefited farming.

Simple observation was enough to reveal that, between two identical fallow fields, one where livestock had grazed would produce a higher harvest the following year than one where they had not.

Spreading livestock manure over fallow fields had two benefits: it maintained the soil's fertility, and the full year allowed the fields to absorb the manure's negative effects.

The drawback was that much of the fertility was wasted, either sinking deeper underground or being absorbed by Pasture Grass and weeds.

"Your method isn't wrong, but it's far too inefficient. Two years ago, missionaries brought the latest method of manure utilization from the Southern Border. After Cold Wind Valley adopted it, grain production increased by a full 40 percent."

The new method Lynn spoke of was naturally composting.

"Forty percent? My Lord, what method could possibly have such an effect?" Albert's eyes widened as he eagerly sought to learn this miraculous new method.

After laying the groundwork with two inspections, Lynn had initially established the image of a Lord deeply knowledgeable about agricultural production.

Combined with the illustrious names of the Cold Wind Family and southern missionaries, Albert had no choice but to believe him.

Of course, Lynn could have skipped all that groundwork and directly used his authority as Lord to forcibly promote the new farming techniques.

He felt that would be even less efficient. Time was limited, and everything had to be efficient and straightforward.

Compared to forcing people with violence, making them willingly believe in you and work for you was always the most efficient approach.

(End of Chapter)