Windmill Mill

"Ah, Master, Old Hans is just a supervisor. Having Old Hans whip the serfs and urge them to work is something Old Hans is very good at."

Hearing Russell's question, Old Hans couldn't help but give a wry smile. "But when it comes to developing the manor, Old Hans truly doesn't understand. Master, you are our Lord, with the great Fluorite Mushroom bloodline, you will surely lead us to a better life."

Facing Old Hans's flattery.

Russell shook his head helplessly. Times were different, and it was indeed a bit difficult to tap into the initiative of the servants and serfs.

He couldn't help but change his approach. "Let me put it this way, Old Hans, you've lived here for a long time. Do you think anything is missing here? Or for you, what is the most inconvenient thing about living in the manor? For example, are the roads good, is there a shortage of food..."

Russell naturally had grand ambitions for the development of Wuyou Snake Manor.

The future blueprint could indeed be planned to be colorful and varied, but he hadn't decided on the first step yet.

He felt that every aspect needed development.

However, it was like a blank piece of paper, with too many places to draw, making him unsure where to put the first stroke.

In the past, Wuyou Snake Manor was managed by Old Hans, and he wanted to hear Old Hans's suggestions.

"This..." Old Hans glanced at the young and handsome Lord, hesitating. He didn't know if he should offer suggestions to the Lord.

Although he was the manor supervisor, in reality, he was just a servant by the Lord's side.

A servant was someone who did whatever the Master told them to do.

Offering suggestions was not something he should do; it should be done by Lord Charles or Knight Captain Eric.

But seeing the serious expression on Russell's face, Old Hans felt a warmth rise in his heart. He saw hope in the young Lord, like the rising sun. It reminded him of twenty years ago when he saw the Baron Lord in the fields, his eyes shining with spirit.

This was the inheritance of nobles.

Although the Baron Lord looked rather ordinary, not as handsome and dashing as Master Russell looked now.

"Say whatever comes to mind, it's just a casual chat," Russell gave him an encouraging look.

Old Hans smiled somewhat obsequiously. "Master, if a mill could be built in the manor, I think it would be more convenient for the serfs to grind flour. Otherwise, they always have to walk a long way to town to grind flour, and they often have to queue."

"A mill?" Russell nodded.

The staple food in Guangguang River Valley was flour, mainly bread, with widely cultivated crops like wheat, barley, rye, and oats.

Wheat flour was not very easy to preserve, so the serfs needed to carry their wheat to the mill when they needed to make bread. They basically couldn't do without a mill all year round. The mills in Guangguang River Valley were mostly concentrated in town.

It took more than two hours to ride a horse from Wuyou Snake Manor to town, and even longer to walk.

"That's a very good suggestion, Old Hans. I will consider it."

"Ah, praise the Master! All the serfs will thank you for your generosity and kindness," Old Hans's flattery came out without hesitation.

Russell accepted it calmly. He was indeed thinking of his villagers.

Not long after.

Charles rode over. "My Lord Russell, you are either keeping watch over the Insect Grass or inspecting the fields. As a noble lord, no one is more dedicated than you. With the Dragon's Gaze upon you, the Duke should invite you to manage the court."

"If the Shadowflame Dragon were truly watching me, the Duke should appoint me as chief minister," Russell joked.

"Who says not."

"Teacher Charles, you've come at the perfect time. I plan to build a mill in the manor. Do you think the Glimmering River nearby is suitable for building a watermill?"

"That section of the Glimmering River from the manor's detached house to the birch forest has almost no flow, so it's clearly not suitable. Further downstream, near the Xiangshui River Cave, the current is fast, but it doesn't feel very safe."

Russell asked, "Will the free people in the cave attack the mill?"

"Of course. Those lowly people who can't even get enough to eat are always thinking of crossing the border to steal from the manor. They certainly won't let a mill go."

"Then we can only build a windmill," Russell turned to ask Old Hans, "Where in the manor is the windiest, preferably windy all year round?"

Old Hans replied, "The windiest place is definitely around Alfalfa Tunic, especially on the slopes near Curved Blade Mountain. The wind always blows fiercely."

Guangguang River Valley had a terrain of a basin sandwiched between two mountains.

The mountain range to the west was Curved Blade Mountain. Although not very high, it was like a curved blade with the edge facing outwards, guarding the western border of Guangguang River Valley.

The ice and snow were also blocked by Curved Blade Mountain.

"Then we'll find a place in Alfalfa Tunic to build a windmill," Russell decided without hesitation.

Charles stroked his chin. "Russell, building a windmill will cost quite a bit of money."

"We can't build a watermill, and animal-powered mills are inefficient. To meet the living needs of the entire manor, we need to build at least one windmill," Russell said. "Otherwise, the serfs will have to go to town to grind flour."

Guangguang River Valley was too long and narrow, and the distance between north and south was considerable. It could take a whole day for a serf to go to town and back.

It was a serious waste of time.

Russell had already planned how the saved time would be used once the windmill was built: it could be used for service to the Lord and building a beautiful homeland.

No one could defy the Lord's decision.

The moment Russell decided to build the windmill, it had already become a part of Wuyou Snake Manor.

"Old Hans, I need to recruit one hundred workers to build the windmill. Tell the serfs that they will be provided with two meals a day if they come to work, and they don't need to bring their own food." Russell did not mistreat the serfs, but he was not so generous as to pay them wages.

Most lords recruited serfs for labor without any compensation, and even required the serfs to bring their own food.

Old Hans exclaimed, "You are truly a generous noble! Praise the Dragon, may your brilliance protect you, Master, you will surely become a great Dragon Knight!"

"Teacher Charles, I need you to go to town and contact the master craftsmen who know how to build windmill mills, and hire them to oversee the construction of the windmill mill."

"That's a small matter," Charles said with a smile. "Even if meals weren't provided, the stonemasons and carpenters would be thrilled to serve the Fluorite Mushroom Family."

"Not only will meals be provided, but I will also pay them."

"There's no need at all, Russell. They work for anyone," Charles didn't understand why, if no money was needed, there was still a need to go the extra mile and pay the craftsmen—most of the craftsmen were serfs of the Fluorite Mushroom Family.

"It's fine, it's just a little compensation," Russell didn't explain.

His values and those of the native nobles always had some points of incompatibility; his moral bottom line definitely had to be raised a bit higher.

"You are truly generous," Charles shrugged. It wasn't his money being spent anyway.