Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 426 Harvest Season and the Growth of the Pegasus Herd
To be honest, the strength of the Swamp Territory was somewhat beyond the expectations of the Black Forest Territory. It truly lived up to its reputation as a count's territory. The fact that it could produce 50 gold crowns also demonstrated its absolute power.

After a large number of mercenaries poured in, they were killed by the swamp militia and monsters before they could even detect the enemy's main force.

Based on the intelligence gathered, this territory is somewhat sinister, possessing not only a resilient and skilled militia but also many monsters controlled by the swamp. Furthermore, the enemy seems to control the swamp's environment; the mercenaries had scouted the area as safe before, but when they returned the next day, it had become a trap, resulting in heavy losses for the mercenaries.

This makes the current situation in the Black Forest region particularly similar to the situation Yuan Shao faced on the eve of the Battle of Guandu: years of military campaigns, the people exhausted, granaries empty, and taxes and corvée labor piling up.

So after Hilde reported the battle report, Su Li didn't pay much attention to the front lines, letting the mercenaries slowly wear down the enemy. The regular army of Black Forest Territory couldn't possibly engage in battle immediately.

The war of the previous two years had severely depleted the territory's strength. From its population and army to its warhorses and food supplies, the territory needed time to recover.
Even if it doesn't exhaust the opponent for three years, it will at least disrupt their gains for two quarters.

The fact that these mercenaries are now engaged in battle is disrupting the enemy's winter harvest season. With a large number of enemy soldiers mobilized, the ripe wheat fields cannot be harvested. Next year's spring planting will also be delayed; the impact on both seasons is no exaggeration. When the main force of the Black Forest Territory launches its attack then, the effect will be even better.

Since this tactic of exhausting the enemy has been chosen, the outcome of the war cannot be decided overnight.

Su Li then focused more on his own side's recuperation and the harvest season's results. While the borders of the Swamp Territory were still witnessing brutal hunting and struggles, the vast fields of the Black Forest Territory welcomed the third such event of the year.

Thanks to the reform of the manor system and the rise of numerous Dawn Church monasteries, the land, which was once a desolate wasteland covered with thick snow in the dead of winter, now displays astonishing vitality.

Vast fields of winter wheat and buckwheat, their ears full and drooping, shimmered with a heavy golden luster under the rare late winter sun. They had stubbornly endured the coldest frost, ripe and ready for harvest before the true arrival of spring. Under the guidance of the nuns of the Church of Dawn, the serfs, dressed in thick clothing, wielded sickles, their breath puffs of white air in the frigid air, yet their faces beamed with incredible joy and energy. Bundles of golden wheat were quickly harvested, bundled, and piled on the field ridges, like small golden mountains.

In the planned magical crop area, the scene was even more extraordinary. Extraordinary crops and vegetables such as Extraordinary Wheat Ears, Pearl Wheat, Steel Wheat, Moonlight Cabbage, Traveler's Onion, Frost Whisper Pea, and Ashroot Leek were all ripe.

These mature extraordinary crops presented a scene that surpassed the harvest of ordinary fields, creating an almost dreamlike and wondrous picture. After more than two years of Su Li's investment at all costs, the meticulous cultivation by the druids and nuns of the Church of Dawn, and the continuous nourishment of the winds of Jilun, these precious extraordinary crops finally ushered in their first large-scale, mature collective harvest, the scale and growth of which far exceeded expectations.

Occupying the largest area were the extraordinary ears of wheat in the territory, each ear shimmering with a faint, visible golden glow. Under the not-so-intense late winter sun, the entire wheat field seemed to stretch out like a river flowing with liquid gold. The grains were exceptionally plump, containing a gentle life energy, making them an excellent base material for producing high-grade military rations and restorative potions. Only when the serfs wore chainmail, under the guidance of the nuns, could they carefully harvest the wheat with specially made sickles; ordinary farm tools simply could not cut through the tough stalks.

In the dedicated vegetable growing area, the scene is even more bizarre. Cabbages, resembling giant moons, lie quietly on the ridges, their leaves a translucent silver that emits a cool, luminous glow even in the daytime, their veins like flowing moonlight. They possess a magical power of tranquility and restoration, making them a delicacy for high-end banquets and sanatoriums.

Frostpeas grow on the northern highlands, their pods hanging from verdant vines as if sculpted from ice crystals. Tiny, perpetually frozen frost flowers adorn the surface of the pods, producing a delicate, chiming sound like wind chimes when gently shaken. The peas themselves possess frost magic, making them a precious ingredient for crafting cold-resistance potions, ice-enchanted materials, and special dishes.

The deep purple embers radiated a faint warmth, growing densely like a fiery cloud descending upon the mortal realm. This plant yielded enormous quantities, but because the daily edible amount was extremely limited and overconsumption would drastically increase mortality, this patch of vegetables appeared to be the most abundant and plentiful. It truly echoed the words of the Emerald Academy druid: "Just tell me if it's productive or not, if the growing conditions are ordinary or not? Whether it's edible or not, don't worry about that."

Throughout the magical crop region, the air was filled with complex magical fluctuations and a strange blend of aromas—the richness of wheat fields, the crispness of cabbage, the invigorating scent of onions, the icy coolness of peas, and the spiciness of ashes leeks. Various magical glimmers intertwined, forming a hazy and magnificent mist that enveloped the fields, as if a divine miracle had descended.

Nuns of the Church of Dawn, clad in green robes, moved among the crops, their simple staffs or runic tools shimmering with a faint light as they carefully channeled magic, ensuring the precious crops' energy wouldn't dissipate during harvest. The serfs, filled with awe and excitement, worked under the nuns' direction, each harvest imbued with a sense of ritual. They watched as baskets and carts laden with the strangely glowing fruit were transported to the rune-reinforced, temperature- and humidity-controlled magical storage rooms, their faces filled with pride and hope. These were not merely food; they were symbols of territorial power, wealth, and the future!
What excited the Hessian Territory even more was that by the end of winter, the herb gardens that the Hessian Territory had cultivated for a year finally yielded a bountiful harvest!
The territory's spice industry is mainly concentrated in two areas, one of which is vanilla orchids from Hot Springs.

That's right, Wenquan Town.

The healing hot springs, which were once a small village with only a hundred or so people, have now developed into a town with a population of over 600.

The local industry extends beyond spices; everything here is actually derived from that hot spring. After it was developed into a spa resort, it gradually prospered. The spring water has remarkable effects on purifying the body, restoring strength, and curing diseases, thus attracting numerous nobles, knights, and merchants.

Nobles, knight families, wealthy merchants, and dwarf masters from both inside and outside the territory would come almost every month.

This led to a rapid influx of people who came to the area to receive services.

At the same time, there were also a large number of farmers in the area engaged in production and needed market trade, so the first town in the territory was formed here.

This actually made Su Li more satisfied and gratified than a single herb garden. Because a single production garden meant that it was a project he had forcibly pushed forward and needed the support of the territory.

The rise of Hot Spring Town, however, indicates that the local economy has entered a virtuous cycle and has established a complete ecosystem. Reward territories can expand continuously without external support.

The emergence of this town also enabled the Hessen Territory to finally develop from a dual structure of city and village to a three-tiered system of city, town, and village.

In the future, as more and more areas within the Hessen Territory develop into small towns, radiating influence to the surrounding areas, the Hessen Territory's economy will prosper! The territory will no longer be sparsely populated, but will become as prosperous and wealthy as the interior of the empire.

However, at present, the town's most important source of revenue is clearly vanilla.

The harvest of vanilla orchids is quiet. Low-lying vines climb on specially made supports, and dark green, slender, dagger-like pods hang heavily down.

Experienced gardeners and nuns from the Church of Dawn moved silently among the trellises, using carefully sharpened knives to precisely cut the ripe pods that had turned dark brown and were slightly split at the top. The movements had to be extremely gentle, as even the slightest scratch could ruin the essence brewing inside the pod.

These precious pods are carefully placed in willow baskets lined with soft moss, and then transported to a cool, well-ventilated fermentation workshop to undergo a long and crucial maturation process.

A faint, delicate, and complex sweet fragrance permeated the air—the very first buds of vanilla, a scent destined to be more valuable than gold. Each harvester knew the value of their find, their movements punctuated by an almost reverent caution. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharp eyes watching for any potential covetousness.

In contrast to the understated elegance of vanilla orchids, the harvest of lilac is a different story. This highly anticipated oriental species has demonstrated a vitality far exceeding expectations in the land of Hesse. They are not low shrubs, but rather small trees with thick trunks and vigorous branches. By late winter, the dark brown branches, having lost their abundant blossoms, are covered with dense clusters of dry, almost black flower buds. This is where the true value of lilac lies—those buds containing the ultimate power of spiciness and bitterness.

Harvesting lilacs is a job that requires both strength and skill. Hela personally tends to the area, carefully cutting off the plump flower stalks with specially made long-handled shears. The buds are small yet hard, like countless tiny barbs. The cut flower stalks are bundled and piled on the ground covered with coarse burlap, like heaps of strange ores waiting to be smelted.

Baskets of precious vanilla pods were sealed and preserved, while bundles of dark brown lilac sprigs were loaded onto trucks. The first bountiful harvest from the herb garden was being transported steadily to safe storage facilities and processing workshops. This was the result of Hessian territory's patient cultivation and immense dedication.

This winter, Su Li did not stay in Bjorn Bay, but instead led his guards and the nuns of the Church of Dawn to the White Castle on the Crimson Plateau in the north.

The biting north wind howled across the blood-red plateau, whipping up dry snowflakes and lashing at the bare rocks and low, dark-colored moss.

Standing in the middle of this reddish-brown plateau, on the edge of a cliff, is the White Castle, the ruling core of the northern frontier of the Black Forest Territory.

The castle itself is built from locally quarried, hard, bluish-gray rock, with rugged lines and sharp angles. The towers are low and sturdy, and the walls are high and solid, exuding a cold and aloof aura. It guards the heart of the plateau, serving as an outpost and symbol for resisting unknown threats from the north and monitoring the movements of the plateau.

The castle's heavy oak gates remained shut in the biting wind, only the silhouettes of sentries on the towers moving like black shadows in the bleak late winter sunlight, their breath instantly dispersed by the wind. A thick, greyish-white crust of ice, a hand's width wide, covered the castle's stone walls, a testament to the relentless cold and dampness of the highlands. White Castle's dominance extended beyond its formidable fortress, reaching across the vast and harsh lands of the highlands. Within the castle's line of sight, and deeper into the highland meadows, lay the most resilient herders of the Black Forest Territory and their livelihood—their flocks of sheep.

These highland sheep are not large in size, but they are exceptionally strong, covered in thick, curly, dark wool, and can dig through the thin snow in the icy wilderness to find the withered grass roots underneath. At this moment, in the sheltered valley or in the simple pen surrounded by rocks, the flocks of sheep huddle together to resist the biting cold wind.

The shepherds, wrapped in multiple layers of rough, tanned sheepskin coats, their faces etched with the marks of time, icicles clinging to their beards, silently guarded their possessions. The long trekking poles in their hands served not only as tools for herding sheep but also as weapons against the occasional snow wolves or other more dangerous creatures that roamed the plateau.

What sustains these sheep through the long, harsh winter is a resilient plant unique to the plateau, known as "bloodhoof grass." It's not a true grass, but rather a low-growing, moss-like vegetation with a well-developed root system that grows close to the ground. Even under a blanket of snow, its leaves retain a deep, almost purplish-red color, containing an astonishing amount of moisture and nutrients.

Shepherds collect and dry as much bloodhoof grass as possible during the summer and autumn, as its most important supplementary fodder for winter. It is thanks to this unassuming plant that the highland sheep flocks are able to survive in such harsh environments and provide valuable wool and meat when spring arrives.

On this harsh land, the spirit of nature is more active and closer to survival than in the warmer lowlands. Besides the spirit of the "livestock master" protecting livestock in the lowland pastures, the highland shepherds also devoutly worship a unique being—the "Guardian of the Crevice," or the "Spirit of the Pasture." It is not a concrete image, but rather an invisible force perceived by the shepherds as guiding their flocks to sheltered spots and safe pasture paths, allowing bloodhoof grass to tenaciously grow in the crevices of rocks. The shepherds leave small offerings—a few drops of sheep's milk, a pinch of salt, or a tuft of sheared wool—at specific rock crevices or ancient marker piles, praying that this silent guardian will continue to protect their flocks and guide the pasture paths from being buried by wind and snow.

Wrapped in a heavy cloak, Su Li stood on the highest watchtower of White Castle. The cold wind tore at his robes, but he stood ramrod straight, his gaze sweeping across the vast and desolate plateau below like that of a hawk. He could see flocks of sheep moving like a gray-brown carpet in the distance, shepherds toiling like ants in the cold wind, and the simple but orderly pastoral settlements below the castle, with smoke rising from their chimneys.

Animal husbandry in the north is arduous but stable. Wool, mutton, and leather are important supplies for the Hessen Territory, and the herders under the control of White Castle are the most reliable eyes and shield on this wasteland. In this land ruled by ice, snow, and cold winds, survival itself is a silent victory.

Accompanying him on his inspection was Edmund, the steward of the territory's pastures. The success of the work here was crucial to his performance, so he reported with great enthusiasm: "My lord, we have had a very bountiful harvest this season. Thanks to the absence of war and calamities in our territory, we have enjoyed a long period of peace and favorable weather for half a year."

"Therefore, we have a large army and resources to patrol the Scarlet Highlands. With the help of the Shepherds' intelligence, we have eliminated more than a dozen Greenskin warbands, five Beastman camps, and goblin tribes in the past six months. The threat to the Shepherds on the Scarlet Highlands has been greatly reduced."

"In this harvest season, in addition to the large amount of grain harvested at Bjorn Bay, we also had a great harvest on the Crimson Heights. Especially after the roads here were cleared, the extraordinary Moonlight Alfalfa from Hessenberg is being transported to the various ranches here in a steady stream."

“Our herd has grown rapidly. For example, in the high-altitude pastures of Broken Valley Peak, our Pegasus herd has grown at an astonishing rate, from 5 Pegasus horses and 3 foals to 10 Pegasus horses and 5 foals. Two of the Pegasus horses are new horses that our Pegasus horses brought back after they went out.”

Su Li smiled, a perfect illustration of the saying "a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise."

Then he asked, "How many are left? Where did they come from? I don't recall any Pegasus riders joining our territory recently."

Pegasus knights, those are very rare!
Su Li has only seen three Pegasus Knights so far. Generally, these knights rarely join secular territories.

The reason why the number of pegasus horses at Su Li's horse farm has increased so much is because several knights in the Eternal Light Knights Order own pegasus horses.

But they were church knights, so it was always inconvenient to command them.

It is precisely because this horse farm can take good care of the Pegasus, which is conducive to the Pegasus's life and growth, that the Pegasus knights of the church knightly orders would put their Pegasus here and have them cared for by professional horse herders.

At the same time, the Hessian Territory did not charge them any fees and even provided them with exceptional pasture free of charge.

It wasn't that Su Li needed their help.

Instead, both sides signed an agreement for a fair exchange. The Black Forest Territory provided pastures and extraordinary foals, while they provided breeding horses. In other words, any new foals born to their Pegasus would belong to the Black Forest Territory.

It's like Hessian investing in current wealth and pasture in exchange for more Pegasus in the future.

The church knights also acquired more magnificent and durable Pegasus mounts.

This is a win-win situation for both sides.

Edmund explained with a smile, "Of the remaining horses, besides the Knights of the Church, there is one Pegasus and two foals, which we bought from the caravan."

"Bought it?" Su Li raised an eyebrow; he hadn't really thought of that. After all, he was obsessed with farming and always envisioned himself as self-sufficient.

Edmund's sudden offer of a deal was quite unexpected.

Edmund rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and his voice was clear in the cold wind: "My lord, those three winged horses were brought by the dwarven 'Ironwheel' caravan. They came from Núnn, taking the mountain road, and lost many of their pack animals."

He paused, recalling the scene. "At the beginning of last month, the caravan leader, Hoffman, came to Whiteburg. He said that at the horse market in Nunn, a bankrupt Imperial knight was in dire need of money and was selling his mount and two foals for a pittance. The caravan saw the opportunity and traded them for a batch of fine dwarven ironware and firearms, intending to transport them to Arabian to sell for a good price."

"But when they crossed the Grey Mountains, they encountered a blizzard and an attack by trolls." Edmund's voice was calm. "The adult pegasus were grazed on the wings by the trolls' stone clubs while protecting their foals, and the caravan also lost manpower and packhorses. They dared not travel the mountain roads any further and could only detour through the Crimson Plateau, hoping to sell their goods and recoup their losses as soon as possible."

“I inspected the goods in the castle courtyard,” Edmund continued. “The adult Pegasus is chestnut-colored, with a good frame. The injury on its left wing isn’t too serious, but it needs rest. The two foals, one grey and one white, are a bit thin and frightened, but their pedigree is impeccable. Hoffman is asking for a high price of 1000 gold crowns.”

"Our ranch happened to have a government grant, so we decided to buy these Pegasus horses to improve our stallions and herd. This is also a key focus of our ranch's work: to improve horse breeds for our territory and provide more superior warhorses."

Su Li clicked his tongue and asked, "1000 gold crowns? That's really not cheap."

As expected of a high-class mount, one of these is worth as much as a bunch of serfs.

Edmund looked at Su Li and replied with a smile, "Although the territory is currently very wealthy, we haven't been extravagant. The price of 1000 gold crowns is indeed too high, so I didn't agree. I told him that Blacksin Territory has just harvested extraordinary pasture and moonlight alfalfa hay, as well as newly harvested vanilla pods and lilac buds from Hot Spring Town. These are all hard currency within the Empire, more valuable than gold."

“After two days of haggling,” Emundt said calmly, “we finally settled on one hundred gold crowns in cash, plus fifty bundles of moonskin hay, ten pounds of vanilla pods, and ten pounds of lilac buds. He was in a hurry to leave, and afraid that things might change if he delayed, or that the Beastmen or Greenskins might come again. The castle guards watched them load the goods, and that afternoon the caravan left the highlands.”

"Those three foals and the mare," Edmund concluded, "are now at Broken Valley Ranch, being cared for by the best horsemen. The wing injury is almost healed, and the foal is starting to gain weight. We didn't lose out on this deal."

"More importantly, our expensive purchase of horses has also enhanced the reputation of our territory. Many caravans have expressed their willingness to sell us higher-level mounts. Perhaps by next spring, when the caravans return one after another, our territory will be able to acquire more Pegasus and other powerful high-level mounts."

(End of this chapter)