Wizard: Grinding experience starting with Knight's Breathing Technique

Chapter 12 Farming is a wonderful thing (Please continue reading)

Within the territory of Blackwater Valley lies a lush forest valley.

The Blackwater River flows silently through the land, witnessing the changes of time.

The crops in the territory are growing well this year, thanks to irrigation from melting snow from the mountains. Under normal circumstances, they are not prone to drought, and there is plenty of sunshine in the summer. The only downside is that only one crop can be planted at a time.

Everything within the territory was running smoothly, but unfortunately, Li Wei was a liberal arts student in his previous life and knew nothing about science and engineering, nor did he understand the production methods of many scientific inventions that could improve productivity.

Otherwise, he could do what other time travelers do: develop a technological foundation within his territory, initiate a scientific revolution, and perhaps even lead this incredibly backward world into the steam age.

He is neither good at management nor good at farming.

He only focused on gaining experience, leaving all matters, big and small, in the territory to Knight Fred and other professionals.

For Li Wei, possessing a proficiency panel, his pursuit has always been singular: to achieve immortality in this other world. The status and position of a lord are merely tools on the path to power.

Wealth, power, love, and all the troubles of the world are nothing but fleeting clouds.

In the year 1004 of the Holy Radiance Calendar, the month of the Furnace (August).

The Crucible Moon is primarily hot in the southern regions, while the Blackwater Valley in the north of the kingdom, at a higher altitude, has a more suitable temperature.

Knight Fred led the militia to build irrigation canals for the territory, diverting water from the Blackwater River, so the crops are growing very well this year.

In addition, Lord Li Wei also encouraged the serfs in his territory to fish in the Blackwater River during the off-season, which was also a way to increase the territory's income.

Because he was worried about being haunted by the evil spirit, Li Wei naturally dared not go to the Blackwater River. Unfortunately, his dream in his previous life was to not have to work and just have a pack of cigarettes, a stool, and a fishing rod to fish all day.

As his strength increased, he consumed more and more meat, eating as much as he wanted. Li Wei could eat more than ten kilograms of meat a day, but the production of beef and mutton in Blackwater Valley was limited, so Li Wei thought of eating fish instead.

The fish in the Blackwater River are mostly cold-water bass and salmon, with delicious and nutritious flesh. Freshwater fish have many bones, but for Li Wei, fish bones are something he just swallows directly and doesn't care about.

Li Wei also taught the chefs in his territory some of the ways the Chinese people of his previous life prepared river fish, so that they could cook fish for him and his soldiers.

Steamed, braised, or grilled fish—the methods vary, but the taste is definitely not as good as in my previous life. After all, the Emerald Kingdom was similar to medieval Europe before the Age of Discovery, with few spices. Occasionally, some spices were brought in through trade with other countries, but they were controlled by nobles and royalty. Even Li Wei couldn't afford them.

But it tastes much better than their previous terrible cooking methods. The water quality of the Blackwater River is excellent, and the fish has very little muddy taste.

This also solved some of the meat problem for himself and the soldiers in his territory.

Knight Fred also started eating river fish with Levi. In fact, since becoming a knight, Knight Fred had rarely eaten river fish. In the eyes of the nobles and knights of this world, river fish was something only lower-class people ate.

However, Fred was greatly shocked to see that Livy was frugal and ate river fish in order to save on territory expenses.

"Young Master Li Wei is destined for great things."

……

In a peaceful atmosphere, time passed day by day, and the moon over the wheat fields arrived.

The wheat in the territory was golden yellow, and the joy of a bountiful harvest was evident on Lord Li Wei's face.

"Farming is such a wonderful thing."

This was a regular rest day of the week. Livy drank wine and watched the serfs harvesting wheat below the mountain.

With favorable weather this year, Li Wei believes that wheat production will definitely be much higher than last year.

But when the harvest month (October) arrived, Livy was dumbfounded.

Compared to last year, production has increased by less than one percent.

He summoned Sir Fred and the steward of the estate.

Looking at the data from previous years, I discovered an interesting phenomenon.

Regardless of the year's harvest, the territory's wheat production remained largely unchanged.

After some investigation, Li Wei discovered that there was something wrong with the territory's policies.

According to the conventions of this world, the serfs of a territory are the private property of the lord, and the land is also the private property granted to the lord by the king.

The serfs' earnings, whether from wheat or other agricultural products, were all handed over to their minor lords, except for their fixed small share. The minor lords would then exchange the grain for money and hand over a portion to their direct superior lord, who would eventually pass it up the chain of command to the highest lord, the royal family of the Emerald Kingdom, where it was called "assistance money."

Over time, many serfs began to slack off, being perfunctory in both sowing and fertilizing. They figured that since the final yield was for the lord, it didn't matter to them no matter how much they harvested, so why should they work so hard? As long as the yield wasn't too low, the lord wouldn't be too harsh on the serfs, since everyone's yield was low anyway.

Li Wei felt it necessary to change the policies within his territory.

He summoned Sir Fred and told him his thoughts, which surprised Sir Fred.

"It seems that this has never been done before. You are a lord. If you think those serfs are lazy, you only need to set a hard target for them every year and punish them severely if they fail to meet it. There is no need to be so lenient towards them. You are too kind."

Li Wei shook his head: "The best way to motivate these people is not through punishment, but by making sure they are... well-fed."

Knight Fred pondered for a moment: "Then let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, we can just go back to the way things were. There's no harm in losing anything anyway."

And so, after the harvest month had passed, a new policy began to be implemented in the territory.

The steward went from house to house, telling the serfs some wonderful news.

"The lord announces: Starting next year, each household will only need to hand over 60% of the wheat harvest to the lord; the rest of the wheat will belong to the serfs themselves."

The serfs in the wooden huts all wore expressions of disbelief.

"Is this true? By the grace of Heaven, our lord is not lying to us, is he?"

Are you questioning the lord's authority?

"No...no."

Finally, in order to dispel the concerns of these serfs, Livy had to give a speech himself and announce the implementation of the decree.

Upon hearing that it was true, the serfs were overjoyed. For the first time, they felt that life was full of hope and that their future was bright.

Li Wei wasn't sure if this approach would work, but he felt it was time to make some changes.

Autumn in Blackwater Valley is always too short; in the blink of an eye, it's the month of the North Wind again.

On the training ground below the castle, Li Wei's body and arms trembled, creating afterimages, and Frostmourne in his hand unleashed a beautiful cross slash!

The hard black dragonwood stake in front of him, covered with all sorts of slash marks, finally split into four!

The sound is crisp, and the cut is clean.

[Golden Cross Slash Proficiency +1]

A system notification tone sounded.

Li Wei let out a breath, then his face lit up with surprise, and he couldn't help but jump up!

He was as happy as a teenager should be.

"We've broken through!"

Li Wei —————

Black Serpent Breathing Technique: Level 2 (4502/5000)

Golden Cross Slash: Tier 3 (1/10000), Special Effect: Advanced Vibration

(End of this chapter)