The Witcher World: The Path to Domination Begins in Velen

"Next, land system and tenant recruitment."

Erwin turned to a new page on the whiteboard, which showed a simple land division diagram. The handwriting was cramped but clear. He pushed the diagram toward Ron.

"The estate, including the undeveloped woodlands, wastelands and swamp edges, covers a total of about four hundred hectares."

Aside from your direct estate, which currently includes the farmland, training grounds, workshops, and herb garden directly managed by the manor,

The remaining land needs to be rented out as soon as possible. The first batch of tenants has already been selected from the estate; they are all experienced farmers.

His finger touched the squares circled on the map in turn.

"Depending on the soil fertility, a family needs at least 4 to 8 hectares. If it's less than that, they won't be able to survive after paying the rent. So I suggest that each family be allocated 6 hectares in the first batch."

They adopted a three-field system of farming, planting two fields and resting one, which was enough for them to support their families, pay rent, and still have some surplus grain.

Not far away, a man stood by the low wall, looked up at Erwin as if trying to confirm something, but didn't dare to speak.

Ron turned his gaze away from the man. "What about the rent?"

"Referring to other lords, the payment was usually a combination of labor and goods. Serving the lord could reduce the land rent by 10% to 20%, while not serving labor usually required paying 60% of the crop value."

Erwin moved the notepad forward.

"Labour rent is three days a week for tenants to cultivate the lord's direct land with their own tools, and to do extra work during the busy farming season. Tenants with livestock also have to do pack transport work and transport supplies for the lord free of charge."

After listening, Ron did not hesitate: "For the first three years, the land rent will be fixed at 30% of the harvest. After three years, it will be raised to 40%, and labor service will be allowed to be converted into cash or the rent will be reduced."

Erwin wrote the number on the whiteboard. After writing the last word, he looked up and lowered his voice by half an octave.

"During wartime, the tax rate was 30%. Once the news of such conditions spread, tenant farmers from the surrounding areas would likely flock here."

"I know," Ron said.

Erwin didn't say anything more; he wrote it down and turned to the next page.

He stared at those few words for a while, as if he had too much to say and needed to sort them out first.

"The previous group sent out has given feedback: there is still no precise location information regarding the Baron's wife and daughters."

However, it is certain that Tamara has left Velen, and her whereabouts are unknown. It is only known that she headed north when passing through nearby villages, moving very quickly without stopping.

Ron didn't answer immediately, but tapped his fingers twice on the edge of the table.

"Keep searching," he said.

"The brewery and paper mill should be started first. Brewing requires fermentation time, so the earlier it starts, the better. For paper mills, the labor schedule should be staggered with existing construction."

The swamp resources were harvested as a trial, and the mill and waterwheel system were linked together. Old Gott was responsible for coordinating the site selection and construction.

"As for the market, we'll put it in the next phase. We don't have enough manpower, so let the villagers choose their own trading and meeting places first," Ron said.

Erwin wrote these down one by one, then pulled out a thicker sheet of paper with a three-tiered structure drawn on it, each tier labeled with its code and number.

"Then there's the matter of the army," Erwin continued.

"As you planned, a three-tiered military system."

The conscripts included farmers and artisans who worked in peacetime and were mobilized in wartime. They underwent regular weekly training overseen by Old Gott, and were not paid a fixed salary, but were provided with food during training.

The standing army consisted of approximately eighty men, with new recruits receiving a basic monthly pay of 1.5 crowns, equivalent to an Oren (a unit of currency); professional sergeants were soldiers who passed an examination.

Those who master complete formation tactics receive a salary of 3 to 5 crowns, and those who have begun to lead troops, such as Miko, Pete, and Kohl, receive a salary of 5 to 8 crowns.

The guards consisted of twenty-two men, who received a monthly pay of eight to ten crowns, but in reality, they did not need to live off the pay; the figure was merely symbolic.

Commander-in-Chief Karl also served as commander of the standing army. Their pay was 10 to 12 crowns, primarily in oren, with crowns and florins used as reserve currencies.

"Okay," Ron said, picking up the paper and looking it over.

The three-tiered military system, with the Imperial Guard as the core force, a standing army of over eighty men for daily patrols and combat, and conscripted militia as a wartime supplement, has already taken shape.

"Also, you mentioned before that you wanted to appoint people in public." Erwin turned to the last page of the notepad, where several names were scribbled on it.

"The time is set for after morning exercises this evening, at the training ground. Miko will be the regular army company commander, Pete will be the first squad leader, and Cole will be the second squad leader."

Hans was assigned to Mikona's unit as a new recruit. He needed experienced soldiers to guide him and help him quickly adapt to the training rhythm of the regular army. His sense of responsibility and familiarity with Willen are strengths, and he can be developed into a key member.

As evening fell, the commands on the training field ceased. The last batch of new recruits had just finished training and were walking towards the courtyard. Several oil lamps sat on the edge of the wooden platform, their light flickering slightly in the evening breeze.

The soldiers were regrouped, lined up faster than usual, and did not whisper among themselves.

Ron's voice came from the wooden platform, and Miko stepped out of the queue and stood in front of the platform.

Ron didn't use his sword; he simply handed him the letter of appointment, the parchment tightly rolled and tied with ordinary hemp thread.

"Miko, promoted to regular army company commander; Pete, first squad leader; Cole, second squad leader; old Gort, conscripted army commander."

Four appointment letters were handed out, and four men stood in front of the stage, the parchment in their hands fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

Ron withdrew his hand and glanced at the queue. No one spoke, but the recruits in the back row looked at their backs with something in their eyes.

After the troops were dismissed, Erwin spread the personnel list on the table and began calling out names one by one. Several new recruits squatted in the corner after being led to Oren and counted the names over and over again, afraid of making a mistake.

Hans stuffed the money bag into his pocket, weighed it in his hand, and continued walking towards the training ground. There was still night training tonight.

One of the new recruits, younger than Miko was when he enlisted, lowered his voice and said to his comrade next to him after counting the money, "This is the first time I've ever earned money."

His companion nudged him with his elbow to stop embarrassing himself, but he couldn't help but glance at the copper coin in his hand a couple more times.

Two days later, at dusk, more people arrived at the manor gate seeking refuge. Leading them was an old farmer driving a dilapidated cart.

Several bags of grain and an iron pot were piled on the cart, and a hunter followed behind the cart, carrying a bow and a string of rabbits hanging from his waist.

He had heard rumors that the manor was taking in refugees, so he came on his own. Erwin was registering the two families at the door with a notepad, noticing that they came from different directions.

The old farmer had migrated from the remote mountains and forests, while the hunter had crossed the entire edge of the swamp to get there.

When the hunter reached the manor gate, his boots were covered in mud. Erwin whispered, barely audible to himself, "The other side of the swamp..."

The news reached the other side of the swamp, meaning that the manor's reputation was gradually spreading beyond the trade routes, now that it was at least two villages away from the original three trading villages.

In the direction of Aina's herb garden, Gretka was squatting on the ground, holding a sage leaf in her hand, looking up and asking Aina what it was called. The girl with pigtails was squatting next to her, also carefully identifying the leaf.

In the direction of the training ground, Cole was standing in front of the recruits' line, his hands behind his back, correcting the shield-holding posture of the first row one by one.

Brom's hammering rhythm was steady, and the water-powered forging hammer had already piled up stones to half a person's height.

Ron stood at the edge of the courtyard, taking in the entire scene, and this was just the beginning.