The Wizard: Grinding Experience Starting with Knight Breathing Techniques 12

Chapter 0012: Farming is a Delight (Seeking Follows)

Within the Black Water Valley territory, a lush forest valley thrived. The Black Water River flowed quietly through it, witnessing the territory’s changes over the years.

This year, the crops in the territory showed exceptional growth. The melting snow water from the mountains provided ample irrigation, generally preventing droughts. The summer sunlight was also abundant; the only drawback was that only one harvest could be obtained.

Everything within the territory ran smoothly. Unfortunately, Li Wei was a humanities major in his previous life, completely ignorant of engineering knowledge and the manufacturing methods of many productivity-improving scientific inventions.

Otherwise, he could have followed other transmigrators’ examples, establishing a technological tree in the territory and launching a scientific revolution, perhaps even leading this incredibly backward world into a steam age.

He wasn’t adept at management, nor was he skilled in farming. He only knew how to grind out experience points. All major and minor matters of the territory were handled by Sir Fred and other specialized personnel.

For Li Wei, possessing a skill proficiency panel, his pursuit had always been only one: achieving immortality in this alien world. The status of lord was merely a tool on his path to power.

Wealth, power, love, and all the worldly worries were but fleeting clouds.

Holy Radiance Year 1004, the month of the Melting Furnace (August).

The Melting Furnace month was mainly hot in the south. The Black Water Valley in the kingdom’s north had a higher altitude, resulting in a pleasant temperature.

Sir Fred led the militia in constructing irrigation canals, diverting water from the Black Water River for irrigation, leading to this year’s excellent harvest.

Furthermore, Lord Li Wei also encouraged the serfs in the territory to fish in the Black Water River during their idle time, adding another source of income for the territory.

Li Wei, fearing possession by evil spirits, naturally dared not go near the Black Water River. Sadly, his dream in his previous life was to be free from work, enjoying a cigarette, a stool, and a fishing rod all day.

As his strength increased, his meat consumption grew. Eating freely, Li Wei could consume over ten kilograms of meat a day, but the Black Water Valley’s beef and mutton production was limited. So, Li Wei considered eating fish.

The Black Water River held many cold-water perch and salmon, with delicious and nutritious flesh. Although freshwater fish have many bones, for Li Wei, fish bones were simply swallowed without concern.

Li Wei also taught the territory’s cooks some Chinese culinary methods for river fish, allowing them to prepare fish dishes for himself and the soldiers. Steaming, braising, grilling – various cooking methods were employed. The taste, of course, was not as good as in his previous life, as the Emerald Kingdom was roughly similar to medieval Europe before the Age of Discovery, lacking spices. The few imported spices were controlled by the great nobles and the royal family; even Li Wei could not afford them.

But it was certainly better than their previous dark cooking methods. The Black Water River’s water quality was excellent, resulting in fish with little earthy smell.

This solved the meat problem for both himself and the soldiers in the territory.

Sir Fred also joined Li Wei in eating river fish. Actually, since becoming a knight, Sir Fred had rarely eaten river fish; in the eyes of the nobles and knights of this world, river fish was considered food for lower-class people.

But seeing Li Wei eat river fish to save the territory’s expenses, his frugality deeply impressed Sir Fred.

“Young Master Li Wei is destined for great things.”

…

In peace and harmony, time passed day by day, and the Wheat Month arrived.

The wheat in the territory was golden and ripe, and the joy of harvest was reflected on Lord Li Wei’s face.

“Farming is truly a delightful thing.”

This day was a weekly rest day. Li Wei drank wine and watched the serfs in the valley harvest wheat.

With a good year and favorable weather, Li Wei believed the wheat yield would be significantly higher than last year’s.

But when the Harvest Month (October) arrived, Li Wei was stunned.

Compared to last year, the yield had increased by less than one percent.

He summoned Sir Fred and the territory’s steward. After reviewing past data, he discovered an interesting phenomenon.

Regardless of the year or the weather, the territory’s wheat yield remained essentially unchanged.

After some investigation, Li Wei found that the territory’s policies were problematic.

According to the customs of this world, the territory’s serfs were the lord’s private property, and the land was also private property granted by the king.

The serfs’ income, whether from wheat or other agricultural products, after reserving a small fixed portion for themselves, had to be handed over to the lesser lord. The lesser lord exchanged the grain for money and then paid a portion to their superior lord, and ultimately it was passed layer by layer to the greatest lord, the Emerald Kingdom’s royal family. They called this “Assistance Gold.”

Over time, many serfs began to slack off. Whether sowing or fertilizing, they did it perfunctorily. After all, the harvest ultimately went to the lord. Even if they harvested more, it wouldn’t benefit them. So, why work so hard? As long as the amount handed over wasn’t too low, the lord wouldn’t punish the serfs, and anyway, everyone’s output was low.

Li Wei felt it necessary to change the territory’s policies.

He called Sir Fred, explained his ideas, and Sir Fred was surprised.

“Since ancient times, no one has done this before. You are the lord. If you think the serfs are slacking, you only need to set annual quotas for them. Failure to meet the quota would result in punishment. There’s no need to be so benevolent to them. You are too kind.”

Li Wei shook his head: “The best way to motivate these people is not punishment, but to let them… eat their fill.”

Sir Fred pondered: “Then let’s try it. If it doesn’t work, we can revert to the original system; there is no loss.”

Thus, after the Harvest Month passed, a new policy was implemented in the territory.

The steward went door to door, conveying great news to the serfs.

“Lord Li Wei announces: From next year onwards, each household only needs to hand over sixty percent of their wheat harvest to the lord. The remaining wheat will belong to the serfs themselves.”

The serfs in the wooden houses showed expressions of disbelief.

“Is this true? Heavenly Father above, is Lord Li Wei not tricking us?”

“Are you questioning the lord’s authority?”

“No… no.”

Finally, to dispel the serfs’ doubts, Li Wei had to give a speech in person, announcing the implementation of the decree.

Hearing that it was true, the serfs were overjoyed. For the first time, they felt that life had hope, and their future was bright.

Li Wei didn’t know if this approach would work, but he felt it was time for some change.

Autumn in Black Water Valley was always short-lived; in the blink of an eye, the North Wind Month arrived.

In the training ground below the castle, Li Wei’s body and arms blurred into afterimages as he swung Frost’s Sorrow, unleashing a beautiful Golden Cross Slash!

The hard black dragon wood training post, already covered with various slash marks, finally split into four!

The sound was crisp, and the cuts were clean.

[Golden Cross Slash Proficiency +1]

The system prompt arrived.

Li Wei exhaled, then his face lit up with surprise, and he jumped up involuntarily!

He was as happy as a teenager should be.

“I broke through!”

Li Wei Snake—

Black Snake Breathing Technique: Second Stage (4502/5000)

Golden Cross Slash: Third Stage (1/10000), Special Effect: Advanced Vibration

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