262: Chapter 148, Marriage Alliance_1 262: Chapter 148, Marriage Alliance_1 The harvest, the most important season of the year, has begun.
From the noble lords to the serfs, everyone is throwing themselves into the work with determination.
The aftermath of the locust plague lingers, despite a year having passed.
It still led to several minor infestations in various places, which were quickly exterminated by the local noble lords.
Layton County was lucky.
Last year, most noble lords hired Belsden for a quick locust extermination.
The bear, once paid, proved to be reliable.
Not only did it exterminate the locusts, but it also removed the insect eggs in the fields.
Without any larvae hatching, the few straggling grasshoppers were nothing but another addition to the dinner table.
The crop yield remained normal, nearly unaffected by the locust plague.
However, those who were short-sighted enough to save money by not exterminating the locusts last year are now realizing to their dismay that this year’s harvest is greatly reduced.
Whether they lost or gained, only they know.
For the Mountain Domain, this has been a plentiful harvest year.
Most of the newly-developed barren land was cultivated with crops last year.
In particular, Hudson was pleasantly surprised by the yield of the marshlands.
Although rice yield was slightly higher than rye, it was a welcome surprise that the yield per unit could reach 300 pounds.
(1 pound is approximately 0.45 kg)
For this kind of extensive agriculture, such a yield is already quite good.
If they were to cultivate more intensively, the output would significantly increase.
However, it wasn’t necessary as the lack of land wasn’t a problem for Master Hudson, he lacked labor to cultivate the land.
People are needed in the mines, in deforesting, and in building the castle.
Even with the total population of his domain approaching 90,000, Hudson still finds it insufficient.
The main reason being the high proportion of Orc slaves, whose work efficiency is far lower than that of humans.
It’s a matter of racial talent, which cannot be easily reversed by acquired abilities.
With the autumn grain stored, the food pressure on the Mountain Domain has greatly eased.
Combined with some customers who use grain to offset their debts, there is no need to buy grain with money this year.
Upon checking the accounts, Hudson was surprised to find that he had changed from a debtor to a creditor.
Of course, this includes the income from the young bear last year.
But there’s no issue, as the bear’s money becomes Hudson’s money.
The Earth Bear is not a Giant Dragon, he has no habit of sleeping on gold coins.
As long as the accounts are clear, and Belsden can see the money in the project account, that’s enough.
However, thinking of the imminent war, Hudson’s good mood was instantly extinguished.
No matter how rich one is, it’s impossible to withstand the squandering brought about by war.
For nobles, the risk of war is not only life and death but more deadly, the risk of returning to poverty.
The risk of death in battle has always been a probability issue, while the financial deficit due to war is something everyone has to face.
On the surface, the Kingdom will bear most of the war cost, but this money doesn’t just fall from the sky.
Besides support from various countries, we have to find our own solution.
Merchants and free citizens will definitely be the main targets of the taxation, but the proportion of these two groups is too small and they are not rich enough.
More often, it needs to be shared by noble lords.
Fortunately, the Kingdom doesn’t just tax cash; various strategic materials can also be used for offsetting the tax.
Basically, it depends on the actual situation, whatever you have, that’s what you should contribute.
The role Southeastern Province has always played, is that of a major supplier of grain and fodder.
This time, it is estimated that it will change slightly with the Mountain Domain’s military industry likely to be incorporated into the mobilization system.
In times of war, weapons are always in short supply.
Both disposable armaments need constant replacement and damaged weapon armors need to be repaired or replaced.
The specifics of how to coordinate are the task of the Governor’s Mansion.
Usually, it is the province that first coordinates internally, followed by national coordination and allocation.
Considering the current level of productivity, the readiness system of the Alpha Kingdom could only progress this far due to the significant contribution of the Orc Empire.
Without the pressure of life or death, in the Feudal Era, mobilizing millions of troops for war was virtually impossible.
If the Orcs were not so fierce, the nobles would not have emptied their fortunes to support the mobilization.
Perhaps due to unfavorable turnings of phrase, the southern provinces that suffered a severe drought last year have faced massive rainfall this year.
The recently harvested autumn grain hadn’t had a chance to be completely stored before the rainy season arrived.
Due to the rainfall, a lot of grain started to mold or germinate again, leaving the noble lords in great distress.
The Mountain Domain was no exception.
Looking at the grains that hadn’t dried out yet, Hudson furrowed his brows.
Wherever grains could be spread, they are filled with grains.
Even his Manor House was covered with grains, leaving only a narrow path.
Even so, there was no avoiding the inevitable fate of the grains molding.
Left with no choice, Hudson ordered the serfs to roast the wet grains dry.
Being able to store the grains for one more day was better than them immediately spoiling.
After all, there were many mouths to feed in the Mountain Domain and the grains would be consumed quickly.
If they truly could not store the grains anymore, then they would let the domain people, slaves and livestock eat to their hearts’ content.
Resisting the heartache, Hudson entered the laboratory, and exited again.
Needless to say, it was another day of failure.
They hadn’t managed to produce Life Essence, but the quality of the Bear Food Pills was improving.
No sugar, honey, or beast milk was added during the production, but that didn’t affect Belsden’s subsequent processing.
He would immerse the feed pill in beast milk mixed with sugar and honey, and then gulp it down.
Both the flavor and efficacy were being improved.
According to Belsden, one feed pill could replace a day’s worth of normal cultivation.