Chapter 81: Chapter 77: Road Planning
The roads surrounding the farmland also need to be rebuilt in preparation for the autumn harvest.
Those fields on either side of the main road are in better shape; the road surface can barely withstand the weight of ox carts and horse carts.
However, the farmland in the hills and the desert looks distressing.
— The narrow, uneven paths are not even one and a half meters wide, making it impossible for grain-carrying carts to pass.
Moreover, those newly developed farmlands this year were rushed into cultivation without any road construction, and in many places, the so-called sheep trails rely on farmers to traverse mountains and ridges.
If the situation remains the same during the autumn harvest, the work efficiency will be greatly reduced.
Such places need hills to be leveled, stones to be moved, ditches to be filled, and roads to be built that can accommodate vehicle passage.
No one else can handle the road planning, and it requires Luo De’s personal involvement.
Coincidentally, Luo De had been mentally and physically exhausted from drawing design drawings lately, so it was a good time to go outside, enjoy the lush waves of wheat fields, and relax.
The late August sun gently bathed the farmland, with the wheat gradually filling out.
Luo De reached out to gently caress the ears of wheat, feeling the fullness of the grains under his fingertips.
The tips of the wheat glowed with an enticing pale yellow, while the stalks maintained a vibrant green, creating an intertwining of colors that resembled a yellow-green ocean from afar.
A gentle breeze swept by, causing waves of wheat to ripple and sway as if the land itself were breathing.
In the distance, the cold-resistant rye matures a bit earlier, adding even more richness to the color palette when mixed together.
With the blessing of Luo De’s crop lord title, most of the wheat ears were plump and full, but there was still a significant gap when compared among them.
There were also a few barren stalks standing tall in the wheat field, shining conspicuously like the rising sun at dawn, breaking one’s heart.
This was the downside brought by the chaotic quality of seeds.
The crop lord could only double the yield of wheat ears but could not create something from nothing.
Of course, those inferior tall stalks with small ears won’t appear on the land next year.
Luo De had already planned that during the autumn harvest, those large-eared wheat would be specially selected and kept as seeds.
This is the most basic breeding method and the next step to increase yield.
The road planning began with the farmland south of Frost Leaf Town, laying out specific routes based on the terrain around the wheat fields.
Behind him followed the road construction team, and with a single command from Luo De, they would swoop over the land like locusts, clearing stones and trees that obstructed the way.
Their job was to first establish the basic framework of the roads, and then another road-building team would complete the actual roads with lime and gravel, ensuring that even during next year’s rainy season, the roads would remain solid.
To be honest, Luo De was not all-knowing and couldn’t connect all the fields at once.
This simple and crude clearance was efficient, and even if modifications were needed in the future, it wouldn’t cause too much trouble.
Luo De stood on a hill in the farmland, watching the busy figures of the slaves, and couldn’t help but let out a long breath.
Every inch of new road is a cornerstone for Frost Leaf Town’s prosperity.
Woo—
A piercing wind cut through the sky, interrupting Luo De’s thoughts.
Quickly, Luo De grabbed a piece of meat from the basket and tossed it into the air without even looking up.
Two dark blue figures swiftly swept through the sky, catching the tossed chunk of meat precisely as they whizzed by.
At the same time, a shadowy mass fell from the sky, landing heavily on the ground in front of Luo De.
Gang Le, seeing this, instinctively dodged to the side, leaping into the nearby ditch to narrowly avoid the falling unidentified object.
"Damn!"
Gang Le looked at the large pile of foul-smelling dung on the ground, pointing at the two figures in the sky and yelled, "Eating and pooping at the same time, huh!"
The two figures in the sky were Frost and Thunder, and the disgusting dung clearly came from one of them.
The little creatures could now fly short distances at low altitudes, and Luo De had brought them out to enjoy the open air, getting acquainted with the smells and sights of the wilderness.
As for Gang Le, he had been reassigned by Luo De a while back, leaving his duties temporarily in the hands of Jesse.
This was not Luo De intentionally sidelining Gang Le’s authority, but rather making plans for the future.
Frost Leaf Town’s military force was steadily growing, and the seasoned veterans were destined to lead teams separately, cultivating new strength, as only then could their experience be utilized to its fullest potential.
Currently, it’s Gang Le’s team being split up, and if manpower continues to be scarce in the future, even the Guard Team will face restructuring.
Gang Le also had many tasks to handle in the future, with the most important being the transportation of grain.
Luo De, witnessing Gang Le’s dishevelment, smiled and said, "You shouldn’t have dodged, Gang Le, getting dragon dung on you might bring good luck."
"Thank you for your kindness."
Gang Le shook his head, "But I can’t bear such dragon dung luck."
Gang Le’s words elicited laughter, and seeing that he couldn’t fool Gang Le, Luo De didn’t continue to bluff.
Changing the topic, Luo De asked, "Gang Le, how is your Breathing Technique cultivation going, any progress?"
Since gaining power, Luo De, whether out of habit or as a means of managing others, has never been stingy with loyal subordinates.
More than a month ago, Luo De had instructed Durant to teach the Cultivation Breathing Technique to Gang Le.
"Sigh!"
Gang Le let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head,
"I can’t feel any presence of energy, nor the pain you all mentioned during practice, there’s just no sensation at all."
Actually, before the teachings, Durant had already informed Gang Le that at his age cultivating the Breathing Technique might not have any effect.
Gang Le understood this, yet he continued with a bit of hope.
Unfortunately, it really had no effect.
"Hang in there, as long as you improve slightly, it counts as progress."
Luo De consoled him, "I’ve already asked Luna to research certain potions to enhance physique; perhaps you still have a chance."
"Don’t worry, I definitely won’t give up."
Gang Le grinned, remaining rather casual and not despairing from the setback.
Gang Le felt that having the opportunity to learn the Breathing Technique in this life was already satisfying.
Luo De offered encouraging words, though he still felt a tinge of regret.
Initially, he planned to test it on Gang Le and then offer the opportunity to other veterans.
But now, it seems unnecessary to waste the Breathing Technique’s Enlightenment Potion.
It looks like nurturing a knight will require starting with the children.
Luo De’s eyes unintentionally drifted to the side where little Milly was crouched, catching grasshoppers in the underbrush.
He wondered if she could cultivate the Breathing Technique.
Woo—
Just as Luo De pondered, Frost returned flapping its wings.
When it got in front of him, it suddenly let go of its claws, and a dark, thick object fell with a thud at Luo De’s feet.
Luo De focused his eyes and realized it was a nearly two-meter-long black snake, with a mangled neck obviously torn by claws.
Before Luo De could react, Frost folded its wings and strutted forward with its long neck, like a proud rooster, standing in front of Luo De.
"Is this your offering to me?"
Luo De asked Frost, looking at it.
Frost didn’t speak, continuing to hold its head high and proud, then pushed it towards Luo De with its wing.
Luo De smiled helplessly, uncertain if the snake was venomous.
He didn’t have time to think much before Thunder also returned, wings flapping, and tossed a plump field mouse’s carcass in front of Luo De.
But before it could show off its catch to Luo De, Frost suddenly pounced on the field mouse and swallowed it in one gulp.
"Hm?"
Luo De looked at Frost in surprise, "Thunder brought that for me, and you just ate it?"
It seemed Thunder thought the same way.
But its temperament was even more irritable; maybe it had had enough of Frost’s domineering manner, and it launched itself angrily!