Pioneer Lord: A Leisurely Imperial Life

Chapter 193 A Waste

The news that Cape Territory had been officially incorporated into the Empire's territory swept through every city-state in the North like a sweltering summer breeze.

Although Richard was too lazy to care about the intentions of the higher-ups, he wanted to study the subsequent impact of this policy on Chiffon.

This land, regarded by the empire as a wild frontier, has always been labeled as barren and desolate, but no matter how barren it is, there are always corners where life is hidden.

Just like in the far north, there are places like the Black Pine Forest.

If there is a river, there are many small plots of land along its banks that are rich in resources and have relatively fertile soil.

Otherwise, if it were truly a barren, desolate wasteland, the orcs would have starved to death long ago. How could they possibly have survived to this day, and even flirted with Duke Frostmoor?

According to imperial rules, whether to show loyalty or to seek rewards, a small portion of the newly expanded territory that was surveyed and measured and identified as fertile land was to be offered to the royal family, and their trusted confidants were to be assigned to these areas.

The majority of the remaining funds would then fall into the hands of Grand Duke Shuangmo and all his vassals, and be divided among them according to their military merits.

After the division was completed, the grand process of appanagement followed, which was a routine operation after the expansion of the empire.

The best fiefdoms were naturally reserved for trusted confidants or elite knights who had distinguished themselves in the battle.

These people have a fighting spirit, are quite strong, and have a lord backing them up, making them the most suitable to explore new lands.

More generous lords would also allocate a group of serfs to help the newly appointed minor lords establish a foothold and cultivate farmland, hoping that they could quickly gain a foothold, produce food, and train troops.

Once war breaks out again, they can immediately respond to the call and become a fighting force in the hands of the feudal lord.

...

For fiefdoms of average or below-average quality, the fate of the land is somewhat left to chance.

If you can clear the land, that's your skill. But if you can't endure the hardships of the wilderness and end up dying in your fiefdom, the lord won't feel sorry for you.

At worst, we can just send another group of people to try it out. Anyway, we won't lose our core interests, and we might even be able to inherit some of the buildings or resources left by the previous lord.

...

The most unique type is the open sale of lifetime peerages.

The Cape Territory is almost the same size as the North, and such a vast land cannot be filled simply by granting fiefdoms to trusted confidants.

Those wealthy, free citizens who have accumulated some wealth and dream of squeezing into the circles of the aristocracy are this type of buyer.

They pooled their own money to hire people, hoping to make a living. If they succeeded, they would rise from obscurity to great heights; if they failed, they would lose everything and be buried in the wilderness.

There have been many successful examples in the eastern border of the Empire, making many free people particularly yearn for that hot desert.

Of course, once they successfully pioneered the land and established themselves, their lifelong titles would be changed to hereditary titles, and they would officially join the feudal lord's vassal system.

Normally, no one would want to go to a place that is too desolate, because it would be difficult to attract free people to expand the territory.

But the empire has recognized the orcs as subjects, making the conditions for pioneering much better than before.

Therefore, Richard speculated that, barring a war, the Cape region was destined to witness a wave of land reclamation that would sweep across the entire empire next year.

What's most lacking when reclaiming land is resources.

Food, farm tools, building materials, medicines, livestock, etc., are all necessities.

When Richard first started clearing land in Chiffon, he relied on the Ferret Trading Company to gather everything from small items like iron nails and seeds to large items like livestock hides.

Once the reclamation wave in the Cape region was fully underway, everyone from century-old brands to itinerant merchants traveling from village to village participated.

They would flock to the North, drawn by the smell of blood, desperate to get a share of this feast.

By then, the various city-states near the cape,

It will inevitably become a transit point for caravans of all sizes.

People, money, and supplies will all converge here.

To the east of Chiffon Wasteland lie vast stretches of barren mountains and towering peaks, beyond which lies the northern border of the Cape Region.

If a safer trade route could be found in these desolate mountains, Qifeng Territory could become the only postal territory connecting the northernmost part of the North and the northernmost part of the Cape Territory.

Chiffon cakes may see a small surge in natural population growth as a result.

Instead of relying on buying serfs or gathering the families of snow rabbits and soldiers to grow stronger, as is the case now.

Moreover, the various artisan pickles, jams, grains, and wines produced by Chiffon can be spread throughout the entire coastal region along this trade route, completely breaking the current pattern of being confined to a corner.

Overall, the inclusion of Cape Territory into the empire's territory is beneficial for Chiffon.

Unfortunately, these ideas are still premature.

Land surveying and registration, the division of profits between Shuangmo and his vassals—each of these was a protracted wrangling affair, and it would take at least a year to settle a matter.

Even if we were to build a trade route, we would first need to clear the passage through the Black Pine Forest and shorten the journey from Chiffon Territory to Frost Territory before discussing the long-term strategy for the Cape Territory.

...

Just as Richard was studying the map, there was a gentle knock on the wooden door of the study.

"Come in."

Wendy walked in carrying the documents, her plain long dress accentuating her slender and dignified figure.

Although she still absolutely refused to wear that "indecent" bodycon skirt, it was at least much more pleasing to the eye than the old-fashioned robe she wore before.

She slightly bent her knees.

"Good day, my lord."

Richard pushed the map to the side, gesturing for her to sit opposite him.

"Have a seat. What is it?"

Wendy placed the documents on the table and began her report.

"Now that we have over a thousand new snow rabbits, the existing cleaning team is simply not enough. I plan to transfer fifty people from the serfs to supplement the cleaning team. What do you think?"

Richard agreed to this trivial matter without a second thought. Wendy noted down her approval on the document and then turned to the next one.

"The Academy of Mysteries has completed the cultivation of 100 acres of experimental fields. According to your farming techniques, the next step is to compost and nourish the soil to improve its fertility. Professor Felix would like to apply for ten members of the cleaning team to collect some humus from the black pine forest, mix it with manure, and then spread it in the experimental fields after composting."

Richard nodded in agreement. In fact, this was the proper way to deal with excrement. After it decomposed, it could be used as fertilizer to fertilize the fields, which was both environmentally friendly and could increase production.

Unfortunately, the farmland transformed by the system is completely unusable and wasted.

...

Next, the two discussed the documents for half an hour before finally finishing up the backlog of government affairs.

Summer sunlight streamed through the wooden window into the study, landing on the desk and making one feel drowsy.

Richard got up and opened the window, but unfortunately, only hot air blew in, which did not relieve the heat in the study.

He suddenly turned to look at Wendy, who was standing to the side organizing documents, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"By the way, the swimming pool in the backyard of the lord's manor has just been built. Come on, let's go test it out and see how it goes."

Wendy, who was about to leave, trembled, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She waved her hands repeatedly in refusal.

"I can't swim, so I won't go and cause any trouble!"

As the chief minister of the territory, she deals with government affairs all day long, and during this time she has gradually developed a dignified and proper demeanor.

Furthermore, being inexperienced, how could he possibly follow the lord to play and frolic in the pool? What kind of reputation would that make?

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