Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 384 - 16: Since We’re Here, We Might as Well Plant Something

Chapter 384: Chapter 16: Since We’re Here, We Might as Well Plant Something

Roman felt that Tashina had a bit of a war fanatic tendency.

This project meant that Origin and Fertility could be integrated as a whole. He had been pondering this plan on his second year on this land.

However, it wasn’t until nearly the end of the fifth year that the construction had begun.

But a fine task fears not a late start; Roman believed that this project could bring unimaginable developmental benefits to both cities.

How could this White Steel Princess focus only on the advantages in warfare?

Alas, such a shortsighted woman, lacking vision.

Great benefits require great costs.

Thus, the construction period was measured in years.

Mountains that were fifty meters high sounded enormously thick and indeed looked extremely daunting, with steep terrain rising twenty to thirty meters high, overgrown with weeds, desolate in winter.

From this year to next year, the idle labor force would have to come dig and carve the mountain.

The first step was to build living quarters, since a group of people would need to serve here long-term.

From giving orders to immediately starting work, the notification process didn’t exceed half a day, and a crowd of laborers got right to it, giving Tashina a small administrative shock.

She thought to herself, no wonder the River Valley King could achieve repeated victories; just this kind of managerial system surpassed that of other kings of the land.

Tashina knew Roman was also simultaneously constructing five military fortresses.

Both Fertility and Origin cities were supporting these constructions with all their might, striving to maximize efficiency.

But was this because the other lords didn’t want to speed things up?

Certainly not.

The only way to improve efficiency was to improve treatment.

It could be said as a possibility, but not a very likely one.

Productivity determined the production relations.

When a farmer does heavy manual labor, their dietary standards could be about three times their normal consumption.

Where would the nobles get three times more food to feed you?

Once the labor force increased, the required logistical supplies would become astronomical,

usually, they couldn’t even manage to mend bridges or pave roads, let alone undertake larger corvée projects.

What you consume is food, but what the lords lack could cost them their lives. Those foods could be exchanged for weapons, armor, warhorses, and the training of Conquest Knights. Without the Conquest Knights, if you were to rebel, what could the lords use to suppress you? (Annoyed)

The low productivity of the Middle Ages had its reasons.

Some castle constructions took exceedingly long due to distribution problems.

Of course, just changing the distribution of resources without increasing productivity wouldn’t improve production efficiency.

Because if all resources were used for labor construction, without money to enhance military strength, there would be no way to protect the fruits of labor.

But this land was well-protected, orderly and thriving with vivacity.

Tashina mused to herself: with such a powerful ruling force, even if she hadn’t brought her troops here, Lord Roman would be hard to defeat.

The laborers were entirely obedient to him, doing whatever was commanded, creating a certain level of organization through past cooperative work, practically the embryos of Conscripted Soldiers.

On the other hand, they were as unreliable as weather vanes, swaying to whichever side had better treatment, devoid of any loyalty.

Iota Hina was not angry about this.

After the battle at the Heavenly Pegasus Plain, she came to understand the minds of these lower-class people.

Whoever was strong, they would help.

Tashina’s nature was survival of the fittest, and she understood this very well, so she wanted to be the everlasting strong one.

She thought that Roman must also be a true strongman; otherwise, how could he possibly have won the affection of the lower class?

She squinted as she watched Roman work on the development plans—according to his ideas, he was preparing to turn this place into a town, serving as a hub to guard the future choke point leading to Origin City.

Roman rode his horse back and forth between sites, scattering lime and planting flags, gradually outlining the residential land.

Just this task took him an entire afternoon without completion.

"Princess Tashina, I won’t be returning today," Roman said to the White Steel Princess in the evening, hinting that she should go back alone.

His reason for not going back was straightforward; traveling back and forth was too bothersome.

Iota Hina said, "I’ll also stay here."

"Suit yourself," Roman responded, no longer paying attention to her.

The dark of winter nights arrived swiftly; as soon as the sun vanished, the sky dimmed in the blink of an eye.

Roman grabbed a dinner from the temporary canteen.

Seeing this, Tashina followed suit, taking a plate to serve herself.

The main dish for dinner was coarse rice—rice that had only been dehusked, the lowest processed type.

The vegetable dish was pickled vegetables with tofu—a large amount of vegetables pickled in the autumn to replenish vitamins during winter.

The soup was an unlimited meat broth to replenish the calories.

Roman ate heartily, ravenous after the day’s labor, finding everything delicious.

Tashina also wasn’t picky, clearly not raised in pampering, but her dining etiquette was meticulous.

The laborers didn’t go back either; they slept in temporary shelters made of rough linen and wooden boards, lamentably ineffective against the cold. The construction team and laborers were prepared, using iron stoves and honeycomb coal for warmth, burning tens of thousands of honeycomb coals each night, the released heat helping them through another cold winter night.

Roman’s accommodations were much better, containing two iron stoves, and he slept not on straw mats but an actual wooden bed, covered with a thick wool blanket, and his bedding was the soft, large fur capes he used during the day.

"Your Highness, why trouble yourself to suffer here?" Shasta wasn’t referring to Roman, but to Iota Hina.

Tashina’s living conditions were similar to Roman’s; Olei, learning of her status, had specially prepared it for the Princess.

While the former had minimal requirements for lodging, the latter considered it a slight.