Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 386 - 17: The Greater the Power, the Greater the Responsibility
Chapter 386: Chapter 17: The Greater the Power, the Greater the Responsibility
In November, a heavy snow arrived, and the land was covered in a silver-white blanket.
The mixed forest was completely cleared.
Upon reaching the edge of the mountains, the first task was to remove the soil layer from the mountain rocks, exposing the rock layers.
The fierce fire scorched the rock, and then ice water was poured over it. The stone layer contracted sharply, while the inside expanded... crack! The rock layer, over ten centimeters thick, peeled off with a rustling sound.
Roman aptly named this land Ice and Fire Pass.
Abbreviated as Ice and Fire Pass.
Ice water was easy to obtain, but the fierce fire required fuel, and all the nearby trees had to be burned clean.
However, plant ash greatly improved the soil, and rock powder could also replenish soil nutrients. It could be considered a win-win.
To ensure efficiency, Roman stayed here for quite a while.
After all, this was his first push for mountain cutting and road building, most people didn’t know how to do it or how long it would take to complete. This was when Roman’s supervision was needed.
He had ruled this land for some years and knew well that if execution was lacking, even the best development plan would be mere white paper. This was the main reason he did things himself.
According to Roman, a ruler must play their proper role and take responsibility.
Yet many nobles enjoyed all the privileges of the ruling class but couldn’t even produce a development plan. What use were the nobles?
Indeed, in the extremely backward Middle Ages, the existence of nobles was very reasonable.
But, in Roman’s eyes, they were just parasites sitting idly.
Really, what kind of noble are you? Do you deserve to dine at the same table as me?
Every time he found himself in the ruling class’s ecosystem alongside many parasites, Roman felt an itch all over, like insects crawling on him.
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility—this is the true meaning of a ruler!
As a lord, one must maintain order, use power to develop the territory, and formulate plans with a far-seeing vision to ensure the path ahead.
In other words: you foolish donkeys have been stagnant for hundreds of years, it’s time to progress a bit. freeweɓnovel.cøm
...
While Roman was absorbed in his engineering work, the White Steel Princess followed him down.
She watched the whole process, her eyes growing brighter.
She witnessed the young king’s ability, although repeatedly rejected and even humiliated, she couldn’t conceal her inner desire.
Tashina considered herself a born king, she could see the essence of everyone.
But she didn’t like ruling, as that was her character.
She wasn’t good at handling those complex interpersonal relationships.
Were she to fight back, she would inevitably face the entangled interests and scheming among the nobles.
Of course, she looked down on those incompetent wastes.
But that’s where the conflict lied.
Without using the nobility, she would have nobody to use.
Now, she encountered a usable person, not ordinary, but a top-notch administrative talent, absolutely one of the rarest humans in the world.
He had outstanding abilities, a mind seemingly inheriting the intelligence of humans from the Dark Ages, mastering various skills and knowledge, and even surpassing them. His eyes were deep-set, nose high, lips thin, his eyes were red, thick brown-black long hair, fair and firm skin like hers. Now an adult, with broad shoulders and a wide back, growing from 1.8 meters a few years ago to 1.85 meters now, with the trend of growing taller still ongoing, estimated to reach 1.9 meters, genuinely inheriting the pure blood of the Dark Empire.
Tashina couldn’t help but have her heart stirred, fantasizing about the scene after obtaining him.
It would surely be like a fish in water, like adding wings to a tiger.
She was naturally talented in war, but utterly clueless about administration, and at this moment needed an administrative talent to relieve her worries, but her court had no such talent.
The Roman in front of her was simply perfect, excellent ability, pure blood, robust appearance, incredible aura, strong will... she really wanted to imprison and exploit him!
In response, Roman sometimes felt quite creeped out, sensing that Tashina’s eyes on him were odd.
But this was his territory. Unless Tashina went crazy, she wouldn’t make a move against him.
The weather grew colder.
The snow piled up higher.
This year’s snowfall was even greater than last year’s, so Roman sent back over two thousand workers with poor constitutions, while the remaining strong laborers continued to burn stones and pour cold water.
He constantly urged those workers to clear the snow, transport firewood, and melt snow into water.
However, each time only over ten centimeters of rock could be broken through at most, so this project would inevitably be long.
And those sent back were not idle, going to wood factories and other labor-intensive places, responsible for cutting wood, assisting carpenters in manufacturing short and long arrows, and some wielding crossbows for training in residential areas. Some female workers twisted coarse hemp fibers into bowstrings.
Roman traveled twice between Fertile Castle and Ice and Fire Pass, taking time to visit Origin City to handle affairs.
The mobilization in both cities was excellent. Even in the harsh winter, they still displayed a vibrant, thriving scene.
Tashina, visiting Origin City for the first time, saw that although it wasn’t as majestic as Black Castle, its potential was enormous. She couldn’t help it anymore, she genuinely craved this land.
...
Origin Manor.
Hans stood in front of the desk, waiting for Roman’s response, cautiously glancing at the White Steel Princess beside him, feeling she was proud and cold.
Tashina squinted her eyes and asked, "Lord Roman, where is your army?"
