Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 104: The Farming Plan
Next, several merchant ships loaded with grey powder were expected to arrive at Border Garrison Town, and with the snow gradually melting, Owen judged it was finally time to launch the long-prepared farming plan.
Before that, Owen ordered Clive to gather all the farmers and the unemployed miners.
Since steam engines had been installed in the mining area, fewer hands were needed, and a number of old miners had been dismissed.
Those unemployed miners no longer had the physical strength they once did, and couldn’t handle the grueling demands of mining work anymore.
Of course, Owen had already prepared a new livelihood for them.
Considering that most of them had originally been farmers before working in the mines, he redistributed the long-abandoned farmland and had them participate in this large-scale farming plan.
Upon learning that the land they were given was barren wasteland, the unemployed miners all looked dejected, convinced that such land could never grow anything worthwhile.
Precisely because of this, Owen needed to gather everyone together for a special farming mobilization assembly.
Standing on the platform, Owen solemnly declared that he had found a way to break the curse of Kazitu.
The moment these words fell, the crowd was shocked, and they loudly hailed the lord as the saviour of Border Garrison Town.
No one doubted Owen’s words, thanks to his feat of leading the town to successfully repel the undead monsters in winter. That achievement had earned him considerable prestige and the trust of the people.
To inspire everyone’s spirit, Owen made a public promise—
As long as they farmed according to the guidelines he provided, this year’s harvest would allow them to keep 40% for themselves, and only 60% would be handed over.
With this promise from their lord, everyone eagerly picked up farming tools, rushed to their allotted plots, and began working the land.
Meanwhile, Ryan hired a group of labourers to move out all the wheat seeds transferred from the other world, carrying out pre-treatment to improve their survival rate after planting.
Once the ploughing was done, Owen sent people to distribute enough grey powder to each household.
Based on data obtained from Winston, they were instructed to evenly sprinkle a suitable amount of grey powder over the fields, then plough once more to mix the powder into the soil.
Though it was troublesome, the lord had said this was the only way to dispel the effects of Kazitu’s curse, so everyone worked diligently.
It was at this point that Owen learned the magic-stone merchants had hoarded a massive surplus of grey powder—far more than was currently needed.
Holding Clive’s report, Owen frowned slightly and muttered:
“The docks are already piled high with gray powder, and there’s another shipload with no place to unload.”
It seemed the dock expansion plan would also have to be moved up the schedule. He’d need to talk to Viru about it, Owen thought.
In a way, this was also preparation in advance—Owen had acquired many new technologies from Winston.
Once factories were set up, the goods they produced would definitely need to be sold through merchants, otherwise they couldn’t be converted into funds to keep the cycle running.
“Marquis, since the stockpile of grey powder is already enough, we could just refuse the merchants’ future shipments.”
Clive suggested.
【Aren’t there still plenty of lands left to cultivate?】
Winston said in his mind.
Winston had taken part when Owen distributed farmland to the unemployed miners, so he was well aware.
【There’s no extra manpower.】
Owen replied.
【Oh? Not necessarily.】
【Then what idea do you have?】
Owen asked.
【Ever heard of the Military Farming System?】
The military farming system, simply put, meant that border garrisons would both guard the frontier and engage in agricultural production at the same time, allowing the army to become self-sufficient.
After listening to Winston’s explanation, Owen nodded in understanding.
This was indeed a workable idea—so he decided to let the newly established People’s Army give it a try.
“Marquis?”
Having waited a while without receiving a reply, Clive softly called out.
“Oh!”
Snapping back to his senses, Owen ordered:
“Clive, immediately hire some men to move the lime powder stacked at the docks into the empty warehouse and have that ship unload its cargo. Then inform the magic-stone merchants that after another five ships’ worth of lime powder at most, we won’t be taking any more.”
“Do we really still need that much?”
Clive asked in puzzlement.
The total amount of lime powder required for farmland had already been calculated by him, so he didn’t quite understand Owen’s decision.
Was Owen planning to store it for use next year? But wouldn’t it be easier to purchase more then?
“Don’t worry, I have my own uses for it.”
Owen replied.
“In that case, I’ll see to it right away.”
Since Owen had spoken so firmly, Clive could only follow his orders.
Before long, Viscount Jarvis received Owen’s instructions—to establish a trial military farming system, letting the People’s Army participate in this year’s cultivation efforts.
To ensure the army’s combat effectiveness, training was still essential.
Thus, Owen decided on a rotation system: while one group worked in the fields, the other group would remain for training.
Additionally, Owen assigned inspectors to check on the farmland cultivated by the army, making sure the harvest would be secured.
Upon hearing this, Kadir and his companions were dismayed.
Not only did staying behind mean undergoing strict training, they also had to continue attending classes for a full curriculum of study. And now, they were expected to take up farm tools and till the land as well.
Still, puzzlement was one thing. With their high monthly salaries in mind, they obediently carried out their orders.
After confirming that all farmland had been spread with lime powder, Owen ordered the distribution of treated wheat seeds for sowing.
To compare the difference between local wheat and that from another world, Owen even arranged a controlled experiment.
Local farmers cultivating existing farmland were given native wheat seeds, while the newly reclaimed land was planted with seeds from the other world.
According to Winston’s data, if all went well, the autumn harvest should be plentiful enough to avoid the need for outside grain purchases.
However, Winston’s world had no magic.
How much yield would these otherworldly wheat seeds produce when sown in a land infused with magic? The answer could only be determined through this experiment.
While Bianshu town was busy with large-scale farming, a lizardman unit had just assembled outside the boundary of the Mysterious Forest, ready to march.
Their expressions were stern, each carrying a burlap pack and a musket on their backs.
This was considered light equipment, allowing them to move quickly through the forest.
At the very front of the formation, Lusha, with a giant axe strapped to his back, raised his hand and gave a signal. The unit advanced in an orderly fashion into the forest, heading toward the gathering place of the lizardman tribes.
The Mysterious Forest was traversed by a river—the Wénshuǐ River. Originating from the Sky-Mountain Range, it wound through the forest in a backwards “C” shape before merging into the Weishuǐ River.
On the eastern bank of the protruding bend of the Wénshuǐ River lay the gathering grounds of the lizardman tribes.
Thus, the Sinking Sand Tribe’s revenge campaign had officially begun.
Their target was the Black Wind Tribe, and intelligence on them was, of course, indispensable.
For this task, Lusha had already dispatched Xilong two months ago to secretly gather information.