The Knight's Journey to the Empire

"Okay, now on the issue of reclaiming wasteland, do you have anything else to add, brothers?" Sauron continued to ask.

"Yes!" Henry suddenly said, "Master, I think we need to buy a batch of iron farm tools first, including hoes, shovels, pickaxes, iron knives, etc.!"

"The farm tools used by the people in our territory are mostly made of stone or wood."

"This has a great restrictive effect on improving the efficiency of land reclamation operations."

"If we can first purchase a batch of iron farm tools and give them to the people in our territory, we can improve the efficiency of reclaiming wasteland even faster!"

Henry changed the subject and continued, “And if we buy this batch of iron farm tools now, we can also use them when we carry out road construction projects!”

This is actually the question Henry was hesitating about just now.

But when he thought about the market price of iron farm tools, he decided to give up!

And now the White Bear Territory’s wasteland reclamation operation also needs it, so he tentatively mentioned it.

“Oh, what do the other brothers think?” Soran did not directly answer Henry’s question, but asked everyone.

If a workman wants to be good, he must first sharpen his weapon.

Sharpening knives does not miss woodcutters.

These are the truths that Sauron understands.

However, in the Kingdom of Midburg, due to the sparse distribution of iron ore, the prices in the iron market are generally high.

This ironware market not only refers to the market for weapons and armor, but also includes the market for iron farm tools.

Although the Kingdom of Midburg has now won the mining rights to the Lorraine iron mine in the Western War.

However, it takes time for the iron ore to be mined, hammered, and forged into a complete piece of ironware.

What's more, Sauron could guess the current production situation of the Lorraine Iron Mine, which must still be in a state of suspension.

The Kingdom of Midburg has definitely not invested any manpower or material resources to develop it!

Moreover, even if this iron ore is developed, it will first be used for upgrading in the military field.

Therefore, in the short term, it is difficult to have a significant impact on the domestic ironware market.

Therefore, in general, it is not cost-effective to buy iron farm tools now.

Also, the price of these iron farm tools is really very low nowadays.

For an ordinary iron hoe, the price can be around one silver coin.

With the current price level in the Kingdom of Midburg, ten silver coins are enough for an ordinary family of five to have enough food, drink, and clothing to live comfortably for a month.

And one silver coin, if you live frugally and simply, is enough for a family of five to get through a month.

Therefore, it is still normal for civilians in the entire Midburg Kingdom to use stone farm tools.

And if Sauron needs to buy it, he must buy a large quantity directly.

Purchase so much iron tools for agricultural production.

To be honest, it would be more valuable to use it to forge a few more pieces of leather armor to enhance the combat effectiveness of the territory guards.

"Master, I don't think it's necessary to buy iron farm tools. When you recruit the subjects, just let them bring their own farm tools and obey the recruitment!" Javier offered his suggestion.

As the treasurer of the young master's territory, Javier holds the financial power of the territory.

Therefore, he needs to do his best to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the young master's financial revenue and expenditure.

Therefore, for some things that are not very necessary, there is no need to allocate funds from the government to purchase them.

In Javier's view, iron farm tools were unnecessary things.

After all, for hundreds of years, everyone has been using these stone or wooden farm tools to carry out various production activities!

There's nothing wrong with that!

Then why do we have to buy iron farm tools to open up wasteland in the territory now?

"However, if the price of iron farm tools is lowered in the future, we can also buy some!" Javier added to his own words.

He also participated in the war in the west and knew that the kingdom's development of the large iron mines in Lorraine would inevitably have an impact on the iron market, and that iron farm tools were indeed much easier to use than farm tools made of other materials.

Therefore, he did not speak too absolutely.

"Master, my suggestion is: if each person needs to be equipped with an iron farm tool, then there is no need to buy this."

At this time, Adam on the side also put forward his own suggestion: "But we can first buy some iron farm tools. The specific quantity does not need to be too much, just enough for a hundred people to use."

"Besides, when we first came from Connacht, didn't we bring fifty slaves with us?"

"After the land reclamation operation is over, we can keep these iron tools for the slaves to use, and sell the extra ones to other citizens. That's all!"

Slaves are the private property of the lord, and the wealth and value they create belong to the lord.

So in the end, slaves were allowed to use iron farm tools to improve production efficiency and create more wealth and value for the lords.

This seems like good advice!

"Javier, what do you think?" Soran looked at Javier.

"Master, I think this suggestion is feasible!" Javier nodded to show his agreement.

Anyway, in the end it will be used by slaves instead of being given to the subjects for free, so this is fine.

At least these iron farm tools are still in the young master's hands, and are still creating more wealth for him.

Moreover, the quantity purchased at one time is not large, and the financial expenditure is not very large!

So Soran directly assigned Adam another task, asking him to go to the city to buy a batch of iron farm tools.

There is also a blacksmith shop in the town of Flanders in the White Bear Territory, which usually produces small items such as nails, chains, and hammers.

But the blacksmith shop was too small. Even with the inventory, there was not enough iron to make so many farm tools.

So they can only go to the city to buy it, and even then they have to place orders in advance.

Because the demand for these iron farm tools in the Kingdom of Midburg is really not very high now.

As for the quantity and types of the iron farm tools needed, let Adam decide for himself!

As for funds, let him go directly to Javier to withdraw them!

Sauron doesn't need to ask about these.

"Master, I have another practical suggestion!" Gubellini continued.

Soran nodded, signaling him to start speaking.

Gubellini then expressed his idea: "Our White Bear Territory's action to reclaim wasteland can be carried out around Flanders Town and the wasteland on both sides of the road between Flanders Town and County Avenue."

“These locations are relatively close to residential areas or main roads, making them convenient for farming and relatively easy to open up.

"As for the villages below, we will also develop them on both sides of the road connecting the villages to Flanders Town. This way, we can also develop and improve the roads at the same time!"

Reclamation of arable land must not be carried out in the mountains or deep in the forests, but around settlements, roads, or water sources.

These are the best places for development, which will facilitate daily production and life.

"That's right. It's also important to choose the right location and direction for the development of farmland!" Soran thought for a moment and said affirmatively.

"When I have some free time in a few days, I will go over the territory and plan out some wasteland that can be cultivated and is easy to open up. Then we can discuss it in detail and come up with the final plan for the development of cultivated land!"

Inspection of the territory is inevitable, and it is what every lord will do after taking office.

Its purpose is to declare sovereignty and establish authority.

Of course, the scale of the lord's inspection of the territory varies.

For hereditary lords with larger territories, it is sufficient for them to inspect a few important towns.

A small lord like Sauron must patrol the entire territory.

As a lord who is determined to develop his own territory, Soran's inspection of the territory would definitely not be just a cursory look.

Understanding the people's sentiments, exploring local specialties, observing the terrain, and regional planning are all basic operations.