Warm Dragon

On both sides of the charcoal trail, the serfs who knelt spontaneously to welcome the lord had a certain impact on Russell's heart.

"This world, this era... the authority of the nobility is too strong."

He dared not imagine how he would break the shackles of class and enjoy a free life if he traveled through time as a serf.

"Maybe..."

He raised his head, looking past the kneeling serfs, and looked further south, which was completely different from the Youguang River Valley and was still covered with ice and snow.

Under the ice and snow, where the Youguang River converged, there was a dark cave called the Xiangshui River Cave.

In the cave, there lived a group of free people who did not belong to any lord.

Indeed, they had gained freedom, but their lives were precarious and they were on the verge of death at all times.

As the lord of the Black-waisted Snake Manor, one of Russell's important vassal duties was to strictly guard the borders of the territory and prevent free people from crossing the border to rob - free people who did not submit to the noble lord would not receive any protection from the lord.

Retracting his gaze, Russell looked at the serfs who were still kneeling on the ground, and said loudly: "Everyone, get up. From now on, I, Russell Fluorescent Mushroom, will be your lord. When he passes by, he only needs to pay attention to me, and no longer needs to kneel and kowtow."

"Ah, praise the master!"

"Master, you are kind and generous!"

"Kind master!"

"Master, you are a true noble!"

"Woo, woo, so happy!"

"Praise the master, the glory of the master is great!"

The serfs expressed their gratitude in a flurry. Just by not having to kneel, they felt that their new lord was definitely a good man.

After a quick look at the small market, Russell found that there were only two shops here.

One was a bakery, responsible for making bread for the serfs and helping the serfs go to the town to buy some urgently needed supplies.

The other one is a blacksmith shop, or a stonemason shop or a carpenter shop, which sells all kinds of ironware, stoneware and wooden furniture. Russell even saw leather goods hanging on the door, which shows how rich the boss's craftsmanship is.

In addition, there is a place that is not a shop, but a row of sheds, which can barely be regarded as a farmer's market.

There are serfs setting up stalls here, selling their own eggs, rice wine, bacon and other farm products.

"It's so shabby..." Russell sighed again.

The area of ​​the Black-waisted Snake Manor is nearly 20,000 hectares, which is larger than some towns on Earth, but the degree of prosperity is a world apart.

The first thing to bear the brunt is the population, 3,500 people, which is the population of a larger village.

It can't support the business system of a small town at all.

"There are too few serfs. In the past, the output of the farmland in the manor could not feed too many people, but now I have brought fairy bugs, which can grow magic potions, and should be able to feed a lot more people... Where do I get the population?" He couldn't help but cast his eyes again to the Xiangshui River Cave.

This matter needs to be considered in the long run.

Leaving the small market, we continued along the charcoal trail. The terrain was undulating, with the Youguang River as the center, forming a not-so-typical river valley landform.

In Russell's view, the entire Youguang River Valley was a basin.

And the Black Snake Manor was at the southernmost mouth of the basin, and the overall land was like a hill with uneven heights.

Further away, there were low mountains covered with ice and snow on the east and west sides.

Crossing a dirt slope, two riders and horses galloped over from a distance. The riders were the two teachers, Charles and Eric.

"Lord Russell, welcome to inspect the territory. Haha, I saw a few knights from a distance and guessed that you were back." Charles took off his hat on the horse, with a briar pipe between his fingers.

Eric beat his chest with his right hand: "Sir."

"Hello, two teachers, how is the inspection of the manor? Have you found any suitable places for growing potions?"

"The most suitable place is still on both sides of the Glowing River." Although Charles was a poor man, he still had some knowledge in his belly. "The Baron's potion fields are distributed on both sides of the Glowing River, and it is the same here."

Russell did not comment: "Really."

"I made a simple plan. The west bank of the Glowing River is Lentil Village and Clover Village, and the east bank is Bean and Wheat Village, Barley Village and Wheat Village. We can cut out the farmland near the river bank of the five villages to form a new potion village."

Standing on the earth slope, you can overlook the entire Glowing River.

Charles gestured casually: "In this way, the potion village can be fully irrigated by the Glowing River, and it is also convenient to patrol at any time. When encountering danger, the Cordyceps can be taken back into the body of the elf insect in time to avoid major losses."

Farming in this world is not the same as farming on Earth.

The planting of ordinary crops may not be much different, and serfs can serve well.

However, the cultivation of magic potions requires the maintenance of the spirit insects, and the influence of the cordyceps provides a special environment for the growth of magic potions.

Cordyceps is the plant or mushroom body that breeds the spirit insects.

In simple terms, this is a magic weapon.

The spirit insects can take back the cordyceps at any time, or sow the cordyceps, and use the cordyceps to adjust the range of the magic potion.

Russell is a man of action: "Let's go and take a look, and by the way, determine the range of the magic potion."

Charles shrugged: "You are the lord, as you wish."

Galloping on the horse, he came to the bank of the Dusk River.

"Look, Russell, there are still large birch forests here. They are all old trees with years of age, which are perfect for the growth of fluorescent mushrooms." Charles pointed to a tree that had just sprouted new buds. The forest was distributed along the river. The trees were sparse but the range was not small.

Fluorescent mushrooms like to grow on tree trunks. They are probably a parasitic mushroom.

"Very good, but this forest is not enough to plant 150 acres of fluorescent mushrooms. We need to continue planting trees and expand the birch forest." Russell was satisfied with this, "John, go to old Hans and tell him to bring people to measure the land."

"Yes, sir!" The armored knight John took the order and left.

Seeing this, Charles hesitated and said, "Russell, are you going to measure the land today? The sun is about to set. Why not start tomorrow?"

"Today's work must be done today. The magic potion village must be planned as soon as possible." Russell said without any refusal.

His own territory, his own farmland, and his own crops... Everything inspired his infinite creative enthusiasm.

Things that can be done as soon as possible cannot be left overnight.

Russell's will was well reflected in his followers and subjects. Old Hans came quickly, followed by a group of village chiefs and serf managers.

"Rainblossom, fluorescent mushroom, dill, the Magic Potion Village is divided into three plots of land. The birch forests on both sides are used as the planting grounds for fluorescent mushrooms, leaving enough land of 150 acres." Charles, who wanted to be lazy, had to cheer up and preside over the work.

He couldn't push everything to Russell, otherwise he would lose his value.

"Yes, Sir Charles, we will start measuring from the birch forest now. I have brought the ruler and the benchmark." Old Hans bowed and said.

The village chiefs and serf managers, under the command of Charles and Eric, measured one plot at a time.

The sunlight sprinkled in the birch forest, coating the straight birch branches with a light golden color. One after another, the green new buds and golden branches, the beauty of nature was displayed vividly at this moment.

Russell rode his horse gently to the riverside, stepped on the stones by the river, and sighed silently in his heart: "This place is as beautiful as a scenic spot... Unfortunately, I am the only tourist here."