The people of Mettenheim will definitely help, but before that, the lord must return to the territory and take care of his own affairs.
"Only by transporting goods by ship like this can we solve the famine problem in Mettenheim..."
After all the food was transported to Wheat Ridge via the Aire River, Amy sighed.
The efficiency of shipping was indeed very high. It took less than two days to transport 400,000 pounds of grain from the area across the lake behind Changhe Town back to Maixiangling.
This is much faster than traveling by land - since the boat is always going downstream, it never stops.
Although the grain was transported in small wooden boats with paddles in the inland rivers, it still took less than twenty boats to carry away all the grain.
This is a flat-bottomed barge that is only about ten meters long and two meters wide. It doesn't look like it has much space, and if it is carrying people, it can only carry twenty at most.
But for carrying food or other heavy objects, this boat can carry more than 20,000 pounds (about 10 tons) - people can't overlap or be too crowded, but the food bags can...
The advantages of shipping in this era are obvious.
This is just a small inland rowing boat. If it were a sea ship, an ordinary schooner could carry hundreds of thousands of pounds of grain, and it only needed a dozen people to operate it.
This means extremely low mid-trip consumption.
As Amy said, the problem can only be solved by transporting large amounts of food directly from the port cities of the Pendor continent to Mettenheim by ocean-going ships, completely avoiding land transportation.
Just shipping a few ships of food to Mettenheim would help them get through the most difficult times.
"Amy, who is the governor of the Bacchus Empire's Imperial Port? Is it Governor Kairos?"
Thinking of the port city, the lord's eyes suddenly lit up and he turned to ask Amy.
"Yes, that is Kairos. He is also the Grand Commander of the 'Shadow Legion' of the Bacchus Empire and holds a very high position in the Bacchus Empire."
Amy nodded. She was quite familiar with the enemy country that White Hart Castle had faced for a long time.
The Lord nodded and asked, "General Agathon should be from Kairos, right? He brought many Shadow Centurions with him in previous battles."
"Yes, General Agathon himself is from the Shadow Legion. My father talked about him and said that he was the most terrible enemy. You seemed to have said so last time when you rescued White Hart Castle... It is said that Governor Kairos and Emperor Marius have some disagreements, but General Agathon is Emperor Marius's confidant. I feel that it is because of General Agathon's existence that the Shadow Legion of Kairos and Emperor Marius have been able to maintain a relatively stable relationship."
Li Ang nodded, his eyes lighting up.
General Agathon does not belong to the same faction as Justus and Livius - this can be seen from the kidnapping of two governors at White Hart Castle last time.
And Agathon is an old subordinate of Governor Kairos, who came from the Shadow Legion, so Kairos must be at odds with the other two governors...
It seems that each governor of the Bacchus Empire represents a faction, and together with Emperor Marius himself, it seems that there are four factions.
This is normal. The same is true for the Kingdom of Sarleon. King Ulric, Duke Alma, Duke Brunus, and the border county forces now also have four factions.
However, since there is a factional struggle, the Lord does have a way to help Mettenheim complete the trade!
"Fredry, you originally planned to trade in the Imperial Port of the Bacchus Empire, right?"
"Yes, sir. We originally brought a lot of duel swords and plate armor, intending to use these precious weapons to trade for food with the Bacchus Empire. But after a hurricane, all our goods sank to the bottom of the sea..."
Frederick sighed, his eyes filled with frustration.
"How much are the weapons you brought worth? How much food did you originally plan to trade?"
The lord seemed to have made up his mind and began to ask for details.
"It should be worth at least 20,000 dinars. They are all high-quality weapons, enough to arm an army of at least 400 people. We originally planned to transport back at least one million pounds of food."
Frederick thought for a moment and replied.
Fifty dinars for a set of plate armor and a dueling sword?
This is probably the local cost price in Mettenheim...
Frederick was clearly not very good at business.
Four hundred sets of plate armor and duel swords produced in Mettenheim would cost far more than 20,000 dinars in the continent of Pendor, almost ten times as much.
You know, Leon spent almost 100,000 dinars to purchase more than 200 sets of emblem chain mail robes, helmets, swords, lances and crossbows.
Of course, there are more types of equipment, and custom emblems do cost extra money, but the equipment in Pendor is indeed several times more expensive than in places like Mettenheim where there are blacksmith shops everywhere.
However, the people of Mettenheim are now facing famine, and they really have no room for bargaining under the current circumstances.
"One million pounds of food... is that enough? I remember that Mettenheim seemed to have more than 50,000 people?"
The lord found it incredible.
Twenty pounds per person...
Is it enough to eat for a few days?
And the people of Mettenheim are all foodies.
"We are starving because of the poor quality of food and the continuous decline in production. We are not completely out of food, sir... In fact, the one million pounds of food we plan to exchange for is not for eating. What we need are grain seeds! And it would be best if they are from the southern coastal areas, which are more suitable for the climate of Mettenheim. So we will go to the Imperial Port of the Bacchus Empire to trade."
Frederick explained.
So that's why. No wonder he was still obsessed with completing his mission even after a year.
The people of Mettenheim rarely farmed, and more often than not they relied on iron tools and mercenaries in exchange for food.
But since declaring independence, the Barclay Empire no longer conducts any trade with Mettenheim and constantly launches wars, which forces the people of Mettenheim to rely on this small peninsula for self-sufficiency.
After all, Mettenheim has only one neighbor - and also its only enemy, the huge Buckley Empire.
This kind of commercial sanctions imposed by big countries on small countries makes them very uncomfortable.
Because their arable land is already scarce, and the yield of the wheat they are currently growing has become very low.
During the long war, wheat varieties have not been improved, and even the seeds have not been properly maintained, resulting in reduced production every season.
By last year, in the absence of major natural disasters, the average yield per acre in Mettenheim had dropped to more than 60 pounds - remember, one acre of land requires 20 pounds of seeds alone.
In this situation, farming is almost meaningless, with a seed-to-harvest ratio of only 1:3, and the quality of seeds for the next season will be even worse...
Such a production would naturally lead to widespread famine, but the Barclay Empire launched another war at this time. The hungry people of Mettenheim had no energy to fight back and could only hide in the mountains and passively defend themselves.
So the current Count of Mettenheim, Guderian von Mettenheim, called on everyone to find ways to get new seeds, because famine for one or two years can be survived, but if new seeds are not obtained, there is no hope at all.
Therefore, the legion that Frederick was in was fighting for the best crops from the most suitable places.
The southern part of the Bacchus Empire has the same ocean peninsula climate as Mettenheim. To put it scientifically, the latitude and climate environment are not much different, so the grain seeds there will be more suitable.
A million pounds of grain is certainly not enough, but if we get a million pounds of suitable seeds, maybe in a year we can completely save the country.
"If that's the case, then I do have a solution... After I have arranged the affairs of the territory, I will take you to Dilingang."
…
In early May of the 355th year of the Pendor calendar, the eastern part of Sarleon welcomed a rare period of peace.
The Jatu people did not move south this year, but instead set their sights on the city of Xiaofu in the northern Kingdom of Crow Stern. It is said that the two sides are fighting fiercely.
The Bacchus Empire did not launch another war. It was said that the snake worshippers in their country were rampant again and Emperor Marius was ordering all lords to hunt them down.
Inside the Kingdom of Sarleon, King Ulric did not make any moves. He just sent some knights to Changhe Town to investigate the case of Lady Bella's heresy.
But anyone with a discerning eye knew that these knights were here to monitor Changhe Town.
Duke Brunus, who was appointed as the acting governor of Changhe Town, has been in his own Cliff Bay and has never been to Changhe Town.
He only sent his son, Lord Malbert.
However, Lord seemed to have no intention of managing Changhe Town. Perhaps Duke Brunus had told him not to conflict with Godric. Anyway, he would never be found in the administrative hall.
This wealthy young man, who was only in his twenties, either went hunting, fishing or traveling around every day. The scenery around Changhe Town was indeed very nice, and the lord seemed to enjoy it very much.
Because the armies of the three prophets were defeated before, many knights in the Prophet's Legion fled with the defeated soldiers.
In order to prevent those escaped rogue knights and defeated soldiers from causing chaos around Changhe Town, the first policy that Baron Godric promulgated as Chief of Eastern Military Affairs was to rebuild the horn summoning patrol system, strengthen public security, and suppress bandits.
As a result, the Horn Summoning Rangers dispatched a large number of soldiers and horses to patrol everywhere, Brave Shield Castle and White Hart Castle also responded actively, and even the Owl Knights joined the ranks of hunting down the bandits.
For a time, the entire eastern region was full of patrols, and there were also high-level night scouts such as Owl Knights who were investigating everywhere.
If any bandits dare to show up, they will be chased for hundreds of miles once they are discovered.
The eastern part of the kingdom soon became calm and peaceful, and it was estimated that most of the bandits fled to other areas.
Facts have proved that no matter what era, as long as the leaders of a place are truly willing to do something practical, or even if there is no one messing around, the place will definitely become better.
——Of course, the leaders in the eastern region are mainly here to cooperate with a certain transportation company’s business…
But in any case, this is a rare good sight for civilians in the eastern region.
There have been no large-scale natural disasters from last year to now, and this year's grain harvest is quite good.
Heretics were eliminated, bandits disappeared, a large number of horse-drawn carriages could be seen coming and going on the roads every day, and the number of merchants from all over the country also increased.
It seemed like life had hope again.
Except for Serenmis and Trubrun...
Trubrunn is now completely empty, without a single soul left; all the people in this place were killed by the heretics.
The situation in Serenmis village was slightly better, but there were only five hundred poor old people left.
The houses were burned down, the young and strong were killed, all the young girls were taken away by the three prophets, and all the property and food were looted.
Sir Roland was at Serenmis at this time.
Serenmis was once inhabited by more than 2,000 people and was originally the domain of a baron.
The skinny knight Morgan who had followed the Prophet's Legion before was the Baron's subordinate, and his former knighthood was in Serenmis.
But the Baron was unwilling to follow the Three Prophets, and his entire family was killed a few months ago, leaving only two elderly people.
One was the baroness's wife, and the other was an old butler, both in their sixties.
Morgan once gave up his territory to follow heresy, which was a stain that could never be washed away in his lifetime. However, he turned to the light at the last moment and helped Leofric set the fire successfully, which was considered his own redemption.
Therefore, under the joint guarantee of the three barons Godric, Leofric and Leon, he returned to Serenmiss and became the adopted son and guardian knight of the Baroness.
If he could rebuild the village, the Baroness would leave the domain to him.
This was certainly a good opportunity for Morgan, a mediocre knight, but he could not afford to support hundreds of elderly people who had lost their homes and had nothing.
There were no young and strong men left in Serenmis. The only ones left were Morgan and his nine soldiers.
He couldn't bring hope to these old people, so sending them to a place where they could survive was a simple act of kindness.
When he heard that Sir Roland was going to take these old people to the Corn Country, he actively assisted Roland in sending the old people out of Sirenmis and even gave them three days of food.
Morgan is not a bad person by nature. He sincerely hopes that these elderly fellow villagers can live a better life.
The three prophets' words and the sacrificial orations they used were consistent with those of the goddess of justice. With such teachings and the beautiful doom-bringer, most of the knights they deceived were actually ordinary people like Morgan.
They are unwilling to do evil, but also unable to do good; they have some desires and ambitions, but their wisdom is limited; they have some knowledge and skills, but not much courage; they can get some opportunities, but often cannot grasp them.
This is true for Morgan, and in fact, it is true for everyone.
According to Sir Roland's original idea, he would have looked down on people like Morgan.
He has followed a heretic, has little ability himself, and seems to have no advantages. He is a completely mediocre person, the kind that would be lost if thrown into a crowd.
But now, Roland did not show any arrogance or prejudice.
After being reminded by the Lord, he saw the shining points of an ordinary person in Morgan.
Morgan treated those old people very kindly. He might be mediocre, but he was a noble knight after all, and the lord of this village.
But he did not regard himself as superior to others. His attitude towards Sir Roland was exactly the same as that towards those frail old civilians.
He would say goodbye to every old person and give them some meager food.
He will not actively seek justice, but when the elderly need help, he will try his best to do something to help.
Of course, there were many times when he couldn't do it, and at this time he would smile and say that he really couldn't do anything.
Morgan's actions inspired his soldiers, and those who had enough strength to survive tried their best to participate in the migration.
Maybe there wasn't much Morgan could do, but he was doing his utmost to give the elderly people from his hometown a better chance of survival.
Even if he would lose most of his subjects and his few possessions.
At this moment, Roland understood what Leon had warned him - let everyone play a role in establishing order, and thereby establish orderly groups and legal principles to protect the people.
That is the teaching of the Goddess of Order. It is not simply about good and evil, killing in the name of justice, nor is it relief and charity from a high position.
Morgan looked so mediocre, and he didn't have the ability to do much, but at this moment he led everyone to do good, and no one even mentioned the subject of the people's belonging.
Then Sir Roland also dismounted and began to bow before the common people.
For the first time, this paladin personally held the hands of an elderly civilian and took the first step towards the true mission given .
If we want the goddess of justice to return to the earth, what is needed is not killing heretics and expelling robbers, nor is it charity and sympathy, but passing on the good deeds of ordinary people and conveying them to people's hearts.
During the past few days in Serenmis, Roland developed Morgan into a believer of the Goddess of Justice and took the first step in rebuilding the Knights of the New Dawn.
Leon once warned him not to just look at the teachings of the goddess of justice, as every goddess has meaning.
Don't think of yourself as a superior spokesperson for justice, because what you can do, others cannot.
You may become a superhero that others admire, but others will only see you as a superman and will only ask for help but will not think about what they can do because they will feel that they can't do it.
Kindness in the form of charity is actually a sin.
This sin is called arrogance.
What we should really do is to get involved.
In a way that an ordinary person can do, guide the people around you to do justice and be kind. Don't force perfection, but don't condone evil either.
That’s enough. The spark of kindness will continue to be passed on.
The residence established in people’s hearts is the ladder for the goddess of justice to return to the earth.
…
When Sir Roland led his men back to Maixiang Territory, Leon was calculating the food reserves in the territory.
The food that the lord planned to obtain is actually almost enough.
extorted six hundred thousand pounds from Fotherg;
From the estate of Foucher four hundred thousand pounds;
Nearly three hundred thousand pounds were brought back from the village of Kerwin;
Combined with the "wild wheat" received from Troublen and the output of the Rye Country itself, the Rye Country has now become the place with the most abundant food in the eastern region.
And in the next harvest season, in addition to its own harvest, it will be able to supplement another 300,000 pounds from Kwen Village.
White Hart Castle is not short of food now, and Godric has also transported back a large amount of food from Changhe Town.
This baron is indeed an upright man, but he often abuses his power for personal gain. In the name of suppressing bandits, he emptied the food reserves left by Alma and Fothert in Changhe Town...
The goal of becoming the largest grain trader in the eastern region will probably have a good chance of being achieved if Bailubao and Maixiangling can grow a large amount of wheat this season.
The Lord was looking for food everywhere, but it wasn't for food . He was also looking for more food to grow...