Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 92 Shareholders and Manors

Ed originally wanted to support farmers in farming, but he failed in terms of productivity.

In Westeros, farmers only have the right to lease the land. The land belongs to the lord, and the lord rents the land to the farmers. In addition to the land rent, he can also get the labor of the farmers. Normally, a farmer spends one-third of his time in Work in the lord's fields, and give priority to harvesting the grain of the lord's manor when the farming is busy.

In order to attract the hidden population in the north to gather in Winterfell, Ed sold the houses and fields in the winter town at a low price, and promised the farmers to reclaim the land. Luo is very generous.

Ed thought that many farmers would be attracted to reclaim wasteland, and the wasteland around Winterfell would turn into patches of farmland, but very little land was reclaimed.

Constrained by productivity problems, many farmers in the winter towns need to collect livestock and plows to complete the plowing and sowing, and they are unable to reclaim the wasteland.

On the other hand, once farmers reclaim wasteland, their land rent and taxes will rise accordingly. Once the reclaimed land is abandoned, Winterfell will not reduce or exempt taxes and land rent. This makes farmers more cautious when reclaiming wasteland, otherwise they will lose money. There is a risk of losing money in farming.

In the farm, Ed looked at the weather-beaten face of farmer Darren in front of him, thinking about how to help the old man.

In the breeding farm, Darren suddenly became excited, he held Ed's hand, "Master Ed, it's better than this, I don't want to borrow cattle anymore, I am willing to hand over the cattle and farm tools, my fields and houses to you." To Winterfell, I just ask you to let me join Winterfell Manor and become a tenant farmer of Winterfell Manor, so that I don’t have to worry about farm tools and livestock.”

Ji Wen, the manager of the farm, said: "Lord Ed, there are indeed many farmers who have requested to join Winterfell Manor and become tenant farmers of the manor. Tenant farmers have higher taxes, but they are more secure. They can use Winterfell's farm tools and animals. "

Ed put his hand on Darren's, "Darren, you can become a sharecropper in Winterfell Manor."

Darren happily knelt in front of Ed, kowtowed in thanks and left.

Looking at Darren's back, Ed said to Clare, the financial advisor on the side: "Winterfell needs to reach a closer cooperation with the farmers. I think it's better than this. We issued a notice to inform the residents of Winterfell Town, People can freely choose to join the Stark Manor and become sharecroppers."

"Once they become tenant farmers in the manor, they can use Winterfell's plow horses, cattle, and agricultural tools to cultivate the land. These tenant farmers can enjoy the medical services provided by Winterfell. Winterfell gives priority to hiring the family members of tenant farmers to work in Winterfell's workshops. Our children have the opportunity to learn blacksmithing, carpentry, stonemasonry, weaving and other crafts."

The financial advisor Kral said excitedly: "Lord Ed, many farmers have been bound to the land for generations, and their children have little chance of becoming craftsmen. Now that Lord Ed has opened the door for them, I believe there will be Many farmers joined the estate and became sharecroppers.”

Ji Wen, the manager of the farm, clapped his hands, "The cows in our stables and the plow horses in our stables work for the manor. The tenant farmers can also work in the stables and farms. The manor will attract many farmers to join. In this way, the farm, The workshop and Winterfell are full of people."

Ji Wen took Ed and Clare to the front of the unicorn, which was lying on the ground basking in the sun, chewing the beast grass in its mouth.

This unicorn cub was a gift from Skaggs Island rock species to Ed, and the beast grass was also brought back from Skagos Island by Ed.

"Ji Wen, how many of these beast grasses have we planted?"

Ji Wen said happily: "More than ten acres have been planted. Lord Ed, this kind of beast grass grows very fast, and cattle, sheep and pigs like to eat it. Can this kind of grass really grow in winter?"

Ed nodded, "The rock species told me that the beast grass can grow on the high mountains of Skagos Island, where it is colder than Winterfell and the terrain is higher, and the beast grass will not freeze to death in winter."

Ji Wen was very excited, "This is a good thing. With the beast grass, the pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and horses in the stables in our farm will have something to eat in winter."

"There is not enough light in winter, and the beast grass will not freeze to death, but it grows very slowly." Ed reminded Ji Wen, "We should plant the beast grass in a large area in summer, and store it as feed in the warehouse after harvesting."

Animal husbandry occupies an important position in the northern border. During the winters that lasted for several years, the land was frozen by heavy snow and the farmland could not be harvested. However, as long as poultry and livestock have enough food and keep warm, they can still provide meat for the northern border. Eggs and dairy products.

After Winterfell issued a notice to recruit tenant farmers in Stark Manor, the residents of the winter escape town enthusiastically signed up, attracting more than [-] households to sign up on the first day.

After becoming a tenant, the tenant can use the livestock and farm tools provided by Winterfell, the tenant can enjoy the medical services provided by Winterfell, and the family of the tenant has the opportunity to work in the Winterfell workshop or Winterfell to subsidize the family.

Children of sharecroppers can go to forges, stables, shipyards, toy workshops, wool spinning workshops and other places to become apprentices and learn skills, which is very attractive to farmers.

Stark Manor has obtained more labor force and a large piece of land, and Stark Manor can reclaim more land in an orderly manner and organize production.

This morning, Eddard and Maester Luwin came to the manor together and saw a group of farmers plowing the fields with plow horses pulling heavy plows.

The heavy plow is very heavy. Ed saw three farmers driving five plow horses to pull the heavy plow. Ed frowned, "The heavy plow is too heavy, isn't it?"

Maester Luwin touched the necklace on his neck, "Lord Ed, the heavy plow is a great invention of the ancestors of Westeros! Some people say that the ancestors invented the heavy plow. I think it is unlikely. Bronze weapons and armor were used, while heavy plows required strong ironwork."

"I think it was the Andals or the Rhoynar who brought the heavy plow to Westeros. Whoever invented the heavy plow is a great invention."

Maester Luwin led Ed to an idle heavy plow, and introduced: "Master Ed, please look, the plow share cuts the land horizontally, and the coulter cuts the soil vertically. The heavy plow can turn the land over and cut the weeds. In this process, manure is mixed into the land to increase the fertility of the land. The resulting ridges also help to irrigate the land and drain water.”

"The land in the river bay, the land between the rivers, and the king's land are softer and easier to plow. The land in our northern border is cold and hard black soil. If there is no heavy plow, the people in the northern border will starve to death in winter. .”

"The shortcomings of the heavy plow are also obvious." Ed pointed out, "The structure is unreasonable and too heavy. Look at the gap between the plow wall and the plowshare. It is too big and the resistance is too great. There are so many plow horses pulling the heavy plow. It's all exhausting."

Ed took out a blueprint from his sleeve, "Master Luwin, build this kind of plow according to my blueprint, it will definitely work better than heavy plows."

Maester Luwin's eyes widened, "Qu Yuanli?"

　Thank you for the monthly pass of the book friend "Clownfish 123", thank you for your support!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)