Iron Power And Sorcerer

Iron Power And Sorcerer Chapter 259

2021-02-22

Chapter 259 Harvest
This winter is a little late.

Seeing that it's already November, the sunset over the fields can still give people a touch of warmth.

A dreamlike pure blue sky is cast in a twilight, over the farmhouses, fields, rivers, and distant forests and mountain range hidden in lilac haze.

As night draws near, the farmers in Hedong and Hexi villages have already gone home to drink wheat porridge.

But there are still people working on the land of the former Mitchell Manor and now the No. 1 Harvest Farm in Langtun Township.

An old man opened his coat, raised his wrinkled forehead stubbornly, held the plow cart firmly with both hands, and walked barefoot in front.

Two draught horses dragged the plow cart hard and walked ahead of the old man. Their noses and mouths exhaled moist heat, and the sweat pooled on their ribs and dripped in strands.

Behind the horses, coulters digging deep into the soil cut a long ditch in the field.

The deep soil was turned out, and the large turf swirled in the air along the wings, and finally buckled upside down next to the furrow.

There is a pair of wheels in front of the coulter, the wheels can reduce the burden of the horse, and make the coulter exactly nine inches into the ground, no more or less.

This is the heavy duty plow wagon, which has a hull, wheels, and a walled plowshare for turning the soil.

It's heavy, sluggish, and laborious every turn. In order to minimize the number of turns of the plow carts during field preparation, the yeoman's fields are long and narrow, juxtaposed like zebra stripes.

After the disadvantages, let's talk about the advantages. What's more, is the ability to reclaim thick clay that is difficult to cultivate.

The land of Plato is sticky, heavy, and rocky. Before the birth and popularization of heavy plows, this kind of land was utterly rotten. I can only watch the trees and grass grow, and I cannot develop settled agriculture. At most, I use it for grazing.

Therefore, the ancient republics contemptuously called the fishing and hunting tribes living here "pig herders", because one of the important sources of food for the latter was to drive pigs into the forest for free-range breeding, and wait until autumn. Go hunting semi-wild pigs.

It can be said that the history of the ancient empires expanding their territory to the wilderness is a history of heavy ploughing.

A horse-drawn heavy plow has another advantage over an ox-pulled heavy plow—it's faster.

The old man was holding the plow, and in a blink of an eye, he had already reached a hundred meters away.

It is not enough to plough the soil, but also to "rake" to loosen the soil.

So the old man was followed by a dozen and a half boys. The first half of them carried sticks and pickaxes, and broke down the large lumps of compacted soil along the way; the other half walked behind with a rake shaped like a pegboard, which scraped the surface like a comb, and the compacted earth was further broken up, The farmland was also slightly leveled.

Harrowing is also usually done by horse-drawn rakes. However, the manpower of the harvest farm is far more abundant than the animal power, and the precious horses are used to pull the plow, and the work of raking the ground is naturally reserved for the half-sized children who have not yet developed their strength.

Behind the half-children are their parents.

A short, middle-aged farmer slants a small basket of seeds, swinging his arms rhythmically. Seeds leaked from between his fingers, spreading evenly in the loose soil like tickling rainwater from under the eaves.

This is literally "spreading", all by hand.

Sowing seems to be an easy job, as the short middle-aged farmer hardly sweats. He walked at a moderate pace under the autumn sun, as if a Knight were touring the estate. Others, young and old, were already sweating profusely.

Sowing is actually the hardest job and requires great skill. Only when the seeds are sown evenly can the wheat grow evenly.

Other farm work can be lazy, and if you don't do well, you can do it all over again. But if the seeds are not spread evenly, there is no second chance.

Sowing has always been controlled by the old man Fuli himself. But he was too old now and his hands became unstable, so the old man entrusted the planting basket to the eldest son and went to help the plow himself.

Four grown-up farmers trail behind the sower, pulling a log roller.

The field rolled over by the rollers is leveled, the seeds are rolled into the soil, and the soil is properly compacted for later harvesting.

At the end, a couple of women with water jugs bent down from time to time to water the place where the wheat had been sown. Wheat seeds will sprout and take root when they taste water.

Watering is also a patient and meticulous job. Too much water will not work, and leakage will not work, so women will do it.

Two horses, a plough, and a group of industrious people slowly advance in the field, and the wheat seed is sown in this way.

Compared to the desolate and lonely earth, the seed is very small. But it is life, and life can grow. One day the tiny seed will stand on the ground with a golden body and give birth to new life.

By then, this dead wilderness will also be turned into an ocean of golden.

Three men sat on the fence of the farm, fascinated by this ordinary and magnificent scene.

The three from left to right are Bud, Winters and Lion Cub.

"Do you know what is the easiest crop to grow in the world?" Bud asked suddenly.

"Rye?" asked the little lion curiously.

"No, it's a human being." Bud sighed softly: "[You must be fruitful and prosperous on the ground]. Humans are such a crop, if you leave it alone in the ground, it will be tenacious. grow."

Winters and the lion cub chewed on the words, lost in thought.

"The new Legion has delayed us for too long." Bud said with emotion: "It's too late to renovate the fields. Right now, we need to cultivate as quickly and widely as possible, so we don't care about finesse."

"It's still not subtle? There are forwards, central troops, and defenders, as if fighting on a march." Winters gave a very high evaluation: "It's more interesting than killing pigs."

"Normal farming doesn't do this kind of work, it's just one job at a time. Turn the ground first, and then turn it three times to be more careful. Then harrow the ground, sow, and suppress. Finally, pour the head water." Bud explained patiently: "We're in a hurry now and we have plenty of manpower to do this."

When Winters returned to Wolftown, Bud took him to the farm to see the results.

A few farmers near Winters, digging a trench.

Three other plow wagons can be seen as far as the eye can see. All are far away, as small as ants crawling on the ground, but they are also advancing slowly and firmly.

[First Harvest Farm], the serial number "First" was compiled by Bard, and the name "Harvest" was created by the refugees themselves, carrying their deepest expectations.

“What’s that doing?” Winters looked towards the nearby digger

“Dug a drain to prevent flooding of the farmland.”

Dig a drain Most of the farmers in Qu have wooden tools in their hands, but only a pickaxe and a shovel for iron tools. Some people even hold a cow blade - which is used as a shovel.

Winters sighed: "If only there were more Tie Family guys."

"So you sent me thirty more heavy plow trucks?" Bud faint smile.

"Didn't I also bring a hundred axes?" Winters' cheeks were slightly hot: "There is still iron in Forge Township, and there are not enough blacksmiths right now. It's better to just build a new one. Besides, it's a pity to melt it down. If you don't need it this year, you can save it for next year. Anyway, the plow will come in handy sooner or later..."

Bud gentlely Nod, without saying a word.

Winters is getting more and more guilty: "I'm trying to figure out a way to re-enable Ironpeak. Rest assured, there will be pickaxes and shovels. Put."

Bud continued to smile nodded.

"Okay." Winters sighed, "I'm [silencer]."

Hearing this, the little lion laughed unbridled, leaned back and forth, and nearly fell down the fence.

“What are you laughing at? You know farming?” Winters was furious.

"I really understand." The little lion's eyes were curved like crescent moons—has several points of his elder sister's appearance: "I have been planting sugar cane on Red Iwo for seven years."

Winters' anger was pushed back into his lungs, and he was on the verge of vomiting blood.

Not to mention working in the fields, Kesha's precious nephew has never even planted flowers. He hadn't even touched the plow until he came to Wolftown last year. At that time, he was only a little better than the idiot who thought "flour grows out of the pocket".

Bard dangled his legs and said leisurely: "Actually, I don't know anything about farming."

"en?!"

Bar De as it should be by rights said: "I joined the Green Heart monastery as a servant when I was very young, and I didn't do any farm work for a day. I know a little about herding sheep and horses, but I don't know anything about field work."

Winters is really about to vomit blood: "Then you said clear and logical?"

"I don't understand." Bard replied sternly: "But I will ask."

He pointed to the open-clothed old man with a plough in the distance: "I learned everything about farming from the old man. And the old man has known you longer than me. It's been a while."

Winters remembered the old man who was in the Wolf Town Square, explaining to him "what is farming time".

In a word, Winters understood what Bud wanted to say, and he also restrained his emotions and returned to his serious color.

"There's no need to be so serious." Bud said with a smile: "To be honest, someone else won't do better than you. I just want to chat casually, we didn't do it in the past. Can we talk for a long time?"

"Okay." Winters laughed, but he was actually a little sad because he felt estranged from Bud.

The little lion also pricked up his ears and listened.

"Look, you don't understand farm work, it's actually normal." Bud's tone was sincere: "But does Geraldine not even have a person who understands? Several decades, a blacksmith in Forge Township. They all rely on making farm implements to support their families, can they not understand?"

Budd said more and more earnestly: "But what? Everyone is watching you take the raw materials, manpower and time to build a plow truck , no one said 'No, you should build these little farm tools'. No one."

Hearing Bud's voice, Winters remembered what Anna had told him discourse.

That day, Anna motioned Winters to go to the blacksmith Shaosha after sending her away. In the garden, Anna also told him seriously: "You frowned slightly just now, the blacksmith was shaking with fear, did you find it? They are already afraid of you enough, don't let them be more afraid of you. I don't He understands politics, but if the employees of the Trading Company are only afraid of their employers, the business will not last long."

At that time, Winters wanted to explain to his lover that he was not angry, nor did he think about intimidating others.

"I know, of course I know." Anna shook her head, and she used her fingertips to caress the wrinkles between her lover's eyebrows: "You are just frowning unconsciously, of course I know you don't want to get angry. But others don't. You know, to outsiders—like that Mr. Blacksmith, you're just angry. You see, you're frowning involuntarily now."

"Am I?" Winters astonished.

"Yes. And even if you have no expression on your face, you look angry. So the first lesson my mother taught me is to laugh. A good businessman will always laugh." Anna smiled, lightly Pulling up Winters' cheek lightly: "Don't be stern, don't frown, smile!"

At that time Winters was indeed smiling, but at this moment Winters fell silent.

The atmosphere became cold little by little, and the little lion involuntarily wrapped his clothes tightly.

Bud waited patiently.

"Bud, why did you tell me this?" Winters' eyes were painful: "Why did you tell me this way?"

"You Shouldn't it be fiercely punching me and blunt saying 'you're doing the wrong thing now and no one dares to correct you! Sooner or later'?" Winters felt heartbroken, even a sense of betrayal rage.

This emotion has been accumulated in his heart for a long time: "Am I a dictator or a tyrant? Are you my vassal, my subordinate? You are my classmate, my friend, Oh my bloody brother! Even you have to be around the corner to say these things? What the hell is going on? Do you just distrust me like this? A little power can make people like this?"

This should have been just a friend's exhortation, only to cut the skin, not to hurt the flesh. Bud never imagined that Winters would cut through the flesh and reveal the marrow with an axe.

With tears in his eyes, he said equally painfully: "Winters Montagne, I tell you! You are a dictator now! And a dictator can easily become a tyrant! Go on, you I'm about to become emperor in the republic! I won't stop you from becoming emperor! But I don't want to see you become emperor! Not only for your and my career, but also for your sake! Do you understand? I'm so anxious!"

Winters gasped and pushed the little lion vigorously: "You! Go farther!"

The little lion obediently left.

Winters and Bud stared at each other for a long time before they both burst into laughter, with tears in their eyes.

Winters wiped away tears and asked helplessly, "What about it?"

"If I fucking knew, wouldn't I just do it?" Bud sniffed , rarely swearing swear words: "I still need to tell you this."

"Since there are military tribunes and tribunes?" Winters asked with a smile: "Is it necessary to set up an Elder's Council? It always bears the house number of the station, and it is indeed not well-known and unspeakable."

"Come on." Bud sneered and said angrily: "Where there are sesame and mung beans, the poor bird If you don't shit, is it worth setting up the Elder's Council? Should you hire farmers from Shiliba Village to be the elders? Or should you hire the owners of each town's manor to be the elders? Isn't that asking for trouble? Now it's good, it's easy to make decisions, and it's easy to do things. It's easy.

Emperor, Elder's Council, what's the use of thinking about these now? When the Legion soldiers come, Iron Peak County will be turned into powder. If that day comes, I'll have to flee with you to Victoria Netta does a small business!"

Bud made a final decision: "Take a step, watch a step, and think about shitting before eating, can that work? Legion, the new land, may kill us at any time. , live first, and then talk about other things!"

"it's a deal! If things have reached a dead end someday, we are lucky enough to survive, and we will run back to Hailan to do business!" Winters Laughing loudly, he suddenly remembered his little she-wolf, and said a little sadly: "Actually, even if we want to do business, it's not our turn... Well, in fact, my grandfather is said to be quite a famous businessman..."

"I think I will continue to use the sign of the station for the time being." Bud interrupted Winters, he had too many things to say: "With this sign, everyone can live on in name. To change the brand is to force others to swear allegiance again. I am afraid many people - especially Beibazhen, they are not happy."

"Then continue to use it." Winters chuckled: "But Beibazhen There are many manor owners in the eight towns who have built fortifications and restrained refugees, and I am preparing to clean them up."

Bud said slowly: "What the manor owners want is for the refugees to return to their hometowns and continue to serve them. Hire workers, tenant farmers. This is fundamentally in conflict with our needs. In the past, the manor owners were willing to support you because you brought order. When they realized that we were digging their roots, sooner or later, they turned their faces. There must be a kill, But it’s better to be as tender as possible.”

“I’m also reluctant to fight. When I fight, the bottles and cans will be smashed.” Winters laughed and jumped off the fence: “The palm plow The old man, how about I invite him to Gervodin? Be an agricultural consultant for me. No one dares to teach me, so I will ask more."

"No problem." Bud Also laughs: "I originally wanted to talk to you about this today, who told you to get involved with tyrants and dictators? "

"This matter has been in my heart for a long time. " Winters sighed, and smiled again in a blink of an eye: "It's getting late, let's go! Go back to Mitchell Manor. Go to dinner!"

"No...I won't go." A trace appeared in Bud's eyes Guilt: "Mrs. Mitchell...she even helped me convince other estate owners to hand over the land. She is a really noble and good person, and I don't want to see her."

Not far away, the little lion couldn't wait Patiently, he shouted, "Are you finished? Let's go! Hungry!"

"Then don't go." Winters took Badla off the fence: "Go to the labor camp and eat whatever you want."

The latter smiled nodded wryly.

The three mounted on their horses and quickly walked away.

On the land of Harvest Farms, many more hungry people are still toiling in anticipation of future harvests.

[I don't know how to farm either... So the descriptions of how farmers farmed in the 16th and 17th centuries come from the history of technology, film and television works, and online sources (covering my face)]
[It's too late , so it is not a ridge. Even if the time was too late, in that era, it was not possible to grow wheat in soil like Tiefeng County. The way of sowing is also sowing. On-demand seeding is used for large-grain crops such as beans, and the commonly used drill seeding was promoted after 1800]
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