The_Red_Lands
patreon
Chapter 258- Earning coins through different means
🕑 Added 2019-12-09 15:47:11 +0000 UTC
Earning coins through different means
Earning coins through different means
Chu stood beside his horse while gazing out into the open grasslands. The north-south road ran to the left of him, scattered with little bogs from the winter melt and spring rains. Behind him, in the distance, black puffs of smoke and churning vanes indicated the presence of man and his accompanying industry. The hammering paused nearby.
"We are now ten standard fields south of the windmill. To the east of here should be the barrelworm caves."
Clod said while checking the wooden picket he pounded into the ground to serve as a marker. Chu followed his outstretched muscular arm to see the low rolling hills. Stroking his chin, he then turned to his straw-haired companion.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Once the hard work of tilling and planting is complete, a farming couple can handle one field. What I suggest is to build a small house and a well at the edge of each field. This can serve as a shelter by day until Rose and Jill train an adequate security patrol. The farmers can then live here and manage the fields for us."
Chu folded his arms while listening to the suggestion. In terms of maximizing the efficiency of the fields, Clod possessed more experience. Since occupying the barn, they all followed this brawny boy's lead when it came to farming.
"People tend to become lazy when there is no supervision. How will you deal with these farmers so far from the barn? Will you be visiting them every day?"
"At first, I will use the wagons to transport them from the village to the fields. After this, whoever wants a field will be given one. If they cannot produce and maintain the harvest the same amount of grain we gain from it, we will take it back. As for trying to run away out here, all I can say is good luck with that."
Clod replied. Looking at the lonely expanse of grasslands and the nearby forest, Chu agreed.
Far from the eyes of the ruling class, he gained certain freedom. As a person from the modern world, he dreamed of controlling his own little village. Large enough to swell his head with importance but small enough without the headaches of a kingdom. This way he would skip around the empire whenever he wanted.
A few farms here, a village there, and a castle on the hill.
"Clod, I'm so counting on you..."
***
The week passed by as a month of spring rolled by. Chief Drey began restoration works in full swing, by outsourcing carpenters and masons from Karst. Under their technical expertise, the men in the village tore down the burnt structures and then rebuilt new homes and shops. Chu paid him a visit one afternoon.
"The brawny stonemason over there is a visionary. After a few days, he understood what I wanted. Last night after dinner, he strolled over and suggested I should convert all the shops along the main street as two-level buildings with cellars. This way we can double the number of shops."
Chu watched the man in question direct the villagers carting stone blocks and wooden beams. At one end of the street, a huge frame progressed slowly under the hammering and shouting.
"That's the new tavern near the south gate. The owner of the previous one insists we construct another larger one. Next to it, are burnt and broken homes of three families who died during the demon raid. I plan to convert them into a large inn. The Trading Post Master has estimated the first group of slaves to arrive next week. He estimated a tally of around just over one hundred extra helpers."
"Oh, and what about accommodation, clothing, and food?"
The boy asked. Chief Drey puffed out his chest.
"The carpenters have already repaired thirty houses for them. My daughter is overseeing the women who handle the food and clothing distribution. She informed me they are ready and waiting. The women and girls in the village earn good copper to patch and knit clothing and quilts while the men busy themselves in the rebuilding. The slums are empty."
"And security?"
"Commander Joss ordered the gates of the village to remain closed and has doubled the patrol. He plans to receive your workers himself and inform them of the rules outside the south gate. Then we will welcome them into our village to their new homes. Whoever plans to escape or rebel after this will be treated harshly."
Chu nodded. These slaves were the ones who agreed to his conditions. He possessed no time for liars.
"When they arrive, let them settle in the village for a week. Then we will schedule the work however Manager Pine decides. Have you changed enough gems into coins to pay the villagers?"
"Yes, the Trading Post Master has ensured our coffers are filled."
Chu tapped his fingers on the table beside him.
"Have your daughter select a dozen young men and women in the village. Marie will ride over in the evenings to teach them basic reading and counting. When the buildings on the main street are finished, let them open small shops like a bakery, cobbler, or clothing store. This way we can reclaim some of the money entering the villagers' pockets."
"But some of those shops require skilled craftsmen like a jeweler. It would take them years to learn a trade."
Chu twisted his lip while watching the village chief.
"At this time, we don't need them to learn the skill. For instance, let's take a jewelry store. Just buy the finished pieces in Karst and sell it at a higher price. This way we still make coins. When we find suitable tradesmen for the job, then we're all set up already to rake in more cash."
With the goblins working in the forest, Pine could begin his site preparation and stone harvesting. Once the new residents arrived and settled down, his group would begin selecting their subordinates according to their previous skills. Chu expected the hundred or so previous slaves to be gobbled up instantaneously.
As for the circulating coins, he planned to keep as much as possible cycling through his little hands. While sharing these ideas with the village chief, a man clad in guard clothes picked his way towards them.
"Apprentice Chu, Chief Drey, may I have a moment of your time?"
Chu scanned the man while he came nearer. He couldn't pinpoint this haggard face with a name. Chief Drey seemed to read his thoughts and politely made the introductions.
"This is Captain Millet from the garrison. He was also a suitor for my Emy before she chose Root."
Chu nodded while listening. Leave it to Chief Drey to place such an unfortunate matter into neutral words. The middle-aged man possessed some political skills indeed. Even with knowing he had a superior backing behind him, the village chief remained cordial.
"Thank you, Chief Drey, you are most considerate. I hope to make amends by having my family provide a few herds of cows and sheep as a gift to Apprentice Chu."
"That sounds reasonable indeed. I am sure Apprentice Chu will gladly receive your gifts."
"Hold on a minute, I don't think you understand something here."
Chu interjected. Sighing, he shook his head helplessly before raising it to face the noble.
"I trust your family should have sent you a letter by now?"
The man nodded in the affirmative. The information-gathering of the Tower could not be questioned. Chu twisted his lips while continuing.
"You should know you didn't offend me but someone more fickle. The redhead you thought was a country bumpkin holds status as Grandmaster when it comes to alchemist concoctions. A letter from her with that stupid seal of hers is enough to drive both the Tower and the Alchemist Guild in a frenzy. You are lucky she didn't demand your head. But without another letter from her, your family is finished."
Chu turned to Chief Drey and began talking about improving the village by digging a few more wells and using carts in the morning to remove human waste. As he expected, Captain Millet pressed for a desperate solution. Since the fallout with the girl, he constantly witnessed those abominable wolves prowling around.
One evening a Jaga attacked the village woodsmen returning from the forest, only for its throat to be ripped out by an oversized wolf. While the villagers cheered, he nearly pissed his pants on viewing the scene. Those large, eerie, reddish wolves occupied positions of worship by these backwater pheasants.
"Pardon Apprentice Chu. Please have mercy and assist me. If my family is brought to ruin, they will hunt me down to seek vengeance. Is there no way out?"
"Master Chu, can we show him some leniency? Captain Millet is not an evil man at heart. His family did nothing wrong and I am also to blame. If not for me seeking riches for my daughter, then this would not happen."
Chu looked at the pleading man and then sighed. If Chief Drey didn't have Dyna to assist him, would this man have shown compassion? Looking at the village chief pleading raised his status in Chu's eyes.
"Fine. Write to your family in Karst. Fifty cows and one hundred sheep. Mix in, five or six bulls and rams within the livestock. You have until the start of summer to deliver. I will convince the Grandmaster to draft a letter but if your family fails this agreement, the Tower will hunt them down."
"Thank you, thank you Apprentice Chu, Chief Drey..."
Chu watched the man hobble off as if a load had been lifted. He turned to the chief and smiled.
"How would you like to become Mayor of a town?"
***
In Frost City, a different type of chaos unfolded.
"What am I to do? None of the bakers want to buy my flour even though I am willing to take a loss. Even my friend Giles down at the General Store says he cannot take it. It's like the heavens themselves is out to destroy me!"
Merchant Quin shouted while jumping up from the lavish, dining table. In a fit of rage, he then swiped the tin plates and decorated goblets away. They clattered on the polished wooden floor, spewing their contents all over. His wife frowned at the debacle.
"Do we pay you to stand like dummies? Hurry and clean the floor. And don't dilly-dally to serve another plate to your master!"
Mrs. Quin shouted an order while walking across to her husband. She never witnessed her husband look this distraught and haggard since they married. As a successful merchant, he usually had a firm grasp of the markets. Over the past few days, however, he returned home more and more aggravated and worried. Last night she even heard him weeping while sitting over the chamberpot.
Ignoring the little girl cleaning up the mess, she tried to console him.
"Have you also tried the Merchant Guild? Maybe they can help you stem the losses."
"You think I haven't tried? Right now all the merchants who have hoarded grains and flour have swamped the Guild for help. Since there were merchants who did not raise prices during the past few weeks the Guild refuses to help. If they do, they stand to lose favor with officials and the common people because of greedy practices."
Merchant Quin mussed while brushing away the woman's consoling arm.
"It's over. There is no way out. Even if we sell everything, we cannot repay the debt. Can your mother still walk? Maybe we can sell her as a slave?"
"What? How can you think of selling her as a slave? And besides, she has been bedridden for the past year."
"Then what about you? Can't you become a slave to save your husband? Didn't I provide for you all these years?"
Merchant Quin muttered like a maniac with a gleam in his eye. His words unleashed a barrage of curses and shouts from his wife.
Below them, under the sharp words which rained like arrows, little Kat smiled.
When merchant Quin tossed for the hundredth time that night, a servant suddenly knocked on his bedroom door. The disturbance caused him to lash out a string of curses before he calmed down.
"What is it?"
"A Mr. Singh is here to see you, Master. He says this matter is of utmost concern to you but is confidential. All he told me is that it concerns flour..."
