The Great Arcanist Who Traveled Through the World of American Variety Shows.

Chapter 550: Witch's Refuge
Richard had a full understanding of the development of the territory. Although the territory he chose was located at the junction of the Roman Empire and the barbarians, there was a dense forest and mountains behind it and a river on the other side.

The river is not very wide, about ten meters wide. It should be a tributary of the Rhine. The water depth is about three or four meters. The river surrounds half of the territory.

The terrain is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but not particularly difficult to conquer. The Romans couldn't defend this place, but that doesn't mean Richard can't defend it either.

The Germanic barbarians' siege technology is still very primitive, so Richard plans to build and reinforce the city walls.

In addition to these, Richard planned to build beacon towers in areas closer to the Germanic barbarians.

After finalizing the territory development plan, Richard began to vigorously encourage farming and build city walls. With sufficient supply of money and food, his territory became prosperous in just a few days.

Richard had better farming techniques and seeds that were far superior to those of this era. He directly let these people use the new farming techniques and seeds to grow crops.

At the same time, Richard even took the German vassal troops to do farming, and in order to increase the enthusiasm of these Germanic barbarians, Richard announced that the land they reclaimed and cultivated would be directly distributed to them after they completed one level of beheading.

During this period of time, more and more exiles, escaped slaves, and bankrupt farmers began to join Richard. After he defeated the Germans, his reputation began to spread in the Gaul region.

After learning about Richard's reputation, those who could not survive began to come here spontaneously. On the other hand, Richard's name also began to spread among the Germanic barbarians, but it was not a good name that was spread here.

Because Richard often attacked at night, the Germans called him the Night Monster.

For the exiles who joined later, Richard did not directly grant them land, but let them cultivate the lord's land. However, after cultivating it for a few years, they could obtain ownership of the land and the corresponding status of freemen.

Of course, if you are willing to join the army, you can directly obtain the land. However, it is not easy to join the army now. Richard does not have much money and food to support the army, so he needs elite soldiers.

If you want to join the army you need to pass an assessment. Of course there are other ways, such as handing in your war horses or having other skills, which can get you better treatment.

This kind of differential treatment is to make those people roll up their sleeves and compete.

In addition to these, Richard began to lead a group of people to build the city wall. In order to speed up the construction of the city wall, Richard specially made a lot of engineering machinery.

These machines use animal or human power and can speed up the process.

Just when Richard was building his territory, a person who surprised him came here.

In the lord's mansion.

Aleiya looked at Richard with a smile on her face.

"I didn't expect that you've developed so quickly in just a few months."

"I heard that you defeated the Germans and forced them to retreat. Even a chieftain of the tribal alliance died here."

"It can be said that this kind of record has not appeared in Rome in the past ten years."

"It's just a sneak attack at night, it's nothing." Richard said nonchalantly.

"What are you doing here this time?"

Alea sighed and said, "Our situation is getting worse and worse. I am ready to leave Rome, but I haven't decided where to go yet."

"Monotheism is becoming more aggressive, and some sisters are planning to flee to the British province across the sea."

"The British province is not peaceful right now. A large number of Anglo-Saxons and Saxon islanders are wreaking havoc in the British province."

Richard continued, "The Celts are fighting a great war with them. If you go to Britain, you will inevitably be involved."

"I don't want to go there either. The Celts there are in trouble and can't provide us with shelter. But at least it's far away from Rome. I don't think the monotheistic hermits will chase us there."

"Not necessarily." Richard shook his head slightly. According to history, monotheism would soon spread to the British province, but it would be slower on the European continent.

Aleiya hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted her teeth and said: "If you are willing to provide us with shelter, we are willing to serve you as our Lord."

Richard looked at Alia with some surprise. This witch could actually make such a decision.

"If you want to preach here, I can only refuse, but if you just want to provide shelter, then I can promise that no one will hurt you here!"

Richard does not intend to intervene in the religious dispute now. The power he possesses now is too weak. Once he intervenes in the religious dispute, the monotheism will definitely concentrate its strength to deal with him.

His territory is still too weak to be in conflict with the monotheistic religion. In this world, the one with the biggest fist has the truth and the right to speak.

He must have enough strength before he can turn against the monotheists.

If he wants to obtain divinity, he can only start a religious war with monotheism. After the creator of the monotheism is weakened, he will come forward to make the final decision and seize divinity.

Before this, if you displayed powerful magic, you would be directly rejected by the world consciousness. "We won't preach." Aleiya smiled bitterly and said, "We just want to find a place to live in peace now."

“After all, that person exists.”

The gods of polytheism have almost stopped responding to them. Without the help of the gods, they even have difficulty casting spells and are no match for the monotheists. Now these witches just want to survive.

"In that case, I can guarantee your safety! As for those monastic orders, if they dare to cause trouble here, I will take action personally." Richard said.

"Thank you for your kindness!" Alea bowed and saluted.

"As a thank you, we have also prepared gifts for you!" Aleyya said and asked someone to bring in a few followers.

"These people are the ones I recruited from Rome. They are good at agriculture, construction, craftsmen, management, textile workers, herdsmen and retired military officers."

"I guess your territory needs them right now!"

Alea said with a smile.

"It's so necessary!" Richard said happily when he saw these people.

When managing the territory, Richard discovered that he lacked a large number of technical personnel. Construction craftsmen could build city walls, ditches, and palaces, and those who were good at agriculture could teach farmers planting techniques.

Managers can help him manage the city, textile workers can weave cloth, herdsmen can help him raise horses, and retired instructors can help him train the army.

It can be said that these people are the most scarce talents in the territory.

"These personnel are only a part of it. We will gather more craftsmen from Rome next." Alia said: "By the way, we will try our best to help you get an official position in the Roman Empire so that the Roman Empire will recognize your rule here."

Although Richard already actually rules here, his development will be faster if he can gain recognition from Rome.

Although these witches were hunted and targeted by monotheism, they still had great influence among the Roman nobility.

This is their family's political legacy. They should use it up before the empire collapses.

After all, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, they no longer had the chance to use it.

At the same time, Alea and the others also began to deal with their property in Rome. Many of these witches were worth a lot of money. After all, many of them were nobles and owned many manors.

Now that I have decided to leave, I cannot take these manors with me, but I can take those craftsmen with me.

In fact, the noble manors of this era already had the prototype of the later medieval noble castles. A noble manor might have several villages, and the people in these villages all farmed for them. There were various production workshops in the manor, and it could be self-sufficient to a large extent.

In normal history, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Germanic barbarians established some Frankish kingdoms in the province of Gaul. These Germanic barbarians directly inherited this manor economy and developed it further.

The later feudal lord system developed on this basis.

Aleyya only brought a few skilled craftsmen this time. She planned to take all the craftsmen away from the manor in batches and sell the manor at a low price.

You know, this is a manor near Rome. Even in such chaotic times as now, when the Roman Empire seems to be crumbling, as long as she takes action, someone will take over soon.

Richard was very satisfied with these craftsmen and directly entrusted them with important tasks.

In addition to these, Aleiya plans to join other witches to buy some war horses and armor. Although war horses and armor are expensive and difficult to buy due to the war, as nobles, they still have some channels to obtain them.

It's just that the quantity is limited.

After all, polytheism had fought back and supported a Roman emperor, and when monotheism gained the upper hand, it restored polytheistic beliefs.

If they didn't have some skills, they would have been killed by monotheism long ago.

Alea is not only a witch, but also knows how to manage. In the Roman era, women were completely different from women in the Middle Ages. Many Roman women in this period participated in politics and management. Women had great rights.

Have a great influence.

You should know that Roman women had the right of inheritance.

These Roman noble women are not just for show. Like Alea, she owns seven or eight estates in various places, all of which she manages, and the annual income is used to cover the family expenses.

Other witches have caravans and fleets, which trade in North Africa and the Mediterranean. It can be said that each of these witches is talented.

Accepting these witches directly solved the problem of talent shortage in Richard's hands. Even many daily affairs of the lord's mansion could be handed over to these witches to handle.

(End of this chapter)