Throne of the North.

Chapter 18 It’s going to be a hot winter

In addition to the foothills suitable for farming discovered by the Bain family, similar environments were found in two other places. Ryan speculated that nearly 500 acres of farmland might eventually be developed.

The three places are about two or three kilometers away from Xijiao Mountain, which is not far.

Therefore, after the location was determined, the entire frozen land area was put into intense development under Ryan's will.

"Don't even think about being lazy. The Lord has already told you that the ten slaves with the best performance will become citizens of the Frozen Territory."

"There are only ten spots available. This will be your only chance to escape slavery in your lifetime, and you don't even have to go down to the mines!"

"I also tell you that the five people who perform best every day can get an extra piece of black bread from me every day!"

"The person with the best performance in a month will be given five bottles of jam by my Bain family."

At the foot of the mountain, fortunately it did not snow today. The slaves were wrapped in thick linen clothes and wielded hoes and shovels. In the distant white snow, the blessed Bain roared loudly, while several other members of the Bain family and several villagers who were on good terms with the Bain family became supervisors.

"What are you doing? That's the edge of the terrace. If you dig it up, the next terrace will have to move back. This is the lord's land. Do you want to die, you peasant?"

"And you, the Lord said that every time we dig a palm's depth, the Bain family must personally inspect the soil. How long is a palm? Do you want to cut off your claws and measure it?!"

"And you guys, you're here to turn the soil. Not even a grain of soil can fly out of the terraced field. Are you swinging your arms so high to throw all the soil out?"

Boom boom!

Many bonfires were lit in the working fields, warming the surroundings.

"The lord is kind-hearted. He even gave you peasants a fire to warm up. This is to prevent you from getting sick. Remember to evenly spread the ashes from the burning wood and weeds on the fields so that those who till the soil can blend them into the land."

"And that thing over there, that's feces. Do you know that it's feces? It's more valuable than your life. Do you know how much feces there is in the entire frozen land?"

"The Lord said that burying these manures in the soil can maintain the temperature of the soil and increase the fertility of the soil."

"Do you know what fertile means? It means that for every acre, the lord can harvest ten more kilograms of wheat. Ten kilograms, your lives are not worth ten kilograms."

Bain, who was at the top, listened to the roars of the supervisors and nodded with satisfaction. His family was about to become rich, and now these people were eager to join them.

Even the slaves were the same, because the lord gave the nomination rights for those ten places to their Bain family.

With such a great favor, it would be hard for the Bain family not to rise.

Unable to hold back his excitement, Bane glanced at the slaves who were cutting down trees in the distance and helping his family build houses. Almost instantly, his pupils shrank as sharp as needles!
"Who told you to cut down the trees here?"

Almost in an instant, Bane became a snake whose tail was stepped on. He roared and rushed forward. The physique of an apprentice knight made his tall body full of oppression.

"The Lord said that these trees cannot be cut down. Every winter, the trunks must be wrapped with hemp ropes. In this way, after ten years, the soil underfoot will become suitable for farming."

"And these trees block the cold wind and heavy snow from the north. Do you want to turn these fields into permafrost?"

"Get out! Go and chop trees at the foot of the mountain. That place will become terraced fields anyway." Bain looked at the two or three fallen trees in fear. If the lord heard about this and became dissatisfied with Bain's family, then everything would be ruined.

As for how the slaves cut down trees at the foot of the mountain and transported the trees here, he didn't bother to care.

...He still has to take care of it. These are not slaves of his Bain family. They are slaves used by the lord to develop the frozen land territory.

"Well, as a future farm owner, it's not shameful to do some work yourself in the early stages of your business."

Bane simply took action himself. In fact, after seeing this scene, many slaves and civilians felt much more relieved.

The Bains did not become masters in an instant, the gap between them is not that big.

Thinking of this, some civilians became motivated because the lord also said so.

Participation in this development will exempt one year's taxes for the coming year. At the same time, if someone performs exceptionally well in certain aspects, he or she will have the opportunity to serve as the steward of the frozen land territory.

What does "certain aspects" mean? They are technical skills. For example, some people are good at management, some are good at ironwork, and some are good at carpentry. In short, if you are good at certain aspects, you can become a big shot in the frozen land.

As for taxation, it is impossible this year, but if the lord is concerned, many civilians will become slaves because they cannot pay taxes. Not collecting taxes for a year is a huge benefit for civilians.

This was true for common people, and even more so for slaves.

If they could become civilians, they would also enjoy tax exemptions, and they would have a whole year to accumulate wealth and seek better houses and food.

Thinking of this, many slaves' minds drifted towards the village being built at the foot of Rhino Horn Mountain.

About seven or eight hundred people will cultivate fertile fields at the foot of three mountains this winter, while the rest will build houses at the foot of Rhino Horn Mountain.

With a crossroad as the center, houses and yards have taken shape on a simple scale. In just half a month, many people's hands have become exhausted from cutting down trees and have developed blisters, but they are still happy.

Because the Baron Lord said that this winter, for the houses built according to the grids on the planned drawings, they would not be charged for cutting down trees, and all the houses would belong to them.

These two points alone are enough to ignite the fire of struggle in everyone's heart.

Houses do not have to pay for the land they occupy, trees do not have to be cut down, and even firewood is not required to be stored.

Coupled with the one-year tax exemption after participating in the construction, they couldn't imagine how comfortable their life would be in the following year.

Although the lord also said that three identical houses must be built in order to get one of them, is this a big deal?
Based on this, the slaves' eyes also revealed burning flames.

Because in the lord's plan, there are slums, simple shacks that can bring warmth, shelter from wind and rain, and they are all built by the slaves themselves, so there is naturally no cutting of corners.

These slaves saw from this a future where they would not freeze to death or starve to death. What the lord said when he brought them to the frozen land territory had really come true.

So how far is it from being a slave to becoming a commoner?
For a while, it was in full swing.

(End of this chapter)