I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 185 Maple Leaf Sugar is also Sugar
Pilgrim Peter was eventually sent away to tend the apple grove.

Because Peter was one of the few people who knew about grafting techniques, Luc simply handed over all the affairs of the apple orchard to him.

As for the so-called Persian waterwheel, Luc has no plans to build it for the time being.

What is a Persian Waterwheel?
If the waterwheel is a small irrigation tool that needs to be built one by one and woven into a network to cover more and more fields, then the Persian waterwheel itself is a network.

Peter did not understand the principles of the Persian waterwheel.

But he copied the relevant drawings.

"A madman of normal intelligence."

Looking at Peter returning from the church after praying at sunrise every day, Luc quietly made a conclusion about him.

After all, it is difficult to describe someone who believes that Arab technology was stolen from Rome as a normal person.
"Here, sir, are the things you requested: the gears, the vertical shaft, and the round wooden disc."

It was a new day. After Luc inspected all areas of the manor, Ryan placed some newly crafted items in front of him.

"Also, let Old Eck, the butler, make the belts you need. Honestly, sir, I think the leatherwork should be replaced by someone else. Old Eck has too much to do."

"Let's wait until we find the right person."

Luc took the leather and pulled it with his long hand. Hmm, it was quite tough. It must be mixed with some animal tendons.

Hearing Ryan's proposal, he remained noncommittal.

At present, if there is any large-scale industry in the manor, it is basically non-existent except for agriculture and forestry.

Salt is barely an emerging commodity.

In addition, there is no need to set up a separate one for leather workers and winemakers.

Unless you're a blacksmith.

"We don't have enough people yet. We can discuss detailed divisions after the autumn harvest. Our mission today is simple: build the sawmill first!"

The manor has taken shape, and there will be tax requirements in the second half of the year. It seems to be a good thing, but there will also be some disadvantages.

For example, there is a shortage of manpower.
Free farmers are not serfs. Since they have paid taxes, they can no longer be driven around as arbitrarily as before. Some businesses that make profits for the manor, or to put it bluntly, for Luc's personal pocket, such as logging and charcoal burning, are bound to be affected.

Unless his serf group continues to expand
"No wonder the other lords didn't allow the free farmers to cut down trees."

If you don't work for these feudal lords but steal resources, you will indeed be banned.

Maybe I could collect some logging tax myself?
Well, the logging tax is not necessarily in grain or pfennig. For example, the free farmer must cut as much wood for the lord as he cuts himself.
Luc thought about it and thought it feasible. He told Ryan to tell old Eike and have it engraved on the cross.

Luc will use that cross as a propaganda tool for the law in the future.

In fact, some have taken to referring to it privately as the Luc Cross Code.

"Let's go to the water mill!"

Luke thought carefully and took the materials and rushed to the Agate River first.

After a few steps, they reached the dry bank and looked at the gurgling water. Luc called over the five new serfs. They were experienced craftsmen who had previously worked in the mill in Macon County.

First, they used a valve to stop the water mill, and then everyone rolled up their trousers and waded into the river water, which was no longer so cold.

This water mill also has a large gear on the main shaft. A newly made small gear is fixed a little away from the large gear. Then little Maiman comes over after hearing the news. Luke immediately calls him and starts to chisel a gap in the middle of the two gears to connect the main shaft.

Seeing everyone's careful and rigorous attitude, Luc turned his head and looked at the free countryside in the distance.
It can actually be called a small village.
Conical huts built with thatch and wood are placed next to each other, and a thin, waist-high pointed wooden fence surrounds the small yard.

Luke wanted them to raise some livestock, but found that there seemed to be nothing to raise.
First of all, there are not so many wild goats. Luc had gone west on horseback several times. He didn't know if it was because the population of the manor was increasing and the range of activities was expanding, but in contrast, the range of animals was reduced a lot.

Not to mention goats, even the red deer that once appeared in herds are rarely seen now. Only by walking deeper into the forest can you vaguely see a string of deer hooves.

There are a lot of pheasants.
"But chickens also need feed. We'll have to wait until autumn."

Everything depends on food. After waiting for a while, everyone in the river finally finished installing.

Ryan shouted, "Master, what do you think?"

"Great! Fix the small gear and then use the wooden shaft as a latch to insert it into the gap that little Maiman chiseled. Let's see if it works!"

"Okay sir!"

Ryan dispersed the crowd, waded through the rushing river water and opened the valve. The water that had been blocked for a long time rushed to the water wheel. The large gear that had just been inserted with the pin began to turn. Luke took the opportunity to quickly walk into the mill, and sure enough, he saw that the millstone was still moving up and down.

"Little Maiman, how are you doing over there?"

"The small gear is not turning!" Hearing the voice of little Maiman coming from afar, Luke nodded with satisfaction.

"Okay, swap it again!"

Little Maiman deftly inserted the pin into the small gear. As Luc expected, this time it was the millstone that stopped rotating. On the other side, the round wooden disc connected to the small gear with a wooden stick was moving up and down at a faster speed.

"Done!"

Luc patted the modified mill. All he had to do next was install the saw on the disc to successfully assemble the sawmill.

“But it still needs some experimentation.”

In fact, the original plan was not so complicated. Instead, he wanted to install gears directly on the main shaft. However, after talking with Peter, a pilgrim who had seen the Moors' multi-purpose building, Luc suddenly realized that he had indeed thought too simply.

The speeds required for the two are not the same.

After instructing Ryan and little Maiman to get a piece of wood, Luc wandered along the river bank.

With a sawmill, the work of sawing and splitting wood will be much easier. Maybe it's time to get a small boat.

And there is a bridge.

After a while, the two hurried back.

Ryan pushed the wood to slide and waved to Luc, "Master, I found something new!"

Ryan came running over, and saw a piece of pottery in his palm, which he handed to the puzzled Luc.

Luc, who was confused at first, took a closer look and saw that the clay pot was full of sticky liquid.

The surface of the liquid is covered with a layer of sparkling floating objects that look like snowflakes.

Luc was stunned for a moment, dipped his hand in the sticky juice, and his fingers were covered with it. He raised them up and reflected the sunlight. His pupils gradually became as bright as the liquid.

"Where did you get it?" Luc asked.

"Little Maiman collected it, he said, from the sap left when the white maple trees were felled."

"White maple tree?"

"Are there any white maple trees around here?"

"There's one on the east side, but it's not much."

Luc took a deep breath and said, "Tell little Maiman that he should collect more maple sap in the future!"

"Yes!"

After installing the saw and wood, everyone adjusted the height several times in the rolling water. Finally, the sawmill began to nod and cut the first piece of wood amid cheers.

Luc took the maple leaf juice back to the Deer Hall and asked the cook to cook it. In the evening, a small jar of maple leaf syrup was placed in front of Luc.

(End of this chapter)