I'm not a lord

Chapter 91 What is the most important thing when being a lord?
The task of autumn harvest is very heavy.

All serfs who were able to work, including children in their teens, had to get up before dawn and work from sunrise to sunset without a moment's rest.

Strong male serfs were responsible for harvesting wheat, non-pregnant female serfs picked up wheat ears, and children either stayed at home to take care of livestock or helped in the fields.

Behind them, serfs loaded the harvested wheat onto horse-drawn carts and then transported it to the threshing floors of various villages.

The serfs in the threshing ground were responsible for unloading the wheat from the carts and spreading it on the ground. They then drove the draft horses to pull the stone rollers to thresh the wheat ears.

Last year, these serfs could only use flails.

A person can only thresh 200 kilograms of rye in a whole day, which is much less efficient than using a stone roller.

But this year's grain output is really too high.

Lin En even mobilized several carriages from the trading post, and the 150 soldiers who were training in the military camp also joined the harvest battle.

At this time, the fan wheels made by carpenters such as Tolima had been delivered to various villages in a timely manner.

This thing is very simple to operate. The serfs pour the threshed rye into the fan wheel and shake the handle to use the wind power to separate the grains from the chaff.

During the harvest war, the estate steward, Old Albert, was in charge of the overall coordination, while his stewards and village heads were in charge of the command in each village.

They are already familiar with this autumn harvest process.

Although there are a few more efficient tools this year, the overall process has not changed.

The rye grains cannot be stored immediately after being harvested, but must be dried for two to three days.

In the evening, the village head and the stewards would drive the carriages to transport the wheat grains to the edge of the castle and dry them on the spot.

The large open spaces around the castle are used for this purpose.

However, the open space on the north side has been built into a workshop by Lin En.

For a time, even the drying space was a little stretched.

Even the roofs around the castle were covered with grayish rye grains.

In the fields, serfs were busy bundling and transporting straw until sunset.

These straws have very comprehensive uses.

Livestock feed, composting, roofing, fuel for warmth, and weaving tools. In feudal manors, almost all agricultural activities are inseparable from this thing.

The lord would usually only take the grain from the public fields, and most of the remaining straw would be transported back home by the serfs and properly stored.

Only when it was completely dark did the serfs return home in batches.

Although it is tiring, they are willing to do it and even enjoy it.

The rye in the White Bear Territory matures in batches. After the lord's public fields are harvested, it will naturally be their turn to have their share of the land.

The serfs are not blind, nor are they stupid.

They can personally feel the earth-shaking changes in the territory.

Wheat yields were higher, salt became free, every household lived in a brand new stone house, and some lucky people even escaped serfdom.
Although they did more corvee labor than in previous years.

But it's all worth it.

At the same time, they naturally did not forget the new lord who brought these changes.

Most of the serfs were just ordinary people.

Their idea is actually very simple.

They are willing to praise and follow whoever can make their lives better.

Even if it means doing more corvee labor or being whipped a few more times.

Nothing is better than eating hot porridge, nothing is better than a solid and sturdy house, and nothing is better than a promising tomorrow.

After returning home, the serfs, who had worked hard all day, ate porridge to their heart's content and only fell asleep peacefully after they were full and satisfied.

The next morning, they still opened their eyes full of energy, grabbed their tools and rushed to their respective "battlefields." The autumn harvest of 18,000 mu of public land lasted a full week.

Pregnant Yagena was also busy for a whole week, and she kept accurate records of every kilogram of wheat entering the warehouse.

When the last cart of wheat was transported into the castle warehouse, Lynn called the steward and the heads of the village to the hall on the first floor of the castle.

"You have all done a great job this year. After the autumn harvest is completely over, I plan to build a school next to the castle to teach skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. All boys under the age of fourteen in your families can be sent to school."

Lynn only made the school plan public to these middle and lower-level managers today and replaced the annual bonuses with admission quotas.

He emphasized: "All school fees are free. I will provide the children with books, paper, pens and other learning supplies. I will also cover the teachers' fees. You don't have to spend a penny."

This is a blessing from heaven for the managers and village heads.

They all know how important and expensive knowledge is.

There are many managers who want to send their sons to Sanhe City for further studies, but they are all scared off by the high tuition fees.

The superficial knowledge they possessed mostly came from family inheritance, consisting of simple calculations and literacy, which were not enough to achieve class transition.

Lynn's sudden move of "free and open source" caught them off guard.

"Why don't you thank me, Master?"

It was not until old Albert yelled at them that they woke up from their dream and prostrated themselves before Lynn, expressing their gratitude.

"Master, your kindness is like a fire in the winter!"

"Master, I will never forget your kindness in my life!"

"Master, I will follow you till death!"

Lin En raised his right hand, and the excited managers and village heads gradually calmed down.

But the excitement and tears in their eyes could not be faked.

Only by understanding the role of knowledge can we understand its value.

They wanted so badly to make their family progress.

"Tomorrow we'll hold a harvest celebration, and it'll be held in the squares of each manor. I'll cover the food for the celebration, and you'll be responsible for entertaining the serfs. My request is simple: don't skimp on the meat and wine! All the food you take away must go into the serfs' mouths!"

Lin En not only wants to show kindness to the stewards and village heads.

Naturally, he would not forget the serfs who had worked hard for him for several months.

The feudal manors of the continent of Diewas have always had the custom of holding harvest celebrations.

Every autumn after harvesting the crops from the public fields, the lords would summon the serfs and provide them with a hearty lunch for free.

This lunch usually includes ale, bread, meat and other foods that serfs can hardly eat on a daily basis.

Just think of it as a thank you for their hard work throughout the year.

Serfs are also human beings, not nuclear-powered donkeys. They always need some festivals and celebrations after a busy year.

Even the most stingy lord would only withhold some food ingredients but would not abolish the festival.

Lynn wants to continue to increase the regular benefits.

Not only were there enough meat, beer, and bread, but they also had to provide lunch and dinner, and even the serfs were given expensive mead to drink.

In short, just drink and eat as much as you want.

What is the most important thing for a bandit leader?
Fair, fair, it’s damn fair.

Only when rewards and punishments are fair and just can subordinates work wholeheartedly.

The same applies to lords.

(End of this chapter)