I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 12 I am a lord, not a bandit

Composting is the process of mixing plant residues, kitchen waste, and manure together for fermentation.

Hay, fallen leaves, fruit peels, swill, excrement, and crushed bones were put into the pit and piled up in layers, with a thin layer of soil sprinkled on each layer before piling them up.

This fermentation process requires regular stirring to maintain aeration and even decomposition, and it can be transformed into organic fertilizer in four to five months.

Rhodes's humus master can ferment these fertilizers in two weeks, which requires the townspeople to stir them every day.

The smell in the compost pit during the first week was truly maddening. Every time Rod went to check on it, he would cover his mouth and nose tightly, take a spoonful, look at it, and leave immediately.

Rod was afraid he'd get too much flavor if he stayed even a second longer.

Otto was in charge of supervising the work, while the remaining mixing was handled by five farmers.

"Oto, can you help me find a different job?"

The farmer, his nose stuffed with burlap, mumbled by the latrine, "Last night when I got home, my wife wouldn't let me in the house."

Otto sighed and pointed to the short, chubby boy not far away, saying, "My youngest son is in the cesspool next to yours. I can only let you switch with him."

Now everyone knows that composting is just stirring the manure pit with sticks every day, and nobody wants to do it anymore.

With only two meals a day, who can work so hard?
"Shall we switch to another group?"

Due to insufficient manure, some compost pits are filled with more mud and wood ash, along with wild grass, moss, leaves, and a small amount of bird droppings. A small amount of water is added to keep the pile moist while turning it over regularly.

This organic fertilizer ferments much faster, taking about a week to ferment with the help of Master Rhodes, and is also very suitable for growing grain crops.

Because of the presence of sludge, this composting pit doesn't smell very good, but compared to a cesspool, it's like paradise.

Otto sighed again, and the farmer beside him, who had already given up hope, calmly said, "Lov, you should give up on this unrealistic idea as soon as possible. No one will trade with us."

"But there's also good news."

Otto suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The lord told me to tell you that after we finish, each of you five will receive an extra two jin of meat and a set of clothes."

The farmers' eyes lit up, and Lof, leaning on his stick, leaned towards Otto, "Not work points?"

"Meat is ready now, I'll post it as soon as I'm done!"

"Great... Hey!"

In his excitement, Love slipped, lost his grip on the stick, and fell straight into the cesspool!

"help me!"

……

……

"Did you manage to save them?"

Rod, who was forging iron in the blacksmith's shop, listened to Otto's report and asked while suppressing a laugh.

With everything assigned, Rhodes had some free time to forge the one-handed sword he had promised Durant.

Rhodes was also curious about the effect of materials that increase the strength of the finished product by 100%, combined with the enchantment of Fine Forging Edge.

"Of course we saved them."

Otto said with a wry smile, "It's just that Lov is all black and yellow, so no one dares to get close to him. We can only hand him the stick used to stir the excrement and let him pull himself up with the stick."

He could have climbed up himself, but there were... well, he couldn't.

"But now it should be thoroughly marinated."

"Hahaha!"

After Rhodes finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, and Rhodes couldn't help but laugh along as well.

After laughing, Rod commented seriously, "But it's good, from now on the composting work should be left to him."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter again.

It wasn't until Durant walked over and reported to Rhodes, "Your Excellency, a caravan has arrived from the south," that Durant finally spoke.

Everyone immediately stopped laughing. Gunle gripped his battle axe. "Let's go inform the brothers."

"Eh!"

Rod called out to Gunle, "What are you going to do?"

"Aren't we going to rob them this time?"

"...I am a lord, not a bandit."

Rhodes rolled his eyes.

Each stage has its own goals, and naturally, there are corresponding approaches.

For example, when people are starving and freezing, they should first look for food, but once they have enough to eat, they should consider long-term development.

Besides, I never robbed anyone!

Even the worst possible solution at the time was legal!
Supplies are not in great short supply right now, so we should continue with normal trade. "Let the caravan enter the town and notify Lawrence to receive them."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Durant turned to make arrangements.

Rhodes wasn't suited to forging iron here, so he quickly packed up and returned to the manor.

A short while later, Lawrence brought a young man in his twenties to Rhodes.

The young man smiled and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

"Good day, Your Excellency Baron, may the light of the Lord of Dawn shine upon you."

Rhodes raised an eyebrow; he was actually a believer.

Outdated times are always filled with the worship of gods, and this world is no exception.

Especially when people are hungry and cold, they always like to find some faith to support them and persevere.

The Lord of Dawn is the largest church in the world.

Even the Shattered Rock Empire, with its diverse religious beliefs, has several churches, as does the Earl of Tulip's territory.

But Rod didn't believe it.

It's mainly useless.

As a time traveler, one's very existence is that of a heretic.

Unless there is a benefit.

“I am Manshu Silver Dove, from Oak City. I have come here with respect, hoping to trade with you and your people.”

"Welcome, young and handsome Silver Dove of Oak City. As you can see, Blackpine Ridge now has a lord, so when your caravan crosses this border, you will have to pay taxes."

Manshu's gentle voice and humble attitude made Rhodes feel somewhat favorably toward him.

But taxes cannot be reduced.

"of course."

Manxiu very proactively took out a delicate little leather pouch from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

"These are three gold coins, the entry tax for my caravan. Thank you for allowing me to trade here."

The leather bag is embroidered with a proud dove with its head held high, surrounded by decorations of wheat ears and leaves.

It seems this silver pigeon family is quite large.

Rod took the leather bag, opened it, and found three brand-new, beautiful gold coins inside.

Gold coins were not widely circulated among ordinary people, but nobles, with their abundant resources, naturally kept their gold coins in excellent condition.

Rhodes left the leather bag behind and returned the three gold coins to Manshu, saying, "The bag is beautiful, I'll keep it as a souvenir. I don't want the gold coins as tax payment; I want your goods more."

Do you have any farming tools in your caravan?

“Yes, Your Excellency Baron.” Manshu nodded.

"Very good, keep them all."

Although the farm tools of the Jinsha caravan had been distributed, it was still not enough.

Many farmers still use wooden hoes when tilling the land, only applying a shallow layer.

"Yes, but all the farm tools combined won't be enough to offset three gold coins."

“There are other ironwares that I need as well.”

Manxiu hesitated for a moment, "This..."

"I will pay you with goods or gold coins for the excess."

Rhodes could tell from Mansh’s troubled expression that the amount exceeded the tax limit, and he was afraid that Rhodes would make him pay more.

Ordinary iron farm tools generally cost around sixty or seventy copper coins, but an ordinary iron sword would cost at least ten silver coins, and those with slightly better workmanship would be even more expensive.

Thirty iron swords would cost more than three gold coins.

"To be frank, my people have just gone through the tax collection process, so they probably don't have much to trade with you."

I reckon I'm the only one in Frostleaf Town with whom you can trade.

"No problem, Your Excellency."

Manxiu readily agreed, then asked curiously, "Is the Blackstone Mountains your Black Pine Ridge? If so, please allow me to trade there."

Black Rock Mountains?

These four words made Rod's heart tighten, and he involuntarily straightened his chest and crossed his arms in front of him.
"Have you been there before?"

(End of this chapter)