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

Chapter 77 Road Planning
The roads around the farmland also need to be rebuilt in preparation for the autumn harvest.

The farmland on both sides of the main road was alright; the road surface there could barely withstand the wear and tear of oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages.

The farmland on the hillside and in the wasteland looked disheartening.

—The rugged, narrow path was less than a meter and a half wide, making it impossible for grain transport vehicles to pass.

And those newly reclaimed farmlands this year, in the rush to cultivate them, no roads were built at all. In many places, there are only narrow paths, and farmers have to climb mountains and ridges to reach them.

If things continue in the same way during the autumn harvest, work efficiency will be greatly reduced.

In such places, it is necessary to level mounds, move stones, fill ditches, and build roads that can accommodate vehicles.

This kind of road planning is something that others can't handle; it requires Rod's personal involvement.

These days, Rod was exhausted from drawing design drafts, so he went out for some fresh air, admired the lush wheat fields, and relaxed.

The gentle sunlight of late August shines on the farmland, and the wheat is gradually filling out.

Rod reached out and gently stroked the wheat ears, feeling the fullness of the grains through his fingertips.

The wheat tips are an enticing pale yellow, while the stalks retain their vibrant green color. This interplay of colors, when viewed from afar, resembles a yellow-green ocean.

A gentle breeze blows, and the wheat fields ripple and sway, as if the farmland is breathing.

The rye in the distance is more cold-resistant and matures slightly earlier, resulting in a richer variety of colors when intertwined.

With the blessing of the Rhodes Crop Lord title, most ears of wheat are plump and full, but there is still a big difference between them.

A few wheat stalks still stood tall and bare in the wheat field, as if the rising sun in the morning was particularly glaring and heartbreaking.

This is the drawback of inconsistent seed quality.

The Crop Lord's increase to wheat yield can only generate two from one, not from zero to one.

Of course, those inferior wheat varieties with tall stalks and small ears will not appear in the fields next year.

Rhodes had already planned that when the wheat harvest came in the fall, the large ears of wheat would be selected separately and kept for seed.

This is the most basic breeding method and the next step to increase yield.

The road planning started from the farmland south of Frostleaf Town, and a specific route was planned according to the terrain around the wheat fields.

Behind him followed the road-building team. As soon as Rod gave the order, they swarmed across the land like locusts, clearing away the obstacles such as stones and trees.

Their job was to first build the basic outline of the road, and then another road construction team would use lime and gravel to complete the actual road, so that the road would remain sturdy even during the rainy season of the following year.

To be honest, Rhodes wasn't omniscient and couldn't connect all the fields at once.

This kind of cleanup is simple, straightforward, and efficient, and even if modifications are needed in the future, it won't cause too much trouble.

Rhodes stood on a small hill in the field, watching the slaves busily working, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Every inch of newly opened road is a cornerstone for Frostleaf Town's path to prosperity.

woo-

A sharp gust of wind ripped through the sky, interrupting Rhodes' thoughts.

Rod reacted quickly, grabbing the piece of meat from the basket and tossing it into the air without even looking up.

Immediately afterwards, two dark blue figures swept through the air, precisely catching the thrown chunks of meat and whistling past.

At the same time, a dark object fell from the sky and crashed heavily onto the ground in front of Rhodes.

Upon seeing this, Gunle instinctively shifted his body to the side and nimbly leaped into the ditch beside him, narrowly avoiding the falling unidentified object.

"grass!"

Looking at the large, foul-smelling pile of excrement on the ground, Gunle pointed at the two figures in the sky and shouted, "Eat and poop at the same time!"

The two figures in the sky were Frost and Thunder, and the disgusting dung clearly came from one of them.

The two little guys are now able to fly short distances at low altitudes, so Rhode took them out for some fresh air and to let them get used to the atmosphere and scenery of the wilderness.

As for Gunther, he was recently transferred back by Rhodes, and his work has been temporarily handed over to Jess.

This wasn't because Rhodes intentionally wanted to reduce Gunle's power, but rather because he was planning for the future.

As the ranks of soldiers in Frostleaf Town grew stronger, the battle-hardened veterans were destined to lead their own teams and train new combat forces, in order to maximize the value of their experience.

Currently, the Gunle Squad is being split up. If manpower continues to be scarce in the future, even the Guards will face restructuring.

Gunle also had many things to deal with in the future, the most important of which was transporting grain. Rod looked at the disheveled Gunle and said with a smile, "You shouldn't have dodged, Gunle. Getting dragon dung on you might bring good luck."

"That's very kind of you."

Gunle shook his head. "We can't handle this kind of dragon-shit luck."

Gunle's words drew laughter from everyone, and Rod, seeing that he hadn't fooled Gunle, stopped trying to deceive him.

Changing the subject, Rod asked, "Gunner, how's your breathing technique training going? Any progress?"

When Rhodes first came to power, whether out of personal habit or his methods of managing people, he was never stingy with his loyal subordinates.

More than a month ago, Rod instructed Durant to teach Gunner the breathing technique he had been practicing.

"Ugh!"

Gunle sighed heavily and shook his head.

"I can't feel any Qi, and I don't experience the pain you all talk about when I cultivate. I just don't feel anything."

Before teaching him, Durant had already told Gundle that practicing breathing techniques might not be effective for someone his age.

Gunle understood, but he still continued his cultivation with a glimmer of hope.

Unfortunately, it really had no effect.

"Hang in there, even a small improvement is a gain."

Rhodes comforted her, "I've already had Luna try to research some potions to improve physical condition; perhaps you still have a chance."

"Don't worry, we definitely won't give up."

Gunther grinned casually, showing no despair despite his defeat.

Gunther felt content with the opportunity to learn breathing techniques in his lifetime.

While Rod offered words of encouragement, he still felt a little regretful inside.

The original plan was to test it on Gunther first, and then give other veterans a chance.

But now it seems there's no need to waste the introductory potion for breathing techniques.

It seems that if we want to train knights, we still have to look for them among children.

Rod's gaze unconsciously drifted to the side, where Little Lily was sticking her little bottom out, catching grasshoppers in the grass.

I wonder if she can practice breathing techniques.

woo-

Just as Rhodes was pondering this, Frost flapped its wings and flew back.

When it flew close, it suddenly released its claws, and a thick, dark object landed with a "thud" at Rod's feet.

Rod looked closely and saw that it was a black snake that was nearly two meters long, with its neck covered in blood and flesh, clearly torn apart by claws.

Before Rhodes could react, Frost folded its wings, stretched its long neck, and walked up to Rhodes like a proud rooster.

"Is this for my prey?"

Rod looked at Frost and asked.

Frost remained silent, still puffing out its chest and showing off, then used its wings to push it towards Rhodes.

Rod smiled helplessly, wondering if the snake was poisonous.

Before he could think any further, Thunder, to his right, flapped its wings and flew back, throwing a fat field mouse carcass in front of Rhodes.

But before it could even get in front of Rhodes to show off, Frost pounced on the field mouse and swallowed it whole.

"Ok?"

Rhodes looked at Frost in surprise, "Thunder gave it to me, and you just ate it?"

The Thunder seem to think so too.

But it was even more irritable, perhaps because it had had enough of the frost's domineering nature, and it pounced on it in a fit of rage!

　I've run out of drafts, so the next chapter will be a little later today.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)