Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

He looked at Link on the platform, then glanced at the silver coin in the other's hand. After hesitating for a moment, he finally mustered his courage and stepped towards Link.

"I come!"

This powerful shout, like a heavy hammer blow, instantly shattered the endless doubts around him.

After saying this, the burly, muscular man strode towards the dead tree lying on the ground outside the north gate.

Although the dead tree was not large, its twisted shape and hard texture made it quite difficult for a person to lift.

But when the burly man reached the dead tree, he squatted down slightly, firmly grasped one end of the tree with both hands, and with a low shout, easily hoisted the tree onto his shoulder.

"What a strength!"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed in surprise first, and then, a chorus of exclamations rose and fell like a tide.

Although the deadwood wasn't particularly heavy, it would still be quite strenuous for an ordinary person to lift it, but this man carried it on his shoulder with ease.

However, the only drawback was that the strong man seemed to have a hidden ailment in his right leg, walking with a limp and his body swaying slightly with each step. Even so, he still walked with firm steps, carrying the dead wood steadily forward.

"Very good! What's your name?"

On the high platform, Link stood with his arms crossed, his eyes full of admiration as he gazed at the burly man.

“Reporting to you, sir,” the burly man said, after placing the withered wood steadily in the designated spot. He then turned to Link, bowed respectfully, and said in a loud voice, “My name is Raymond, and I once served as a squad leader in the city guard.”

"You were once a squad leader in the city guard? With such strength, why didn't you continue serving?"

Raymond patted his leg sheepishly and said, "When we were suppressing bandits in the nearby mountains, I was unlucky enough to be shot in the knee with an arrow. Although the injury was not fatal, my right leg was left crippled, so I left the city guard."

He took an arrow to the knee?

Why does this sound so familiar...?

“Hmm,” Link patted his shoulder lightly and took out the five silver coins. “Very good, this is your reward!”

"Thank you, sir!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Raymond's eyes. He took the silver coin with both hands and clutched it tightly, as if he had grasped all the hope for his life.

12. New Policies in Winterfell

Link placed five silver coins in Raymond's palm and asked, "Raymond, can you read?"

“My lord, I am only skilled in fighting on the battlefield. As for literacy... I am truly sorry, I am not good at it. However, I can recommend Scholar Slo to you.”

Raymond scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and then pointed to an elderly man in the crowd.

The old man was thin, with snow-white hair and a face etched with the lines of time. He was currently squeezed in the middle of the crowd, looking uneasy.

Upon hearing Raymond mention him, the old man shakily stepped out from the crowd, walked unsteadily toward Link on the platform, and bowed respectfully.

“Very good, old Sloan. My city lord’s manor is currently short of a steward, so you will be appointed as the steward from now on. Raymond, you will be responsible for the subsequent construction of the slums and the resettlement of retired soldiers. The monthly salary for both of you will be ten silver coins!”

"Yes, sir!" Raymond and Sloe responded in unison, their voices full of high spirits.

It seems that not all the people in Winter City are mediocre!

Link pondered to himself, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, seeing that Raymond had indeed received five silver coins and also secured a job with a monthly salary of ten silver coins, the audience erupted in uproar.

Ten silver coins a month's salary is enough to ensure a family of three has no worries about food and clothing!

Among the crowd, people whispered among themselves, and the sounds of discussion rose and fell.

"Raymond really got five silver coins!"

"My God, the lord really isn't lying to us!"

"To be honest, I regret it so much! I should have tried it too."

Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, Link's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

The story of moving a log to establish trust is probably familiar to everyone.

Link followed this method to build the most basic bridge of trust between himself and his people.

Money may have a price, but credit is priceless.

Only when the people see tangible benefits will they truly believe in your promises.

"Silence! My dear subjects, the reason I am doing this is to make it clear to you that I, Link, the lord of Winterfell, always keep my word! Therefore, you need not have any doubts about the new laws I am about to promulgate!"

Link pressed his hands down lightly to signal everyone to be quiet, then raised his voice and said loudly.

"Firstly, from this day forward, Winterfell will abolish all unreasonable and exorbitant taxes! Those absurd water taxes and birth taxes will all cease to exist! Winterfell will retain only the most conventional taxes, such as land taxes and commercial taxes, to ensure that taxation is reasonable and legal, so that everyone can live and work in peace and have no worries!"

"Secondly, starting today, I will be recruiting people to work together to repair the city walls, build new houses, and clean the entire Winter City, paying them fifteen copper coins a day or an equivalent amount of food! Through your hard work, you can improve your living conditions and contribute to the construction of Winter City!"

"Thirdly, starting today, we will vigorously promote the newly introduced food crop—the potato. Potatoes are a new crop that has traveled from across the sea. They are very easy to grow and can be harvested every three to four months. This winter, I will not allow any of my people to die of hunger!"

"Fourth, starting today, we will select able-bodied young men from within the city to join the city guard and receive rigorous training! Those who join the city guard will not only be provided with food and lodging, but will also receive a daily salary of twenty copper coins! In this way, they can have a stable income and safeguard the safety of Winter City!"

"Fifth, starting today, a comprehensive population census will be conducted! All residents of Winterfell must go to Scholar Slo to obtain an ID card and register their name, age, place of birth, and personal strengths and advantages. Falsification is strictly prohibited. From now on, children must be registered immediately upon birth! Otherwise, they will not be able to enjoy the various new policies of Winterfell. The population census aims to gain a deeper understanding of the actual situation of the people in order to provide everyone with more accurate and considerate services!"

......

Link put all the new laws and policies he had come up with the night before into practice.

Moving a log to establish trust and using work as a form of relief are both examples of the wisdom of our Chinese ancestors.

In this knowledge-scarce medieval world, it should have a good effect.

When Link described the new policy, the people in the audience fell silent. The entire hall was completely silent, as if they had heard something horrifying.

They never imagined that their lord would make so many changes. These policies were like a timely rain, nourishing their long-parched hearts.

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, the woman holding the child slapped her own child's bottom, leaving a bright red handprint.

The child burst into tears, but the woman felt a great sense of relief.

“My child cried, he felt the pain! It’s not fake!” the woman said excitedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh my god! Am I dreaming?!"

"Is the lord lying to us? Hiring us to repair and build our houses? And to grow those potatoes?"

"Good heavens! Thank you for your mercy, my lord!"

In an instant, cheers erupted from the audience!

13. Plans to establish a municipal government

The people cheered and jumped for joy, their faces beaming with happiness.

For these poor people, they would be willing to risk their lives for whoever provides them with enough to eat, sleep, and earn money.

Their idea was actually very simple: they just wanted to live a stable life.

Link's actions precisely achieved this.

At this moment, if anyone dared to stand up and openly contradict Link, these people would definitely tear him to pieces.

Among the crowd, some spies from other towns also sensed that something was wrong and chose to leave the area.

The census is no joke. If they are caught, these outsiders will be placed on a list of suspects, even if they are not arrested!

They've lost their purpose; staying here will only bring them trouble.

Under the arrangement of Lina and Agnes, as well as Sloe and Raymond, the major overhaul of Winterfell was in full swing.

In the castle's back garden, Link had already retrieved the truckload of potatoes he had drawn earlier.

It was a 4.2-meter-long van, fully loaded with ten tons of potatoes.

Link called for people to clear the potatoes out of the carriage; they were piled up and looked like a small mountain.

Link summoned Sloan and some city guards, and had them carefully pick out the sprouted potatoes one by one.

Link then personally demonstrated how to cut potatoes into suitable pieces for planting, and then instructed the knights to instruct the people on how to grow potatoes.

Potato cultivation is actually not complicated. Those Japanese who worked hard to cultivate potatoes in Siberia in the past must have a deep understanding of this.

As for those that haven't sprouted yet, leave them for now, and then cut them into pieces for planting once they sprout.

Yes, Link intends to use all ten tons of potatoes for seedling cultivation, not for consumption.

After all, Winterfell has a large population, and ten tons of potatoes may sound like a lot, but they would be consumed very quickly.

Therefore, these ten tons of potatoes must be used for planting.

Link also laid down a strict rule for Slo: if anyone was caught stealing food, they would be punished by not eating for the day, and those who committed serious crimes would be whipped.

Scholar Sloan was well aware of the implications and quickly went to make the arrangements.

At this moment, Link's attention was actually focused more on the van, but unfortunately, the vehicle was out of fuel and could not be started.

However, the engine and battery are still there, and perhaps one day in the future they will come in very handy.

So Link ordered his men to move the car into the warehouse and keep it safe.

The reinforcement and repair of the city walls have already begun; Link has also made detailed plans for the construction of new wooden houses and public toilets and is making arrangements for them one by one.

This is not difficult.

Not far outside Winterfell lies the vast and boundless Monster Forest, where the verdant canopies rustle in the cold wind, and hunters can often be seen going in and out with animal skin bags tucked at their waists and hunting bows slung over their shoulders.

As for the wood and stone needed for construction, they were readily available.

Sturdy fir trees grow along the river, and gray-brown rocks pile up like mountains at the foot of the mountain—truly a convenient gift from heaven.

With the implementation of the new policy, the entire Winterhold has transformed from its former lifelessness into a vibrant place.

However, Link is now extremely busy.

Previously, Orlando had been in charge of all these domestic affairs, but now that Orlando has been executed, all the officials, big and small, who were involved with him have been purged.

However, the drawbacks of not having a sound government system were fully exposed at this point, and all sorts of trivial matters, big and small, flooded Link's attention all at once.

One official matter after another came up to Link, and even some trivial matters were reported to him. It was endless to deal with them, and just thinking about it was enough to give him a headache.

Link certainly couldn't do all of these things by himself.

"It seems we still need to establish a municipal government for Winter City..."

How wonderful it would be if I could get a few more people from the system who are good at handling government affairs to help me.

Link could only offer this helpless consolation to himself.

......

It wasn't until lunchtime that Link was able to extricate himself from the complicated official business.

He sat comfortably in the hall, gently swirling the red wine in his glass, and slowly cut off a piece of roast meat and put it in his mouth.

Beside him, two pretty and well-proportioned maids were serving him. Link's lecherous hands would occasionally pat their buttocks and hug their slender waists, taking advantage of them, which made the two maids blush.

That's the good thing about feudal society: as long as you have power and wealth, no one will say anything if you're a little licentious.

Just then, Link saw Lina hurrying past the door and called out to her.

"Lina, have you had lunch yet?"

"Not yet, sir." Lina gently shook her head.

"Then stay and eat with us. I have some questions for you."

Link winked at the maid beside him, signaling her to bring Lina some cutlery.

Lina did not refuse and sat down next to Link at his invitation.

14. Return the principal and interest.

"After the new law was promulgated this morning, were there many people signing up for military service?"

“That’s quite a lot, my lord.” Lina nodded slightly. “In the past, the average daily pay for soldiers in Winterfell was only 10 copper coins. Now it has doubled, and there’s at least one meal of meat every day. Many young men are eager to enlist because of these generous benefits. I’ve been busy at the recruitment site all morning, and I only managed to come here during my lunch break to check the equipment in the warehouse and see if the quantity is sufficient.”

"It's a good thing that young people are willing to join the military. In the subsequent training process, we should pay more attention to instilling a firm belief in them, so that they understand that they are fighting for their homeland and their loved ones. An army with faith is invincible."