"Will, how's the situation in Windmill Village right now?" Ed asked Will, sitting down beside him.
Upon hearing this, Will took out a thick stack of papers.
"My lord, there are currently 268 people in Windmill Village. Half of them are women and children, and the rest are some elderly people and the sick. There are about 100 people who can work and clear land. Because the tools in the territory are very good now, a lot of wasteland has been cleared. This is a record of the land cleared and the method of allocation made by Steward Marcus. Please take a look." He then handed a piece of paper to Ed.
Ed took the paper and glanced at it briefly. It was the same plan as before: all the newly reclaimed land belonged to the territory, but it was all allocated to individuals for cultivation, and the territory would only collect taxes. In the first year, the territory would provide seeds and tools, and the corresponding taxes would be slightly higher, but not by much, enough for them to have a little savings in their first year. Consider it a beginner's gift from Ed; after one year, the territory would no longer be responsible for them.
Those currently clearing the area still receive daily copper dragon coins, though not a lot, but definitely enough to eat black bread. Ed doesn't plan to give them anymore after the area is cleared.
At that point, they'll have to figure out their own way. After finishing the planting, they'll have to find something to do.
After seeing that Ed had looked around enough, Will continued, "Of these 268 people, some have become couples in the territory, and some were already couples. Land and small simple houses were given priority to them. Most of the rest still live in the large work sheds."
"Okay, let's leave it at that for now! If they want to live in better houses and eat better food in the future, they'll have to rely on themselves."
Alice, who was standing nearby, was quite satisfied with her life. Although she still slept in that large shed, she ate well, and she had earned some copper dragon coins by teaching others to read.
Will also gave her a very beautiful purse, which she loved.
On the day she bought the purse, she also saw for the first time the amazing things in the all-inclusive department store.
Alice thought the lord was absolutely right about what Ed had said; how they would live from now on would really depend entirely on themselves.
Now labor can be paid, and there are many places in the territory that need people.
"Will, have you started planting on the cleared land yet?" Ed continued to ask.
"My lord, as you have arranged, the wasteland is being cultivated and sown simultaneously, and livestock manure treated by the farm has been spread before sowing. The seeds were also selected by Steward Marcus according to the growth time of the crops, so there will be no random planting. The steward has also specially arranged land for various vegetables and other crops, so it will not all be planted with rye, wheat and oats."
Ed was quite satisfied after hearing Will's words. It's true that having an elder in the family is like having a treasure! The old butler Marcus had already made all the arrangements perfectly.
"Yes, Will, you've handled it very well. How's the farming going? If you feel you're short-handed, don't start cultivating new wasteland. Focus on cultivating the land that's already been cultivated."
The population here is limited, and we can't reclaim wasteland indefinitely. If too much new wasteland is reclaimed but no one farms it, it will slowly turn into wasteland.
"Yes, my lord. I no longer send them to places that are too far away. There aren't enough people to go there, and it would be troublesome to transport them back later. Now we're just looking for some wasteland around where we live. We're not going to the south anymore."
"Hmm, looks like there's nothing for me to do. Oh, by the way, Will, how are you doing here? Are you settling in?"
"My lord, I really like it here."
Haha, Ed doesn't even know what Will likes about this place? Paradise Village is a hundred times better. But since he likes it, let him work here!