Fiefs could be good or bad, and their management could make them strong or weak.

For instance, a baron facing a lord with formidable military capabilities might be able to muster an army of over a thousand conscripted soldiers.

However, the same baron, when confronting a lord with lesser military strength, might only manage to maintain an army of five to six hundred.

In such times, the more lands one possessed, the greater the confidence one had through the storms and challenges.

Howard had complete trust in Anna, Margaret, and Resarite.

Their loyalty to him was beyond question.

However, Knight Kaido was a different case, not one of the vassals who had risen with Howard from the beginning.

Howard found it impossible to extend to him the same level of trust as he did with the others.

Currently, Howard had four gold coins at his disposal. .𝒎

This amount, while not insignificant, required careful budgeting.

He couldn’t afford to allocate all of his resources to Castle Fernsouth, disregarding the other two villages under his control.

Knight Blima, the former Baron Fernsouth, had only possessed Castle Fernsouth, without any additional lands.

His eventual downfall was a poignant reminder to Howard: he must avoid repeating Blima’s mistakes.

After much deliberation, Howard decided not to fulfill his promises immediately.

He shared his thoughts with Vettel and Alonso, who showed no signs of internal conflict and readily agreed.

Their understanding and agreement brought Howard great relief.

The castle required a Military Minister to oversee and train the soldiers daily.

Undoubtedly, Resarite was the best fit for this role.

Although he had recently accepted a fief from Howard and was currently residing in Rui Village, the noble customs of their world did not require a noble to be constantly present in their land.

Consequently, Howard inquired if Resarite was interested in taking up the position of his Military Minister.

Resarite agreed without hesitation.

Now, every day, the soldiers of Castle Fernsouth underwent rigorous training under Resarite.

Their loud, synchronized, and powerfully spirited shouts of discipline filled Howard with a sense of satisfaction.

The number of soldiers that could be conscripted from a castle was an unpredictable figure.

Blima had only been able to muster 300 soldiers from Castle Fernsouth, but Howard aimed for a higher count.

Under Howard’s directive, Castle Fernsouth, following orders from Resarite, began to bolster its troops.

With Howard’s military strength combined with Resarite’s capabilities, they were now able to conscript approximately 1,000 soldiers from the castle.

Howard was overjoyed with this development.

Ten days later, Vettel commenced his work.

The mass planting of apple trees had begun.

In their world, there was plenty of vacant land; what was lacking were people and determination.

Under the guidance of Vettel, the Minister of Finance, young men started to till the land, irrigating and planting apple trees.

These trees, purchased from a merchant caravan that had recently passed through Castle Fernsouth, had the advantage of being mature.

This meant that there was a possibility of harvesting apples as early as the following year, unlike saplings which would take much longer to bear fruit.

For the second specialty, lavender, Vettel gathered several elderly women from the castle to sew sachets and create lavender pouches.

This initiative was already in full swing, with the women showing great enthusiasm for the project.

Vettel was also in talks with trading groups that frequently passed through Castle Fernsouth, hoping to secure some pre-sales.

The third venture, involving river clams and pearls, was what Howard anticipated most.

The former could supplement the castle’s meat supply, which was beneficial for both the residents and conscripted soldiers.

The latter had the potential for immense wealth; the quantity and size of the pearls would determine their final value.

Finding a large pearl could fetch a fortune.

Vettel recruited two assistants who made daily trips to the riverbanks of Kenfa Village.

While Vettel focused his attention on the first two projects, he delegated the third task to his new apprentices.

Following a call to action, the villagers of Kenfa Village began to fish for river clams.

As the villagers increased in number and honed their fishing skills, the quantity of clams harvested steadily grew.

Just yesterday, after passing through several hands, Howard was presented with a pearl the size of a little finger – a promising sign and an auspicious start.

Today, Howard was preparing to visit Knight Kaido’s domain, Windhaven Village.

Under the stewardship of Kaido’s family for five generations, the village was deeply entrenched in tradition.

However, an intriguing aspect was that despite five generations of management, the family only controlled Windhaven Village.

Knight Kaido, an ambitious and promising young man, was not entirely satisfied with his forebears’ conservative approach.

He aspired to usher in a new era of prosperity for his family.

Arriving at Windhaven Village around noon, Howard and his entourage were warmly welcomed by Knight Kaido.

Howard’s sister, Flandre, also greeted them with a smile.

Howard entered the lord’s hall of Windhaven Village, sharing a pleasant lunch with the hosts.

After the meal, Howard and Flandre took a leisurely walk around the village.

At Kaido’s instruction, the others discreetly kept their distance, giving the siblings some privacy – a considerate gesture from Kaido.

Howard thought to himself that Kaido was not just a formidable warrior on the battlefield but also astutely aware of social nuances.

This realization elevated Howard’s opinion of Kaido.

Today, Flandre was dressed in a pure white gown, complemented by a wide, flat hat of the same color, making her appear more approachable than usual.

Howard inquired, “Has he been treating you well?”

Recalling her moments with Kaido, Flandre’s cheeks flushed with a shy red.

“He’s very kind, handsome, and treats me well,” she replied.

In the afternoon, Howard and his party left Windhaven Village.

He entrusted Kaido with the well-being of his sister, to which Kaido readily agreed.

On their way back, Howard, galloping on his horse, noticed a band of robbers assaulting an elderly man by the roadside.

He led his men to apprehend the robbers, and the old man expressed his gratitude towards Howard.

As they approached Castle Fernsouth, the gatekeepers on the walls recognized Howard and commanded their subordinates to open the gates.

Howard and his entourage returned to Castle Fernsouth, passing by the busy blacksmiths and leatherworkers, the sounds of their labor ringing through the air.

Howard turned to a woman beside him and asked, “Is there a way to get these castle blacksmiths to make weapons and armor for my conscripted soldiers for free?”

The woman, Nora, was a commoner.

In the absence of Anna and Margaret, who were not frequently by Howard’s side these days, Nora had adeptly stepped in to fill their roles.

She now served as Howard’s personal secretary, handling various matters for him.

Her presence and efficiency in managing Howard’s affairs were a testament to her capability and adaptability in the complex world of nobility and governance.

Upon hearing Howard’s query, Nora considered the problem manageable and replied, “My lord, typically you would have to pay them, but if you prefer not to, that’s also feasible. They owe taxes for operating their shops here.

“You could waive their taxes in exchange for them crafting weapons and armor for you. If you’re still concerned, you might hire them as your personal blacksmiths, paying them a monthly wage to fulfill your armament needs. In the long run, this approach could prove most beneficial.”

Howard added, “Firstly, Nora, as the lord, I could easily compel them to work for me, but I prefer not to resort to that unless absolutely necessary.

“Secondly, waiving taxes simply converts what would be their monthly tax into weapons and armor. It’s essentially akin to paying them for their goods.”

“Thirdly, I want to hire some blacksmiths specifically for my needs, those who can handle large orders and maintain high quality.

“They don’t necessarily have to be the ones currently operating in the castle, but skill and dedication are crucial. Nora, I entrust you with handling this matter.”

Five days later, Nora assembled a group of blacksmiths.

They agreed to a monthly salary in exchange for crafting weapons and armor for Howard.

The reason these smiths were willing to work for what seemed like a less profitable short-term rate was their belief in Howard’s reputation and status.

Crafting weapons and armor for Howard might not be immediately lucrative, but his fame was considerable.

A person’s fame, like a tree’s shadow, extends far. .

Becoming Howard’s personal blacksmiths allowed them to leverage his renown to enhance their own.

With increased recognition, they could attract higher-priced commissions, benefiting their own income in the long run.

Thus, Nora gathered twenty blacksmiths who took up residence in the lower levels of the castle, dedicating themselves to producing arms and armor for Howard.

Of course, Howard himself did not need so many weapons.

His intention was to equip his soldiers, a necessity for any lord.

Howard tasked the twenty blacksmiths with crafting an iron sword each, setting a deadline of three days.

After the allotted time, all twenty blacksmiths completed their tasks, and Howard inspected each sword.

The craftsmanship was ordinary, but Howard had no lofty expectations for these standard-issue weapons.

His primary concerns for the soldiers’ equipment were durability, sturdiness, and overall cost-effectiveness.

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