Iron Powder and Spellcaster

Winter came a little late this year.

Seeing that it is already November, the setting sun shining on the fields can still give people a little warmth.

The dreamlike pure blue sky was smeared with a layer of twilight, covering farmhouses, fields, rivers, and distant forests and mountains hidden in lavender haze.

Night is approaching, and the farmers in Hedong and Hexi villages have already gone home to drink wheat porridge.

But there are still people working on the land that was once the Mitchell Manor and is now the No. 1 Harvest Farm in Langtun Township.

An old man opened his coat, stubbornly raised his wrinkled forehead, firmly held the plow truck with both hands, and walked barefoot in front.

The two draft horses struggled to pull the plow truck, walking ahead of the old man. Their mouths and noses emit moist heat, and sweat collects on their ribs and drips down in strands.

Behind the horse, the plow dug deep into the soil carved a long furrow in the field.

The deep soil was turned out, and large pieces of turf rotated in the air along the wings, and finally fell upside down next to the furrow.

There is a pair of wheels in front of the coulter. The wheels can reduce the burden of the draft horse and allow the coulter to penetrate exactly nine inches into the ground, no more, no less.

This is a heavy-duty plow truck, which has a shaft, wheels and a walled plowshare for turning soil.

It's clunky, sluggish, and every turn is a struggle. In order to minimize the number of U-turns of the plow truck when preparing the land, homesteaders' fields were long and narrow, juxtaposed like zebra stripes.

After talking about the shortcomings, let’s talk about the advantages. Nothing else but the ability to cultivate heavy clay soil that is difficult to cultivate.

The land of Plato was sticky, heavy, and stony. Before the birth and popularization of heavy plowing, this kind of land was out-and-out rotten land. We can only watch trees and grass grow, and cannot develop settled agriculture. The most we can do is use them for grazing.

Therefore, the people of the ancient republic disdainfully called the fishing and hunting tribes living here "pig herders" because one of the latter's important sources of food was to drive pigs into the forest to free range, and then wait until autumn to hunt semi-wild pigs.

It can be said that the history of the people of the ancient empire expanding into the barbaric wilderness is a history of spreading branches and leaves with heavy plowing.

Horse-drawn heavy plows had another advantage over ox-drawn heavy plows—they were faster.

The old man held the plow and was already a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye.

Just turning the soil is not enough, you also need to "rake" it to make the soil loose and breathable.

So the old man was followed by a dozen or so young men. The first half of them carried wooden sticks and picks, breaking up large pieces of hardened soil along the way; the other half dragged behind them dragging a rake frame shaped like a nail board. The rake frame scraped across the surface like a comb, further breaking up the hardened soil. The farmland is also slightly flattened.

Raking was also usually done with a horse-drawn rake frame. However, Harvest Farm has far more manpower than animal power. The precious horses are used to pull the plow, and the work of raking the ground is naturally left to the half-year-olds who have not yet grown up in strength.

Behind the young children are their parents.

A short, middle-aged farmer hung a small basket of seeds at an angle and swung his arms rhythmically. The seeds leaked out from between his fingers, like dripping rainwater under the eaves, evenly spread in the loose soil.

This is literally "spreading", all by hand.

It seemed that sowing was an easy job, because the short, middle-aged farmer hardly broke a sweat. He walked slowly under the setting autumn sun, as if he were a knight inspecting the manor. Everyone else, young and old, was already sweating profusely.

In fact, spreading is the most difficult job and requires superb skills. Only when the seeds are sown evenly can the wheat grow evenly.

You can be lazy in other farm work, and you can do it again if you don't do it well. But if the seeds are spread unevenly, there is no second chance.

In the past, the life of sowing was always controlled by the old man Fuli himself. But he was too old now and his hands had become unstable, so the old man entrusted the seed basket to his eldest son with a complicated mood and went to help the plow himself.

Four adult farmers pulled a log roller and walked behind the sowers.

The farmland rolled over by the rollers becomes flat, the seeds are rolled into the soil, and the soil is properly compacted to facilitate future harvesting.

A few women carrying water bottles were at the end. They bent down from time to time to water the areas where the wheat seeds had been sown. When wheat seeds taste water, they will sprout and take root.

Watering is also a patient and meticulous job. Watering too much or missing water will not work, so it is left to women to do it.

Two horses, a plow and a group of hard-working people slowly pushed forward on the field, and the wheat seeds were sown.

Compared with the desolate and lonely earth, the seeds are very small. But it is life, and life can grow. One day, the tiny seeds will stand upright on the earth with a golden body and give birth to new life.

By then, this dead wilderness will also turn into a golden ocean.

Three men were sitting on the fence of the farm, looking at this ordinary yet magnificent scene in fascination.

The three people from left to right are Bud, Winters and Little Lion.

"Do you know what is the easiest crop to grow in the world?" Bud suddenly asked.

"Rye?" the little lion asked curiously.

"No, it's humans." Bud sighed softly: "[You must be fruitful and multiply and prosper on the earth]. If crops like humans are sown on the ground and left unattended, they will continue to grow tenaciously."

Winters and the little lion chewed this sentence and fell into deep thought.

"The new land reclamation army has delayed us for too long." Bud said with emotion: "There is no time to properly cultivate the fields. Right now, we must cultivate as quickly and widely as possible, and we don't care about precision."

"Isn't this sophisticated enough? There are forwards, middle troops, and rearguards. It's like marching and fighting." Winters gave a very high evaluation: "It's more interesting than killing pigs."

"Normal farming doesn't work like this. You only do one thing at a time. Plow the ground first, and if you are more careful, you need to turn it three times. Then harrow, sow, and suppress. Finally, pour water on your head." Bud explained patiently: "Now rush Only with sufficient time and manpower can we do this.”

When Winters returned to Wolf Town, Bud took him to the farm to see the results.

There were several farmers near Winters, digging soil and trenching.

Everywhere you look, you can see three other sets of plow trucks. They are all very far away, as small as ants crawling on the ground, but they are also moving forward slowly and firmly.

[First Harvest Farm], the serial number "First" was compiled by Bud, and the name "Harvest" was given by the refugees themselves, carrying their deepest expectations.

"What are you doing?" Winters looked at the diggers nearby.

“Dig drainage channels to prevent farmland from flooding.”

Most of the farmers who dug drainage ditches had wooden tools in their hands. The only iron tools they had were a pick and a shovel. Some even used cow blades as shovels.

Winters sighed: "It would be nice if there were more iron guys."

"So you sent me thirty more heavy plow trucks?" Bud smiled half-heartedly.

"Didn't I also bring a hundred axes?" Winters' cheeks were slightly hot: "There is still a piece of iron over there in the Forge Township, and now the blacksmiths don't have enough. Instead of going back to the furnace and recasting it, which is time-consuming and laborious, it is better to just make a new one. .Besides, it would be a pity to melt it down after everything was built. If you don’t use it this year, just save it for next year. Anyway, the plow will come in handy sooner or later..."

Bud nodded slightly and said nothing.

Winters became increasingly guilty: "I'm thinking of ways to reopen the Iron Peak Mine. Don't worry, there will be pickaxes and shovels. When the time comes, each person will be given two, throw one away and keep one."

Bud continued to smile and nod.

"Okay." Winters sighed: "I am [silencing]."

Hearing this, the little lion laughed wildly, leaned forward and backward, and almost fell over the fence.

"Why are you laughing? Do you know how to farm?" Winters was furious.

"I really understand." The little lion's eyes were curved like crescent moons - a bit like his sister: "I have been growing sugar cane on Red Sulfur Island for seven years."

Winters' anger was pushed back into his lungs, and he was on the verge of vomiting blood.

Not to mention working in the fields, Kesha’s precious nephew has never even planted flowers. Before coming to Wolftown last year, he had never even touched a plow. At that time, he was just a little better than the idiot who believed that "flour grows out of pockets."

Bud on the side shook his legs and said leisurely: "Actually, I don't know anything about farming."

"Um?!"

Bud said matter-of-factly: "I joined the Green Heart Monastery as a servant when I was very young, and I have never done any farm work for a day. I know a little bit about herding sheep and raising horses, but I know nothing about the work in the fields."

Winters was really about to vomit blood: "Then you can still speak truthfully?"

"I don't understand." Bud replied seriously: "But I will ask."

He pointed to the old man in open clothes who was driving the plow in the distance: "I learned all the knowledge about farming from that old man. And that old man has known you longer than he has known me."

Winters remembered the old man who once explained to him "what is the farming season" in the square of Wolf Town.

In one sentence, Winters understood what Bud wanted to say, and he calmed down his anger and anger and regained his composure.

"There's no need to be so serious." Bud said with a smile: "To be honest, no one else can do a better job than you. I just want to chat casually. Didn't we chat for a long time in the past?"

"Okay." Winters smiled, but he was actually a little sad because he felt alienated from Bud.

The little lion also pricked up his ears and listened.

"Look, it's normal that you don't understand farm work." Bud said in a sincere tone: "But how can there not be even one person in Gevaudan who understands? The blacksmiths in Forge Township have made a living for their families by making farm tools for decades. , can they not understand?”

The more Bud spoke, the more earnest he became: "But what? Everyone is watching you use the raw materials, manpower, and time to build a plow truck, and no one says, 'No, you should make small agricultural tools like shovels, picks, rakes, and shovels.'" .no one."

Listening to Bud's voice, Winters remembered what Anna had said to him.

That day, Anna signaled Winters to send the blacksmith Shaosha away and find her. In the garden, Anna also told him seriously: "You frowned slightly just now, and the blacksmith was trembling with fear. Did you notice? They are already afraid of you. Don't make them more afraid of you. I won't I understand politics, but if the employees of a business firm only fear their employers, the business will not last long.”

At that time, Winters wanted to explain to his lover that he was not angry or trying to threaten others.

"I know, of course I know." Anna shook her head. She gently touched the wrinkles between her lover's eyebrows with her fingertips: "You just frowned unconsciously. Of course I know you didn't mean to get angry. But others don't know. Outsiders - such as Mr. Blacksmith, it seems that you are angry. Look, you are frowning unconsciously again."

"Did I?" Winters was surprised.

"Yes. And even if you are expressionless, you still look angry. So the first lesson my mother taught me is to laugh. A good businessman will always laugh." Anna smiled and gently pulled Winters' Cheeks: "Don't keep a straight face, don't frown, just smile!"

Winters was indeed smiling at that time, but now Winters fell silent.

The atmosphere became colder little by little, and the little lion couldn't help but wrap up his clothes.

Bud waited patiently.

"Bud, why did you say it to me like this?" Winters' eyes were painful: "Why did you say it to me in this way?"

"Shouldn't you punch me hard and say bluntly, 'No one dares to correct you even if you are doing the wrong thing! Sooner or later it will be over'?" Winters felt sad from the bottom of his heart. He even felt angry at being betrayed. .

This emotion has been accumulated in his heart for a long time: "Am I some kind of dictator or tyrant? Are you my vassal, my subordinate? You are my classmate, my friend, my bloody brother! Even You have to beat around the bush to say these things? What's going on? Do you just not trust me? Can a little power make people like this?"

This was supposed to be just a friend's advice, only cutting the skin and not hurting the flesh. Bard never thought that Winters would split the flesh with an ax and expose the marrow.

With tears in his eyes, he said equally painfully: "Winters Montagne, I tell you! You are a dictator now! And a dictator can easily become a tyrant! If you continue, you will be Become the emperor in the Republic! I won’t stop you from becoming the emperor! But I don’t want to see you become the emperor! Not only for your and my career, but also for your sake! Do you understand? I am simply anxious!"

Winters gasped and pushed the little lion hard: "You! Go farther away!"

The little lion left obediently.

Winters and Bud looked at each other for a long time, and they suddenly laughed with tears in their laughter.

Winters wiped his tears and asked helplessly: "What should we do?"

"If I fucking knew, wouldn't I just do it right away?" Bud sniffed and rarely cursed: "There's no need to tell you this."

"Since there are military tribunes and tribunes?" Winters asked with a smile: "Do we still need to set up a senate? Always bearing the name of the garrison, it is indeed unfair and inconsistent."

"Come on." Bard sneered and said angrily: "In a place as big as sesame seeds and mung beans, even poor people are qualified to form a Senate? Should farmers from ten miles and eight villages be recruited as senators? Or should each town be recruited? The owner of the manor hired him as a senator? Isn't that asking for trouble? It's good like this now. It's easy to make decisions and do things easily.

Emperor and Senate, what's the use of thinking about this now? When the army soldiers arrive one day, Tiefeng County will be turned into powder without any hesitation. If that day comes, I will have to run away with you to Veneta to do small business! "

Bard made the final decision: "Take one step, look at one step, think about shit before eating, is that okay? The new reclamation army may kill us at any time, survive first, and then talk about other things!"

"It's a deal! If we are really at the end of the road one day and we are lucky enough to survive, we will run back to Hailan to do business!" Winters laughed. He suddenly thought of a certain lady and said with some embarrassment: "Actually, even if When it comes to business, it’s not our turn... Well, in fact, my grandfather is also said to be a quite famous businessman..."

"I think we should continue to use the garrison sign for the time being." Bud interrupted Winters. He had too many things to say: "With this sign, everyone can nominally get by. If the sign is changed, it will be Forcing others to re-swear their allegiance. I’m afraid many people—especially the North Eight Towns—will not be happy.”

"Then continue to use it." Winters chuckled: "But there are many manor owners in North Eight Towns who are building fortifications and gathering refugees. I am preparing to deal with them."

Bud said slowly: "What the manor owner wants is for the refugees to return home and continue to work for them as laborers and tenant farmers. This is in fundamental conflict with our needs. In the past, the manor owner was willing to support you because you could bring order. When they When you realize that we are chipping away at their foundation, it is only a matter of time before you fall out. You have to fight, but it is better to be as gentle as possible."

"I can't bear to fight. If we fight, all the bottles and cans will be smashed." Winters smiled and jumped off the fence: "How about I invite the old man who holds the plow to Gevaudan? Give it to me. Be an agricultural consultant. No one dares to teach me, so I’ll just ask more questions.”

"No problem." Bud also laughed: "I originally wanted to talk to you about this today. Who told you to talk about tyrants and dictators?"

"This matter has actually been in my heart for a long time." Winters sighed, and smiled again in a blink of an eye: "It's getting late, let's go! Go back to Mitchell Manor. Let's have dinner!"

"No...I won't go." A trace of guilt appeared in Bud's eyes: "Mrs. Mitchell...she even helped me persuade other manor owners to hand over their land. She is a truly noble and good person, and I don't want to see her."

Not far away, the little lion waited impatiently and shouted: "Are you done? Let's go! I'm hungry!"

"Then I won't go either." Winters pulled Bard off the fence and said, "Go to the labor camp and have something to eat."

The latter nodded with a wry smile.

The three of them got on their horses and quickly walked away.

On the land of Harvest Farm, many hungry people are still working hard, looking forward to the future harvest.

[The author doesn’t know much about farming either... so the description of how farmers farmed in the 16th and 17th centuries comes from technological history, film and television works, and online information (face covering)]

[I don’t have enough time, so I won’t do it. Even if there was enough time, ridges would not be used to grow wheat in soil like Tiefeng County at that time. The method of sowing is also broadcasting. On-demand sowing is used for large-grained crops such as beans, while the drill sowing commonly used today was only promoted after 1800]

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