novelraw Chapter 402: Paying Dividends
Chapter 402: Paying Dividends
This Black Wolf was truly quite sincere, detailing the preceding and subsequent causes and reasons thoroughly. If things were truly as he said, it seemed there was really nothing inappropriate about it.
"Many thanks to Senior for answering my doubts. However, I still need to deliberate on this matter. If the task truly undergoes Task Settlement a few months from now, and I have no other matters on my end, I will seek Senior out again to discuss it in detail."
Li Wei smiled politely. Of course, it was impossible for him to give an answer immediately. Listening only to one side of the story was not a good habit.
"Alright, it should indeed be so. Little Brother, this cautious and prudent style of yours is precisely what I value in you."
Black Wolf chuckled heartily at this moment, not minding it at all. Following that, with a wave of his hand, he sent Li Wei back.
"Was that Black Wolf from the Logistics Department just now? What did he seek you out to discuss?"
The moment Li Wei returned from the gray mist alternate dimension, Li Yue quickly stepped forward and asked.
"He said the peace negotiation will likely succeed, and we will undergo Task Settlement in a few months. When that time comes, he wants to invite me to participate in a special Pioneering Mission in the freezing tundra for two years, primarily to cultivate cold-resistant crops."
Li Wei didn't hide anything. Li Yue was one of his own; there was no need for that.
"You agreed to his offer?""I didn't. There are still far too many matters that need handling at the territory. Furthermore, I must listen to your opinions. The stall is spread too large right now; a single careless misstep and it's easy to go bankrupt!" Li Wei laughed.
"You also know your stall is spread too large now?" Li Yue laughed involuntarily, also finding it amusing.
"However, for Black Wolf to seek you out so urgently, he must have come with massive sincerity. On one hand, this is because you are also a famous person now—the former Rookie King, today's little expert in pioneering, the Great General of the Vehicles. Who would dare to be unconvinced?"
"But on the other hand, it's probably because Black Wolf truly obtained definitive intelligence. He believes this peace negotiation will likely succeed, so he wanted to plan ahead a bit. The Logistics Department supplies provisions, vegetables, and other materials to Weir Province; the pressure is immense. Therefore, there's a high probability he wouldn't deceive or swindle you."
"However, this matter indeed requires prudent consideration. Especially after you become a Substantive Viscount—that is, a proper, substantive power Four-Star Lord—then there's no need to accept this mission. Is two years of your time only worth one hundred thousand gold coins? Who is he looking down on?"
"Then what are your thoughts, Aunt Yue?"
"My thoughts? I actually don't have any thoughts. Little Wei, you must remember, whether it is the Duke of Weir or the King of Locke, to us, they are all high and mighty big shots far beyond our reach. Therefore, we can surmise and guess at their intentions, but it's best not to go against them directly."
"Since His Majesty the King has already dispatched a Special Envoy, then we absolutely must not stir up trouble. Even more so, we must not launch attacks or provoke them at this time. For example, regarding that Great Bridge Fortress to the east of the territory, if those Neanderthals want to stir up trouble, we must remain restrained, although this possibility is not high. Just do our own things well, and watch quietly as circumstances change; that will suffice."
"I understand." Li Wei nodded his head; these were words of steady prudence.
"As for the rest, did you grind out the Farmer's Destiny Title? The one called Son of the Earth."
"I ground it out; it's quite good."
"Hmph! It's not just quite good, it's exceedingly excellent. But I advise you not to let it go to your head, and even more so, do not think only about single-mindedly developing the territory. It is also time to let yourself precipitate a bit, and elevate your own comprehensive strength."
"There are naturally others responsible for the Level 4 City Wall and the Mage Tower. We also shouldn't think too much about the matter of the King's Special Envoy negotiating peace. Formidable strength is the very foundation of everything, understand? You might feel three years is still a very long time, but actually, it's very short. Three years from now, we have to go execute a Cross-Border Mission. The place we go to will very likely be an even more distant world. When that time comes, the only person you can rely on is yourself."
"The existence of the territory is merely so that we can resurrect more smoothly after dying, and reduce the losses brought about by death, while concurrently being able to stage a comeback much faster."
"But the territory itself isn't worth us shifting all our core focus strictly onto it."
"I understand. But do we have a way to apply for a Conquest Mission three years from now first?" Li Wei asked curiously at this moment.
"We can, but I do not suggest it, and I sternly reject the idea. If you dare apply for a Conquest Mission, then the two of us will part ways right then and there. At this current stage, you simply do not possess sufficient foundation and heritage to execute a Conquest Mission. Did you think taking out three hundred Professional Soldiers would be enough?"
"In reality, Conquest Missions have always been led by professionals of Night Owl's caliber, or even a tier higher than her. Sometimes it even requires Duke-level figures leading the team to even have a possibility of taking it down."
"Let me put it this way: if the difficulty and variable index of a Pioneering Mission is 10~20, then the difficulty and variable index of a Cross-Border Mission is 50~100. And a seemingly same-level Conquest Mission, its difficulty starts at 100 at the very least."
Li Yue spoke extremely sternly and seriously. Li Wei hurriedly corrected himself, "Aunt Yue, rest assured, I was just asking out of curiosity. I am not a warmonger. I just like everyone happily eating skewers, drinking beer, and blowing hot air together in our own territory while watching the stars. What starry skies and seas? We don't care for that."
"Come, come, come, Aunt Yue, sit down and rest a bit. Starting today, you can return to the fortress and get a good sleep. In a bit, I'll show off my skills; we'll eat something good tonight."
Li Wei spoke his heartfelt words. He didn't like tossing and turning to stir up trouble either. Moreover, he also wanted to find some time to make a trip to Kakh City, to go take a look at his Zailai Town.
Resting for two years was highly probably impossible, but relaxing a bit for a short time was absolutely no problem.
"It's good that you understand. I'm not tired. Hurry up and harvest the remaining wheat. These are the primary food provisions required in the territory. I've estimated; the per-mu yield of this spring wheat is at least around eight hundred kilograms. Now that the Three-Star and Four-Star wheat are gone, the Two-Star Quality wheat is at least two hundred kilograms per mu, and the One-Star wheat is at least four hundred kilograms per mu."
"Two-Star wheat and One-Star wheat must be harvested separately. One-Star wheat and ordinary wheat must also be harvested separately. These four hundred mu have you busy enough. In addition, once it's about to rain, then sorry to say, you'll have to get others to come help."
Hearing these words, Li Wei also smiled helplessly, honestly continuing to go harvest.
Because what was being harvested this round was Two-Star wheat, the consumption of Spiritual Power decreased considerably. Therefore, the speed could also be accelerated a bit. From morning to night, Li Wei could continuously harvest for eighteen hours.
However, because there was no one else helping to store the ears of wheat this time, work efficiency naturally dropped massively. He could only harvest one hundred mu a day.
Fortunately, the weather during this period of time was relatively good, or perhaps all the water vapor had been extinguished when the Frost Duke stirred up trouble last month.
Anyhow, for a consecutive dozen or so days, it was clear and cloudless; the weather was exceptionally excellent.
Li Wei left early and returned late, busy as a spinning top, but his harvest was also exceedingly massive.
As the ordinary wheat finished being harvested, his Farmer Destiny Grid even broke through all unprecedented records to charge to 62—even higher than what he had previously anticipated.
This could be considered his own personal gains.
And in terms of production output, four hundred mu of spring wheat yielded a total of roughly eighty thousand kilograms of Two-Star wheat, one hundred and sixty thousand kilograms of One-Star wheat, and forty thousand kilograms of ordinary wheat.
After being completely harvested, these grains were sun-dried and then loaded into designated warehouses. Among them, Riverside Fortress kept one-third, while the Territory Main City transported away two-thirds, because the population was larger over there.
Of course, Two-Star wheat and One-Star wheat were not supplied for free.
Especially Two-Star wheat; the market selling price in Weir City was three gold coins per half a kilogram—it was an extremely luxurious material.
Li Wei placed the sun-dried Two-Star wheat into specially forged warehouses with a higher sealing level. Only Second Aunt and Li Yue could freely withdraw and use it.
In reality, he wouldn't be putting it onto the market for the time being.
Only One-Star wheat would be put onto the market, selling at a price of three silver coins per half a kilogram.
Worth mentioning was that, aside from these four hundred mu of wheat, Li Wei would not interfere with the revenues of other farmlands.
For example, the five hundred-odd mu of farmlands reclaimed and planted near the Northern Fortress included wheat, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, rice, and so on. That was considered to have been planted and produced by the Agriculture Group within the territory.
Through selling, they obtained revenue, paid taxes, issued salaries to the Agriculture Group workers and relevant industries, used the rest for the second year's planting, and so on—gradually forming a closed loop.
There were also the extra six hundred-odd mu of farmlands surrounding Riverside Fortress. Li Wei planned to distribute these in the future to Li Yue, Javier, Seth, Paul, Jocelyn, and the hundreds of other households.
In a single sentence: Because the division of labor over at the Territory Main City was clearer and more meticulous, the management method and distribution method adopted were closer to a state-operated farm + workers.
While the other fortress territories represented by Riverside Fortress had to adopt the enfeoffment system. This could maximally elevate their loyalty and their resolve to defend their homeland.
"Therefore, the food provisions taken in as revenue this year that can be put onto the market—just the One-Star wheat alone can reach three hundred thousand kilograms. Ordinary wheat can reach one hundred thousand kilograms, corn around four hundred and fifty thousand kilograms, and rice around one hundred thousand kilograms. Enough to supply the entire year's food for 5,000 people, including the concentrated feed required by warhorses, and what is required for brewing alcohol."
"It's a pity we cannot be this willful and capricious next year."
"Yes, next year you will not be able to participate in planting. You are a Four-Star Farmer; planting the land for one year is equivalent to peeling a layer of skin off the land. Right now, there are floating Chaotic Magic Particles that can sustain it. Once the Pioneering Card turns into a Magic Shield and covers over us, exactly how much land is planted annually, and specifically how crop rotation is conducted, will all have to be formed into law."
At this moment, on the third floor of Riverside Fortress, Li Wei and Li Yue were currently eating a massive feast to reward themselves. The past ten-odd days had been too exhausting, and Li Yue had likewise worked very hard.
How to relieve exhaustion? Only with fine food.
"The foundations for the city walls over at the Main City have already been laid. With more people working, the speed is also fast. The main body of the Mage Tower has already begun construction, utilizing entirely 4-Star Stone materials. It will be successfully built in another ten days. When the time comes, injecting magic power will allow it to be put into operation. Aunt Yue, when the time comes, I plan to apply to build two Magic Arbitrary Doors, and you will permanently reside here. This Riverside Fortress is overly militarized; living here is uncomfortable. Thus, I will build you another fortress facing the river, blooming with spring warmth. How about it?"
At this time, Li Wei laughed again. Right now, he could also set his hands to paying dividends to his companions again. The distribution of interests was forever the most important.
He obtained massive gains this wave, while others could only watch idly?
Unrealistic.
Aside from parents, no one will love you without reason, nor follow you without cause.
Hearing these words, Li Yue, who was elegantly eating grilled fish, raised her head. She seemed to have guessed his thoughts, but didn't reject it either.
Why did she regard Li Wei so highly, investing without counting the returns? Wasn't it just to have a place to provide for her in her old age, a place that could act as a safety net?
This child is teachable.
"Blooming with spring warmth isn't necessary. I am already old; I don't desire spring warmth anymore. However, I indeed require a large, spacious, brightly-lit house backing against the mountain bay. One where it can be warm even in winter, where I can bask in the sun."
"That's a must. In addition, I also plan to give you another two hundred mu of land, Aunt Yue. A river port where you can fish, the identity of a vassal baron, and three hundred direct Freemen. Aunt Yue, what do you think?" Li Wei laughed. If giving benefits, it had to hit the mark in a single go. Let's not have any filthy squabbles spring up midway; human hearts cannot withstand testing.
"This good? Little Wei, you ah—"
Li Yue was astonished for a moment, then laughed heartily out loud. Amidst the laughter, there was a bit of regret. She was too old, otherwise...
(End of this chapter)