Chapter 15: Establishing the Medicinal Herb Village

The sight of the serfs kneeling along the charcoal path had a profound effect on Russell.

“This world, this era… the authority of the nobility is too overwhelming,” he thought.

He couldn’t imagine how he would break free from the shackles of class if he had been reborn as a serf and enjoy a life of freedom.

“Perhaps…”

He looked up, his gaze passing over the kneeling serfs toward the south, where the landscape was starkly different from the still snow-covered Dusklight River Valley.

Beneath the snow, where the Dusklight River converged, was a dark cave known as the Resounding Water River Cave.

Inside this cave lived a group of free people who owed no allegiance to any lord.

Though they had gained freedom, their lives were precarious, constantly on the brink of death.

As the lord of Black Waist Snake Manor, Russell had a significant duty to guard his territory’s borders and prevent free people from crossing over to raid, free people who did not submit to a noble lord received no protection from any lord.

Russell looked at the still kneeling serfs and said loudly, “Everyone, please rise. In the future, when I, Russell Fluorescent Mushroom, your lord, pass by, a simple nod will suffice; there’s no need to kneel.”

“Ah, praise the Lord!”

“The Lord is kind and generous!”

“A benevolent Lord!”

“The lord is a true noble!”

“Sob, how fortunate we are!”

“Praise the lord, your glory shines brightly!”

The serfs expressed their gratitude in a cacophony of voices. Just being excused from kneeling made them feel that their new lord was undoubtedly a great man.

Russell took a cursory look around the small market and found only two establishments that could be considered shops.

One was a bakery, responsible for making bread for the serfs and helping them purchase essential goods from the town.

The other was a blacksmith’s shop, or more accurately, a stonemason’s and carpenter’s shop, dealing in various ironware, stoneware, and wooden furniture. Russell even noticed leather goods hanging from the signboard, indicating the shopkeeper’s varied skills.

There was also a makeshift row of sheds that could hardly be called a farmer’s market.

Serfs had set up stalls to sell their home-bred eggs, rice wine, and cured meats.

“How impoverished…” Russell sighed again.

Black Waist Snake Manor covered an area of nearly 20,000 hectares, larger than some towns in his old world, yet its prosperity was a world apart.

The main problem was the population – only 3,500 people, about the size of a large village.

Such a population could not sustain the town’s commercial system.

“There are too few serfs. The yield from the manor’s farmlands couldn’t support many people in the past, but now that I’ve brought sprite grubs, we can grow medicinal herbs and support more people… Where can we get more people?” He couldn’t help but look at the Resounding Water River Cave again.

This matter needed careful planning.

They left the small market and continued along the charcoal path. The terrain was undulating, centered around the Dusklight River, forming an atypical river valley landscape.

In Russell’s opinion, the entire Dusklight River Valley was one basin.

Black Waist Snake Manor was at the southernmost tip of the basin, with the land undulating like hills.

Further away were the short mountains on both the east and west sides, still covered in snow.

After crossing a hill, they saw two riders approaching from a distance. They were Charles and Eric, the two teachers.

“Welcome to inspect your territory, Lord Russell. Haha, I saw a few knights from afar and guessed it was you,” Charles greeted with a tip of his hat, his fingers still holding a briar pipe. Eric saluted with a fist to his chest with his right hand, “My lord.”

“Hello, teachers. How is the inspection of the manor going? Have you found suitable areas for growing medicinal herbs?”

“The most suitable areas are along both banks of the Dusklight River,” Charles said, although he was a fallen noble, he had some knowledge, “The baron’s medicinal herb fields are also along the Dusklight River, just like here.”

Russell remained noncommittal, “Is that so?”

“I’ve roughly planned it out. The west bank of the Dusklight River is Lentil Village and Alfalfa Village, and the east bank is Bean Barley Village, Barley Village, and Wheat Village. We can carve out farmland near the river from these five villages to form a new Medicinal Herb Village,” Charles explained, gesturing as they stood on the hill overlooking the entire Dusklight River.

“That way, the herb village can be completely irrigated by the Dusklight River and easily patrolled. In case of danger, we can quickly retrieve the wormwood from the sprite grubs to avoid significant losses,” Charles added.

Farming in this world was different from Earth.

Ordinary crops could be managed by serfs, but medicinal herbs required sprite grubs to maintain them, using the influence of wormwood to provide a special environment for the growth of medicinal herbs.

Wormwood was the plant or mushroom that nurtured the sprite grubs.

Simply put, it was a kind of magical tool.

Sprite Grubs could pull or sow wormwood at any time and adjust the area of influence through wormwood.

Russell was a man of action, “Let’s take a look together and determine the boundaries of the medicinal herb village.”

Charles shrugged, “You’re the Lord, as you wish.”

They galloped to the bank of the Dusklight River.

“Look, Russell, there’s a large birch forest here, all old trees, perfect for Fluorescent Mushroom’s growth,” Charles pointed to a forest where new buds were just sprouting, the trees were sparse, but they covered a considerable area along the riverbank.

The Fluorescent Mushroom liked to grow on tree trunks, probably some kind of parasitic fungus.

“Good, but this birch forest isn’t big enough to plant 150 acres of fluorescent mushroom. We need to plant more trees to expand the birch forest,” Russell agreed, “John, go find Old Hans and tell him to bring people to measure the land.”

“Yes, my lord!” Armored Knight John obeyed and left.

Seeing this, Charles hesitated, “Russell, should we start measuring the land today? The sun is about to set; how about starting tomorrow?”

“Today’s work must be done today. The medicinal herb village must be planned as soon as possible,” Russell said firmly.

His determination was well reflected in his followers and subjects. Old Hans arrived quickly, followed by a group of village chiefs and servants.

“Rainflower, Fluorescent Mushroom and Dill, the medicinal herb village will be divided into three plots. The birch forests on both banks will be used to plant the Fluorescent Mushroom, leaving 150 acres of land,” Charles, who wanted to relax, had to concentrate on the task.

He couldn’t push all the work onto Russell; otherwise, he would lose his value.

“Yes, Mr. Charles, we’ll start measuring from the birch forest. I’ve brought the measuring tools and markers,” Old Hans bowed.

Under the direction of Charles and Eric, the village chiefs and serfs measured the land plot by plot.

Sunlight bathed the birch forest, coating the straight birch branches with a golden hue. The green new buds and golden branches vividly displayed the beauty of nature.

Russell gently rode his horse to the riverbank, stepping on the stones by the water and silently appreciating, “This place is as beautiful as a scenic spot… Unfortunately, I’m the only visitor here.”