Chapter 826 (1/2)
Chapter 826: Conference of Agriculture Mobilization Movement
Translator: TransN Editor: Meh
The Months of Demons this year lasted for nearly five months. By the time murky clouds that overhung the Western Region were dispersed by warm sunbeams, it was late spring.
Roland faced a pressing issue.
It was spring plowing.
Although the war against the Southernmost Region during the Months of Demons, when the other powers were all sort of in a state of dormancy, had won him a lot of time to prelude the unification operation, it was also undeniable that he had consumed tons of food in winter.
Due to the lack of food input and the rapid increase in the population, the food in the granary in the Border Area was, for the first time, exhausted. Roland was secretly happy that he had entrusted the seeds of Golden Ones developed by Leaf to Petrov and had ordered him to promote engineered food to the public right after the seizure of Longsong Stronghold; otherwise, they would not have peacefully made their way through the Months of Demons this year.
The concrete boats traveling between the border and the Longsong area was the lifeline of the First Army, for they transported pancakes made from coarse-grained wheat flour to soldiers fighting at the front.
As a result of the urgency of the matter, Roland convened a spring plowing conference right after the celebration of “Victory Day”.
On that day, not only the Ministry of Agriculture but the whole City Hall, including secondary officials in the Longsong area, the district governor, Petrov, and the governor of Fallen Dragon Ridge, Spear, were all summoned to the Neverwinter castle. It should be noted that Spear Passi was directly transferred by Maggie. Ghastly pale and frightened, she complained about her rough flight when she landed and bowed to Roland.
Calvin Kant, the lord of the Northern Region, was absent, but he sent his daughter Edith and his second son Cole to attend the conference on behalf of him. Roland was not sure if it was an illusion, but he noticed, somehow, that the Pearl of the Northern Region had become more radiant since her return from the Great Snow Mountain. Compared with her resplendency, Cole seemed increasingly frail and insignificant. Roland also wondered whether his attire was a little too… androgynous?
Anyhow, the attendees of the conference came from all parts of Graycastle, except the Eastern Region, whose lord had yet to pledge fealty to Roland, and the Central Region, where Roland had yet to establish a well-functioning city hall. Without these two regions, the conference could be considered as the first National Congress.
Roland surveyed the hall in satisfaction and then tapped the desk.
Everybody instantly became silent. All the eyes rested upon the king.
“You must be wondering why I wrote the word ‘operation’ on the banner.” Roland pointed to the red banner on the wall behind him. “Because this is essentially a war. It determines whether we can successfully implement our strategic plan this year and whether we’re doing the right thing for people in Neverwinter! I promised to refugees when I took them in that as long as they worked hard, they would never starve.”
“In the past three years, I fulfilled my promise. My domain expanded from a small, underdeveloped border town to more than half of the territory of Graycastle. I see no reason that we can’t make it happen this year. Our kingdom would only be stable when our subjects aren’t worried about food. Therefore, I need every one of you to take spring plowing seriously. All of you have to reach your agricultural production target this year in accordance with the plowing regulations and guidelines drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture.” Roland paused for a second and then continued, “Also, starting from this year, there’ll be an assessment specifically targeting the agricultural progress in your jurisdiction, which will include evaluations on how much virgin land you’ve cultivated, the number of farmers in your domain, as well as the agricultural production. These factors will be incorporated into the criteria for a competent governor!”
Perceiving the confusion among all the attendees, Roland smiled faintly. “It’s OK you don’t know about these evaluation items, because Sirius, the Minister of Agriculture, will later spend one day explaining to you in detail. In conclusion, if you fail to meet my criteria, it tells me that you aren’t competent to rule the region and are no longer suitable for the governor position.”
Nobody uttered a word, but Roland could clearly sense the tension among them from their expressions.