Chapter 1160 - 182: Grand Ambitions and Monumental Plans (Part 3)

Chapter 1160: Chapter 182: Grand Ambitions and Monumental Plans (Part 3)

Su Li stood on the dike of Bjorn Shallow Bay, overlooking this magnificent scene. Golden sunlight bathed the earth, slaves toiled like swarms of ants, Half-Elf machines droned forward, Dwarven foundations were laid on mounds, priestesses sowed sharp hope, and essence souls silently watched over the fields.

This was the core and foundation of his territory’s endeavors.

Su Li, invigorated, asked, "How many acres of Steel Wheat Seed do we plan to plant this year?"

"Last year, we planted 100 acres of Steel Wheat Seed and reaped a harvest, yielding 30,000 jin of wheat seed. This year, we intend to increase the planting area of Steel Wheat Seed directly to over 1,000 acres!"

"A harvest of 300,000 jin of Extraordinary Wheat Seeds?!" Su Li took a deep breath, saying, "My minister, this number is too impressive for me to forget. When we first came to the territory, the first harvest season barely yielded 300,000 jin of all food."

And now, the scale of the harvest of just the Extraordinary Wheat Seeds in the territory could rival the previous ordinary wheat harvest of Hesse Territory.

It’s clear evidence of the territory’s rapid advancement in strength.

These 300,000 jin of grain would be enough to feed 10,000 elite infantry and cavalry for 30 days! After all, this is extraordinary grain; even elite-level soldiers only need to consume 1 jin a day to maintain their considerable physical consumption and gain great benefits.

With three meals of this extraordinary grain a day, soldiers would have a Steel Body, with notable improvements in strength and defense.

In theory, a squad of elite knights could face a champion-level monster without fear. Twelve elite knights could easily tear apart a powerful giant or scorpion-tailed lion.

But what delighted Su Li even more was that this was just the beginning.

Vandar continued, "Lord, in fact, the amount of Extraordinary Wheat Seeds we can harvest is far from limited to this. After all, we have many farms and fertile lands with many opportunities to produce Extraordinary Ears. For instance, the Emerald Pool, with over a hundred villages now built around it, can produce pearl wheat and Emerald Green Ears around the villages, monasteries, and holy places."

"So, we estimate that the territory’s first harvest season could produce at least about 400,000 jin of extraordinary grain."

Su Li felt an uncontrollable joy and laughed, saying, "Hahaha, good! Good! Good! My ministers, our farming has finally borne fruit! With this reserve of 400,000 jin of extraordinary grain, we can have an overwhelming advantage in conflicts against other forces."

"How many acres of wheat fields do we have in the territory now?"

Vandar replied as if reading a treasured collection, "According to statistics, after capturing the Blue Mirror Territory, our territory’s farming areas can mainly be divided into four major modules: one is the fertile basin around Blue Mirror Lake, one is the developed plains around the Flashes Spear, one is the Central Plain of Hesse Territory, including the Half-Elf Manor of the Balan Autonomous Region and the vast lands and numerous villages around Lake Revelin, and one is the occupied area in the western Black Pine Forest. We have reclaimed a total of 34,500 acres of fertile land."

Thousands of acres of fertile land!

This achievement Su Li has finally reached.

And among them, many are fertile lands like the holy land of the Maiden’s Ring, with very high yields.

Vandar continued his report, "Among them, the Blood Field, Spirit Field, and holy wheat fields total 96 acres. According to our agricultural income, we earn over 80,000 Golden Crowns a year!"

A yearly income of 80,000 Golden Crowns, about 26,000 per harvest season. On average, it’s an income of 6,500 to 7,000 Golden Crowns per month.

This figure is indeed soaring, more than doubling. Solely relying on agricultural income, it can cover one-third to half of the monthly maintenance cost of the military.

Golden sunlight poured over the vast land, level fertile land, orderly ridges and forest strips, natural spirits and nuns emerging amidst the fields, together painting a perfect pastoral landscape.

Su Li felt an immense sense of accomplishment and smiled to Vandar, saying, "My minister, all of this is the result of your tireless efforts. I have complete confidence in leaving the territory’s agriculture and governance in your hands. I will have the Bishop’s Council make an investment in your church, supporting you with 10,000 Golden Crowns, to help develop your church and cultivate more nuns, building more monasteries and holy places."

Su Li’s Vault Area is genuinely well-off now, with granaries full, wealth ample, a bountiful season, enough to forget hunger for several years, and financially sustainable for years to come—it’s no exaggeration.

Especially after solving the Red Dragon Drake, having relocated two-thirds of its centuries’ worth of treasure, Su Li’s Vault Area now boasts nearly 200,000 Golden Crowns in wealth.

Purchasing a count’s title may still be slightly challenging, requiring some time to accumulate.

But if he were willing to conspire and bribe those imperial lackeys and corrupt officials, acquiring a baron’s title would be a breeze.

This proves that, from any perspective, he possesses the strength of a baron.

This time, his trip to Marle Castle was to check the results of the title assessment. If things did not go as desired, war with the Swamp Territory would be inevitable!

On another note, he also wanted to see Lady Bayonetta.

This lady probably had been gnashing her teeth at Su Li for nearly a year, with emotions welling up, unable to forget, which would undoubtedly echo back.

After Su Li finished speaking, Vandar immediately inquired with concern, "Lord, will your inspection end here? We have prepared more ceremonies and are ready to introduce you to the achievements of the territory’s agricultural encouragement and development."

Su Li waved him off, saying, "The territory is so large now, I can’t pay attention to everything. The affairs of agricultural encouragement and development are in your hands. I trust in the capability of your Dawn Church. I only need results. I hope that during the summer harvest, we can obtain enough extraordinary grain and spring silkworm silk."

Vandar, seeing this, said no more, nodding, "Our church will surely go all out!"

"However, Lord, there’s one aspect I believe you should personally attend to, which is the territory’s vineyards and winemaking!"

"For an imperial lord, two things cannot be overlooked, one is the farm, the other is the vineyard. We have laid enough Purple Crystal Grapes at the Bauhinia Manor, and this year the grapevines have grown and developed."

Oh? The vineyard’s matters? This indeed is the affair most concerned by the imperial nobility aside from farming.

Vandar’s suggestion did not meet Su Li’s opposition, and he waved, saying, "Then you continue directing the spring farming here. I can go to the vineyard myself; coincidentally, this trip to Marle Castle, I will bring a batch of Golden Purple Crystal Brandy."

The Dawn Church overseeing the agricultural encouragement and development requires no further worry for Su Li. But, as Vandar mentioned, a vineyard industry is usually closely attended to by the nobility.

Primarily because, in other territories, farms, wheat fields, and the like may belong to peasants, affluent farmers, or large landowners, but vineyards are typically a noble’s possession.

So a vineyard’s harvest and wine production concern a noble’s family’s tangible income.

Su Li himself, due to having 3000～4000 slaves, was less sensitive to the vineyard’s gains.

But currently, the vineyard has the Bathed in Fire Rose, which causes the brewed Golden Purple Crystal Brandy to have effects similar to a Love Potion, with a strong aphrodisiac effect, skyrocketing its value.

The last time Commissioner Smith met with Su Li, he mentioned that a bottle of Golden Purple Crystal Brandy fetched up to 60 Golden Crowns in Marle Castle.

Yet now, such a bottle of brandy easily breaks through a price of 100 Golden Crowns in Hesse Territory. Transported to Marle Castle, its price would undoubtedly break through 200 Golden Crowns!

Therefore, the Purple Crystal Vineyard is certainly worth Su Li’s inspection, and it lies on the northern hillside of Bauhinia Manor, very close to Bauhinia Manor, essentially on the way for a Griffin’s flight.

So Su Li glanced at the sky, with plenty of time left, as dusk hasn’t yet approached. There was enough time to finish inspecting the vineyard, then set out for Marle Castle the next day.

He then promptly led his guards north toward the manor, where there were scenes of diligent labor all along the way, stretching from Bjorn Shallow Bay all the way to the walls of Bauhinia City. All flat land had been reclaimed as fertile fields, punctuated by newly built manors and farms.

Su Li felt a deeper appreciation for the civilization’s magnificence in the territory, knowing that previously there was a stretch of grassland between Bauhinia Castle and Bjorn Shallow Bay, dotted with a few small woodlands.

But now, all of this had been reclaimed into fertile fields, with the entire eastern part of Bauhinia City characterized by vast farmland, with no barren lands in sight!