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IBHJ Chapter 179
🕑 Added 2023-03-29 22:11:04 +0000 UTCAlthough nationalizing the land may seem like a solution, Shirou must exercise caution due to the social norms and power dynamics of the ancient era. As most of the land belongs to the nobles, he cannot act recklessly without risking the loyalty of those who have supported him in the past. While Cornwall may be an exception with weaker noble influence, promoting this idea to cities like Tintagel would be unwise.
To avoid alienating his allies and supporters, he must proceed carefully and avoid any hasty decisions. One possible approach could be to recognize the original land ownership of the nobles as the basis for any new developments, gradually developing the newly cultivated land over time. This would require patience and a willingness to compromise, but it would also allow Shirou to promote local development while maintaining his relationships with important allies.
Being stubborn is like committing suicide, and blindly adhering to dogma is like embracing death. To succeed, one must be adaptable to the local conditions, time, and circumstances, and pursue pragmatic solutions that are in line with the national context. This is the way forward.
Nonetheless, it could be seen as encroaching on the nobles' privilege, which might result in some form of backlash. Nevertheless, the primary concern in Camelot is the survival of the nation. As long as Shirou's actions do not provoke any major uproar before Vortigern's elimination, the backlash against them should be manageable.
The key factor in Shirou's success was his use of Agravain to spread terror regarding Vortigern's genocidal activities, which rallied the people and earned him the loyalty of the lords. Despite Vortigern's orders to massacre cities, he was still engaged in combat with Camelot, and only a few magical beast guerrillas attacked the cities. The nobles were not foolish, and they realized that surrendering would only result in a grim fate under Vortigern's rule.
The key to Shirou's success was his ability to unite a group of exceptional individuals within the noble forces who were determined to fight Vortigern to the death.
Although Vortigern's decision to engage in a fight to the death with Camelot may seem unwise, it was influenced by the era and regional context.
In the European world, whether it's the ancient era, the medieval period, or modern times, cities always radiate to the countryside, rather than the countryside surrounding the cities.
And it's precisely for this reason that it gave Shirou time to catch his breath and develop.
...
With the implementation of the new land system, people were highly motivated to increase their productivity, which resulted in a rapid increase in output. This effect was even more pronounced once the people of Caerleon began farming, further accelerating the pace of development.
To cultivate new land, the people of Caerleon cleared the forests around Cornwall to make space for their homes. They then utilized techniques such as burned-soil agriculture and plow-and-harrow cultivation to maximize their yields.
Following Shirou's guidance, the farmers proceeded to cultivate four batches of land, alternating between food crops, legumes, and grasses for grazing.
Shirou explained to Lucan and the others that this was known as the four-field system, which only required one round of plowing per year. This approach ensured that soil fertility was maintained and that there was no need to leave the land fallow to recover.
One by one, Lucan and the others seemed to transform into Artoria as they eagerly took out their notebooks to record Shirou's teaching. They expressed their desire to study his wisdom day and night, leaving him somewhat speechless.
Shirou sat on the farmland and observed the farmers at work, all the while reviewing government affairs.
He had already introduced modern planning methods to the managing officials. Although they were initially confused, they eventually managed to develop proposals that were acceptable.
Accompanied by Agravain and Merlin, who were responsible for document delivery and categorization, respectively, Shirou oversaw the work of the Agricultural Department's cadres, including Lucan, as they supervised the cultivation and planting efforts.
As he reviewed documents and oversaw the farmers, Shirou also took the opportunity to broaden Agravain and Merlin's horizons through his teachings.
"You're really trying to juggle too many things at once. Do you think you can handle it all?" Merlin asked.
Shirou sighed in frustration. "It's impossible, but with limited personnel, I have no choice but to try and manage as much as I can. Speaking of which, Agravain, how is your request for additional manpower from the lords going?"
"The lords have agreed to send people soon, and even the officials are willing to come. After all, kings who value domestic officials like you are a rarity in Britain."
"The army is like a sword, and the officials are like a shield. Both are indispensable," Shirou commented with a sigh. "However, while we're getting the people we need, we still haven't planned out the official titles system."
"And that's not all. There are also matters such as army compensation standards, military ranks, and so on to consider," added Merlin. "I can also tell you that Gawain will be returning soon, and the northern defense line is almost complete."
"I'll prioritize those matters and get them done as soon as possible. But are you sure the fortification was completed that quickly? I hope it's not shoddy construction that will crumble at the slightest touch. If that's the case, then I'll have to punish Bedivere."
"Don't be so quick to judge," Merlin replied. "The distance between the mountains is short, and the amount of work isn't that significant. Don't underestimate the people of this era, especially since Bedivere led over ten thousand workers to the site. The remaining work can be done by sending magi to apply solidifying and hardening to the wall."
Shirou nodded.
...
Upon receiving his orders, Kay led Lancelot to the most promising locations in Cornwall.
As they traveled, Lancelot couldn't help but marvel at the scenery. However, he also sensed an unusual atmosphere that seemed to permeate the area. Perhaps it was because he was an outsider, but something about the region felt off to him.
Everyone in Cornwall was preoccupied with their work, as if there were an abundance of tasks to complete but not enough people to do them. It felt as though everyone was being pulled in multiple directions at once.
What's more, despite Shirou's promise that he would meet knights who could match his own skills, Lancelot had yet to encounter anyone who fit the bill, even after several days in Cornwall.
Lancelot had come to Britain with two objectives in mind. The first was to investigate the truth of Camelot, as requested by his father. The second was to challenge and compete against formidable knights.
In Benoic, Lancelot had already established himself as the best knight. While his battlefield prowess was unmatched, he also felt a sense of loneliness and yearned to find powerful companions who shared his aspirations, to grow and improve together.
Lancelot had come to Britain with the hopes of fulfilling his own desires, which were sparked by the appearance of Shirou and Merlin.
During his time with Kay, Lancelot discovered that they had similar interests and could be friends. However, he soon realized that Kay's martial abilities paled in comparison to his own.
Feeling frustrated, Lancelot confided in Kay about his troubles, expressing his desire to meet powerful knights.
"Do you really want to see true power?" Kay asked.
Lancelot nodded eagerly.
Kay pondered for a moment before speaking, "Gawain, Tristan, and Lamorak are currently on military duty and have already departed. Among those who remain in Cornwall, there are few who can match your martial skills. However, I know just the people to show you what true power looks like. Follow me."
"True power?" Lancelot's eyes widened with interest.
Kay led him to the northern front line, and almost immediately upon arrival, Lancelot saw a wall of people in the deep mountains and rugged ridges.
Over 10,000 people worked like worker ants, constructing a city wall at an astonishing pace that was visible to the naked eye. The sight was truly awe-inspiring!
Lancelot tugged at Kay's sleeve, "Kay, what are all those people doing?"
"They're constructing a defensive line," Kay replied.
"A defensive line? Against what?"
"Against Vortigern's magical beasts, of course!"
Lancelot was perplexed. "Defend against magical beasts? Didn't you drive Vortigern to the north? Why do you still need to construct a defensive line?"
Kay was completely caught off guard by the question. In that moment, Shirou's words echoed in his mind, and it hit him like a ton of bricks. 'Wait, isn't this lie way too exaggerated? How on earth am I supposed to explain this now?'
"Ah, I see now!" Lancelot exclaimed in realization. "Driving Vortigern to the north doesn't mean victory. King Arthur is likely concerned that if he pursues Vortigern, Cornwall will be vulnerable to attack. That's why he's having a city wall constructed as a preemptive measure. He truly is a wise king!"
Kay responded awkwardly, "Yes... it's good that you understand, Lancelot."
"Is this the true power you wished to show me?"
"Not quite," he responded, shaking his head before ascending higher with Lancelot.
As they reached the mountaintop, the people building the wall appeared like ants from their vantage point, and the vast expanse of sky and earth stretched out before them.
Lancelot gasped in shock, "What is that?"
Before the wall of people not far away, a wilderness lay bare. Countless magical beasts filled the plain like honeycombs, ant colonies, and tidal waves, scurrying across the earth. The sheer number was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, enough to make one's heart skip a beat.
What was even more astonishing was that the ground was littered with the corpses of the magical beasts, creating an eerie scene akin to entering the abyss of death.
Amidst the sea of monsters, a lone knight rode on horseback, brandishing a sword and a long spear, fighting and slaying as if in an uninhabited land. The sight was utterly terrifying!
The overwhelming number of monsters made Lancelot's scalp tingle with fear, but the sight of a lone knight fighting amidst them, single-handedly resisting the tide of monsters was truly astonishing.
Kay let out a sigh and said, "It's been six days..."
Lancelot asked subconsciously, "What six days?" before quickly realizing the implication. He asked in shock, "Kay... are you saying that this knight has been fighting alone against this tide of magical beasts for six days?"
Kay simply nodded in confirmation.
Lancelot was stunned, "What... what a powerful knight!" Pointing to the knight, he asked, "Who is he?"
"Uh... Apprentice knight of the king."
"This...this is an apprentice knight?" Lancelot asked incredulously. "Kay, are you joking? A knight of such power is already unparalleled in the world. How could he be just an apprentice knight?"
Kay noticed Lancelot's use of male pronouns when referring to the knight, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he explained, "This knight is considered powerful among us, and he was the first knight to pledge allegiance to the king. But until the king deems him mature enough, he can only be regarded as an apprentice knight."
"He's that powerful, yet King Arthur still considers him immature?" Lancelot asked in disbelief.
"The king has his own considerations."
"King Arthur's standards are incredibly strict, but this knight's power is truly admirable even as an apprentice," Lancelot remarked in awe. "It's no wonder that the swordsmanship of his follower, the magus Arax, is also so powerful!"
Kay: "?????"
He was confused about who Arax was, but he remembered Shirou's previous explanation and tried to play along, nodding vaguely and saying, "Indeed..."
Lancelot remarked, "What a powerful king!"
