BCloud
patreon
IBHJ Chapter 176
🕑 Added 2023-03-27 20:36:08 +0000 UTCBarton Fortress.
Vortigern sat on his throne and lightly tapped his armrest, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
Meksis asked, "My lord, it seems like you're feeling a bit restless."
Vortigern glanced at him and sighed, "I am aware of Camelot's strength. That wall was once a bulwark that Ywain and I defended together, and although I was prepared for it, I did not anticipate Ywain fortifying it to this extent. Conquering Camelot may take us years."
"Should we consider attacking other cities first?"
"No need for that," Vortigern responded firmly. "Those magical beasts will spontaneously attack other cities, sparing us the effort. We shall focus on Camelot for now."
"So, are we going to stubbornly attack Camelot head-on?"
Vortigern smiled, "This city is the toughest nut to crack in all of Britain. Other cities are nothing in comparison. Once we take it down, all of Britain will be mine, and I just have to wait for it."
Standing up with the Rhongomyniad in his hand, Vortigern was filled with fighting spirit.
Meksis looked at him for a long time and smiled, "Your Majesty's demeanor is truly admirable."
Vortigern turned his head and smiled bitterly. "You are my friend, there's no need to comfort me. My hands are already stained with blood, and I'm not worthy of the title 'King.' And Meksis..."
"I'm here, my lord,"
After hesitating for a moment, Vortigern said, "Wear more clothes. This winter will be cold and long, and you don't want to catch a cold."
He then waved his cloak and left the palace.
...
With a full load, Shirou returned to the dock, the sound of oats and buckwheat pouring out of the ship like a mesmerizing melody.
After docking the ship, he disembarked and introduced Lancelot to Geraint and the others who were already waiting at the dock. Then, he called out for help to unload the grain and transport it to the castle's warehouse.
As they made their way to the castle, he apologized to Lancelot, "Sir Lancelot, Cornwall is the most barren place in my kingdom, and there is little here to entertain you. Moreover, we have recently moved to the southern border, and there are many affairs that require my attention. I hope you will pardon any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Lancelot nodded understandingly, "King Arthur, I fully understand the weight of being a king. Please don't worry about me."
"Good to see that you understand," Shirou said. "By the way, I happen to know someone who can show you around. Let me introduce you to him."
He motioned for Kay, whom he knew very well, and took him aside, speaking in a low voice. "Kay, you are the most reliable knight when it comes to handling affairs. Camelot is on the verge of collapse, and it could happen at any moment. Lancelot is the prince of Benoic, and they're our allies. I need you to show him around and keep him in the dark about the real state of Camelot. If anything goes wrong, blame it on Cornwall's infertility. But if anything goes well, make sure Camelot gets the credit. We can't let him figure out how dire things are, or he might turn against us, and things will only go downhill from there."
Kay nodded solemnly, "I understand."
Kay escorted Lancelot out of the room, and Shirou turned to his administrative officials to discuss the dire situation at hand.
Fortunately, the instructions that he gave to the officials were well-implemented in his absence. However, tasks such as counting the population and checking the roster were significant undertakings that could not be completed overnight.
However, Bedivere and Lucan were not present as they had already utilized the grain to mobilize the people of Cornwall and had gone to the northern border to construct fortifications.
Geraint asked, "My king, what should we do with this batch of grain? The grain reserves in Caerleon are running out, but the people of Cornwall are also your subjects. We cannot show favoritism to one over the other!"
"I will not distribute this batch of grain to either party."
The administrative officials from both Caerleon and Cornwall looked at each other in confusion. If the king wasn't going to distribute the grain, what did he intend to do with it? Were the people going to be left to starve?
"I intend to pay them through labor."
The officials furrowed their brows in confusion and looked at one another, not comprehending the concept.
He took the time to clarify the concept for them, patiently explaining his proposal. As they began to understand the idea, their eyes brightened with admiration for his ingenuity. The principle was similar to distributing grain to support the construction of fortifications in the north. This approach not only fed the populace but also contributed to the city's development.
Shirou, however, refused to bask in the glow of their admiration. This was the wisdom of his predecessors, not his own.
He issued more instructions, but soon realized that there were not enough people to carry them out. The demands of agriculture, military affairs, and the economy required attention, but the available workforce was insufficient to address these matters adequately.
The most pressing concern was that although he had developed a framework for addressing these issues, some of the concepts and specific implementation methods were beyond the comprehension of the people of this era. Therefore, some tasks required additional personnel to complete.
With a heavy heart, he recognized that progress must be taken one step at a time. He first summoned Lucan back and entrusted him with establishing the Department of Agriculture.
Shirou stressed the significance of this institution as the foundation of the country and its top priority, emphasizing that Lucan must take great care of it.
However, Lucan was at a loss, as he did not understand what Shirou was talking about. He became apprehensive when Shirou declared it to be the foundation of the country, and he pleaded with him to retract his order.
Shirou comforted and encouraged Lucan, which eased some of his fears. In reality, Shirou was in a predicament as well. The foundation was still being established, and there were insufficient individuals available to fulfill the necessary roles.
The country's framework in this era encompassed agriculture, military affairs, the economy, livelihood, city planning, law, and other areas. However, this framework was typical of an ancient society and, from a modern perspective, was inherently outdated and unscientific.
While many elements were practical and grounded in reality, some were severely outdated and required reform.
A nation that teetered on the brink of collapse, relying on outdated systems and practices, was doomed to fail. As a result, he aspired to innovate and establish a progressive, advanced country.
Simply copying modern methods was impossible due to the economic foundation, quality of life, and values that differed in ancient times. For example, the legal age for marriage was around 18 in modern countries, whereas in ancient times, it could be as young as 12.
While such practices may seem unscientific by today's standards, it is crucial to consider that productivity in the ancient world was limited, and manpower was the most precious resource. Therefore, a large population often translated into a more potent national power. The need to bolster the population was seen as an essential strategy to strengthen the kingdom, given the limitations of the era.
As a result, adhering to the past blindly was dogmatic. Instead, it was imperative to innovate based on reality and adjust to the unique circumstances of the era.
His aspiration to build a comprehensive organizational framework that covered agriculture, mining, manufacturing, military affairs, the economy, city planning, and law all at once was undoubtedly ambitious. However, at present, it appeared to be an impossible feat.
The sheer complexity of these concepts posed a significant challenge in educating individuals about them, let alone implementing them effectively. As a consequence, the situation descended into chaos, making it even more daunting for him to achieve his vision.
Consequently, he opted to establish necessary departments and appoint suitable individuals in charge, gradually recruiting manpower to fill the positions. However, the crucial aspect was not manpower but rather teaching them the concepts and specific implementation methods.
For Shirou, this was an enormous undertaking. As the king pioneering the country's foundation, he acted as both the head of state and the primary domestic official.
He had to supervise every aspect of the process while also teaching people the necessary concepts and implementation methods. He can already anticipate how painful his liver will be when he teaches these people...
Nevertheless, he understood that this was his duty as the king. As the head of state and the highest-ranking individual in the country, he needed to shoulder the weight of the nation and ensure its success.
While other departments may have figureheads and can be temporarily suspended, the agricultural department must be established promptly. Agriculture served as the foundation of ancient nations, making it critical to prioritize its development.
People must be mobilized immediately to begin planting crops. Without the advancement of agriculture, self-sufficiency would be impossible, and the country's lifeline would remain in the hands of others, further complicating the development of other areas.
After assigning figureheads for the other departments, Shirou summoned Lucan and began teaching him about agriculture.
According to his research, Camelot's agriculture used a two-field system, where one field was cultivated while the other was left fallow every year. he saw this as a waste of time!
In reality, British farmland and crop varieties could easily withstand a four-field system.
The four-field system entailed dividing all arable land into four segments, with grain crops, legumes, and grasses planted in each segment. Crop rotation and fallow were employed, resulting in an expansion of the area of crop planting and a boost in productivity. This system also hastened the recovery and improvement of soil fertility, promoting stable growth of crop yields and the long-term rational use of arable land.
Additionally, he wanted to introduce Lucan to other concepts, such as soil conditioning for land development. However, as he began to discuss these topics, Lucan appeared confused and asked about the four-field system.
This caused Shirou to feel a faint ache in his liver. He realized that even merely conveying the fundamental concepts of agriculture to Lucan was a monumental undertaking.
Winter plowing season was fast approaching, leaving no time to educate Lucan on the necessary agricultural concepts. As a result, he had no choice but to assume the responsibility himself, at least for the time being.
Shirou turned to Lucan and reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it this year. Just watch and learn from me. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll be happy to teach you."
Lucan hung his head in shame and said, "My king, your wisdom is as vast as the sea, and I am but a foolish subject. I hope you can forgive me for my ignorance."
He placed a comforting hand on Lucan's shoulder and said, "Don't be so hard on yourself. It's okay if you don't understand everything right away. Just remember to ask questions and learn as much as you can."
Despite his words, Shirou couldn't help but feel a faint ache in his liver. He knew that he would have to teach each department individually, which meant he wouldn't be able to rest until everyone was trained properly.
With a heavy sigh, he sorted out his affairs and gathered Lucan and the other officials assigned to the agricultural department for a tour of the fields near Cornwall.
Shirou knelt down by the field, dug out a piece of soil, and took a deep sniff. He proceeded to teach his people how to assess soil fertility in the field. Afterwards, he led them to untilled land and showed them how to determine which areas were suitable for cultivation.
Although these techniques were well-known among elderly farmers in the modern world, they came as a great shock to Lucan and the other ancient Britons.
To them, his methods were nothing short of amazing! It was impressive to see how effective and reliable these techniques could be, especially when put into practice.
Lucan and the other ancient Britons were surprised to learn about the intricate details of soil fertility. They had no idea about the hidden complexities behind it.
As they listened to Shirou's teachings, they began to regard him with great respect, as if he were a wise man. It was clear that his knowledge and expertise went far beyond what they had ever imagined.
Shirou didn't feel pleased with himself; in fact, his heart almost stopped.
Despite knowing that ancient Western agriculture relied heavily on slash-and-burn cultivation, he still felt a sense of despair as he witnessed it firsthand. According to historical records, this was still the primary method used in the 13th century. But now that he was experiencing it for himself, the reality of the situation was even more stark and disheartening.
He realized that he would have to start from the very beginning and teach them everything about cultivating the land, from soil identification to understanding the local climate. It was a daunting task that would require a great deal of energy and effort.
Despite feeling overwhelmed, he knew he had no choice but to push forward. With patience and determination, he began to explain the fundamentals of soil fertility and how to select suitable land for cultivation.
Just then, Gawain approached him and reported on the remaining number of soldiers.
It was a grim report: the army, which had once numbered over 2,200 soldiers, now consisted of only 172 remaining troops.
Despite the bleak numbers, there was a glimmer of hope. If they added Kay's garrison forces and the troops of Lamorak, who had already pledged allegiance to him, they would have a total of 549 people.
But even with the additional troops, the situation was dire. They not only lacked domestic officials but also had a pitifully small military force.
Gawain requested that Shirou find a way to replenish the army's dwindling numbers. Meanwhile, the mining manager had already made proposals for this year's mining operations and sought Shirou's approval.
Numerous officials responsible for a wide range of tasks, such as military supplies, urban planning, and fishing operation, also came forward with their own proposals and requests for his approval.
The situation was chaotic and overwhelming, causing his stress levels to spike. This was the downside of pioneering a new foundation. With incomplete institutions, it was challenging for everything to function smoothly, and all the tasks seemed to pile up together, making it overwhelmingly difficult to manage.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Let's take things slow and handle them one by one."
