In the early morning, on the edge of the endless wheat field outside Pinghu Town, dozens of sturdy guards scattered into a circle in the distance, and the standard leather armor on their bodies and the marks on their chests showed the identity of middle-level holy warriors and battle priests, and the objects of defense were two noble adults, one was a young man, with a delicate appearance like an elf, and the other was a middle-aged man about 40 years old, with the handsome appearance and natural elegance of a knight nobleman.

"The grain is full, and Randall will have a good harvest this year. ”

The middle-aged man held a slightly yellowed ear of wheat, raised his hand to wipe off the wheat grains, put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully, met the surprised eyes of the young nobleman, and explained with a smile: "For me, wasting food is a crime. ”

Victor was in awe, not because of the power and status of the Pope, not because of the strength and wisdom of the legendary priest, but because of Clement's unity of knowledge and action, as well as his personality of being strict with himself and being lenient with others.

"Every grain of wheat embodies the hard work of the farmers. Victor thought for a moment and said sincerely: "Diligence is a virtue worthy of respect. ”

"It's not just farmers. The Pope nodded, threw away the bare ears of wheat, clapped his hands, turned his gaze to the green wheat fields, and said: "More than 700 years ago, spelt wheat was just a very common dogtail grass, which was widely cultivated as pasture grass in the south. At that time, the northern barley was sufficient to meet the food needs of the kingdoms, and the southern aristocracy mainly relied on cattle and sheep to accumulate wealth. As the northern territories continued to shrink, the area under green barley cultivation decreased year by year, and the people of the north moved into the southern territories through the passes of the Boulder Mountains, and food became a big problem. ”

"The scholars of the Church and the White Tower began to look for crops suitable for the land of the South, including the cultivation of spelt. Clement pondered for a moment, then turned to Victor and said, "You must not have thought that the cultivation technique of Spelt wheat originated from ancient sorcerers, who used witchcraft to speed up the process of mutation of plants, and cultivated green barley that crops twice a year, suitable for cultivation in the north. It took us more than 300 years to select mutated strains of sequifer to grow spelt. ”

Victor did not expect the Pope to admit the contribution of wizards to the development of agriculture, and he could only remain silent at the moment.

Clement smiled disappreciatively, and said with a negative hand: "Spelt wheat has a long growth cycle and low yield, and the south needs other kinds of crops to fill the gap period of wheat crops." Drought-tolerant rye and high-yielding prickly kidney beans are all cultivated projects, but unfortunately rye yields are lower, and prickly kidney beans are too perishable to spoil, and it will take longer and larger cultivation to improve these varieties. But the lords were impatient, the people needed food, and all the contradictions were reflected in the limited arable land, which the nobles, scholars, and monasteries could not solve, and could only spend their energy on cultivating seeds, but never thought of changing the way of cultivation and tapping the potential of the land. ”

"Viscount Randall, you have done a great job!" the Pope nodded appreciatively, fully acknowledging the achievements of the new farming and water conservancy projects.

Victor secretly rejoiced, since the Pope came to the Centaur Hills, he had been waiting for Clement's summons. The morning after Randall's carnival ended, the Pope finally allowed him to meet him in a farmland outside the town, rather than at the Pinghu Town Church. But it doesn't matter, as Clement's capacity allows for a more relaxed environment of communication in informal settings.

The Wellington family cultivated prickly kidney beans, and the church rewarded them with a magic ring that slows down aging. The Randall family not only cultivated prickly kidney beans, but also achieved two major achievements, new farming and animal husbandry and water conservancy projects, which far surpassed the merits of the Wellington family. That's why the Pope opted for an informal meeting, which allowed him to bargain before determining the Church's award to the Randalls.

Victor needed too many things, money, magical items, the secret techniques of the Church, liberal policies, cathedrals to elevate the family or more clergy, and so on. Of course, Victor knew that he could not get all the benefits, and he had already made a list of them and could fight for them one by one.

This is the favor and guidance of the Most High Lord. Victor said humbly and respectfully. The posture that the lord should show is still there.

"Our Lord has always been on our side. Clement smiled faintly and said, "In the early days of the Gambis's development of the Centaur Hills, farmers cut down purple cane forests and ploughed the soil. In the first year, there was a bumper harvest of wheat, and everyone thought that it was because of the fertile land, so they accelerated the clearing of the purple cane forest, and by the fourth year, the wheat yield was back to its original state. Only you have summed up the cultivation method of deep cultivation and perfected the new farming and animal husbandry system with Edwin...... I'm curious, how did you come to understand the guidance of the Most High and link the purple cane grove with the way wheat is grown?"

Victor touched his eyebrows and said curtly: "I was so poor at that time that I longed to grow an acre of wheat from one seed, and I was willing to try any method." After trying a lot, I found the cultivation method of deep cultivation, as well as purple cane wine, sweet potatoes, lizard skin wheels, jaggery, coffee, in fact, these are the discoveries of the farmers, and they have now become my vassals. ”

"If you don't have a single servant, recruit some mercenaries and farmers as followers, and dare to run over to open up the territory, and you can still achieve what you have achieved today...... Victor, you are indeed favored by our Lord. Clement shook his head and smiled.

Victor was stunned for a moment, and said ashamedly: "Now that I think about it, I was reckless at the beginning. Thankfully, Sylvia sent the Secret Knight to protect me, but I won't do it again when it's at the hands of someone else. ”

Clement nodded and said solemnly: "The trinity of lords, priests, and people, all territories that the church has not set foot in are wild, and it is difficult for even knights to ensure their safety. For the sake of this, you should understand something. ”

The law of the jungle is applied in the lawless land, and anything can happen. The Church has always played the role of overseer, and the church armament is the cornerstone of the aristocratic order. If the lord is murdered, as long as the church wants to pursue it, it will definitely find out. It is because of the existence of the church that even the king cannot do whatever he wants. Therefore, the cathedral is a sign of the stability of the territory, and it is especially important for the new lord family.

Victor took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, Randall needs a cathedral. ”

Clement was noncommittal, and digressed: "The church is committed to population growth, but when the day comes, I realize that we are not ready at all. After a pause, he further explained: "We are not prepared to mean that the lords and priests did not consider the problems that population growth would bring. ”

"Randall has done a great job of absorbing the displaced people. The Pope's tone was gentle, his eyes deep, "Victor, I would like to hear your insights on population growth. ”

Victor thought for a moment and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, your question is a bit too general. ”

Clement sighed secretly, the military parade and carnival of Randall's leadership showed that the young lord was preparing to close the door to the outcasts and concentrate on raising the next generation of people, and he already had the support of the people. Although this is entirely in the interests of Randall, he prefers to hope that the strength of the Centaur Hills and the Kingdom of Neville will expand rapidly and gain a significant advantage in the Great Exploration. Only in this way could he ensure that the Benedictine priests would take the lead in the reform of the church.

Both Sylvia and King Neville had high authority over their vassals, and they were able to subdue dissenting voices and cooperate with the Benedictines' plans for change. Victor is able to influence Sylvia's decision-making, and the success of the Centaur Hills will spur the lords of Neville. It can be said that Victor is a very key figure in Clement's entire layout.

Clement walked along the ridge, Victor half a shoulder behind. After a while, Clement spoke: "As soon as the new farming and pastoral system matures everywhere, the lord will first expel the exiles, and you have already done so. ”

Victor's mind was racing, and he immediately grasped the root of the problem.

When a hired family's life is stable and their income increases, the first thing that comes to mind is to reproduce, and they do not want outsiders to compete with their offspring. In the same way, as the families of the people become wealthy, they also have to fight for more living space for their children and grandchildren. For the lord, it is certainly better to raise his subjects than to absorb the exiles. When the upper and lower classes of the territory reached a consensus, the displaced people became the targets of eviction. Fifteen years at most, a mass migration of displaced people will be inevitable.

The Pope is troubled by the coming wave of displaced people.

The tenement and employment system is very efficient in converting displaced people, and can quickly increase the strength of Randall's territory, but there is no land and no lease if there is no land. In fact, no system can solve the contradiction between population and land.

In the last years of the Qing Dynasty in China, a large armed fight broke out in a southern province, and in just over ten years, more than one million people were killed or injured. Although the corruption of the feudal dynasty and the turbulence of the times were important reasons, in the final analysis, it was the competition for survival caused by population growth.

If the displaced people are absorbed for a long time, the people of Randall's territory will definitely form two major groups, the old and the new, which will be a serious hidden danger. From any point of view, the Randall family is more secure and efficient in raising the next generation of people than in unbridled absorption of displaced people. In the future, even if Randall Collar absorbs the outside population, it will also select those who have craftsmanship, talent, and good looks, and will not accept everyone.

Victor weighed it again and again, but still said frankly: "Your Majesty, the current population of Randall Collar and Finicle Celestial Collar is about 85,000 people, and I will resettle up to 40,000 displaced people. Twenty years from now, I expect the total population of the territory to reach 500,000, and it will take at least 3 million acres of rotational land to feed so many people, which is almost the limit of Randall's territory. Otherwise, the wild resources of the territory will be destroyed. The most important thing is that the Randall family does not have many stewards and deacons, and the huge population will crush the fragile administrative system of Pinghu Town. ”

"Of course, His Majesty doesn't have to worry about the tide of displaced people. As long as there was enough food, the displaced people would concentrate in the main cities to do some coolies, or to engage in the transportation and sale of goods, which in turn would increase the wealth of the great lords. As long as the church is properly guided, I don't think the city lords will refuse the exiles. ”

"It's a pity that the geographical location of our Randall Territory does not have the conditions for trade. Victor shook his head in pity. In any case, the population growth policy cannot be easily changed.

"Why don't you let the outcasts join the mercenaries and open up the land?" Clement suddenly stopped, turned his head and said, "If I equip your mercenaries with a combat priest, will you change your mind?"

Victor listened with a heartbeat. The low combat effectiveness of mercenaries is an unavoidable problem, and the Pope's magic at the parade has an immediate effect on the combat effectiveness and morale of the legions. If the mercenary corps is assisted by a fixed combat priest, it is really a way out. As for the influence of the Battle Priest on the mercenary corps, Victor thinks that it can be put aside for the time being.

At the end of the day, the Grande Legion strategy is aimed at Ant-Man. Due to the mutual devouring and soul binding of the Alchemy Tower, the behind-the-scenes masters of Victor and Ant-Man are exposed to each other's field of vision, and the two sides are already in an endless situation.

Compared to the army of hundreds of thousands of apprentice knight-level Ant-Man, the strength of the No. 7 Alchemy Tower is insignificant.

Victor's only recourse at the moment is to take advantage of the situation and try to unite all parties to resist the encroachment of the ant tide. The intensity of the war will definitely be very large, but as long as the three fortresses are firmly defended, and every time a silver-tier Ant-Man is killed, the strength of the No. 7 Alchemy Tower will increase by one point. Under the advantages of one another, it is possible for Victor to counterattack Ant-Man's lair and seize the Law Crystal. After the No. 7 Alchemy Pagoda is upgraded, it's not too late to think about other things.

Now, though, you have to behave like a normal lord.

Victor hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, mercenary ......"

"It's a principle that outcast mercenaries don't get involved in liege disputes!" Clement seemed to see through Victor's thoughts, and added, "The Battle Priest does not interfere with the actions of the vassal's soldiers. This is also the principle. ”

In other words, I am allowed to convert the elite of the mercenary legion into vassal soldiers, provided that the land is canonized first...... The Battle Priest helps the mercenary legions develop land, which they then use to select elite vassal soldiers...... Isn't the Pope protecting the right of the displaced to live? How can he have such an attitude? Why is the Pope so eager to open up?

The information asymmetry confused Victor, and he tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, what else should I do?"

"Try to resettle the displaced people as much as possible. Clement smiled and said, "I know you're understaffed, and it's a good idea to open a school in imitation of the Silver Tower." I can transfer some probationary priests to help you, even though they have not yet mastered the arts, they are still competent in teaching the homeless people to read. ”

Grab the ideology!

A bright light flashed in Victor's mind, and Clement didn't give him more time to think, and said lightly: "You can also absorb the saber-toothed tiger merchant group under Sophia's command and let them help you manage the territory." In short, I hope that you will be an example of the resettlement of displaced people. ”

The worldly shall be secular, and the divine shall be theocracious. The knight of the saber-toothed tiger and the probationary priest of the church, who will weaken the power of the lord, do you still need to think?

Victor's pupils constricted, and he said slowly: "Your Majesty, you need funds to settle the homeless and recruit the mercenary homeless. Sophia's saber-toothed tiger merchant group seems to be in trouble. ”

Clement pondered for a moment, then bowed his head and said, "I will help you once within the scope of my ability." ”

Victor saluted, "As you wish, Your Majesty." ”

Clement had a satisfied smile on his face and said lightly, "Victor, what kind of reward do you want? ”

Victor asked with a worried face, "Your Majesty, how many requests can I make?"

"Let's talk about it. Clement was interested.

"A church was built in the town of Pinghu, presided over by Father Miller. ”

Clement smiled and said, "If you pay, I have no opinion. ”

"Uh...... I will prove my piety to the Most High. Also, I want Lord Tournans to help Nelson perfect his martial arts. ”

"Yes. ”

"Also, I'm going to mint some small copper coins that only circulate in Randall's Territory. ”

"Minting?" Clement gave Victor a meaningful look and said, "I have three conditions. First, the obverse of the coin must have the symbol of the Holy Mountain of Light. Second, the exchange ratio of small copper coins should correspond to the weight of copper soles. Third, Randall's tithing tax must be paid in conjunction with the church. He was well aware of the shortage of currency in Randall's collar and was not afraid that Victor would not agree.

"No problem. Victor nodded hurriedly and hurriedly said, "Another ......"

Clement smiled heartily: "Haha, little guy, I don't have another ...... here"

After laughing for a while, the Pope said kindly to Victor: "I think Sylvia should be waiting to see you at this time. ”