Victor ended his Storm Season Patrol in Raventown, stopping at the Rose Manor in Goldwater before hurrying back to Randall Territory with the hundreds of swift birds that Sylvia had entrusted him with.

It is the last month of the windy season, and the wind direction is changing from south to west, and the weather is getting colder. Randall's crops have been harvested, and the farmers are busy repairing their cottages, expanding their pens, and gathering hay and firewood in preparation for the coming season of water.

Pinghu Town was much bigger than Victor before he left, with all kinds of houses, warehouses, and freight yards rising up outside the fence, and large horse-drawn carriages shuttling back and forth, constantly transporting Randall's specialties to Yeliucheng, and constantly bringing daily necessities to various villages. The town is also very lively, the streets are full of people, and the once deserted shops have become bustling, and people haggle with the shopkeepers, selling the harvest they have gathered, and buying the necessities of life, and if there is still a surplus, they will have to have a few drinks in the tavern or patronize the newly opened inn.

The rise of public transport has breathed an amazing life into this thriving town.

In the conference room of the Pinghu Town Government Hall, the high-ranking members of the Randall family gathered together to participate in a round table meeting convened by the lord.

"This year's harvest is not bad, 40,000 acres of wheat fields harvest 15.2 million pounds of wheat, the average yield per mu is 380 pounds, the ratio of planting to harvest reaches 1:6, 100,000 acres of potato fields, harvest 40 million pounds of sweet potatoes. 10,000 acres of rye fields harvest 2 million pounds of rye, with a yield of 200 pounds per mu and a planting-to-harvest ratio of 1:4, and 4,000 acres of soybean fields, with a total of 2.4 million pounds of beans. However, the beans have a large moisture content, and after drying, it is good to have 1 million pounds. ”

At present, the family owns more than 12,000 cattle, more than 42,000 sheep, and 2,100 horses, including 600 war horses and 140 large horses. Thankfully, we don't have to spend money on cattle and sheep and livestock, and we don't have to buy cowhides and sheepskins at a high price. Lilia exhaled and said with a beaming look.

When Victor returned to Pinghu Town, he did not first summon Sophia's chamber of commerce representatives, but held a family roundtable first. It took Lilia only one day to compile a detailed report, thanks to her meticulousness and newly recruited assistants.

In the conference room, Lilia said with a smile on the corner of her mouth: "The number of pigs has reached 62,000, more than 40,000 piglets, and the remaining 22,000 or so fat pigs will be slaughtered within two months, I think...... The scene must have been bloody and beautiful. ”

Everyone laughed, but Alice shouted crisply: "Lilia, you have to move faster, our bacon in Yeliu City has been sold out, but the orders are endless." ”

"Dear Sister Alice, I won't have trouble with money. Lilia didn't care about Alice's tone at all, she smiled and said, "In fact, I still have more than 2 million pounds of bacon here, which can be shipped to Yeliu City at any time. These bacon were prepared five months ago. ”

Victor stealthily pinched his long legs that were tangled under the table, and warned Alice with his eyes: Don't interrupt.

"This year, we are going to plant 150,000 acres of wheat, sow 65 pounds of wheat seeds per acre, and consume 9.75 million pounds of wheat. 200,000 acres of potatoes, 30,000 acres of rye, and 20,000 acres of beans are planted. The total planting area reached 400,000 mu. Lilia put down the parchment scroll and said solemnly: "The planting task is very difficult, we have enough land, but there is not enough manpower. ”

"There are almost 600,000 acres of land on both sides of the Yinyue River, and more than 40,000 acres of dry land can be reclaimed around the five stream reservoirs, which can be used to grow rye. But we have about 270,000 acres of arable land, which means that we have to reclaim 130,000 acres of arable land in a month. ”

Randall led a population of more than 15,000 people, with nearly 10,000 people capable of heavy manual work, while the brick kiln village occupied 3,800 strong laborers and a large number of ox carts. When Lilia said this, several vicious eyes were aimed at Dean, the person in charge of the brick kiln village, and he quickly stood up and explained: "Madam, Randall now has three giant brick kilns, two of which have been put into operation, and the third brick kiln is expected to be completed in two months......

"It will be completed in two months?" said George, the head of the second village, angrily: "It will be the rainy season in two months, and you want us to plow the land in the rain?"

Dean muttered, "Even if the brick kiln is completed, I will draw a maximum of 900 people...... It's not a big deal. ”

Several village chiefs couldn't help but scold, and Dean blushed and shouted, "What can I do? Each brick kiln needs at least more than 400 workers, and three brick kilns are 1,200 people, and the team digging ditches and digging soil must have 1,500 people!"

Victor knocked on the table, and the scene fell silent as he instructed Dean, "Tell me about the brick kiln." ”

"Yes. Dean said respectfully: "My lord, there are three giant brick kilns, the south is the old brick kiln, with an average daily output of 60,000 green bricks, the new brick kiln in the north produces 100,000 green bricks per day, and the central brick kiln is on the east bank of the Yinyue River, which has not yet been completed." Our main problem was that the soil was taken too far, and in order to ensure the production of the brick kiln, we had to maintain a team of 1,200 people. When the third brick kiln is built, it is best to have 2,000 people dedicated to digging ditches and transporting soil. ”

Victor said happily: "The brick kiln village can now produce 5.76 million green bricks per month, have they all been sold?"

"Hmm. It's not enough to sell. Alice said: "This month's sales of green bricks reached 6 million, and the sales revenue entered 9,000 silver soles, a total of 250 gold soles. ”

Dean was complacent, but Lilia said coldly, "Only the business in the brick kiln village is losing money. ”

"The monthly wage paid by the brick kiln village is 211 gold soles, plus the workers' two meals, the forage money for the livestock, and the loss of charcoal, the monthly production cost of the brick kiln village is 385 gold soles, and the net loss is 135 gold soles. ”

In the midst of everyone's disdainful gaze, Dean's shoulders collapsed and he retracted into his chair. Victor pondered for a moment and asked, "Can anyone tell me what the problem is?"

"There are too many workers. 3,800 able-bodied laborers, each paid 2 copper soles per day, plus two meals. The monthly labor cost is almost 320 gold soles. Lilia said.

"The price of green bricks is too low. Originally, 12 bricks were sold for 1 copper sol, but now 1 copper sol can buy 20 green bricks. My dear, why let the Wellington family take our profits?" was Alice's answer.

Lilia wants to lay off the staff, and Alice wants to sell at a higher price, which is indeed a good way to turn a profit, but it is not the result that Victor wants.

"You can't count accounts like that. Victor smiled: "Even if I lower the price of the green bricks, the Duke of Wellington does not make any money on it, and the transportation cost is the main cost of his purchase of green bricks." Actually, instead of losing money, we made money. ”

"The Duke of Wellington gave us 70,000 gold soles, which he wanted to reduce the area of kidney beans and increase the arable land by 50,000 acres, but it also included his investment in the brick industry. Of course, I want to give a reward and reduce the price of green bricks, so that the Wellington family will not lose too much. ”

"At present, the hottest sales in the market are three types of green bricks. As the most basic building materials, the three types of green bricks have meager profits. But I believe that the second-class green bricks for vassals and the first-class green bricks for nobles will definitely make money. Our third giant brick kiln is dedicated to the production of these two types of green bricks. ”

"Besides......" Victor asked, looking at Dean, "how's the construction of the aqueduct?"

Dean perked up and said, "The team digs more than 60 meters of ditches every day. This month, the auxiliary canal connecting Rose Lake to the Yinyue River has been completed, with a total length of 12 kilometers, which can irrigate more than 20,000 acres of cultivated land. ”

Victor said to the crowd: "You see, we have made a lot of money in exchange for 135 gold soles for 20,000 acres of arable land. ”

Lilia nodded in agreement, then sighed, "The three brick kilns have taken up too much manpower, resulting in a lack of manpower...... What's the use of having land but not cultivating it?"

"We don't have a shortage of manpower. "Now, there are more than 20,000 people in the Barony of Phoenix, and I can hire 5,000 strong laborers to cultivate the farmland...... It's nothing more than paying some wages. The question was whether Randall had enough houses for these people, and I didn't want anyone to sleep in the haystack and get cold, and then Father Miller pointed to my nose and nagged endlessly. ”

"Randall has no problem with rehousing another 5,000 employees. Mo Lin, the first village chief, stood up and said excitedly: "My lord, the villages near the stream reservoir have been built, and each village can accommodate more than 1,000 people. Only a few shepherds live in it, and a large number of shacks are vacant...... We wanted to build a sturdier brick cottage, but Raven was also expanding, and there weren't enough bricks. ”

"So I have 1 town, 2 brick kilns, and 10 villages?" said Victor smiled. Village Chief Morin confirmed, "Yes, my lord. ”

Victor nodded with satisfaction and asked, "So, do I have enough to manage?"

"Hmm. Lilia said, "The 600 places for building houses have all been sold out, and I have recruited 300 people who can write and calculate from among them, and let them serve as assistants to the family steward. I call these people deacons. ”

"Good. ”

Lilia is meticulous and cautious, she keeps the family affairs in order, and she is becoming more and more like a qualified aristocratic butler. Victor smiled at his little woman in appreciation, then asked Nelson, "How is the family army formed?"

"My lord, all the 300 mercenaries are full, all of them are some strong guys, and there are also many veterans who are skilled in martial arts. Our convoy now has 600 people, including 250 vassal soldiers, 50 elite marksmen, and 300 mercenary soldiers. Nelson said with a smile that the guy had always had a silly smile on his face since Linda gave birth to his twin sons. Instructor Barrett added next to him: "My lord, the convoy consists of 150 cavalry and 450 infantry. The mercenaries are all infantry, and they still need to be trained now......"

"Wait. Victor waved his hand and asked curiously, "I remember Lilia said that not many people want to be mercenaries. Where did you get so many people?"

"My lord, I will not allow liars and villains to abuse their numbers. Nelson glared at the sheriff monkey and shouted, "These people are the children of families who have built houses, they have smashed their lives in Randall's territory, they will not easily become deserters, as long as they train well, they will be excellent warriors in the future." ”

"Well, you know that's not what I'm asking......" Victor sighed helplessly.

"It's the Swift Bird Light Rider. Instructor Barrett explained: "Since the Swift Bird Light Cavalry entered Pinghu Town, many young people wanted to become majestic war beast cavalry, and they secretly ran over to enlist mercenaries without telling their families. ”

Victor was dumbfounded, and one word jumped out of his mind: Star Chaser. Thinking deeper, he found that there was a lot to be done.