Chapter 49: The Perfect Completion Ceremony (1)
“What did you just say?!”
Viscount Lacona’s arm swished violently in the air. The air brushed against his veiny wrist and fingers. He threw the weighty onion in his hand with full strength. As it was hurled into the air, friction occurred as one side of its ruddy skin slightly latched onto the tip of his index and middle finger.
Just like a baseball thrown by a strong-armed pitcher, the onion started rotating.
Then it drew a trajectory of the two-seam fastball. It flew and cut across the office room, nothing to interrupt its travel and then, it smashed against the wall. The onion was crushed.
Sir Javier Asrahan’s blood, sweat, and tears were poured into this very vegetable. Now, it had turned into an avant-garde pattern on the wall of the viscount’s office. However, Viscount Lacona did not give a hoot about it. His angry gaze traveled toward the innocent administrator.
“The report you just gave me. Repeat it.”
“Oh, yes…”
The administrator carefully opened the paper, and his shoulders shrunk. It was the pamphlet the Frontera barony had produced and distributed.
“As I have mentioned earlier, the Frontera barony distributed the pamphlet which lays out the policy encouraging people to migrate to the reclaimed Maritz Wetland. But what it contains here…” The administrator paused for a second.
“Whew. Keep on reading,” the viscount demanded.
“Yes, of course. The following is the migration policy announced in the pamphlet.”
The administrator started to read.
“All residents who migrate to the reclaimed land will be protected for three years. Seeds of crops will be provided for free, and taxes will be exempted in full. Moreover, in case of a bad harvest year, each household will be provided with the grain worth a meal a day.”
Afterward, he paused and narrowed his eyes into slits.
“Furthermore, those who move to the reclaimed Maritz Wetland are required to stay and live in the land for five years, and external migration during those years will be restricted. Uhm, that part is written at the bottom in tiny fonts,” said the administrator.
“Ugh.” A deep frown was formed on the viscount’s forehead.
His blood pressure surged when he heard it for the first time. And now, the same thing was happening again. He couldn’t help it. Those nutcases, really! The viscount could feel that they were extremely serious about this migration policy. Did he think so because the pamphlet listed out the overly generous policies? No. The crux of the pamphlet lay in the last line, which was in very small fonts.
This means that anybody who decides to migrate there will have to settle there for at least five years.
People could move in by volition but not move out as they have to be there for a minimum of five years. That’s how long people would be bound to reside in the reclaimed land. What about the seemingly lavish benefits? The benefit will cover only the first three years of migration. That’s the thing with this policy. The protection benefit only lasted three years and yet, the migrants were mandated to reside for five years. What about the two years left once the timeline for the benefits passed?
They must hold up without any support at all. And what would happen on the off chance the farming flops? They’ll have to starve to death just like that.
That was what was scary about the barony’s migration policy. That was the very part that made him nervous. However, he wasn’t worried for the villagers who might migrate there. His nervousness absolutely had nothing to do with them. He wasn’t worried about them because he could already anticipate the villagers’ reactions toward the policy.
They will only see the massive protective benefits that will be provided for three years. And those two years where they will have to live without it would be completely brushed aside, even if they know about it. No, they will think that it will be okay. They will believe that they can hold up those two years if they work hard for the first three years.
That was how human psychology worked. People believed that they could do well even if others failed. They would argue that they are the exception even if you showed them countless statistics that proved otherwise. Objectiveness was thrown out the window in exchange for baseless confidence. That was how businesses failed after turning a blind eye to all the dissuading words of concern from others. Some tried out various forms of investing and ended up losing their fortunes. This human mentality was powerful among us. We believed that any risk or burden could be set off by the immediate benefits in front of us.
The barony manipulated that mentality very slyly.
At first glance, the policy was seemingly full of amazing benefits. However, one deeper look would reveal the disastrous burdens one had to shoulder. The peasants would be happy at first once they moved to the wetland but as time passed by, it would hit them that things weren’t as easy as they believed. Thus, they would dedicate their entire lives to making the farmlands fertile.
That’s what the barony is after in the first place.
The barony’s goal was to pressure the migrants in the last two years after alluring them to migrate there with the benefits. This pressure would push them to be at their maximum efficiency and five years later… The reclaimed Maritz Wetland would turn into a perfectly fertile, abundant land. That was why the viscount was green with envy. The jealousy was so raw and sour that his stomach churned and it became more acidic when he thought about how half of the wetland used to be his possession. I can’t back out like this. The land should have been mine.
The land was too valuable for him to back away without a fight. He didn’t want to give up.
He yearned to take back his portion of the land, come hell or high water before the reclaimed land became settled into the barony’s ownership. He nibbled his fingernails.
Just then, an idea popped into his head. Yes. That’s it. The viscount lifted his head.
Looking at the self-conscious and nervous administrator, he said, “Go at once and bring me the dye workshop supervisor.”
A corner of his lips rose as he gave the order. His smile beamed with certainty that his plan would be victorious.
A few days passed. Meanwhile, Lloyd’s plans took place like clockwork and the Maritz Wetland was nearing its completion. Lloyd spread the migration policy far and wide to the people. He received considerably more applications than he expected. Among them, however, some expressed concerns about the migration. Those concerns had nothing to do with the last two years, where they would have to live without the three-year protection benefit.
What if it rains, and the water isn’t drained?
They were worried about that the most. Such concern was actually a non-issue. After all, this place had been a wetland for the longest time. As the land sat very low, nearby rivers flooded in each time it rained, creating pools of still water. That was how this land became a wetland, and it had been so since the distant past. However, such a place was turned upside down by human labor. Lloyd and the soldiers built embankments, drained water, and transformed it into dry land. Even though the migration applicants knew this, they were nervous that it might not hold up.
Besides, they were used to calling this place the “Maritz Wetland,” not “Maritz land.”
This place had always been a swamp ever since they were young. More time was needed to change its impression on people. Of course, Lloyd was acutely aware of the villager’s concerns. So he decided to prepare a show for everyone: The completion ceremony.
“Alright! Get in line!”
It was the day a total of six screw-type pump water wheels would be completed. The baron, baroness, civil engineers, and most residents in the fiefdom gathered up at the embankment.
The heavens must have been on Lloyd’s side, for there was heavy rain. The entire wetland got soaked in an instant. The rainwater stagnated through the meticulously designed drain. And it traveled to the drain facility where the water wheels were installed.
The water in the drain facility entered the waterwheels. The new waterwheels, which still gave off a woody odor, turned with great force. The screwed pump rotated to draw the water up from the drains. Going against gravity, it pushed out of the drain pipes. The water, which was discharged through the drain pipes, gushed out into the river courses flowing outside the embankment.
At the same time, the water level in the drain facility quickly dropped. The waterwheel had properly demonstrated its functionality. Then, the rain stopped and afterward, Lloyd led the baron, baroness, and people to tour every corner of the reclaimed land by foot. Of course, this land was still an empty plain with red clay soil. It was completely empty save for the sparsely grown weeds. However, it meant more than that for the peasants who looked around the place. To them, this land looked more luscious and promising than anything else.
Filling up the empty land with new crops…This was what they wanted the most.
“Honey, don’t you think this place is better than we thought?”
“Yes, indeed. It had rained a lot a while ago, but…”
“No stagnation. I do not even see a puddle.”
“Yes, it is,” the husband replied. “Is it because several drains are installed all over the place?”
“It appears so. But it is amazing. Look how moist this land is all the time.”
“It looks like only the necessary water remained once the excess water was drained during the construction.”
“Yes, it has. Plus, look at the soil,” the wife said as she pointed.
“Let me see it. Hmm… This wouldn’t even need to be fertilized.”
“Right? I have never seen land more fertile than this. It appears anything planted here will grow well.”
The husband didn’t respond, sensing where this conversation was heading.
“Honey, we can’t always live as tenant farmers working for others for the rest of our lives, right?” Her eyes glimmered. The husband didn’t reply once again.
“The kids are growing up now…”
“The eldest one wants to study. For that to happen, he must be sent to the city, but the money is just…”
“I see…I will seriously consider it,” said the husband at last.
The peasants touched the lands and looked at the drain facilities with their own eyes.
The drains were constructed like a spider’s web, covering all corners of the land. Each drain was delicately placed according to Lloyd’s calculations. Thanks to that, no matter how much it poured, the land remained just wet enough without getting stagnated. Just the right amount of water remained in the soil for farming. Anything leftover flowed out through the drains.
Moreover, the soil on this land was excellent for farming. For tens and thousands of years, a huge amount of dead plants and organisms piled underneath the water. As they decomposed, their remnants eventually turned into soil after accumulating in mass over time. Thus, this place was a rich and fertile land that didn’t require any fertilizers with robust and worry-free drain facilities. The fertile land that any farmer would want. The villagers’ hearts pounded in real-time as they toured the reclaimed Maritz Wetland and Lloyd was never going to miss this perfect opportunity. Now, those who were finished looking around the land walked out to leave. However, they found Lloyd nearby, welcoming them. He was sitting at a makeshift table with a paper contract.
“Here. Come over here and take a seat. Enjoyed looking around the reclaimed land?” Lloyd asked.
“Yes. All thanks to you…”
“How was it? Oh, sorry. Do you want some water?”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s hot, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. Uhm, how should I say this? I didn’t feel hot at all going around the land.”
“How so?” Lloyd asked, his one eyebrow raised.
“Because I kept thinking about all the crops I could plant right away,” the farmer replied.
“Haha. Is that how much you liked the land?”
“Yes, Young Master,” said the farmer.
“Does that mean you are interested in moving here?” pressed Lloyd.
“Uhm…Of course, I want to, but…”
“But what?”
“Young Master may not know this, but I am currently a tenant farmer in the field owned by Sir Hans…”
“Aha, you’re talking about the guy who runs an orchard, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Did he say that he won’t let you go?”
“Uhm, sort of…” trailed the farmer.
“If that’s the case, say no more. It’s solved. You have heard about the migration policy, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“That is officially provided by the fiefdom.” Lloyd leaned back to the chair and grinned.
This made the farmer lean forward toward the table. “What do you mean by official assistance?”
“It means that no one can stop a tenant farmer who wants to migrate.”
“But what about the field I am in charge of…”
“But it’s not like you are going to move in here right away tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, that’s true,” replied the farmer.
“Then you can move after you finish up your job in the land. Hold on, do you want to spend the rest of your life plowing someone else’s land? Is that what you wanted?” Lloyd asked, his voice slightly high-pitched.
“Ah, no.”
“Good. Good. And now you have a chance right in front of you to own your own land”
“Surely, it won’t be easy,” Lloyd warned. “You will have to give your best for the first five years.”
“Yes, I am aware of that.”
“So what now? Do you think you can handle that?”
The farmer remained silent.
“I guess you don’t want it,” said Lloyd and motioned to stand.
“No!”
“No? Are you in then?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? You can’t back out. This is your last chance.”
“I will sign it.”
“Good… Since you want it so bad, I guess there is nothing I can do.”
Lloyd slipped his hand under the table, feigning his reluctance. He pulled out a piece of contract paper very skillfully.
Pointing to the items one after one in the contract, he said, “Let’s sign it. Sign here and here and here. Just your name.”
“Uhm, I don’t know how to write…”
“Then you can thumbprint it. Give me your finger.”
“Yes.”
“Stamp here. There you go. Good job. And here next. Good.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” said Lloyd. “Starting next year, you’ll find yourself working hard to plow this land.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Alright then. Take care. Next!”
The farmer rose from the table and bowed. He went away. Behind him was a long queue of people. Most of them were tenant farmers who didn’t have their own lands. Good. Reclaimed land migration. This is perfect. The corners of Lloyd’s mouth slowly crept up.
That day, he signed away all the migration contracts. It was the perfect completion ceremony. On top of that, more rewards followed suit, which he never expected to receive.
[Monumental achievement in construction!]
[Your reclamation of a land that was historically a swamp has been impressive. The Maritz Wetland will now be cultivated by the hard work and passion of the farmers into a land of promise and abundance.]
[You have left an indelible mark in the history of civil engineering on the Lorasia Continent.]
[Your achievement in civil engineering has been recorded in the construction history of the kingdom.]
[A special reward will be given following your monumental achievement.]