I Love Farming

The Northumberland trade team consisted of ten knights and thirty attendants of the knights. The leader of the knights was Raymond. In a word, he was promoted.Going out this time, he will be the captain.

Raymond Xi mentioned the captain, and he was kind of obedient, urging everyone to rush to the first stop-Abruzburg as soon as possible.

There, they will visit the lord of the Abruz Territory. Of course, it is estimated that they cannot enter the castle. No castle will let so many strangers in. It is a fortress.

According to Joseph's records, Abruzzi's manor planted a large amount of buckwheat, which was a plant from the Far East, and the lord valued it more.This kind of crop is afraid of the cold and will die when the temperature is below zero, but this is not a big problem, but it can be planted in winter.

Buckwheat is a coarse grain like oats, and the yield of buckwheat in Joseph’s description is not very high, but Cui Qichao knows that buckwheat likes moisture—Northumberland has water conservancy facilities; buckwheat is also very sensitive to fertilizers, give it a little fertilizer, it will Just give you many flowers and fruits - only Northumberland in the whole continent fertilizes.

All in all, it is quite suitable for enriching Northumberland's crops. Alternate farming, the lord ordered that it must be replaced.

After going out for about five days, the temperature reached below zero and it started to snow. Fortunately, Raymond and others were wearing thick "Cuijiaban" sweaters and cloaks, and wool socks on their feet, wrapped in cowhide boots, enough to Let them withstand the wind and snow and cold.

It may also be because of the snow that the trade team encountered the first batch of thieves the next day, and here, the land of Northumberland was not even out.

The thieves had no eyesight, and only saw the trade party baking bread, not paying attention to the weapons and armor they piled next to the horses.The trade team easily subdued the 15-member bandit group.

Going further, within ten days, three groups of thieves were collected!

They were all mobs. Raymond had interrogated them. Most of them were farmers in other territories who couldn't survive the winter, so they took the risk and came out to rob.

"What kind of life did you live this year?" Raymond clicked his tongue. Under the management of the lord, everyone only felt that this year seemed to be a good year, with various harvests and radishes growing bigger.

But outside of Northumberland, the farmers in other villages seem to be plagued by insects, and many of these thieves are freedmen, even so.It can be seen how serious the production reduction caused by insect pests is. Moreover, this year's rain is abundant, but because there are no drainage facilities, the scorched land is flooded instead...

Only then did the knights realize how happy they were. The Northumberland collar was just a baronie, not particularly big, but its happiness index was so high.And because of its inconspicuousness, it has not suffered too much harassment.

These days they fed these thieves with wild peas, but gradually they couldn't resist it anymore. Looking for those shriveled beans from the snowdrifts was not a big reward for wasting time.

"If you want to bring these guys back to the territory, you have to feed them, but we haven't even reached Abruzzi yet!" Raymond whispered while baking bread, "Besides, there are already about forty people here, There are more people than us, although they are all full-fledged farmers... Have you noticed the look in their eyes? What if they go crazy?"

They lit the fire to bake the hot bread, and the sausages on it were sizzling and oily, and the thieves who were eating the shriveled beans looked here with green eyes.

Raymond felt that this could not go on any longer, and after reaching an agreement with the other knights, he stood up and said, "We don't kill you because we still have a lot of cultivated land in our territory that needs manpower. Well, if you want, I will Send servants to take you to Northumberland. As long as you are willing to seek refuge, the lord will keep you and give you a meal."

These peasant-born thieves all showed mistrust in their eyes. How could it be possible that there are famines everywhere, and so many serfs starved to death, and there is still food for you? ?

——It has nothing to do with the status of slaves or serfs. Being a freeman can starve them like them. If slaves can eat enough, who would not want to be a slave?

"Look at our bread!" Raymond had to show off his wealth, showing their food to these bumpkins, "Have you ever seen any nobleman's bread with sausage baked in it? Look clearly, isn't this The sausage made from the water is pure pork!"

There are fat and thin, you can see clearly!

The thieves were moved. Anyway, they are at the end of their ropes now. Where can they go to die? What if their territory really has something to eat?

Raymond tied the serfs to a rope, and sent an attendant to lead them back.

From the second day onwards, the soldiers divided into two groups, the servants led the thieves in the direction they came and went, and the others continued to Abruz.

Because of what Raymond said, the novice thieves who held expectations did not make trouble and followed along honestly.

Raymond has been thankful for his decision since then, because on the way forward, they encountered several waves of thieves running around for their livelihood.It really makes the thieves accumulate more, and maybe they can join forces to counterattack them!

Just picking up people all the way, going back three times, Raymond felt that God heard what he said, so he wanted to satisfy his desire to catch serfs for the lord.

……

So, at the other end of the Northumberland Territory, Cui Qichao, who was making barley pies, received a "courier" from the knights.

It was also snowing in Northumberland, and there were fewer people's activities. Cui Qichao was huddled in the castle all day, bored, so he found something for himself.

The food in winter was too monotonous, so Cui Qichao thought of a way to ask craftsmen to use stones to make a frying pan and heat it until it was boiling hot, so that the pancakes could be spread out.

All the people in the kitchen watched Cui Qichao instructing people to bake stones stupidly. They thought, could it be possible that stones can also become delicious with the miraculous skills of the lord?

It turned out that their brains were broken. After the frying pan was hot, Cui Qichao took out the barley flour.

This was prepared by Cui Qichao for Lily to grind in advance. He scooped a spoonful and poured it onto the oiled stone frying pan. There was a pricking sound, smoke came out, and the smell of wheat came out. We had to spread out some batter. It became a pancake as big as a face plate, spread an egg inside, put some shredded vegetables, and a little sausage powder.

When seeing this step, everyone started to salivate. They have never tasted the taste of pancakes, but everyone knows that eggs and minced sausage are delicious!

Even Xiaobai started circling around Cui Qichao's feet, Cui Qichao must not forget it.

Thanks to Cui Qichao who was able to control the temperature and time under such crude conditions, and turn over the pancakes in time, the pancakes that came out in the end were delicious, with a slightly crispy skin, eggs, wrapped in vegetables and chopped sausages The inside is still fragrant and soft.

Cui Qichao used this primitive frying pan to spread out a few cakes, and stacked them on a wooden plate. It was steaming hot, and the aroma was not enough to fill the entire kitchen, as it spread outside.

The servant who sent the order came in smelling this smell, swallowed wildly and said: "The servant Bernard brought back more than 40 people, and they are outside the castle, asking you how to deal with it."

Cui Qichao recalled it for a while, and then remembered that Bernard was a member of the trade team. For this reason, he also confirmed, "Is it the red-haired Bernard?"

"Yes, sir."

Because everyone in the Middle Ages didn't have a surname, and there were only so many names, it was inevitable that there would be someone with the same name. At this time, they were distinguished by their characteristics.The old one, the young one, the one with the acne all over the face.

After confirming that it was the red-haired Bernard, Cui Qichao walked out with pancakes and asked, "How long has the trade team been away? How did he come back? Who are the more than 40 people?"

As Cui Qichao walked around, the people behind him, headed by the cook, could not help but follow them step by step, their eyes still fixed on the pancakes...

"Those were all thieves captured on their way. It is said that most of them came out to rob because of poor harvests in other territories this year and they were starving to death."

"A prisoner?" Cui Qichao's eyes lit up, "Raymond, I did not misunderstand him. He has only been out for a long time, and more than 40 people have been sent back to me."

Cui Qichao thought, if he had known about the situation outside, he would have sent people out to gather those people. There was no famine in Northumberland, so it would be great if they all came here to open up wasteland and farm!

There are only a few thousand people in a territory, and dozens of people are not a lot. If you gather more, it will count as a tenth, which is not a lot.

"Bring people in, I'm hungry, what can happen." Cui Qichao sent a few knights to pick them up, and he sat at the table eating pancakes.

Xiaobai scratched his legs frantically, wanting to eat, wanting to eat.

Cui Qichao stepped on its foot lightly and signaled it to wait. There are still things to be solved, and those people are still staring at him. It is not easy for him to go back, or he will deliberately drop a piece for Xiaobai to eat as before. Bar.

So, when the newly captured thieves were brought in, what they saw was a nobleman eating delicious food.

It's not time for dinner yet!

And what this person eats looks like bread on the outside, but it's not like a pie. It's very thin. There are vegetables, sausages, and the smell of eggs inside. Every time he bites, everyone stares at his chewing movements.

Looking at this relaxed state, the noodles must be finely sieved, without any gluten, and the cakes made are also fragrant, soft and slightly crispy on the outside, and the steam is rising, it must be freshly made.

God, they might actually have come to a place where there wasn't a famine,

The noble lord asked the waiter a few words in a low voice, and while eating the cake comfortably, he asked them: "Did you all do farm work before? Would you like to stay?"

——The man held up a piece of cake and asked if he wanted to stay. Who could say no, besides, Raymond had already gotten through with them.

Cui Qichao looked at the thieves who nodded wildly, and said, "Okay, then go to the barn and work with Joseph and the others."

It was just a word of effort, without asking any more questions, and the person was dragged down. Those who didn't know thought they were dragged to execution.

The people who had traveled a long distance to Northumberland were taken to the barn, where a group of people were already resting, and Joseph was the leader.

Due to the contribution of the picture, although he has not yet been completely free, his status has risen a lot, and he can squat and chat with the slaves who guard them.The other companions were lying on the ground to rest in a mess, their postures were quite relaxed, and they seemed to regard this place as their home.

Most of these thieves were free citizens before, and had never been slaves. They were relatively unfamiliar with the scene in front of them and didn't know how to deal with themselves.

Although Joseph didn't know where they all came from, it didn't prevent him from recognizing that they were all new slaves, and greeted them enthusiastically for a while: "Are you a new slave? Come, find a place to rest, and you'll be there in a while." I'm going to trim the fruit trees, and I can eat mush before dark, so give me all your strength!"

The new slaves slowly opened their mouths: before dark, eat mush?

……

Cui Qichao dismissed the slaves and returned to his room with the remaining pancakes.

As Cui Qichao's prestige in Northumberland is getting higher and higher, he himself is becoming more and more unscrupulous. No, he can cook food at non-dinner spots. For an era where gluttony is a shame, it can be said that What an absurd and extravagant lord.

Cui Qichao broke the pancake into small pieces and fed it to the cat. Due to time constraints, he couldn't cook every meal for the cat.At this moment, who is not just living.

Dabai stared at the pancake, so anxious that he stood up and put it on Cui Qichao's lap.

Before Cui Qichao could reprimand him, Xiaobai had already slapped Dabai on the head, and Dabai jumped three meters.

Xiaobai took a cautious look at Cui Qichao. Isn't this too strong?I was really afraid that Cui Qichao would take out something to scare it again.

Cui Qichao fed some pancakes one by one, Lily came up to clear the plate, and there were some left, Cui Qichao let her eat.

Lily was growing her body. During the time in the castle, because she ate more than before, not only did she grow taller, but her cheeks were also plump, and she looked much healthier.

Lily sat on the carpet, munching on pancakes, while Dabai and Daju walked around her.Although it was a bit colder, the special, crispy outside and tender inside still made Lili feel happy.

"Master, my mother asked someone to bring me a message, telling me to go home and see them when I have time." Lily said listlessly.

She knew that her father and mother must think that she might get some advantage by working in the castle kitchen, after all, the master is so generous that people who have no clothes can rent his woolen coats.

But Lily was not happy. When she was arrested and interrogated, her parents didn't say a word, so Lily complained to Cui Qichao, "But if it's possible, let alone now, I don't want to go home after spring comes. Master, you can Leave me?"

What she was really looking forward to was this, not some kind of leave to go home.

Cui Qichao looked at her for a while, and said calmly: "If it weren't for this era, maybe you would all have different choices. However, I allow you to not go home for a while and work in the kitchen. Your part of the rent and tax is your own offset by labor."

At this time, Lily still couldn't understand the previous sentence, she only knew that she didn't have to go back, this was the lord's own promise.

"Thank you, master!" Lily hugged Xiaobai excitedly, wanting to hug him.

However, Xiaobai jumped away immediately, showing disgust in his eyes.

Lili glanced at it regretfully, Xiaobai is always so unlovable, but Dabai and Daju will not turn their faces after eating.

After Lily left, Cui Qichao picked up Xiaobai and placed him face up on his knees, "Little sister wants to hug you, why don't you bathe more often than others?"

noob:"……"

I'm ashamed to say, if it wasn't for Cui Qichao who always stopped it.

"Aren't cats supposed to like gentler women?" Cui Qichao held Xiaobai's face, looked at it, and moved his gaze down to the small area under Xiaobai's abdomen, "You little guy, why are you so close to me? different..."

noob:"………………"

Cui Qichao just glanced at it, then calmly looked away. He really had no other intentions.He just thought, what kind of creature is Xiaobai, who stopped being in heat after being threatened in his previous life, so he didn't have this need.

It's different in Xiaobai's eyes!

What does it mean to look away after looking at it?Little guy, who's the little guy? !

"Meow!" The fiery Xiaobai struggled.

Hey, why did you suddenly go crazy?

Cui Qichao held Xiaobai with one hand inexplicably, he was not Lily, it was easy for an adult (full-fed) male to restrain a cat.

Xiaobai kicked around for a while, but still couldn't break free, he chirped upwards, showing humiliation in his eyes.

·

Of course, Cui Qichao couldn't comprehend Xiaobai's complicated mood. As soon as he turned his head, he poked his head out of the window and observed the place behind the castle.

On the high ground where Northumberland Castle is located, there are some flat areas outside the trench, and Cui Qichao is looking at those places.

Northumberland Castle is only a barony, and there are not so many rooms in the castle. The servants sleep crowded together, and the slaves still sleep in the barn.

However, most of the animals are not in the castle. The barn is only so big. Now that so many slaves have come, how can they still live there.According to the thinking of the people in the castle, just find a random floor to sleep on, but Cui Qichao didn't think that was the case.

According to the news that Raymond sent back, this year's harvest is not good, and there are more new thieves, maybe even the floor will not be able to sleep in the future.He is relieved to release so many thieves who have changed their careers, but the stewards are afraid that they are not at ease.

Therefore, Cui Qichao decided to build some houses on the flat land outside to house slaves.

In winter, when everyone was doing housework, Cui Qichao mentioned it to the stewards. The stewards, who thought they had been mentally prepared for the lord's words and deeds, were shocked.

"How can a slave have his own house!"

"That's my house, built for slaves to live in." Cui Qichao slapped the table and said, "In the future, I will have more and more slaves, and the floor in the castle will not fit. Where can I let them live? On the edge of the farmland? Does that mean we have to build thatched huts, and people have to guard them? It’s what you said, the slaves have learned the craft, let alone give them a chance to escape.”

Stewards: "..."

I'm so aggrieved, the master's reasoning is always so strange and hard to refute.

There are not one or two exceptions in Northumberland. If so, it is still a bit surprising to live in a slave house.

They made a final struggle: "Then we have to surround it with a high fence and let the police guard it, otherwise what should we do if there are escaped slaves..."

"It's ok. Although I think it would be silly to run away, is there anyone besides me who would give them so much shit?" Cui Qichao said thoughtfully, "I don't think so."

Stewards: "..."

……

At first, the slaves didn't know that they would have a house, and they were ordered to level the land behind the castle.The hillside behind the castle is particularly steep, not even reaching the level of a cliff, but it is basically difficult to get up and down.

After finishing the land, the muddy land was solidified, and the wood was cut.Of course, the slave's house is not very good. The wood is only used for pillars, with rattan weaving in the middle, and the gaps are covered with mud, not even lime.The gaps between the roof wood chips are paved with dried thatch.

As for the bed, it is naturally made of linen and straw piles.

Such a house is so simple that it would be mistaken for a barn without plastering the walls.It only takes a few days to complete the whole thing, and it is almost the same as the dwellings of the cottage farmers in the manor, except that there are a few things missing.

After the house was built, the housekeeper came to inspect and accept it. He touched the wall critically and murmured in his heart that the master actually allowed them to cut hazel logs in the forest and use so much straw...

"Hmph, that's fine." The housekeeper said with a sly voice, "You animals will live here from now on. Let me tell you, the police will keep an eye on you all the time, so don't try to make trouble."

For a moment no one spoke.

Because they can't understand what the housekeeper means, what do you mean they live here?

Who would build a (relatively) decent house just for their tools? No one knows.

The housekeeper repeated in displeasure: "I'm going to persuade the master, it's not a big deal to be so used to it. Look at you, you are still indifferent after receiving such a great gift. It's a waste of such a neat hut to live in a group of stupid pigs! "

Only then did someone wake up and asked with a trembling voice, "You mean, this is our house?"

"What's yours?" The butler was furious, "This belongs to the master!"

Yes, this belongs to the master, that is to say, the master wants to give them a separate house to live in?

Those who became slaves from freemen or serfs were a little better, while those who were slaves from their parents or their parents' parents were completely stupid, and tears poured out in big drops.

Can they actually live in a house?

The author has something to say:

Xiaobai: Convex