CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 131: AUTUMN PLOWING BEGINS (5K)

Alan continued speaking: "If Grayson hadn’t met you, he wouldn’t have had any chance to surpass me."

"If you didn’t have the salt mine, Grayson would just be a grasshopper I toy with..."

"If you didn’t value Grayson, he’d never hope to become the Patriarch of the Brown Clan!"

"But... because of your appearance, finding the open-pit salt mine, the future developments have become uncertain..."

Salt mines are all controlled by those Great Lords or the Nobility.

The production of fine salt and those who sell it have fixed candidates.

Because such a highly lucrative industry is monopolized.

In other words.

An ordinary merchant cannot possibly find a Lord to sell fine salt.

But Lynn here is an exception.

And was even discovered by Grayson by chance!

Lynn looked at Alan calmly, "So what do you plan to do?"

Listening to Lynn’s words, Alan fell silent.

After a few seconds.

Alan shook his head and said, "I don’t know."

He had thought about going to Marquis Duca’s castle to report.

He had also thought about going to the Merchant Guild to lodge a complaint.

He even considered reporting the salt mining here to the clergy at the Church.

Whether it was Marquis Duca, the Merchant Guild, or even the Church, they would stop Lynn from continuing the excavation.

But in the end, he still transported the goods Lynn needed to Lynn’s territory.

Because as long as he continued trading with Lynn, he wouldn’t necessarily lose to Grayson!

After speaking.

Alan poured another glass of beer and drank it down.

An hour passed.

George brought Alan’s carriage team to the open space in front of the tavern.

George entered with deliberate steps and spoke respectfully to Lynn: "Master, Mr. Alan’s fine salt has all been loaded onto the carriage."

Just as Lynn was about to speak, Alan hiccupped after drinking and stood up.

"Master Lynn, thank you for the beer, it really tastes good, I’ll be leaving then..."

Lynn responded with a sound.

Watching Alan’s limping figure leave the tavern, he mounted a horse and eventually rode away.

Lynn’s gaze remained on the doorway.

After a short while.

His tightly clenched right hand gradually relaxed.

Lynn abandoned the plan to keep Alan in the territory forever.

Now the territory is developing rapidly, with large quantities of fine salt being traded and transported out each time.

It’s only a matter of time before it is known by those Lord Nobility or even the Church.

After all, there are no impenetrable walls in this world!

If Alan could uncover his true identity, others surely could too.

If Alan were killed on his territory, it would not only fail to silence him but might also offend the Brown Clan.

It was uncertain whether the Brown Clan’s retaliation would follow.

However.

Lynn had another thought.

Since Alan learned his true identity but still chose to trade with him in the territory.

Clearly, Alan wasn’t prepared to sever ties with him!

He wouldn’t do anything that harms others without benefiting himself.

But within Lynn’s heart, a strong sense of crisis gradually arose, overtaking him.

To preserve all of this.

He must continue to strengthen the armed forces of the territory.

Lynn’s thoughts turned inward, and he opened the "Heavenly Artifacts" panel.

He glanced at the panel, seeing the territory’s total population already reached 3,340 people.

Among them, 65% are male, which is 2,170 people.

He also had to subtract 20% of the elderly, the weak, and women from that.

There are at most 1,700 strong men.

From these 1,700 men, 300 have been selected for the Guard Team and as soldiers guarding the city walls.

The remaining 1,300 men are to be used for excavating the open-pit salt mine, iron mine, and coal mine!

Such heavy work can only be done by strong men.

If more were drafted from these men to become soldiers.

The development of the territory would certainly slow down...

The only way is to continue purchasing a large labor force!

Or... to seize the labor force!

Lynn stood up, walked out of the tavern, and arrived at the open space in front of the village.

He gazed into the distance.

Alan’s carriage team slowly disappeared into the horizon.

...

At dusk.

Golden sunlight spread over the farmland.

Turning the entire territory into a sea of gold.

In the fields, hundreds of villagers, bathed in the setting sun, were tirelessly sweating.

One patch of peas after another was harvested and transported by cart, wagonload after wagonload back to the village.

After days of continuous effort.

The harvest of 3,000 acres of peas finally neared its end.

Lynn was naturally among the crowd.

Until nightfall.

Lynn couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Now he was drenched in sweat, and even though he wore only a thin layer of clothing, he was still soaked through.

On his arms, neck... there were red marks caused by pea vines.

Luckily, the peas have all been harvested.

His experience in "Planting" was also rapidly increasing, nearing an upgrade.

Lynn walked on the lime road returning to the village, surrounded by simple-faced villagers.

A chorus of leisurely, relaxed voices continued from their mouths.

Curious only about what the food would be for tonight.

Planning to visit the public bath after dinner.

Then go for a stroll together...