Chapter 862 Winter comes early
"This year's winter has come a little early." Lu Xingshi looked outside the castle. All the colors were covered in the white of snowflakes.
The temperature also dropped all of a sudden, just like a big plunge.
However, the development work did not stop, but was carried out in full swing.
Lu Xingshi prepared a series of winter supplies such as cotton clothes and charcoal for them, so as long as they didn't cheat, they didn't have to worry about surviving this winter.
Death in winter is not a lie.
Even in the original black soil territory, three to five families would freeze to death every year.
This is already a very small number of casualties. If it were under the aristocratic lords who squeezed even more ruthlessly, if less than thirty or fifty families died every year, it would not be considered complete.
"It's indeed about half a month earlier than in previous years. Maybe it's the winter wolf on the permanently frozen mountains that caused it?" the housekeeper said worriedly.
"Don't worry about this. Just control the supplies well. In this weather, if something goes wrong, people can easily die," Lu Xingshi said.
Naturally, he wouldn't think so. Winter Wolf simply didn't have this ability.
If you are in the wind and snow area of the permanently frozen mountains, then the winter wolf does have this ability, but to say that it can affect the weather and seasons is a bit suspicious of letting it take the blame.
If it were Lu Xingshi, the God of Winter, Ice and Snow, who could still believe it, forget about the Winter Wolf.
Over the past few days, he had communicated with Winter Wolf many times, and his good feelings were probably at the friendly stage.
At least in Lu Xingshi's own opinion, Winter Wolf was no longer hostile to him and would still behave in a communicative manner.
The way to gain Lu Xingshi's favor is also very simple. One is to communicate more, and the other is to send someone to deliver some meat to the snow wolves. Once they go back and forth, they will become familiar with each other.
After all, they are neighbors, and Lu Xingshi has strong strength. Winter Wolf will definitely not make the relationship too tense.
"Sir, you are so kind to the people, but I'm afraid they won't be grateful." The steward said, "You should punish them appropriately."
"..." For a moment, Lu Xingshi didn't know what to say.
In Lu Xingshi's eyes, the dog-legged person has truly materialized.
Although this treatment is said to be great, the protection provided by Lu Xingshi is actually very average.
But when I think about it again, I am afraid of comparison in everything.
Looking at Lu Xingshi alone, he is indeed very ordinary.
But compared with that group of noble lords, Lu Xingshi was simply a good man from the ninth generation.
"You don't understand." Lu Xingshi sighed: "They are my property. Even though I treat them well now, what if they die or get sick?"
"Let me describe it to you simply. A citizen can live to be forty years old, and he has to work for me from the age of five."
"And if I let him live a better life, not only can he work for thirty-five years, but he can also give me at least five children."
"But if he lived a poor life and died at the age of thirty, not only would he lose ten years of work, but he might also lose a child."
"One less child is thirty-five years of production, plus I have lost ten years of life."
"Just one death will cost me forty years of output."
"If this person dies instead of one person, but a whole family, how much do you think I will lose?" Lu Xingshi explained to the housekeeper.
If you tell him that most people in this era just want to eat well, sleep well and feed their children, the housekeeper will definitely object.
Or if you tell him something about putting people first, he will definitely say that as a noble, you don't need to consider these things.
So if you tell him in another way, he will be able to understand the importance of leading people.
"Such a huge loss!!!" The steward was also shocked. Why didn't he think that shortening the lives of the people in the territory by ten years would actually harm the interests of the territory.
He was obviously deceived. The situation Lu Xingshi said was the best situation.
In fact, few people in the territory live to be forty years old.
Heavy work coupled with long-term malnutrition makes the age of thirty almost the same as the age of sixty.
Lu Xingshi is changing this situation in the Black Earth Territory.
There wasn't much he could do, so he just tried his best anyway. The main thing was that he was idle and he didn't know when the main body would arrive.
Let’s see if we can create a force to push the entire world.
"Yes, do you think I haven't settled the score? I'm good to the people for no reason? That's because they can give me more benefits."
"Most of the noble lords are succeeded by their heirs, unlike me, who was once a wandering knight."
"So it's my ability to be careful with money, otherwise I wouldn't even have the money to maintain the armor." Lu Xingshi said with a smile.
After purchasing weapons and armor, it is natural that you do not buy them out at once, but pay a down payment. They will also need various maintenance and even repairs later, so the monthly expenses are not low.
Especially as wandering knights who are mercenaries, the frequency of battles is not low, so if the weapons and armor are not well maintained, people will die. Of course, the equipment of the wandering knights is also very average, not comparable to the equipment of the soldiers in the black soil territory.
Lu Xingshi also learned how outrageous the armed forces of the Black Earth Territory were. There were only a few soldiers, and their equipment was better than that of the Royal Guards of the Kingdom.
Thanks to the small number of people, the Black Earth Territory would never be able to support it.
"Your Excellency is worthy of being the person who can transform the Langton family from viscount to earl!" The housekeeper couldn't help but be in awe. He felt that those nobles who knew how to plunder their people and make money were simply far behind Lu Xingshi.
It is indeed not an easy matter to turn a viscount into a count without passing military merit.
"By the way, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the King has sent a letter, inviting you to participate in this year's winter hunting event." The steward said and handed a copy of the Kingdom's handwriting to Lu Xingshi.
Lu Xingshi briefly browsed through it. The words in it were very official, but he also understood the meaning, which was to come over for a winter outing to get closer.
What actually impressed him about the Kingdom's Winter Hunt was that it was not specially invited to him, but happened every year.
In previous years, only the kingdom's grand knights, grand dukes, and marquises were invited, with the lowest being at this level.
Those with lower titles are not eligible to participate.
The original Langton family was just a small viscount and had no sense of existence, so they only heard about it and never participated at all.
As for the time, it will be one month later. This is a notification in advance. I hope Lu Xingshi will not be late.
He actually didn't really want to participate, because it was meaningless. It was equivalent to a high-level salon in the kingdom, where nobles came and went in a pretentious manner.
But it’s hard to refuse. You have to know that he is the ‘great loyal minister’ of the kingdom. The king has even sent you a handwritten invitation as an invitation. If you don’t show up, your character will collapse.
The main reason is that during this period of time, Lu Xingshi exchanged a lot of resources with the king through the bones of aliens dug out from the permanently frozen mountains. It would be really troublesome to think about collecting some in the future if he couldn't do it now.
"I know, I'll write back and thank you." Lu Xingshi said casually.
Since he was going to go, and it was his first time, he definitely had to show his attitude. He wanted to be Sima Yi, so he had to do a good job on the surface.
"Sir, I don't think it's time to think about replying to the letter now. But if you want to go, you must bring someone with you. You can't go to the royal capital alone like last time."
"There weren't so many nobles last time. If it's still so shabby this time, you and the Langton family will lose their dignity because of it." The butler's statement was simple, that is, Lu Xingshi's ostentation was not grand enough.
It didn't matter that he was poor before, but now that he is rich, he is still a count. If he still goes alone and comes back alone, he will become a laughing stock among the nobles of the kingdom.
Nobles are indeed such strange creatures.
"We're from a remote country, so there's no need to do this." Lu Xingshi said slowly.
laughing stock? Thinking back to the time when Lu Xingshi was Emperor Yan, he didn't look like an emperor at all. As long as he had great strength, who would dare to say this to him.
A month later, he was already a great knight and a great wizard. With his strength, it would be trivial for him to defeat the entire royal capital by himself.
It's unknown whether their group of little guys can collectively hold up Lu Xingshi's shield.
"But..." Hearing Lu Xingshi's rejection, the housekeeper became anxious. How could this not happen? After all, he was also an earl now.
"Nothing but, let's just leave it like this." Lu Xingshi also wanted to show off, but with his equipment, the show would definitely not be able to lift him up.
As for taking it off?
Just kidding, for the sake of saving face, don’t even give up your strength, don’t be too ridiculous.
If you have face but no strength, then you are just an empty air.
And when Lu Xingshi gained strength, even if he squatted on the roadside and looked at his thighs obscenely, he would be praised for his true nature and not for being a obscene man.
Under Lu Xingshi's tough attitude, the housekeeper couldn't defeat Lu Xingshi in the end.
After all, Lu Xingshi is the Earl of Langton, and the housekeeper is just a housekeeper, and has no right to make decisions for Lu Xingshi.
In terms of self-awareness, the housekeeper is still very good, at least he does not think that he can instruct Lu Xingshi because of Lu Xingshi's delegation of power.
If he really couldn't tell the difference between the big and small kings, then Lu Xingshi would lay him off.
"Okay, if you don't have anything else to do, go ahead and do your work. I have other things to do." Lu Xingshi sent the housekeeper away.
The butler can only leave temporarily. The matter of winter hunting can only be persuaded later. Moreover, the butler does not intend to persuade him all at once, but to persuade him slowly.
He could see that Lu Xingshi didn't care about these things, but this meant that the face of Lu Xingshi, the Earl of Langton, must be worthy of his due.
It's just a bit troublesome. If Lu Xingshi didn't take off this heavy armor and giant shield, the count's pomp and show would really not be able to pull him away.
Lu Xingshi didn't take these things to heart. Even though he had a territory and power, in fact he still lived alone.
Worrying about power is more limited to how to serve oneself, rather than really wanting to develop power.
It's just that after developing his power, it will be more helpful to him, otherwise he would be too lazy to be busy.
Sharpening the knife will not waste time chopping wood. You have to invest first before you can reap the rewards. Don't always think about it with empty hands.
(End of chapter)