Our Family Has Fallen

This anticlimactic farce ended with Alvin and his crew’s departure; under certain circumstances, disease had actually become their amulet.

But no one cared, as things like this had been all too common along the way.

To him, those sick and weak people were far less repulsive than the malicious disdain and whispers of the Nobility.

The man simply lifted the handcart quietly and continued onward, as if he were an ascetic shouldering all the world’s suffering.

...

The territory in Hamlet currently under Lance’s de facto control, aside from the small town itself, included three large outlying farms and the wilderness development zone, which was continually expanding northward.

From their initial design, these were not intended for haphazard, uncontrolled growth but were large, systematically planned farms. The three cultivated farms were situated in different directions around the town, integrating crop farming and livestock rearing, each capable of supporting a thousand people.

According to the plan, the output from these farms would eventually sustain Hamlet Town, liberating it from food scarcity and enabling its transformation into a city through modern developments in handicrafts, industry, and commerce.

However, that was just a plan, and there was still a long way to go to realize it.

However, driven by Lance’s strong hand, the development of these farms was now remarkably rapid.

The wilderness, once dense with trees, was cleared. Everyone was assigned specific tasks and organized into teams for management.

Logging, plowing, herding cattle and sheep, irrigation, composting... there were so many tasks waiting for them.

Lance had also specifically instructed them to identify fruit trees and berry bushes, designating areas for transplanting them or preserving those that could not be moved.

Before the labor farm was destroyed in a massive fire, a large number of livestock had been evacuated.

After the great war, these animals were transferred to the three farms, further boosting the development of animal husbandry. They consumed a variety of fresh, succulent fodder from the cultivated lands, along with some vegetables and fruits.

Lance had also improved the feed formula using fishery byproducts. This nutrient-rich feed promoted rapid growth in the livestock.

Chickens, in particular, with their short growth cycle, multiplied rapidly after breeding programs were implemented. As a result, the prices of eggs and chicken meat dropped, becoming affordable for everyone.

Some families could even choose between fish and chicken to add to their meals, a luxury previously unthinkable.

High-quality cattle, sheep, and pigs were selected for breeding. Those raised specifically for meat were castrated. This kept them calm for fattening, as they would eat and sleep without expending energy on mating instincts or becoming agitated, and it also reduced their gamey odor.

To promote this policy, Lance even personally instructed them on how to castrate the livestock and provide post-operative care.

Furthermore, livestock manure could not be used directly as fertilizer due to the presence of various parasite eggs, bacteria, and viruses. Only after high-temperature fermentation could these harmful organisms be eliminated and the manure’s fertilizing properties be released.

Once the road connecting the farms and the town was completed, interaction between them became more frequent, with ox-drawn carts constantly shuttling back and forth.

Timber, stone, wool, eggs, and milk were transported to the town via this road, while the town, in turn, supplied goods such as salt, cloth, fish meat, and farming tools.

The farms were truly flourishing!

The summer sun always rose particularly early, with dawn breaking around four or five in the morning.

But the diligent farmers rose even earlier than the sun; the farms bustled with activity before daybreak.

Waking in their assigned houses, they ate freshly baked bread and a thick porridge with boiled fish. Those who performed well in their work received extra rations like eggs and milk.

After a satisfying meal, another day of labor began. However, everyone displayed an enthusiastic attitude, entirely lacking the numb and haggard demeanor typical of Serfs.

The reason was simple: similar to the aforementioned preferential treatment, the harder they worked here, the better their conditions became. This meant they could more quickly become true Hamlet’s People and acquire their own land.

This couldn’t be faked, because the number of trees a logger cut down, or the pounds of milk a milker produced, were all recorded.

Thanks to the Lord’s relentless literacy campaign, everyone could now recognize simple numbers. Even those who couldn’t read could understand the policies, as they were explained by dedicated announcers, preventing any misinterpretation by others.

If anyone was caught falsifying records or engaging in deceit, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would come calling as soon as the numbers failed to match.

Then it wouldn’t be a trivial matter, but an invitation to the sanatorium’s ”exclusive suite.”

The sanatorium’s reputation had even spread to this place.

Of course, one could choose to resist violently, in which case the troops stationed here would demonstrate who the true master of this place was.

A camp, complete with wooden watchtowers for sentry duty, was built at the farm’s edge, far from its center.

Fifty soldiers were garrisoned here, responsible for the farm’s security, operating on a seven-day rotation.

In fact, the farm itself also had sheriffs. While certainly not comparable in strength to William’s men in town, they were generally adequate for handling situations on the farm. At least, no significant problems had been reported for a long time.

Now, everyone had a purpose in life, and their days were steadily improving. As long as there were no major issues, people wouldn’t cause trouble or provoke incidents.

Therefore, their duties mainly involved patrolling the perimeter, manning the watchtowers, and reminding the farm workers who the true master of this place was.

It was the troops stationed in the western development area that often engaged in battles.

In reality, however, battles constantly erupted in the wilderness, especially against those fanatical Heretics.

Ordinary townspeople didn’t know this because they were well protected by the Lord and his army.

Conversely, the farms experienced few intense battles. At most, they encountered wild beasts flushed out from newly cleared lands or the occasional Giant Spider.

Comparatively, it was almost like a vacation. Thus, only fifty soldiers were stationed at these farms, whereas the western development zone had two hundred, including high-ranking officers.

The soldiers in the military camp also woke early for drills, completing basic training to maintain their combat readiness.

Afterward, they would eat breakfast in the camp’s mess hall. Their meals were of much better quality than those of ordinary folk.

The bread was similar, but theirs was accompanied by large pieces of salt-pan-fried fish. Eggs and milk were supplied without limit—as long as one could consume them without wastage.

Few could afford such rations; perhaps even the Emperor’s royal guard only ate this well.

Their intense training gave them larger appetites than ordinary people. However, they generally ate only to about sixty or seventy percent capacity, as they were no longer raw recruits. Having grown accustomed to the camp’s regular provisions, they didn’t eat as if it were their last meal.

More importantly, they had patrols later and needed to maintain peak condition; overeating would impair their combat effectiveness.

After eating their fill, they had some free time. When soldiers gathered with nothing to do, idle chatter was inevitable.

”I heard they’ve all switched to new equipment already, it should be our turn when we get back, right?”

”Yes, it seems they’re going to attach a blade to the front of the musket. How do you suppose they’ll mount it?”

”Who cares about that? I heard those Cavalry fellows are getting pistols now.”

”Damn it! The Cavalry are the favored sons; they always get the best gear first! We Spearmen are treated like stepchildren, still stuck with these wretched wooden poles!” a soldier grumbled. He was clearly a Spearman who had only used muskets during routine training.

It wasn’t that muskets were unavailable to them; rather, formations of Spearmen were essential to halt enemy advances and ensure the Musketeers could fire safely.

”You lot should be grateful! The Artillerymen have been established for ages, and they still only have one training cannon.”

Hearing this, the soldier who had been grumbling considered that at least someone was worse off. A smile spread across his face, and he nodded in agreement, ”Well, that’s something. At least we have weapons in hand and have seen combat.”

”HAHAHA!”

The other soldiers couldn’t help but join in the teasing, and their laughter filled the camp with a cheerful atmosphere.

It was no wonder they harbored such resentment. The Cavalry received horses, armor, and the newly issued sabers, and now they were also getting pistols. Meanwhile, the Musketeers had cartridges, and there were rumors of bayonets and other new gear.

They watched as equipment upgrades consistently bypassed them. While their comrades in other units were nearly fully re-equipped, they still carried their old, worn Spears. When would new equipment ever reach them?