Chapter 69: The Old Man
"Your Excellency is a genius in swordsmanship."
After the subsequent competition, which was purely based on fighting skills, the Fantasy Beast Knight Eric had to admit this.
Russell, who was a little clumsy before, became a top swordsman overnight.
The popular swordsmanship of "Yaoguang Swordsmanship" has a new brilliance in Russell's hands, as elegant as a butterfly.
In terms of simple swordsmanship skills, he can already crush Eric.
Russell made a beautiful sword flower, put the fine steel long sword back into the scabbard, and threw it to the male servant Ram, saying with a smile: "This is the power of epiphany. Maybe the dragon has noticed me and given me a new understanding of swordsmanship."
"There is only one explanation. Your Excellency has been watched by the dragon." Charles came over and said wittily and beautifully.
"It is possible." Russell blinked.
He was telling the truth. Xiao Menglong was always watching him, and all this was indeed brought by Xiao Menglong.
Without Xiao Menglong, the sword butterfly amber worm would not be discovered, and naturally, the sword talent would not be obtained.
The dinner was very lively.
Russell sat at the main seat of the oblong dining table, with Eric and Charles on his left and right respectively, and the wildcat sisters and four knights' entourage below, and at the end were the three new rangers, Howers, Drucker and Bal.
In view of their cooperation with Eric in rectifying the Xiangshui River Cave, and their diligence, Russell reluctantly let them sit at the table.
And these twelve people are all the people with fighting spirit in the Black-waisted Snake Manor.
While drinking the new recipe of fish soup, Russell asked, "Teacher Eric, after counting the free people in the Xiangshui River Cave, how many people were left?"
Eric replied in a muffled voice, "A total of 472 free people stayed, all of whom served the adults and became serfs of the adults."
"The population has increased by 400 to 500 people at once, and the population of the Black-waisted Snake Manor is about to exceed 4,000." Russell thought for a while and said, "Now the manor has seven villages, and the personnel composition is gradually becoming more complicated. It's time to form a set of official system."
The Black-waisted Snake Manor is now divided into seven villages, Barley Village, Wheat Village, Alfalfa Village, Lentil Village, Bean and Wheat Village, Magic Potion Village and Cave Village.
"Indeed, the affairs of the manor are now managed by Old Hans and me, and there are indeed many troublesome places." Charles nodded.
"Then let's hold a manor meeting tomorrow... No, let's hold it the day after tomorrow to select the officials." Russell made a decision, "Regarding the framework of officials, Teacher Charles, you have worked hard for a day, and give it to me for review after you draft it."
"As you wish." Charles replied with a smile.
Russell entrusted him with the task of drafting the official system, which was a sign of his trust in him and also basically clarified the position of the chief clerk of the manor territory.
The chief clerk is the confidant of the lord and the chief executive who manages the territory for the lord. It can be said that he has the highest status among the civil servants.
The banquet was over.
Russell went to wash and rest. Tomorrow he planned to go to Fluorescent Castle to report the matter of the Xiangshui River Cave to Baron Roman and consult about some information about the blood tooth fungus mushroom worm.
Of course, it would be better if he could find information about the amber worm from the castle's collection of books.
Before going to bed, Butler Morris came into the study with a bottle of red wine. The master and servant would have a glass of red wine every night.
"Master, do you think you should recruit a few old men?" Butler Morris said.
"Old man?"
"Yes, I want to hire a swineherd and a horseherd. Fox must return to the job of a manservant." Morris said, "and since you like to eat fish, maybe we can hire a fishherd to fish for you."
Old man is a kind of long-term hired worker.
Different from serfs who only know how to farm, old man can herd sheep for the lord, so he is called a shepherd; he can feed pigs for the lord, so he is called a swineherd; he can raise bees for the lord, so he is called a beeherd; he can raise cattle for the lord, so he is called a cowherd, etc.
Fishherds, horseherds, chicken, duck and goose herders, even pigeon herders and dog herders are not uncommon.
In addition to these old men, there are many other hired workers, such as fence managers who look after fences for the lord, grassland dividers who help the lord divide grassland for serfs to graze, fallow managers who help the lord promote fallow of farmland, forest rangers who help the lord look after the forest, etc.
Of course.
Generally, only big lords would hire long-term workers. Small lords like Russell did not need so many workers.
Most of the work of dividing grasslands, taking care of forests, and leaving farmland fallow was put on the shoulders of the manor foreman, Old Hans. Old Hans could distribute the work to several village chiefs, who could even pass it on to serfs.
In short, the Black-waisted Snake Manor was too small, with too few people, and the workload was not that great, so the number of workers was naturally as small as possible.
For Baron Roman, as long as the serfs honestly planted the fields and provided him with food in due time, there was no need to hire people to manage the manor in a refined manner.
Now that Russell has arrived, there is only one acre of land, so naturally he has to treat it carefully.
"We do need swineherds and horseherds, and it would be best if we could hire a fishherd, too. He would not only help me catch fish, but also catch river clams and snails." Russell said, "How about this, you discuss it with Old Hans, and then hold a meeting at the manor villa to discuss the division of labor among servants and the selection of hired workers."
"Okay, sir, I'll contact Old Hans tomorrow."
"Then, go to bed early, Mr. Morris."
"Go to bed early, sir."
Clang, the red wine glasses clinked, the two drank their own, and then left the study together.
Meanwhile, in the stone houses of the small bazaar.
Charles was greeting the Wildcat sisters enthusiastically, like a big bee in full bloom: "Katie, Catherine, you guys, please treat this as your own home. I'll leave the room upstairs to you. I live downstairs, just call me if you need anything." "
"We will move out soon. The adults have said that a row of dormitories will be built in the small market. We will move into the dormitories then," Catherine said.
"Of course, of course, but you can live here until the dormitory is built."
"Charles, you are a good man." Katie smiled.
Charles immediately grinned from ear to ear: "Just doing what a gentleman should do, Katie, Catherine, you're welcome."
"Good night then."
"Okay." Although he was a little reluctant, Charles took off his hat gracefully, "Good night, two beautiful ladies."
"Good night, Sir Charles." Katie and Catherine returned the greeting, then turned upstairs.
When the wildcat sisters entered the room, the cook came out from the corner and asked anxiously: "Master, you live downstairs, where should I live?"
"Go to the kitchen and make a floor."
"Ah!" The cook was reluctant.
Charles waved his hand impatiently: "I'll pay you one copper a day for the paving fee."
When the cook heard this, she immediately hugged her quilt and ran into the kitchen: "Don't worry, sir, I live in the kitchen and will never disturb your rest."
The night is long.
Charles had no intention of sleeping, lying on the hard bed where the cook had slept, tossing and turning, his mind filled with images of the wildcat sisters.