Arc II – Agrarian Revolution
Chapter 2 – A Little Lie
Day 25 Since the Summoning
Alan and Kamelia were already sitting on a horse, riding out of the capital; as usual, they were escorted by five guards, this time with the captain.
“So, Alan, it’s a long way to the nearest village still, are you going to tell me what this agr..
agricultural revo…lution is…” she frowned.
“Did I say it right?”
“Yeah, you’re making progress,” Alan replied.
Kamelia nodded to herself and looked at the road.
“I am listening then.”
Alan coughed.
“Ahem…
listen then.
We have one large plowed field, and we divide it into four equal parts, let’s call them parts One, Two, Three, Four.
The first year, in part One we plant turnips, after fertilizing the soil, in part Two barley, in part Three clover, in part…”
“Clover?” Kamelia interrupted him, turning slightly.
“Why would anyone plant a weed on purpose?”
Alan shook his head.
“Hear me out first.”
Kamelia nodded.
“Very well.”
“So, in part Three clover, and in part Four, the most important one: wheat.
Then, the next year, when everything grows, in part One we plant barley, since the soil is clean after the turnips.
In part Two we plant…
clover?
Yeah, clover.
In part Three we plant wheat, since the soil is more fertile after clover, and in part Four it’s turnips, since the soil is exhausted after wheat, we’ll need some fertilizer here too.”
Kamelia opened her mouth to say something, but Alan interrupted her.
“Two more years left, bear with me.”
Kamelia closed her mouth and just stared ahead.
“Okay, year three.
In part One we plant clover this time, so it properly restores the soil, in part Two wheat, in part Three…” he furrowed his brows.
“Does turnips or barley come next?
…
turnips…
let’s go with turnips, and barley in Four.
And finally the fourth year: part One wheat, part Two turnips, part Three barley, and part Four clover.
After that, everything starts a new cycle in the same order,” he finished.
Kamelia was silent for a few minutes; creases appeared on her forehead from her furrowed brows.
“I…
I got confused, but…
I think I understood the essence.
So…
we have a field that is divided into four parts, and every year you must…
rotate the crops in a circle like a wheel?”
Alan squinted from the sun that had emerged from behind a cloud.
“Spot on!
You understood it more or less correctly.”
The countess looked down for another minute.
“Very well…
can you explain now…
well…
why change them at all?
You said the soil recovers somehow, or something to that effect…
but my father told me a field cannot be constantly planted, it must be allowed to rest.
And all the peasants say so…
no, I am not arguing,” she said quickly.
“I simply do not understand how?”
Alan snorted.
“Honestly?
I don’t fully understand how either, I’m not an agronomist…
I mean, I’m not an expert on plants, I just know how it’s supposed to work.”
Kamelia raised an eyebrow.
“Then how can you be certain that it works?”
Alan sighed.
‘Damn.
Logical question, but how do I explain it to her…
it’s on the tip of my tongue…
maybe with a metaphor somehow…
oh, right!’
“Well, you don’t necessarily have to know how a sword is forged to know how to fight with it, right?”
Kamelia blinked.
“Ah…
yes.
I understand your meaning.” She looked to the side to check if all the guards were present.
“But I know that a sword requires iron and a forge, and that it must be fired and sharpened.
Can you explain it like that?”
Alan scratched the top of his head.
“Well, well, well…” then returned his hand to Kamelia’s waist.
“Well, listen.
Everyone needs to eat something, even plants.
Let’s say the soil is…
a set table with different food, and the plants are the guests.
One guest likes meat, another vegetables, a third sweets, a fourth only eats fish.
The plants…”
“Plants can eat?” Kamelia interrupted him.
Alan sighed.
“Well…
not in the usual sense…
anyway, it’s complicated to explain.
They kind of…
suck up whatever is in the soil.
Does that make more sense?”
“Not really, but continue.”
“So, the soil has different…
food for plants, and every plant eats different food.
For example, you know that a field gets exhausted when it only has wheat, right?
Why?
Because wheat eats the exact same food.
But when you have different plants…
let’s say the wheat ate…
the meat, and that’s it, then comes barley which eats fish, and then servants will come and bring more meat later…
well, something like that.
Is that clearer?”
She remained silent for another two minutes, simply gazing into the distance at the Southern Mountains.
“Yes…
I understand what you mean.
But what does clover have to do with this then?
We do not…
we do not eat it or anything, why plant it?
Will it not just take its ‘food’ and that is it?
What is the point then?”
Alan snorted.
“Well, the clover is our generous guest who brings his own food.
He actually gives the soil food for future plants.”
Kamelia blinked.
“Aha!
I finally understand…
not entirely, but I grasped the essence.
This…
Svyatol…
it is so complicated and confusing,” she glanced over her shoulder.
“How did people from your world even think of such complex things?”
Alan smiled slightly.
“That is exactly why I admire humans.
Hundreds of different attempts, experiences, and observations led to this.
It’s generally…
also not easy to explain.”
Kamelia turned back to the road; her hands were trembling ever so slightly.
“My goodness…
you have a truly astonishing world.
Why did we never think of such a thing?” She was silent for a few seconds, then the trembling stopped.
“Alan.
If this works…” she didn’t finish, then shook her head.
“Does everyone…
know so much about the world where you come from?”
Alan shook his head.
“Well…
hardly.
It’s just my job.
I’m a historian.”
“A what?” Kamelia asked again.
“A historian, I said.
My job involves…
studying the past.”
“Studying the past…” she muttered, then turned slightly to him again.
“Is that like a chronicler?”
He looked at the mountains.
“Not exactly.
A chronicler…
just writes down what happened, but a historian studies what happened.
Put simply…
historians try to learn as much as possible, find the truth, dispel myths, understand the cause of certain events, and…
all that stuff.”
‘I’m not gonna tell her that chroniclers mostly look for ‘divine intent,’ collect stories about what’s good and bad, or write chronicles purely on commission for rich kings.
So let’s just leave it at ‘writing about what happened’.’
The countess remained silent for a few seconds.
“So…
everything you know is…
what people from your world did in the past?”
Alan nodded.
“Yeah.
Exactly.”
The girl wanted to ask something else, but was interrupted by a guard.
“Your Grace!
A village!”
Kamelia sharply turned around; a settlement had appeared on the horizon.
“Oh…
I did not even notice.
We got carried away talking.”
Soon everyone dismounted; Alan climbed down carefully, rubbing his thighs, which didn’t hurt as much anymore.
An ordinary village spread out before them.
Dozens of wooden houses, peasants plowing the fields nearby, one girl drawing water from a well.
But the people were quite thin, and moved sluggishly.
Alan looked around; he swallowed slightly.
‘I didn’t have the most pleasant…
first impressions of villages.
But at least there are living people here who are moving…
oh my god…
it’s so reassuring.’
Kamelia adjusted her sword on her belt beside him.
“Alan, what are we doing?”
He looked at the fields.
“Hmm…
I think first we should talk to them, figure out what’s what.”
The countess nodded, then turned to the captain.
“Lorgi, go fetch the village head.”
The man nodded, gave a short wave, and headed toward the village square.
A few minutes later, a man around forty, thin and with gray hair, walked—no, almost ran—out to them; he immediately practically fell to his knees before Kamelia.
“Lady Armenas!
It is a great honor…
y-your visit to our village!
H-how may I serve Your Grace?” he said in a trembling voice.
Alan raised an eyebrow.
‘Why…
is he so terrified?
Village heads are usually…
fairly diplomatic and strong-willed people, but this guy is shaking like a puppy.
I understand fearing the lord, that’s classic…
but this is a bit much.
I don’t like this.’
Kamelia blinked.
“Rise…
we are here on business.”
The man stood up, clasping his hands in front of him; his eyes darted around.
“Your Grace…
we remember about the tax, but…
we have almost no grain left to give…
wait just a little longer…
I beg you…
we will pay…”
Kamelia raised a hand.
“Hold on.
I am not here regarding tax matters.”
The village head froze, then stood up slightly straighter.
“I…
I am listening, Your Grace.”
Alan turned to Kamelia.
“Psst.
A word.” He nodded to the side.
The countess looked at the village head for a few more seconds, and then stepped aside and stood next to Alan.
“What is the matter?” she asked in a whisper.
Alan leaned closer.
“Why is this guy so terrified?”
She shrugged.
“How should I know?”
Alan sighed.
“Alright…
okay…
well you realize he’s not gonna tell us anything useful, right?
Not in this state.
We need to question someone else.”
Kamelia nodded and was already turning back to the village head.
Alan almost grabbed her arm, but stopped himself.
“Hold on!” he hissed.
She turned back to him, her brows furrowed.
“What is it now?”
“You understand that if you just tell him ‘fetch someone else’ right now, he’ll definitely think that he’s…
really messed up somehow, and he’ll be tearing his hair out later.
Do you want a village head who’s lost his marbles?
Personally, I think that’s a dubious pleasure.”
“So…
he needs to be dismissed more gently, is that it?”
Alan nodded.
“Exactly.
Leave this to me.” He walked up to the village head.
“Ahem…
um…
my name is Alan Gothwald, I am the summoned hero, and simultaneously an advisor to Countess Armenas.”
Kamelia froze, and slowly looked at Alan with wide eyes.
The captain nearby raised an eyebrow.
The village head fidgeted with his fingers.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Gothwald, I…
I am Ornz, the head of this village.
So…
what business brings you here, if not taxes?”
Alan stood up slightly straighter.
“We know that famine is ravaging our lands, which is why Her Grace is personally visiting some villages to see with her own eyes what is going on here, and to attempt to find a solution to the problem.
Naturally, she is suspending taxes for the time being.”
Kamelia’s mouth fell open slightly.
Lorgi simply stared at Alan, barely blinking.
The village head stopped fidgeting with his fingers.
“Truly?” He exhaled.
“Then…
please, welcome to our village, I can arrange a…
modest reception for you.”
Alan raised a hand.
“No need, Ornz.
We’re just going to walk around here, talk to the locals, and leave.
We won’t be here long, you can return to your duties.”
The village head nodded quickly.
“Yes!
Thank you, Lord Gothwald.” He turned to Kamelia and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Lady Armenas.
May I return to my duties?”
The countess slowly nodded.
“Yes…
you may.”
The man bowed once more and walked briskly toward his house.
Kamelia was already standing behind Alan with a slight smile.
A very strained smile.
“You have completely lost your mind, Alan, I see.”
Alan began to turn around slowly, very slowly.
‘Uh-oh…
looks like I’m gonna get my ass kicked for my big mouth now.’
He turned around completely.
“Y-yes?”
The smile was still on the countess’s face, but her fist was already ready to take off and land at its home base, in Alan’s solar plexus.
“I hope there is a reason why you declared yourself my advisor and suspended the taxes?”
Alan opened his mouth, but Kamelia immediately interrupted him.
“And it had better be a veeery good reason.”
Lorgi also stood behind Kamelia, towering over her, and simply stared with an unreadable face straight at Alan.
Alan raised his hands, his heart rate quickening.
“Whoa, whoa…
let’s do without the violence this time, eh?
I’ll explain.”
“I understand that you said that to give weight to your words,” Kamelia said, wiping the smile from her face.
“But I sincerely hope there is a deeper reason, knowing you.
I do not want you to think you are permitted to do anything you please.”
Alan swallowed hard.
“Of course not!
It’s basic politics and PR…
I mean, glorification!” He spread his hands.
“Think about it.
The countess personally visited the villages, took an interest in the famine problem, and with the hero who stopped the sickness no less.
Do you realize how much the people’s trust and loyalty will skyrocket?
People will believe in you!
Rumors will definitely spread about the ‘merciful countess’!”
Kamelia narrowed her eyes.
“So it turns out we are lying to the peasants?”
Alan wanted to say something, but closed his mouth.
‘Fuck…
when did I stoop to manipulating information and propagandizing real people?
Whatever…
that’s besides the point right now.’
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
“Yes.
Exactly.”
Lorgi clenched his fists.
Kamelia simply looked at Alan for a few more seconds.
“That is what I wanted to hear.
At least you are not lying to me.” She raised a finger.
“But do not play with this.
It brought my father no good.
Now let us go find someone to speak with.”
She walked past Alan and headed toward the fields.
Lorgi stared into Alan’s very soul for another second, and followed the countess.
Alan stood rooted to the spot.
‘Damn…
what am I…
what am I even doing?
This is…
no.
This is necessary.
This is fucking politics, you can’t get anywhere without tricks here.
Kamelia’s authority is already rock bottom, her lands are falling apart, it’s impossible to pull this off with clean hands.
And what did I do that was so terrible anyway?
No one got hurt by this, no one died.
It has to be done.’
He turned around and followed after the countess and the captain.