"Once it's over, we'll settle accounts with them one by one!"

The soldier bent down to respond, "Yes, sir!"

...

In the blink of an eye.

Three days have passed.

After having breakfast, Lynn was squatting in a field planted with barley.

Lynn's gaze was fixed on a ridge in front of him.

In the soil of the ridge, seedlings have already sprouted.

Moreover, the seedlings have entered the stage of stem and leaf growth.

The leaves were growing, and the stems were elongating, clearly showing three to five true leaves growing on each barley seedling.

They gently swayed in the breeze.

The morning sunlight spilled over the leaves, reflecting bright rays of light...

Slightly rising, he moved to another field.

The barley seedlings were also thriving, full of vitality.

Lynn nodded with satisfaction.

Perhaps it was due to the heavy snow last winter that froze and killed old pathogens and pests in the land.

Whether it was the winter barley sown last year or the spring barley planted last month.

The growth was excellent.

Next, it's just a matter of field management. Depending on the growth of the barley, we need to carry out cultivation and weeding, fertilization and additional fertilization, watering and irrigation, as well as pest control.

By June or July, the barley will spike, bloom, and set grain.

Once it matures in August, it can be harvested.

Bear in mind, it's already early May.

There are just three months left until August.

A fleeting moment!

While Lynn was observing the growth of barley in the fields.

Gavin came running from a distant field with large strides.

Arriving in front of Lynn, he quickly adjusted his breathing.

"Master... Master..."

Lynn glanced at Gavin and spoke, "Apart from here, how's the growth of the other planted barley?"

Gavin didn't hesitate and answered directly, "Master, there are very few cases where the winter barley planted last year froze to death."

"After thinning and replanting, the impact is minimal."

"After our team checked the hundred thousand acres of barley farmland, similarly, very few seedlings were found to be infected by pathogens or pests."

"In short, the growth is unexpectedly good!"

As someone who has planted barley and wheat for at least twenty years, Gavin is a free person farmer.

He wasn't born into the nobility.

Once he had the strength to work, he immediately joined his father in the fields.

Yet, even as a seasoned farmer, working with Wilbur and a few hundred farmers.

Gavin was managing such a large expanse of farmland for the first time!

One hundred thousand acres of barley fields, various vegetables, along with never-before-heard cotton crops and potatoes.

Seeing the smile on Gavin's face, Lynn nodded.

Gavin and Wilbur both have the honest and straightforward nature typical of farmers.

They never hide anything in their hearts.

If the barley grows poorly, they frown; if it grows well and bears fruit, they're joyful.

Lynn nodded, "Very good."

"Pay attention to field management. Don't let any lapses in care lead to problems later."

Gavin spoke with determination, "It definitely won't happen, Master Lynn."

"I, Gavin, swear on my life!"

Lynn responded, then changed the subject, "I see you all are working on digging the canal?"

"Do you have enough manpower? If not, I can help you allocate some people."

With sixty thousand acres of cleared and planted farmland, it's naturally necessary to dig canals for irrigation.

Otherwise.

On such a wide expanses of fields, relying on transporting water from the Aladia River for irrigation is too wasteful of manpower, resources, and time.

Gavin raised his brow and quickly replied, "Master, I was just about to talk to you about this."

"The farmland is expanding, and the crops we're planting are increasing."

"Two hundred farmers are having trouble managing it; we need more farmers..."

Lynn frowned slightly.

As he suspected.

A hundred thousand acres of fields are indeed too vast.

Lynn pondered for a moment and spoke, "I understand, I'll think of a way to dispatch more labor to you as soon as possible."

Gavin quickly bent over in gratitude, "Thank you so much, Master."

As Gavin continued to dig the canal, Lynn stepped out of the field.

Walking back on the lime road to the town, he pondered where to dispatch the labor from.

But recalling the analysis he did earlier on the population distribution of nine thousand people across the territory.

There wasn't any idle labor left for dispatch!

Thinking of this.

Lynn couldn't help but sigh.

The labor force is still too small!

Even with nine thousand people in the territory.

It's still unable to meet the labor needs for all industries in the territory!

Plus, the need for continued military expansion.

There must be more labor forces!

There are only three ways to increase population in his territory.

First, similar to Grayson the slave merchant, transporting a large number of slaves from other places to his territory.

The advantage is, people are delivered upon payment, without risk.

The downside is, the transportation cycle is too long!

Second, warfare and plunder, starting external conflicts and seizing others' slaves, food, and various resources.

The advantage, it's the fastest and most direct way.

The downside, the risk is too high. Being too conspicuous may provoke the manor lord's attacks.

Third, the natural population growth from townspeople's reproduction.

The advantage, doesn't require much cost.

The downside, the growth cycle is too long, relying on reproduction to increase population is not very realistic!

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