Chapter 109: New crops? Trade routes with other provinces?

Hearing Roko's affirmation, the fatigue on Martina's face seemed to dissipate quite a bit, and the corners of her mouth also curled upward slightly.

Although she complained, deep down, she was very proud of the achievements she had made.

"As for the problems you mentioned..."

Roko paused, his eyes becoming sharp.

"They are indeed all tricky and urgent."

"It seems that now that I've returned, it is time to properly solve these 'sweet troubles'."

He mounted his horse and said to Martina: "Let's go, back to the Lord's Mansion first."

"Gather all core members, and hold an emergency meeting immediately!"

"We must formulate a response plan as soon as possible to ensure that Vanguard Valley can continue to develop healthily!"

"Okay!"

Martina nodded forcefully, her fighting spirit reignited in her eyes.

With Roko there, she had a backbone.

Lord's Mansion, Council Hall.

Roko sat in the main seat, while below him were core members such as Fula, Martina, Hart, Falco, and Buck.

Mick was also allowed to sit in and listen.

Martina reported the various problems currently facing the territory to everyone in more detail.

After listening, the atmosphere in the council hall became somewhat heavy.

Hart's brow furrowed tightly.

"The food problem is indeed the top priority."

"Once the food supply fails, the hearts of the people will inevitably be shaken, and the consequences will be unimaginable."

Falco also said: "The housing and management problems must also be solved as soon as possible."

"With so many people crowded together, if management cannot keep up, it is very easy for trouble to arise."

Everyone's worries were not without reason.

Roko tapped his fingers lightly on the table, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Martina, you just said that the food support from Red Leaf Forest territory is just a drop in the bucket."

"Then, with our current food reserves and daily consumption rate, how much longer can we hold out?"

Martina replied quickly: "If we follow the current consumption rate and have no new food supplements, our existing reserves can at most, at most, support us for half a month."

"Half a month?"

Roko's brow furrowed.

This time was even shorter than he had anticipated.

"It seems the food problem has reached a critical point."

He looked at everyone, his tone firm.

"First, regarding food."

"Martina, you immediately organize manpower to increase the intensity of reclaiming wasteland around the territory! All land that can be utilized must be planted with food!"

"At the same time, I will personally write to Earl Adrian, as well as other nobles with whom we have opened trade routes in the eastern part of Xin Feng Province, requesting them to increase their food supply to our Vanguard Valley."

"..."

"In addition, we must also encourage the residents to reclaim small plots of land themselves to plant some vegetables and coarse grains with short growth cycles as a supplement."

"Secondly, regarding housing."

"I will allocate a batch of funds and craftsmen to speed up the construction of the new residential area."

"At the same time, we must also carry out unified planning and management of the existing temporary shack areas to improve sanitary conditions and prevent the breeding of epidemics."

Roko assigned tasks one by one, clear and focused.

Everyone listened, and their worries gradually dissipated, replaced by confidence and motivation.

"Finally, the most important point."

Roko's gaze swept over everyone.

"We must announce to all residents that Vanguard Valley welcomes all hardworking and orderly people, regardless of where they come from or what their status is."

"But for those who are lazy or harbor malicious intent, Vanguard Valley will show no mercy!"

"We must establish an effective assessment and incentive system so that those who contribute to the territory receive the rewards they deserve."

"Let those who attempt to disrupt the peace of the territory pay a painful price!"

"Only in this way can we truly unite the hearts of the people and transform these three hundred thousand people into a powerful driving force for the development of Vanguard Valley!"

The meeting lasted until late at night.

When everyone left the council hall, although they carried a trace of fatigue, their eyes were filled with anticipation for the future.

Deep in the night, the study of the Lord's Mansion was still brightly lit.

Roko rubbed his somewhat swollen temples, looking at the mountain of various documents and reports on the desk, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Being a Lord was indeed not an easy task.

Especially the Lord of a territory with three hundred thousand people and continuing to expand.

Martina walked in with a cup of steaming black tea and placed it gently in front of Roko's desk.

"Still worried about the food issue?"

She asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of concern.

Roko picked up the black tea and took a sip; the warm tea made him feel refreshed.

"Yes."

He put down the teacup and sighed.

"Although I arranged a series of measures at the meeting just now, to be honest, I still have no bottom in my heart."

"Whether it is increasing the intensity of reclamation or purchasing food from other nobles, it all takes time."

"And what we lack most right now is time."

Martina sat in the chair opposite Roko, her white fox tail swaying gently behind her.

"I understand your worries."

"Xin Feng Province is not a wealthy place; the food production of most noble territories is barely self-sufficient, and the surplus food that can be sold is actually very limited."

"Moreover, the journey is long, transportation costs are high, and the risks are also great."

"The commercial agreements we signed with Earl Adrian and the others before were based more on the reputation of the Raymond Family and the attractiveness of Vanguard Valley's specialties."

"If it is just a low-profit business like purchasing large quantities of food, I'm afraid they won't be too active."

Roko nodded; Martina's analysis was basically consistent with his judgment.

"Therefore, external procurement can only serve as an emergency measure and cannot be a long-term solution."

"We must find a way to solve the food problem of Vanguard Valley from the root."

He looked at Martina, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Martina, with your wisdom, do you have any better suggestions?"

Martina pondered for a moment and then said: "To solve it from the root, it is nothing more than opening sources and throttling."

"In terms of throttling, we have done almost everything we can, encouraging residents to plant coarse grains and vegetables to reduce dependence on staple food."

"The key is still opening sources."

"Opening sources, on one hand, is expanding the planting area and increasing unit yield."

"On the other hand, it is finding new, higher-yielding food crop varieties."

Roko raised an eyebrow.

"High-yielding crops?"

"That's right."

Martina nodded.

"I once saw records in some ancient classics that in the distant Southern Continent, or in some isolated secret realms, there exist some peculiar agricultural crops with extremely high yields that can adapt to various harsh environments."

"For example, there is a crop called 'Golden Corn'; it is said that one plant can produce dozens of plump fruits, and the growth cycle is very short."

"There is also a tuber crop called 'Earth Dragon Potato'; it is buried deep underground, the yield is astonishing, and it is very resistant to storage."

"If we can obtain the seeds of these high-yielding crops and successfully promote their planting in Vanguard Valley, then the food crisis will naturally be solved."

Roko's eyes lit up as he listened.

"Golden Corn? Earth Dragon Potato?"

"Do these things really exist?"

Martina smiled slightly.

"The records in the classics may not be entirely true, but there is no smoke without fire."

"It's just that these things are mostly held by some powerful forces or hidden races; wanting to obtain them, I'm afraid, is not easy."

Roko tapped his index finger lightly on the table, falling into deep thought.

Martina's suggestion undoubtedly opened a new door for him.

If he could really find such high-yielding crops, then the development of Vanguard Valley would completely break free from the shackles of food and enter a brand-new stage.

"Besides looking for these legendary high-yielding crops, perhaps we can think of ways from other aspects."

Roko suddenly said.

"For example, dwarves."

"Dwarves?"

Martina was slightly stunned.

"That's right."

Roko's mouth curled into a meaningful arc.

"The dwarves of the Stone Hammer Tribe are not only good at mining and forging, but they also seem to have unique cognition regarding various plants."

"I remember Patriarch Bagelumu once mentioned to me that they discovered some very peculiar plants deep in the Dwarf Mountains; some can brew more mellow fine wine, and some have special medicinal value."

"Perhaps they also know some high-yielding crop seeds suitable for growing in the climate conditions of Xin Feng Province?"

"Or, do they have ways to improve our existing crop varieties and increase their yield?"

Martina's eyes also lit up.

"That is indeed a good train of thought!"

"Although the dwarf race has a stubborn personality, as long as we can show enough sincerity and provide things they are interested in."

"For example, more pure spirits, or some ores they urgently need, perhaps we can really reach some cooperation with them in agriculture."

Roko nodded.

"This matter is worth a try."

"Martina, you are responsible for drafting a detailed cooperation plan; in a few days, I will personally go to the Stone Hammer Tribe and have a good talk with Patriarch Bagelumu."

"Okay!"

Martina responded with great motivation.

"In addition, regarding trade route expansion."

Roko continued: "The trade routes we currently have with Red Leaf Forest territory and those nobles in the eastern part of Xin Feng Province, although initially established, are still too small in scale, and the types of goods traded are relatively single."

"Xin Feng Province, after all, is just a newly opened province; both population and produce are relatively scarce."

Roko continued, "Although we have initially established trade routes with the Red Leaf Forest Territory and the nobles in the eastern part of the Xin Feng Province, the scale is still too small, and the variety of goods traded is quite limited."

"The Xin Feng Province is, after all, only a newly pioneered province; both its population and its produce are relatively scarce."

"If we want to obtain more and higher-quality resources, we must cast our gaze toward more distant places."

"For example, the three provinces of the western border: the Sunset Province, the Silver Moon Province, and the Alva Province."

"These three provinces have all undergone a thousand years of development under the Black Kingdom; in terms of population, economy, and prosperity, they are far beyond what the Xin Feng Province can compare to."

"If we can successfully open up trade routes with these three provinces, then the development of Vanguard Valley will receive a continuous stream of external support."

Upon hearing this, a flash of yearning appeared in Martina's eyes, but it was immediately followed by a look of concern.

"Roko, your idea is excellent."

"But the three provinces of the western border are simply too far away from our Vanguard Valley."

"Moreover, the commercial competition in those places must be extremely fierce."

"With the current strength and foundation of our Vanguard Valley, it probably won't be easy to gain a foothold there."

Roko smiled slightly.

"Meals must be eaten one mouthful at a time, and the road must be walked one step at a time."

"Of course, we currently lack the strength to compete with those long-established grand nobles and large chambers of commerce."

"But we can start with some small-scale, inconspicuous trade."

"For instance, we can take some specialty goods produced in Vanguard Valley and the Red Leaf Forest Territory, such as special medicinal herbs or fine weapons and equipment forged by the dwarves."

"We can sell these things in those places in exchange for the food, cloth, salt, and other daily necessities we urgently need."

"Accumulate the small into the large; gather sand to build a tower."

"As long as we can find a suitable entry point and demonstrate sufficient sincerity and credibility."

"I believe there will always be some far-sighted nobles or merchants willing to cooperate with us."

"Besides, don't forget, we still have the Raymond Family behind us."

"Although I don't want to rely too much on the family's power, it wouldn't hurt to borrow the family's reputation and influence when necessary."

Listening to Roko's analysis, the doubts in Martina's heart gradually dissipated.

"I understand."

Martina nodded.

"I will immediately organize personnel to collect detailed intelligence on the three provinces of the western border, including local produce, commercial rules, the distribution of major noble forces, and so on."

"At the same time, we must also begin to cultivate a group of professional commercial talents to prepare for future trade route expansion."

"Very good."

Roko nodded with satisfaction.

"Martina, the future of Vanguard Valley is entrusted to you."

The corners of Martina's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"Rest assured, Roko."

"I will not let you down."

The next day.

The Dwarf Patriarch Bagelumu appeared at the entrance of the Lord's Mansion with over a dozen sturdy dwarf warriors.

Each of them carried a heavy pack, their faces showing the fatigue of a long journey, yet their eyes were exceptionally bright and full of anticipation.

"Baron Roko!"

Bagelumu's booming voice, like the massive stone hammer in his hand, was full of power.

Hearing the sound, Roko walked out of the council hall with a gentle smile on his face.

"Patriarch Bagelumu, why have you come so suddenly today?"

Bagelumu grinned, revealing a set of snow-white teeth, and patted the huge bundle carried by a dwarf warrior behind him.

"Baron Roko, our Stone Hammer Tribe didn't come empty-handed."

"This time, we've brought you some good things!"

As his voice fell, those dwarf warriors one after another unloaded the packs on their backs and opened them.

In an instant, the cold metallic luster dazzled everyone's eyes.

Inside the packs were, unexpectedly, brand-new 【Obsidian Gold】 weapons and armor.

The blades flashed with a chilling, cold gleam, while the armor exuded an indestructible, heavy aura.