Chapter 14: Five Thousand Ducks!

"What? You want to buy all the chickens and ducks? My lord, are you not joking? That's over a thousand!"

Thomas pulled a bulging money bag from his bosom, revealing more than ten gold coins and...

"I am the Civil Administrator of Storm Territory. Our new lord ordered me to make this purchase. Here is the payment!"

Seeing the gold coins, and having a reason to act on the lord's behalf, things became much simpler from there.

The shop's servant immediately notified the castle steward, and upon receiving the steward's permission, the group went directly to the farm to make the purchase.

After an hour of counting and bundling, there were roughly two thousand chickens and ducks in total, with ducks making up eighty percent.

As for the price, thirty copper coins per bird, which is about three birds for one silver coin.

Thus, the two thousand-plus chickens and ducks ultimately cost seven gold coins.

For this, the steward of Kane Castle even voluntarily gifted a batch of bamboo baskets to Thomas to facilitate loading the chickens and ducks onto the carts.

Thomas, without resting, immediately set off to rush to the next noble territory while he still had time.

This time, the lord gave him fifteen gold coins, instructing him to spend them all if possible!

Watching Thomas's departing back, the confusion in the eyes of the Kane steward was certainly unavoidable.

"Steward, what do you think they are buying so many chickens and ducks for? They've bought up all the chickens and ducks on our entire farm!"

"I don't know. Perhaps the new lord wants to learn how to raise chickens and ducks! But regardless, this is a big transaction. With income like this today, I believe the Baron will certainly be pleased!"

By dusk, Thomas, with his weary body, looked at the three full carts behind him and finally gave the order: "Let's go, we set off to return. The lord said we must return to Storm Territory before nightfall!"

Thus, Thomas led the group and began to slowly leave the small town named Blackstone.

However, having just left the town limits and arrived near a village, a serf walking ahead suddenly said: "Civil Administrator Thomas, look over there!"

Looking up, they saw flames shooting into the sky outside the fields of the village ahead.

Thomas was startled, initially thinking they had encountered bandits raiding.

If that were the case, they would have to turn back and flee immediately, after all, the convoy carried goods worth more than ten gold coins.

But upon closer inspection, they discovered it was just ordinary serfs running and shouting around a bonfire, with faint cries of "No!" and "It's over!" mixed in.

"I'll go up and check. My lords, please guard the carts well!" Thomas requested of the two knight squires, then led the serfs in a frantic rush toward the village.

And as they approached the village, Thomas suddenly felt many insects bumping into his face.

"Ah, what the hell is this? So many!"

"Yeah, how can there be so many insects?"

The two serfs beside him immediately cried out in shock.

Thomas quickly grabbed one of the insects and examined it carefully by the moonlight. "Locusts!"

Thomas's heart grew cold, and the crying and shouting ahead became clear at that moment.

"No! Damn locusts, get off my fields! My wheat!"

"It's over, it's all too late, damn locusts!"

"Locusts? This... it's over. Even Blackstone Territory has a locust plague. Then isn't Storm Territory... it's over, we'll probably starve to death this year!"

The two serfs, who had been muttering complaints, finally saw the insects flying everywhere.

Regarding the locust disaster, they were naturally aware of it; now, each of them turned deathly pale, their state no better than the villagers around the bonfire in the distance who were constantly trying to drive away the locusts!

"No, we still have ducks, and chickens! So many chickens and ducks, they can definitely eat a huge number of locusts!" Thomas suddenly realized.

"Ah, that's right! We bought more than five thousand chickens and ducks; they can definitely eat a lot of locusts!"

"Haha, could it be that the lord knew about this disaster in advance, so he ordered us to buy so many chickens and ducks? The lord is mighty!" The two serfs also realized, becoming extremely excited.

"Quick, leave immediately, leave now!" Thomas couldn't afford to be happy; having served as a manager, he knew exactly what they needed to do most in the current situation.

Thus, under Thomas's orders, everyone began to rush desperately; even running until they were covered in sweat, they dared not rest, seeking only the fastest speed back to Storm Territory.

Meanwhile, Baron Kane was enjoying dinner in his luxurious dining hall.

"Oh? So, we made at least three gold coins today?"

"Yes, my lord, the adult chickens and ducks on the farm have basically been sold!"

"Excellent. I hope more nobles like this come to our surroundings. I like such generous neighbors, haha!" Baron Kane was very satisfied with today's income.

"Ding-ding-ding!"

"What's going on?" Before the laughter could subside, urgent alarm bells suddenly rang from outside the window.

"Report! My lord, it's bad! Locusts, a huge swarm of locusts, like dark clouds!"

"What? Locusts?"

When Baron Kane and the castle steward came outside the castle, they saw under the setting sun in the distance a vast swarm of locusts covering the sky like black clouds, heading toward the castle.

"Quick, go to the farm and get those chickens and ducks..." Baron Kane stopped mid-sentence, and his face immediately turned iron-green.

Those chickens and ducks had basically all been sold, leaving only the chicks that had hatched not long ago.

And this situation also occurred in several other territories.

Upon receiving reports, all the lords ordered the mobilization of chickens and ducks to prepare for the locust plague.

But they suddenly remembered that just a few hours ago, they had been happy about selling so many chickens and ducks.

"Chase! Go quickly and chase them back!"

Baron Miller urgently shouted to his subordinates; the convoy from Storm Territory shouldn't have gone far yet, and they might be able to catch up with them!

However, with Gervas's instructions, plus seeing the locusts arrive, Civil Administrator Thomas led the group in a desperate sprint.

They even unscrupulously dumped many bushes and fallen trees along the road to prevent anyone from pursuing.

It was a bit wicked, but it finally allowed them to return safely to Storm Territory.

"My lord, your humble servant has returned!"

When Gervas received the news and hurried to the castle, Thomas and the others were covered in sweat, looking as if they were about to collapse.

"John, quickly bring water for Civil Administrator Thomas!" After speaking, Gervas looked at the three carts full of chickens and ducks. "Thomas, you are truly a hero of Storm Territory this time!"

"No, my lord, I am merely carrying out your orders! This is all because my lord you have compassion for the people!" Imagining that without these chickens and ducks, at least half the populace would starve in the second half of the year, Thomas felt a chill run down his spine.

"Additionally, my lord, due to limited time, I have only purchased over five thousand chickens and ducks this time!"

"Enough! This is already enough to save the farmlands of Storm Domain!"

At the same time, townsfolk who had received the news hurriedly converged toward the castle.

The locust plague in the afternoon had already left them in panic, but upon just hearing that someone had seen Thomas bringing back several thousand chickens and ducks on the road, the crowd came without stopping to check.

Upon seeing this, many serfs shouted excitedly.

"It's true, Thomas really brought back three carts of chickens and ducks!"

"We are saved, Storm Domain is saved!"

Seeing this, Thomas immediately stepped forward, "Everyone, I announce good news to you here! Under my lord Gervas's orders, I went early this afternoon to other domains to purchase a large batch of chickens and ducks, spending a total of fifteen gold coins!"

"And these gold coins were all advanced by my lord Gervas himself, just for the purpose of destroying the locusts! Let us cheer for the great my lord Gervas!"

It must be said, this civil official is very competent; educating the serfs and spreading the greatness of the lord is also one of the civil official's tasks.

Without any instruction, he had already publicized my lord Gervas's achievements this time.

What followed was naturally the gratitude and reverence of the people.

"My lord is mighty!"

"My lord is benevolent!"

Amidst the cries of cheering, the lord who had just taken office on his first day gained immense popularity among the people.