Chapter 23 – Discussing Agriculture

With all the preparations in place, they chose a weekend to shoot the promotional video at school. Don’t knock, wait a moment.         Even though these children ranged from the eldest at 14 years old to the youngest at only 10 years old, Maximus didn’t feel like he was exploiting child labor by making them work at such a young age. After all, this wasn’t the developed modern society, but the ancient Western world dominated by Romans. Here, they didn’t have carefree childhoods, but only suffering and oppression. If they didn’t want to become mere beasts earning money for their slave owners, they had to grow up quickly and bravely fight for survival. His mindset changed after watching a certain performance in his second year of high school. Aren’t we going to your house for lunch? 

It’s the name of mankind’s last fortress city, a mixture of metal and stone. The amount of money required for the this was enormous.     Returning to the front yard, Maximus saw Pigres leading the wagon drivers, guiding the horses as they were about to leave through the gate. As if indicating that she had finished speaking, Marie fell silent again. But I absolutely refuse to serve a god in this kind of world.

As Mei Fang searched for the photos on his phone, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi quickly grabbed it to look. Yes, I came here today for this.  “Be careful out there and come back safely!” Maximus reminded them. Vorenus entered the room and saw Maximus sitting at the edge of the bed. Frontinus, do you see anything else that needs attention?   

Baimei County was a small county, and the senior officer immediately recognized some of the people as local officials. Why'd you say?  “Captain, only the members of the First Team are going out today. The other three teams are said to be staying here,” Pigres whispered, sounding somewhat puzzled. As Mei Fang searched for the photos on his phone, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi quickly grabbed it to look. Yes, I came here today for this.

A sister being born and father being promoted, the twists and turns of life are truly unpredictable. Xiang Xiaoxia sighed helplessly.  We have just discussed this yesterday and today they already started implementing it. Spartacus really moves fast… Maximus thought to himself, comfortingly saying, “It’s fine. This will be the norm from now on. One team goes out, and the other teams will train in the camp.” Since the master bedroom was also closed off, I opened the windows. It had solid scenarios and was quite enjoyable even in light mode.

Although this happened when Lin Youxi was only three or four years old, she might have recalled this familiar scene. Wait a minute.    After Pigres left, Maximus climbed up to the rooftop of the main building once again. From there, he observed the gladiators who were serving as squad leaders in the camp surrounding the farm. They were shouting, cursing, beating, and kicking while directing their new recruits. The squad leaders then handed each of them a wooden stick and instructed them to diligently strike the tree stumps that had already been felled… Support the translator by reading @ gemnovels,com

Peng Xue cupped her chin and watched Mei Fang, who was having intimate interaction with Xia Yuan, making a funny face at Mei Fang.     The practice of striking the wooden stumps was the basic training for gladiators, and now it was being applied to the new recruits. The soldiers were filled with renewed spirit, but some remained puzzled. Furius, bewildered, was swept away by the fleeing soldiers. 

With Melfina as an example, the marriageable age in this world was quite early. Hello, I’m Melfina. Can you tell me your name? Rod!     Maximus really wanted to go to the camp and observe the training of the new recruits, but he had other matters to attend to at the moment. His parents got married at a young age, and now they were only in their late twenties, not much older than Mei Fang when he died.    

The one of the porters who had been carrying our belongings all the way here timidly spoke up. Going to a convent was not a bad thing.  … The situation was urgent, and Maximus couldn’t spare a moment to look. Furius stopped asking questions and turned to the messenger.  

The soldiers were filled with renewed spirit, but some remained puzzled. Furius, bewildered, was swept away by the fleeing soldiers.   Vorenus entered the room and saw Maximus sitting at the edge of the bed. The soldiers were filled with renewed spirit, but some remained puzzled. Furius, bewildered, was swept away by the fleeing soldiers. 

The names Crixus mentioned were all Gaulish gladiators and close friends of his. The entire army formation began to move forward.      Vorenus had only joined the rebellion two days ago, and the only high-ranking member he knew was this young man. When he recounted his own experiences in the courtyard the other night, the comforting words from this young man had left a favorable impression on him. However, it was impossible to keep a rebellion involving over two hundred gladiators completely secret. The enemy is attacking!      

After the three left, Maximus fell into deep thought. After drinking water and washing his face, Cossinius found a spot and lay down.  Before Vorenus could even greet him, Maximus stood up and approached him. “Vo…Vorenus, you’re here. Please, have a seat.” He guided Vorenus to sit on the edge of the bed. After the three left, Maximus fell into deep thought. After drinking water and washing his face, Cossinius found a spot and lay down.

Drawn to the unexpected sight, Yukino entered further into the room. Curious about their conversation, I stopped and looked toward them.  “Um… Captain, is there something you want to discuss with me?” Vorenus asked, surprised and honored by the attention. As the Roman soldiers marched out of the camp, the rebel army also began to move. Good Lord, how can there be so many people?!       

With all the preparations in place, they chose a weekend to shoot the promotional video at school. Don’t knock, wait a moment.         “You served as overseer of a farm for many years, so I assume you have a good understanding of farm affairs,” Maximus said, looking at him expectantly. As Mei Fang searched for the photos on his phone, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi quickly grabbed it to look. Yes, I came here today for this.

Aisha, Natsumi, and Roy should be somewhere in this line. Yukino shyly bowed to the staff member who praised their achievements today.   “I wouldn’t dare say I know everything, but I’m quite familiar with anything I’ve been in charge of,” Vorenus answered cautiously, unsure why Maximus was asking these questions. Vorenus entered the room and saw Maximus sitting at the edge of the bed. Frontinus, do you see anything else that needs attention?   

It was a few days ago when he heard that a new lord would be coming to the neglected lord’s mansion. N-No, it’s… not a problem at all.  “That’s great. I have some questions I’d like to consult with you.” Maximus picked up a stack of papyrus from the nearby wooden table, flipped through a few pages, and then focused his gaze on it. He asked, “When you normally cultivate the land, do you use fertilizers? And where do these fertilizers come from?” Aisha then lowered her gaze, looking somewhat worried. Her back and voice trembled. And the sound of sniffing could be heard from her. 

Although Lin Youxi’s dad is busy, whenever he has time, he always invites Mei Fang to their house and cooks for him. It's okay.        Vorenus didn’t expect the young man to ask about this, so he paused for a moment and then replied, “Of course, we use fertilizers. Even the most fertile land will experience reduced yields after several crops, so we must replenish the nutrients in the soil. The meat they bought was chicken, with a clean, fresh pink color. While traveling along a mountain, they were caught up in a landslide.

In the game, Cedric was the Knight Commander of the Royal Knights as well as the head of the Count house. Rod, Rod! Are you okay?       “There are several types of fertilizers. The best one is bird droppings, but they are scarce and insufficient. I’ve heard that in the Latium region, there are farms specifically dedicated to raising thrushes and bullfinches for collecting and selling bird droppings, and the prices are not low… Next is human manure, followed by sheep manure and donkey manure. Horse manure is the least preferred, but it is suitable for pastures… Xiang Xiaoxia poked her head out of the kitchen and asked Mei Fang, who was playing video games with her sister. She must be happy.  

The results of today’s written exam will be announced one week later. From this elevated position, I swiftly swung my sword mid-air.     “After collecting the manure, it cannot be immediately used in the fields, or else the wheat seedlings will die. It needs to be made into a manure heap and protected from excessive exposure to the sun. After a period of time, it can be spread in the fields, which will result in bountiful crops. Many farms have manure heaps nearby. I don’t know if you have noticed them, Captain…” Support the translator by reading @ gemnovels,com

Surprisingly, it was not Artorix but Crixus who agreed next. The Roman soldiers appeared relaxed, and Furius was equally at ease.      Vorenus spoke confidently, while Maximus was deeply shocked: It seems that the contents in this book are true. The method of using manure to fertilize crops is not unique to our Chinese ancestors but was also practiced by the Romans. Although they may not have understood the underlying principles, they have discovered this method through practical experience to promote abundant harvests. As if indicating that she had finished speaking, Marie fell silent again. But I absolutely refuse to serve a god in this kind of world.

The soldiers were filled with renewed spirit, but some remained puzzled. Furius, bewildered, was swept away by the fleeing soldiers.   Maximus regained his composure, turned a few more pages, and continued to ask, “This book mentions that the highest value produced by planting crops on 100 jugers (around 62 acres) of land is from grapes for making wine, followed by irrigated vegetable gardens, then willow groves, fruit orchards, and pastures, with grains being the least profitable… Why is the profit from cultivating grains so low?” Lin Youxi ran ahead and then pulled down her eyelids, making a funny face at Mei Fang. Auntie doesn’t need your help, understood?    

Before long, the three hundred soldiers shouted and rushed towards the farm 100 meters away. He saw the situation and calmed down.     Without hesitation, Vorenus replied, “Captain, the reason is simple. Nowadays, there is a large quantity of grain flowing into Italy from provinces such as Sicily, Africa, Asia Minor, and even Egypt… The grain merchants from these provinces, under the pressure of Rome, have set very low grain prices. As a result, the grains grown by the Italian population, apart from their own consumption, are sold at a loss in the market. Therefore, most wealthy individuals do not grow grains but instead cultivate grapes, fruit trees, and olives, and engage in animal husbandry… That’s how they can make money. The reason there are still some wheat fields in Campania is that the land here is fertile, resulting in high grain yields, and the neighboring Samnites in the mountains are in great need of food, providing some profit.” His thick beard made him look old, but from the tone of his voice, he seemed to be still in his prime. And then an accident occurred. 

Bathed in the white moonlight, she looked at me with a faint glow. This platform seems to be a special tool used to measure that level.  “So you’re saying that the influx of grain from various Roman provinces into Italy is the main reason for the widespread bankruptcy of farmers in Italian towns?” Maximus continued to inquire. Support the translator by reading @ gemnovels dot com

Bathed in the white moonlight, she looked at me with a faint glow. This platform seems to be a special tool used to measure that level.  “The farmers throughout Italy? This… I’m not too sure about that, but I do know that in Capua, some farmers have accumulated debts and lost their land because of this. Farming not only requires seeds but also a lot of tools, such as oxen, horses, plows, hoes, sickles… Farmers cannot make these things themselves; they need to buy them from the market. However, if their grains cannot be sold, they cannot earn money to purchase these tools and can only borrow money from others. If there is a drought and the grain harvest is bad, they even need to borrow money to buy seeds for the next year. Aisha, Natsumi, and Roy should be somewhere in this line. Yukino shyly bowed to the staff member who praised their achievements today. 

I never liked shouting out of emotion. It was common for nobles to finish work in the morning and spend the afternoon at leisure.       “However, the money they borrowed is all from usurers! It accumulates more and more, and in the end, they can only sell their land to repay the debt. Some people sell their land, but it’s still not enough, so they have to sell themselves… Sigh, it’s not easy for farmers nowadays!” Vorenus sighed heavily. It wasn’t not me who died, but the character I was controlling on the game screen. The excruciating pain seems to come in waves. Okay! 

The meat they bought was chicken, with a clean, fresh pink color. While traveling along a mountain, they were caught up in a landslide.  Although Maximus had already pondered over this issue, there was still a sense of joy in his heart because the author of this book was Cato, as mentioned in the self-introduction on the front page. He was certain that it was the same Cato who constantly cursed the Carthage. Even though this book was written in Cato’s later years, around 30 to 40 years ago, it meant that the plight of Italian farmers had already emerged back then. Baimei County was a small county, and the senior officer immediately recognized some of the people as local officials. Why'd you say?

The meat they bought was chicken, with a clean, fresh pink color. While traveling along a mountain, they were caught up in a landslide.  Maximus let out a gentle sigh, glanced at the papyrus in his hand, and asked in a deep voice, “This book also mentions the practice of continuously mating male and female slaves like livestock, and then training their children from a young age to be sold… Is there really someone engaged in such a slave industry?” Surprisingly, it was not Artorix but Crixus who agreed next. The Roman soldiers appeared relaxed, and Furius was equally at ease.    

Never defy them. Just bow your head and endure whatever was told to you, like waiting for a storm to pass. Yes, please do as you wish.  Vorenus fell silent for a moment and replied, “I have heard my former master talk about it. There are indeed nobles in Rome involved in this kind of slave trade because captured slaves are often disobedient. Homebred slaves with skills are more desirable, and naturally, they command higher prices… In fact, I am a homebred slave myself because my parents were originally slaves of my master’s household.” Support the translator by reading @ gem novels. com

Lin Youxi didn’t complain on helping the homeroom teacher. After making a list, she poked Mei Fang with a pen. Bro! We’re leaving!     Although in these past few days, Maximus had witnessed and heard about various cruel exploitations and oppressions carried out by slave owners during this era, he had grown somewhat accustomed to it. Yet, at this moment, he still felt a heavy discomfort in his chest. In his previous life, he had learned about this Roman senator, Cato, who had been consistently shouting “Carthage must be destroyed.” Although he was known for his stubbornness, he was a follower of Stoicism, leading a simple and modest life, and emphasizing reason and equality for all. However, looking at what he wrote in this book: “…the tools used on the farm are divided into two types: those who can speak and those who cannot, and slaves belong to the speaking ones…” and so on, even Cato had such views, let alone other Roman patricians. With all the preparations in place, they chose a weekend to shoot the promotional video at school. Don’t knock, wait a moment.       

Xiang Xiaoxia poked her head out of the kitchen and asked Mei Fang, who was playing video games with her sister. She must be happy.    This evil slave society! Maximus couldn’t help but curse in his heart. Aisha is being targeted by a faction led by her father’s younger brother, her uncle. I let out a sigh and let go of the controller.    

Surprisingly, it was not Artorix but Crixus who agreed next. The Roman soldiers appeared relaxed, and Furius was equally at ease.      “Cap…Captain, what book is that in your hand?” Vorenus cautiously asked out of curiosity. The results of today’s written exam will be announced one week later. From this elevated position, I swiftly swung my sword mid-air.   

Mei Fang, who has the mindset of an adult, can understand Lin Youxi’s father’s intention to remarry at this time. What’s wrong?        “This is De Agri Cultura written by Marcus Porcius Cato. I found it in one of the rooms after we captured this farm,” Maximus replied, handing over the papyrus in his hand. However, not everyone was in that situation. We decided to have ramen for dinner, which we usually only passed by but could not eat.   

When I sat down at the table, everyone had uncomfortable looks and didn’t move to sit. The reason was not explained within the game.    “The Cato family from Rome? I’ve heard my former master talk about them. This Roman family is known for their expertise in agricultural management!” Vorenus said with a look of joy as he eagerly started reading the papyrus. Support the translator by reading @ gem novels {dot} com