Chapter 453: The Principal Assumes Office

Chapter 453: The Headmaster Assumes Office
A large area of newly opened farmland was arranged in a regular square shape tightly above the field, the farmland was filled with wheat, and at this time it was at the time of the wheat’s rejuvenation period, and the whole field looked green and lush.

A wide gray and white road crossed this seemingly boundless green land, extending straight to the north.

The road was quite well-built, with white gravel on the surface and saplings planted on both sides.

From the south side of the road slowly came a carriage, the driver of which was puffing on his pipe, from time to time comfortably exhaling a smoke ring.

He held the reins with one hand, and his head swiveled to the right and left as he took in the surrounding scenery.

“Unbelievable, a few years ago this was a forest with few people.” The driver exclaimed so.

This was a tall, strong man with a rosy complexion, high cheekbones, and thick stubble extending from his chin to the base of his ears.

The man wore a stand-up single-breasted jacket with a predominantly blue collar, a white shirt underneath, a pair of white breeches, and a pair of black boots.

The outfit is indicative of the man’s identity – a member of the Arda army.

The jacket, made of heavy linen, has tasseled epaulettes sewn onto the shoulders, an insignia used to denote rank in the Arda army, and the man’s epaulettes are embroidered with a bar and two stars in yellow silk thread, indicating his rank as a lieutenant.

“Dere~dere~” the driver shook the reins and brought the wagon to a slow stop at the side of the road.

A woman’s voice came from the carriage, “What’s stopped, Boris?”

Boris Makarov jumped out of the wagon and replied to the woman, “Honey, I’m going to take a leak!”

He paced slowly to the side of the road, trying to find a place where he could get some shade. For he saw in the distance a group of men dressed as farmers digging a side ditch for drainage alongside the road. This type of side ditch, in addition to draining the road, also served to divert water to the crop fields near the road.

Looking left and right, there was no place he liked, and the saplings on the roadside were still too small, so he had to jump down into the side ditch on the side of the road – there was no one on this side of the road – and grabbed a boo-boo.

Satisfied, he fastened his pants and returned to the road, glancing into the distance on the other side and noticing that the group that had dug the ditch earlier were stopping to rest.

Makarov stomped hard on the ground and jumped a few times.

Sentimentally, he said, “That’s not a bad road to build, it’s hard!”

He squatted down and brushed away the small stones on the ground with his hand, revealing the yellow and gray land. Makarov touched the hard surface and recognized that the roadbed was made of the so-called “mortar”.

This kind of mortar was also invented by Count Greiman, and was made by mixing lime, clay and fine sand in a certain proportion. It was also used by the army to build fortifications.

The window of the carriage revealed a female face, calling out to him, “Boris, hurry up and get in the car to catch a ride, I don’t want to catch a night ride.”

“Oh, don’t worry dear, we have plenty of time. You come down for some air too, and I’ll go and talk to the fellows working over there. We’re going to be living here from now on, and we’ll have to make nice with the locals.”

With that Makarov headed towards the group of ditch diggers.

The group of farmers saw someone they didn’t recognize walking towards them and focused their eyes on the visitor.

“Hey! Guys, take it easy.” The visitor waved at them.

They could see that the other person was actually dressed as a soldier.

The group of people stood in awe. Because of a series of pro-military policies in Lake Heart Town, now Alda’s soldiers, from the officers down to the soldiers, had high prestige in the land governed by the Council of State, and could even be compared to the former Knight Masters. And the army recruitment does not care about the origin, the children of serfs can also join the army, once enlisted in the army, the whole family will immediately restore the free body.

In the past, the restoration of free agency is not necessarily a good thing, because the free men who have nothing may soon be reduced to beggars.

But now it was different to be free by enlisting in the army. Their honorable lord, Lord Gleiman, would give the family fertile land, seeds and iron farming tools, and if they were lucky enough to have a farming community nearby, they would have access to large machinery such as harvesters and threshers.

If they were willing to leave the village where they had lived for generations, they would be assigned to work in a new type of manor – or should I call it a farm – where, although they would also be farming, they would have to learn to skillfully operate large machinery such as harvesters, to serve Mules, horses, oxen, and other livestock, and the grain harvested also belonged to the farm, and they were paid monthly wages – sometimes converted to grain – just like the workers in the workshops.

In short, there were unlimited benefits to joining the army, and countless families waited with baited breath for a thin enlistment letter each year during draft season.

Makarov instantly gained the respect of a group of men who couldn’t figure out what the two stars and a bar on the shoulder patch stood for, but all in all respect was right.

“My lord ……,” they said formally.

“I’m no lord, you may call me Lieutenant Makarov.”

“Greetings, Lieutenant Makarov.”

The lieutenant asked, “Are you digging ditches here as a labor service?”

“Oh, thank the Lord of Light!” One of the farmers held his forehead with one hand, “There is no more corvée, it was abolished before the last Advent. Going forward, working for the Lord of Lords is something you can receive money from the officials.”

“Yes,” another farmer echoed him, “We’re all out to make some extra money while we’re farming. You go down this road and you come across several sets of men digging ditches.”

Makarov said with mock seriousness, “Thank Count Greiman! Thank him for his kindness! I’ve never heard of a lord who would pay his lords for letting them work.”

“We’ve got a good lord on our hands.” The peasants said heartily, “Heavenly Father will bless him with a long life.”

Someone asked, “So, Lieutenant Makarov, what are you doing here with us?”

A smile piled up on Makarov’s face, “May I ask if this road leads to the town of Northwatch?”

“Yes.” He received an affirmative answer, and he was introduced, “We are the residents of the town of Northern Hope, your carriage should be able to reach it in another hour or so by walking up this road.”

“Ha, great.” Makarov said happily, “I’ll soon be a resident of Northern Hope as well, so allow me to address you in advance – the neighborhood.”

“A soldier? We are deeply honored. But shouldn’t a soldier be in the barracks ……” The peasants welcomed him, but at the same time expressed doubts.

Makarov patted himself on the back and went on to introduce himself, “I’ve been transferred to the reserves and will be taking up the post of town public schoolmaster in the town of Hope of the North, as arranged by my superiors,”

“Oh! That’s where the dolls are taught to read.”

The farmers indicated that they knew, and they held out their hands.

“Welcome, Lieutenant Makarov.”

(End of chapter)