Swiss Arms Chapter 141

Swiss Arms

Chapter 141

-VB-

Kraft of Davos

Life moved too quickly for his liking, but he was also well aware that he couldn't stand in the way of progress on behalf of tradition and comfort. Mostly because his own wife would have beat him up for it.

And if he was honest, then he wouldn't stand in the way unless it was sothing critical. Because he and his village benefited from this progress way too much. The little village he grew up in had changed so much in the past five years. It had doubled in size. Hans paved the main street and the town center. People ca here when things got crazy over on Fluelaberg.

But crazy things had a tendency to spread from Fluelaberg, especially if it was headed by the local count.

"So you want to … make giant steps on the mountain side to farm on the flat surfaces?" he asked slowly.

"If you want to summarize everything I've said, then yes, it is kind of like that," Hans replied with a nod. "Most of the land in my valley is not good for farming, but grazing can't support all of the people we're both getting. So I'm experinting with ways to increase food production."

Kraft had to keep his awe in check. Hans was like that. He just … went and thought about ways to do things better. The man just did not get tired, but Kraft wondered if he knew that the people around him were tired.

They needed ti to adjust to all of his … Hans-ness.

"I will be prototyping first."

"'Prototype'?"

"... Oh, right. I'll be making an example to see if it works as intended or if it needs adjustnts. And once adjustnts are done, then I'll be moving to building it as much as I can."

"I see. And you ca to because…?"

Hans grinned. The giant man - because he was a giant with muscles that would and did break knights - gestured over to the village outside his glass window. It was one of the many blessings and benefits he's had being so close to Hans and Fluelaberg.

"I want to see if anyone in your village has any second or third sons that will be happy to work under as experintal farrs and farmhands. I will, of course, pay them their just wages, but I need soone who I can trust and won't just talk about the details of the work at every single tavern they visit."

"So trustworthy people, huh?"

"Yup. And despite the fact that Fluelaberg and its people are distinctly mine, there are way too many spies now."

"... I never thought that I would have to worry about spies around these parts," Kraft sighed. "A humble village chief like having to worry about spies that aren't bandits? It never happens around here."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hans asked. "Because it ans that you're richer."

Kraft paused before he shook his head.

Was this a chance to speak his piece?

… Maybe it wasn't but Hans was never one to take offense at genuine criticism.

"No, Hans. It isn't," Kraft replied. "Most people don't want to think about whether or not there are people who are out to get them. I never thought about it, too, before we got rich. Bandits are one thing but other towns, cities, and even nobles coming after us? That kind of thing scares people, Hans."

Hans stared at him before nodding slowly. "I… see."

"You don't," he countered. "Not really. You see things so differently from the rest of us, Hans. You are … you are like heroes who appear in the Bible or legends. Sure, there are a few youngsters who will be more than happy to join you or second and third sons who want riches, but people like are …" He paused. "Perhaps that ca out wrong. All of us appreciate and love what you do for us, Hans. You've beco a count, a pretty up there noble, but you don't lord it over us even though you could. Lesser n have used titles like yours to 'acquire' pretty village girls." He gulped. "But if it is for things like food and making sure everyone gets fed, I'll make sure there are volunteers who'll help you. Discreet ones. It's just… I just want you to know that if we here in Davos are starting to feel uncomfortable, then what about the villages and mbers who aren't your neighbors, who benefit the most from you?"

Hans stared at Kraft before clasping his hands in his. "Thank you for letting know."

"Of course," he grinned. "It's what good neighbors do, right?"

After that, Hans left, and Kraft went to collect a few people who he knew both needed the work and didn't have anything else going for them. He had his own n go and collect them.

When they did, he brought them over to the back of his new refurbished and fixed ho.

And he made sure they knew what they were getting into. What kind of work was expected of them.

And what would happen if they decided to betray the good count.

Yes, Kraft may be a simple farr, but he was also not dumb. And even a simple man should be able to understand this concept very well.

Happy lord, happy life.

Productive lord, less problems.

And anyone who wanted to ruin the good things they had needed to be … quietly set aside.

-VB-

Hans von Fluelaberg

I chose a valley next door instead of Fluela Valley itself.

The Dischma Valley (nad after a fast running stream called Dischma and also because that's what the few locals who lived there called it) was the best place to prototype my experintal terrace farm because it was wider than Fluela Valley in the opening with a shallower slope. Discover more novels at noⅴelfire

By shallower, I ant that it looked less like soone cut a groove into the mountain range and more like it had been worn down by ti and rain.

First off, I needed to make sure that I had enough rocks.

That was easy. The Fluelaberg mines have been pumping out stones for years now. All I had to do was ferry them over. And that was sothing I paid people to do. I could do it myself, but if I did that, then it wouldn't benefit the people much. Besides, it wasn't like I had ever been a poor hermit.

Kraft and his kids made sure I never got to be a hermit and enjoy a sage life.

Silver that I mined up personally could get the job done.

And once that was done, I could set about carving out the rocks and earth to form the circular rings. Once I was done with that, I would pack the earth, use the stones to make walls along the edges of each terrace, and then, most importantly, check whether or not the cauldron effect would take effect.

To that end, I've gone and made what probably wouldn't have been made for a few more centuries.

With plenty of glass-producers and tals needed to make it work, I made an alcohol thermoter. I also knew that water boiled at a lower temperature the higher soone went up. I'll have to get over to a proper coast sowhere to conduct temperature calibrations so other ti.

But, the point was, I was going to test out whether or not the cauldron effect of a circular stepped terrace farm would be good enough to extend the farming season. Hell, combine it with so glass and we might have a way of lting snow consistently during the winter or even outright greenhousing this shit.

That was for future to determine.

The current had to first build the terraces.

And the workers Kraft sent were …

Alright.

"I think you lot need food first."

That got a solid cheer out of them.