Dozens of nobles all fired a test shot, destroying the hundreds of cannonballs brought by Chris.
A large section of the city wall of Mote City was missing, revealing a gap of five to six hundred meters long.
This is also Chris's careful plan. Without the defense of the city wall, the noble merchants will not be able to return to Mote City to live, which is equivalent to cutting off the last retreat for all of them.
After the nobles had enough fun, they suddenly realized one thing: the operation method of the artillery was very simple, and even an ordinary person could master it skillfully.
In the past, wars in the Magic Continent relied on knights, and ordinary people were the transport teams that provided logistics.
But the emergence of artillery will change this pattern.
Ordinary people can also fire cannonballs to severely damage knights.
Perhaps, this is the end of an era and the beginning of another.
While the nobles were playing with cannons, Chris pulled Linda aside and asked, "Can you improve the seeds to increase grain production?"
The ancients said: Build a wall high, accumulate grain widely, and become a king slowly.
Chris can install artillery on the city wall to increase defense capabilities and achieve "high wall building".
The next step is to accumulate grain widely.
Although Linda can use plant magic to grow a crop of food in an hour, it would consume too much for her. It is better to improve the seeds and let the serfs sow them.
Linda said: "This is simple. I can easily make several tons of powerful seeds by consuming my magic power once."
"So awesome?" Chris' eyes lit up, "Have you improved the variety so that the seeds can continue to produce high yields?"
Linda shook her head and said: "No, injecting a little magic power into each kilogram of seeds can only achieve high yield in one generation. If you want to achieve high yield in two generations, you need ten points of magic power. Because if the planting period is too long, a large amount of magic power will be lost.
.So, high-yielding seeds of one generation are the most cost-effective.”
"Okay, I understand." Chris understood what she said.
In short, Linda increases food production by injecting magic into seeds, rather than genetically improving quality.
After getting the answer he wanted from Linda, Chris suddenly felt confident.
He came in front of the nobles and shouted loudly, attracting everyone's attention.
Chris said loudly: "I called you here today. In addition to showing the artillery, there is another thing. I want to buy half of the serfs in the territory from you at the price of fifty silver coins per person."
The development of Dawn City requires a large amount of labor, especially in the near future, which may usher in a war.
Chris wanted to open a production line to make gunpowder, and the free people in Motte City were attracted, so he turned his attention to the serfs in the noble territory.
After hearing his words, many nobles showed astonished expressions.
Fifty silver coins per person is higher than the market price, and normally they would be very happy.
But Chris wanted too many people. He actually wanted half of the serfs in the territory. This would greatly reduce crop yields and affect their family industries, such as rice wine and white bread.
Therefore, almost all the nobles were very resistant.
Finally, it was Yunado who said: "Chris, the food grown by these serfs now is barely enough for the people of Dawn City. If you want to buy half of the people to do other things, then we need to go to other cities."
Buy food. If a certain prince launches a war against Dawn City in the future, as long as he cuts off the trade routes, we will starve to death in the city."
Only Yunado, the old father, dared to openly question Chris's decision.
Chris pulled the little girl Linda over and said, "This is a plant-based magician. As long as she releases a little bit of magic, she can greatly increase food production."
"Here I promise you that no matter what crops you plant, you can bring the seeds over for enhancement, free of charge forever. Although the number of serfs is less than half, you may harvest more food every year than in previous years."
"Since I am spending all my wealth to build a new country, I will never leave a clue for the enemy to use against me. You can rest assured."
The nobles began to think about it. Based on their understanding, Chris was indeed not that kind of fool.
In order to convince them, Chris asked Linda to sow a handful of wheat on the spot. The green wheat seedlings grew at a speed visible to the naked eye. After a few minutes, they began to turn yellow, and the resulting wheat ears were large and plump.
Chris introduced: "Here, this is the enhanced seed."
The nobles have fiery eyes. If all crops have such high yields, then they only need to plant half of the land before to ensure a harvest.
The money from the sale of serfs can be turned into liquid funds on hand.
Du Wei was the first to speak: "When I go back and count the population, I will send it to you later."
Yunado echoed: "Me too."
Chris smiled and said: "Okay, then everyone should go back to their respective territories and bring the serfs to Dawn City."
The nobles dispersed and headed to their fiefdoms near Mote City.
Chris, on the other hand, took his subordinates such as Tina, Guli and Lauder back first.
On the way, Chris discussed the artillery improvement plan with Master Daniel, striving to make a cannon that can adjust the firing angle as soon as possible.
······
As the sun set, Chris waited for the nobles and their serfs at the gate of Dawn City.
There was a huge crowd, at least tens of thousands of people.
However, these serfs are all very thin, and it is not an exaggeration to describe them as skinny, just like the residents of Hope Town when Chris first traveled through.
This is a normal thing. The nobles will take away 90% of their harvest, and the remaining part will not be able to fill the stomachs of the serfs.
Moreover, those nobles are not stupid. They will select the serfs in the territory and keep the strong ones for themselves, while the thin ones will be sent to Chris in exchange for money.
Chris didn't care much about this.
It's okay to be a little thinner, as long as you eat more food, you can maintain your health.
And in addition to labor force, he also needs these people to provide him with reputation points, which are based on head count anyway and have nothing to do with height, shortness, fatness or thinness.
Looking at the panicked eyes, Chris showed a sunny smile. He used his fighting spirit to spread his voice to the entire audience: "Hello, I am Count Chris, the lord of Dawn City. I have redeemed my life for you. From today on,
From now on, you will no longer be serfs, but will be members of Dawn City. As long as you work for me, you will receive a salary of forty copper coins every day."