Swiss Arms-Chapter 141

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 something 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 came 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 experimenting 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 time 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 adjustments. And once adjustments are done, then I'll be moving to building it as much as I can."
"I see. And you came to me 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 me as experimental farmers and farmhands. I will, of course, pay them their just wages, but I need someone 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 me having to worry about spies that aren't bandits? It never happens around here."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Hans asked. "Because it means 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 me are …" He paused. "Perhaps that came out wrong. All of us appreciate and love what you do for us, Hans. You've become a count, a pretty up there noble, but you don't lord it over us even though you could. Lesser men 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 members 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 me 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 men go and collect them.
When they did, he brought them over to the back of his new refurbished and fixed home.
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 farmer, 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 (named 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 experimental terrace farm because it was wider than Fluela Valley in the opening with a shallower slope.
By shallower, I meant that it looked less like someone cut a groove into the mountain range and more like it had been worn down by time 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 something 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 metals needed to make it work, I made an alcohol thermometer. I also knew that water boiled at a lower temperature the higher someone went up. I'll have to get over to a proper coast somewhere to conduct temperature calibrations some other time.
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 some glass and we might have a way of melting snow consistently during the winter or even outright greenhousing this shit.
That was for future me to determine.
The current me had to first build the terraces.
And the workers Kraft sent me were …
Alright.
"I think you lot need food first."
That got a solid cheer out of them.

Chapter 141