Free Web NovelAfter leaving the experimental fields, Louis continued straight to the next location without stopping.
The air was a mix of the sweet freshness of grass, the odor of livestock, and the faint sour scent of feed, with the distant, faint creak of windmills turning.
"Lord Louis, we're almost there. This is the Livestock Area," Green said in a low voice.
Louis looked up, and across the rolling hills, a vast and orderly ranch spread out before his eyes.
The five major cattle and sheep pastures were arranged like a chessboard, their fences made of wood, appearing dark brown from a distance, as sturdy as city walls.
Further beyond were ponds, their clear waters reflecting the sky, with schools of fish leaping and then disappearing back into the surface.
Under the sunlight, hundreds of cattle and sheep leisurely chewed on pasture grass within the enclosures. Occasionally, a beast tamer would blow a short whistle, and the herd would immediately gather, as if pulled by an invisible hand.
Artisans, herders, and apprentices crisscrossed the pathways, yet there was no chaos whatsoever.
Everyone was performing their duties, everything was in order, as if a giant machine was operating silently.
"Better than I imagined," Louis thought.
He knew every policy he had formulated, every fund he had approved, and every order he had signed.
He had also received numerous reports and intelligence from the Daily Intelligence System, making him almost completely familiar with the area.
But when these cold numbers transformed into the real scene before his eyes for the first time, it still made his heart warm slightly.
"Lord Louis!" With a slightly hoarse shout, a middle-aged man hurried over.
That was Andre, the Chief Beast Tamer of the Wheat Wave Territory's Livestock Area.
Andre was tall and sturdy, with somewhat rough skin, and his artisan uniform was smudged with dust from running.
He stopped a few steps away and bowed awkwardly but respectfully.
Louis nodded slightly, "No need for formalities, Andre. You've done very well."
With that short sentence, Andre's previously tensed shoulders instantly relaxed. He lowered his head slightly, concealing his rapid breathing. He had never imagined he would reach this point.
Andre had once merely been a foreman on the Calvin Family's farm. Although he possessed the strength of an Apprentice Knight and understood some ways of raising magical beasts, he was ultimately an unknown figure.
And due to Louis's request, the Calvin Family had transferred many mid-level livestock professionals to support Red Tide. He had initially believed this was an exile; everyone knew the Northern Territory was a desolate land, a graveyard in the frozen wilderness.
However, the reality was completely different.
Upon arriving in Wheat Wave Territory, he not only received stable housing but also unexpected recognition and importance.
During their first meeting, Louis seemed to see through his talent in beast taming, promoting him exceptionally to Chief Beast Tamer and granting him the authority to manage thousands of people.
He could even bring his wife and two children to the Northern Territory, where they lived in a spacious and luxurious house and ate food he had never dared to dream of.
All of this stemmed from the person before him, this young Lord Louis.
"Tha—thank you for your trust, Lord Louis," Andre forced a smile, but still stood ramrod straight, his palms sweating lightly.
Then, he led Louis slowly along the flagstone path, and the Wheat Wave Territory's Livestock Area gradually unfolded in their view.
Up close, the scale here was larger than imagined, yet surprisingly orderly.
Wooden fences neatly divided the pastures into various sizes, like sturdy lines of defense.
Artisans were crouching by a fence, carefully checking if the wooden stakes were loose, occasionally hammering in copper rivets tightly.
Not far away, several children, carrying small baskets, were barefoot, adding feed to the troughs.
Occasionally, a cow mooed softly, and sheep grazed leisurely in the sunlight. From the chicken coops and goose ponds came the flapping of wings and noisy calls.
"This is the ordinary livestock enclosure area," Andre's voice was steady as he introduced, having rehearsed it more than once last night.
He bowed slightly and raised his hand, pointing towards a wide sheep pen ahead.
"The sheep herd size has expanded from nine hundred last year to three thousand one hundred. They are mainly Snowfield Merinos and Short-horned Mountain Goats."
Flocks of pure white sheep, like surging waves in the sunlight, occasionally raised their heads to look at the visitors.
"Of the seven hundred and fifty thick-haired cattle purchased late last winter, six hundred and eighty-nine are currently alive." At this, Andre couldn't help but puff out his chest.
"We implemented a system of selecting breeding cows, gathering excellent cows from the village for breeding, and the initial success rate met expectations."
"You've done very well," Louis nodded.
Andre then pointed to a wooden rack on one side, where neatly arranged copper tags hung, their surfaces inscribed with numbers in ink, glinting in the sunlight.
"These are the systems Lord Louis, you proposed back then," Andre said with a hint of awe in his voice.
In fact, Louis's original design was to tag every single animal with an ear tag, using copper rivets and ink numbers to record information.
But Bradley later calculated the cost and realized it would be almost impossible to implement.
Not only would it consume a large amount of metal, but it would also require a massive team of record keepers to maintain.
So Louis proposed a compromise: each fence corresponds to a unified identifier.
Only the data for all livestock within that particular pasture, including birth time, disease history, and feeder, would need to be centrally recorded in the archives.
Andre looked at the wooden rack, his tone growing a bit more enthusiastic: "Thanks to your strategy, Lord Louis, in the past, herders managed purely by experience, and when an epidemic broke out, it often turned into chaos.
Now, by simply opening the archives, each entry is clear at a glance. Not only is disease prevention fast, but the livestock growth records are also clear." frёeωebɳovel.com
He looked up slightly at Louis, with genuine admiration in his eyes: "To be honest, Lord Louis, this one system alone has made the management of Wheatwave's livestock much easier."
Louis didn't say much, but an imperceptible smile flitted across his lips.
A few more steps forward led to the newly constructed six large chicken coops.
Small windows were cut into the thin wooden walls, and sunlight poured in, illuminating a mix of white and yellow feathers flapping and flying throughout the coops.
"This year, the first batch of eight thousand chickens was introduced, and an estimated six thousand are expected to be ready for market by late summer."
Andre added, "Geese and ducks are currently being test-raised on a small scale, serving as supplementary food."
He had said so much in one breath and finally let out a sigh of relief, yet his body remained tense.
Louis walked and observed.
The division of pastures, the flow of irrigation canals, the ventilation of chicken coops - he scrutinized every detail with a slightly critical eye.
But after observing everything, he was very satisfied, only stopping his steps before a slightly messy slaughter area.
There were several unwashed bloodstains on the ground, and a lingering fishy smell (fishy smell) hung in the air.
Louis frowned slightly, but did not get angry. He simply looked up at Andre: "The slaughtering—it's not standardized enough."
His voice was gentle, yet it made Andre immediately straighten up.
Louis gently explained, "It's not that I forbid you from slaughtering cattle and sheep, but traditional slaughtering allows the bloody smell to dissipate slowly, which can attract magical beasts.
And if not handled cleanly, the meat can carry pathogens. Once it spreads, it's not just a problem for one cow or one sheep; the entire pasture will suffer."
He paused, looking at the several livestock officials and artisans who had gathered around: "Centralized slaughtering, unified inspection. If there's a problem with one animal, we can detect and control it immediately."
Andre then understood, nodding repeatedly: "So that's it! I'll arrange it immediately! We'll build a centralized slaughterhouse!"
Louis patted his shoulder: "Take your time, don't be too nervous."
Seeing that his expression was still slightly tense, Louis then gently comforted him: "Andre, there's no need to rush. If other fiefdoms in the Northern Territory had even half the scale you have here, they would be ecstatic.
Take it one step at a time; there's no need to rush for success. I will allocate another two thousand gold coins to you. Through the Calvin Merchant Guild, you can bring in more excellent breeding animals from the south to lay a solid foundation."
Andre's breath hitched, and he knelt heavily on one knee: "Your subordinate will not fail your trust!"
Louis walked around and found that there were indeed no more suggestions he could offer; everything was perfectly in order.
So he said, "Take me to see the Magical Beast Area."
"Yes, Lord Louis."
The Magical Beast Breeding Area was located deep within the gentle slopes of the hills, with towering fences and many Apprentice Knights patrolling there.
Before entering the inner area, they passed through a training ground. A dozen young boys and girls were gathered in a semicircle, maintaining a cautious distance from two Twin-Horned Rock Cattle.
Long poles rotated flexibly in their hands, the tips wrapped with the scent of grass and calming powder, used in conjunction with short commands to guide the magical beasts' movements.
"Stand firm, don't rush to retreat!" an older instructor reminded from the side.
And when the young boys and girls noticed Louis approaching, the scene immediately became eerily quiet.
Some instinctively wanted to bow, but then hesitated, looking up, unsure whether to continue training or await instructions.
"Relax," Louis's lips curved slightly, breaking the frozen air. "Continue your training, don't mind me."
"Yes, yes, Lord Louis!"
The young people seemed to be ignited, their cheeks flushed with nervousness, but their movements became even more careful and cautious.
These children were personally selected by him using the dripping blood stone. All of them had some knightly talent, but their potential was limited, likely remaining Apprentice Knights their entire lives.
Instead of letting them be eliminated in fierce knightly competitions, it was better to let them become beast tamers.
Louis approached the edge of the training ground. A girl with short braids was clearly too nervous to speak, gripping her long pole but almost dropping it several times.
"Your name?" Louis asked softly.
"Le-Lena, Lord Louis!" The girl straightened her back forcefully, her eyes red.
"Don't panic," Louis said gently. "Study well, there's no need to compare speed with others. The most important thing in beast taming is a calm mind."
"Yes! I will work hard!" Lena's face flushed crimson.
The other young boys and girls secretly observed this scene, a hint of envy in their eyes.
Then Andre led Louis towards the core area of the Magical Beast Breeding Area.
Louis looked over and saw a Twin-Horned Rock Cattle slowly moving. Its forehead horns glowed faintly green, like two sapphires embedded in its skull.
"This is the Twin-Horned Rock Cattle pasture, currently with a scale of around five hundred, mainly concentrated in the river valley pasture," Andre said, flipping open the wooden ledger in his hand. "Three new pastures have opened in the south, mainly for rotational grazing. The north is the calf rearing area, with specialized feed ratio tables."
These massive magical cattle were called Twin-Horned Rock Cattle, with slightly glowing green curved horns on their foreheads, possessing immense strength.
And their milk contained high-energy nutrients, making it an excellent choice for knights to replenish their stamina and vital energy.
Further ahead, on the grassy slope, herds of Frost Mane Sheep rolled like a wave of snow.
Their entire bodies were covered in soft, white curly wool, and their manes even had a faint blue sheen.
Several young apprentices were bending down, shearing wool, carefully gathering it into burlap sacks.
Andre continued to introduce: "The sheep herd is currently the fastest expanding, with only nine hundred last year, now having surpassed three thousand one hundred.
For this magical beast, we also implemented the 'breeding stock selection system,' gathering the best breeding ewes for centralized breeding."
Louis nodded.
These were the unique Frost Mane Sheep of the Northern Territory, with white curly wool that shimmered with a light blue luster. Their milk contained a subtle natural cold energy, considered a top-grade tonic for strengthening the body.
And their high-density wool also elevated the production of winter clothing and cold-weather blankets to a new level.
Then, walking further along the stream, a large greenhouse came into view, where an exaggeratedly sized poultry species was being raised.
Their chest feathers seemed scorched by fire, glowing dark red, and wisps of heat constantly emanated from their throats—these were Red-Throated Fire-Eating Turkeys.
Fifty of them were already being raised in the hot poultry shed, their feathers even utilized by workshops as auxiliary materials for alchemical heating.
Andre led the way around to a deeper mountain hollow. In the distance, a low panting sound faintly emanated from within the enclosure, accompanied by a rush of cold air.
Ice Tusk Hogs were confined there.
White frost perpetually clung to their tusks, and their back muscles bulged like rocks. Occasionally, they would let out a low growl, making the surrounding air subtly tremble.
"Compared to ordinary domestic pigs, Ice Tusk Hogs are more like wild beasts," Andre reminded in a low voice. "However, their meat is firm and rich in 'Cold Energy Essence,' making them the top choice for knights to replenish their fighting spirit."
Currently, there were three hundred and seventy of these pigs, mostly kept in the gentle hilly slopes, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) looked after by specialized beast tamers, and occasionally requiring the use of Twin-Vine Leaf spray to calm their agitated nature.
Finally, Louis noticed an independent small pasture.
The fences were higher, and the security was tighter. Here, several dedicated beast tamers were looking after Silver-Tailed Abyss Foxes in an enclosure.
Under the moonlight, the fur of these Abyss Foxes would glow faintly, elegant as snow-night spirits.
They were mostly used as a source of high-end fur for nobles. Although they had no practical use, they were expensive, and Louis intended to sell them as luxury goods.
Unfortunately, their numbers were scarce, with only ninety-three currently in the entire Wheat Wave Territory.
As Andre introduced each one, Louis's gaze swept across the entire Magical Beast Breeding Area, silently evaluating.
Wheat Wave Territory's livestock system was quietly being perfected.
Ordinary cattle, sheep, and poultry ensured the supply for the populace.
Special magical beasts served the Knight Order and elite troops, providing high-energy resources.
High-tier war beasts acted as a military trump card, determining the course of battles.
Some of these magical beasts were purchased at great expense from the south, but most were precisely located by Louis through the intelligence system, and then specialized personnel were dispatched to capture and tame them on distant expeditions.
With the expansion of its scale, Wheat Wave Territory gradually formed a complete chain from breeding to taming, and from processing to derivative industries.
Moreover, even the fish ponds were undergoing trial breeding of magical fish.
For example, the Red Mane Swallowing Spring Catfish, which could nourish vital energy and enhance fighting spirit.
And the Three-Eyed Moon Scale, which improved meridian aptitude, was revered by the Knight Order as a superior tonic.
Louis let out a soft breath, looking at the gradually perfecting industrial landscape before him, and nodded inwardly.
If everything proceeded as planned, Wheat Wave Territory would not only be the granary of the Northern Territory but also a crucial chess piece for Red Tide Territory to influence the northern pattern (pattern/structure) of the Empire in the future.
Louis finished observing the last magical beast enclosure, his steps halted, and his gaze lingered on Andre for a moment longer.
There was a noticeable dark bruise under the livestock chief's eyes, clearly a mark left by his continuous hard work and dedication to the livestock area in recent days.
Yet, his words were clear, and every piece of data he reported was well-organized, with almost no discrepancies.
Louis sighed inwardly, confirming that the talent recommended by the intelligence system was indeed not wrong.
"Andre," he suddenly spoke, his tone filled with praise. "To have brought Wheat Wave Territory's livestock industry to this scale in just one year requires not only vision and talent but also diligence. You've done very well."
Andre trembled violently, almost unable to believe this praise came from the Lord's mouth.
He quickly bowed, his voice trembling slightly: "To—to be able to serve you is my honor, Lord Louis."
Louis smiled, took a heavy bag of gold coins from the knight beside him, and handed it over: "These are my personal reward.
Take them."
When Andre received the gold, his hand trembled slightly. What flickered in his eyes was not greedy joy, but an almost fanatical excitement.
"Tha—thank you, Lord Louis!" He looked up, his eyes shining.
What truly made his heart surge was not the bag of gold coins, but the personal recognition from this young Lord Louis.
For Andre, this was more precious than any wealth.
