System: Build My Own Territory

Farming and development are not possible overnight.

It often requires a long time.

Whether it's cotton, peas, or wheat, they all have growth cycles.

One by one, the cotton bolls were cut down by Lynn and others and put into the baskets beside them.

Sixty cotton plants were harvested completely in just half an hour.

Now it's nearing the end of August, and the weather is very good every day.

It takes at most three to five days for drying, to remove the moisture in the cotton bolls.

After that, manually stripping them apart, separating cotton fibers from cotton seeds.

This way, cotton fibers and cotton seeds for planting next year can be obtained.

Instructing Gavin to keep these cotton seeds safe, Lynn mounted his horse and continued to patrol the village.

The hooves stepping on the lime road made the "clatter" sound of hooves.

Some villagers who were working saw Master Lynn and bowed slightly, revealing a sincere smile.

Passing through a farmland, Lynn headed towards the northern part of the village, the salt factory.

Before getting close, a stern reprimanding voice entered his ears.

"Master Lynn provides food and drink for your family, every meal includes meat, and even your children receive education that's only available to the nobility's wealthy children."

"You're able to become the squad leader of the salt factory because Master Lynn trusts you!"

"And you still engage in such sneaky activities?"

"Is this how you repay Master Lynn?"

"Steward Kuisi, I was wrong, I truly was wrong! I was blinded by greed, I'm a disgrace..."

Pa~Pa~Pa~

A series of slapping sounds were heard.

"Steward Kuisi, please forgive me this once? I'll never dare again..."

When Lynn approached the salt factory, a scene unfolded before his eyes.

A middle-aged man was kneeling on the ground, his face flushed red, with visible slap marks.

His eyes full of plea and even... fear.

In front of him, Kuisi's face was serious, with a cold gaze directed at the middle-aged man.

Kuisi's words were still icy, "I will report this matter to Master Lynn, and let him decide!"

Kuisi was preparing to leave when her eyes caught sight of Lynn not far away.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Master Lynn, you're here..."

The fear on the middle-aged man's face became more evident.

Lynn dismounted, and spoke in a deep tone, "What happened?"

The middle-aged man knelt, crawling towards Lynn, pleading, "Master Lynn, please forgive me..."

Before he could approach, Red stepped out and blocked him, guarding Lynn from behind.

Kuisi explained, "Master Lynn, his name is Eck, he's the squad leader responsible for grinding fine salt at the salt factory, but... he abused his position to steal your property..."

"Eck secretly took your fine salt home!"

Upon hearing Kuisi's account, the middle-aged man Eck fell flat on the ground, trembling nonstop.

Lynn looked at Eck and asked, "Do you find any issue with Kuisi's account, my squad leader Eck?"

Eck's face was full of regret, his words halting, "Master Lynn, everything Steward Kuisi said is true..."

"I stole your property!"

Lynn nodded, "Since that's the case, you will be punished - beheading publicly!"

"Do you have any objections?"

Upon hearing those words, Eck's eyes contracted instantly.

But in front of Lynn, he dared not plead for anything.

It was Master Lynn who sheltered their family.

It was Master Lynn who provided their meals.

It was Master Lynn who offered them a sheltering wooden house.

Even, it was Master Lynn who appointed him squad leader at the salt factory!

However... he has betrayed Master Lynn.

Eck's face was ashen, responding monotonously, "No objections..."

Lynn replied, "Very well, but you can rest assured that your family will not be implicated by your crime."

Eck managed to force a smile on his face.

"Thank you, Master Lynn."

Eck was taken away by guards under Red.

Faces of villagers excavating at the open-pit salt mine were full of shock.

Including Kuisi beside Lynn!

They had considered that Eck would face severe punishment for stealing Master Lynn's property.

A whipping or chopping off a hand...

But they never imagined Master Lynn would directly order Eck beheaded publicly!

The previous happy life was very real.

Master Lynn was willing to share his own food with them, allowing the villagers to fill their bellies.

But only with Master Lynn's permission.

What Master Lynn gives, they can take.

What Lynn doesn't give, they absolutely cannot take!

Not even the thought of taking should exist!

However, they also understood.

As long as under Master Lynn's rules, they could live on.

Even enjoy a comfortable life!

With this thought, they returned to their respective work.

Seeing Kuisi's somewhat regretful expression, Lynn asked, "Why? Regretting bringing him out?"

Kuisi didn't speak.

Lynn spoke calmly, "For the crime of theft, if it were in other territories, perhaps it wouldn't be a death sentence, but... this is my territory."

"If theft occurs and is merely dealt with lightly, then next time it won't only be theft, but even robbery, fighting, murder..."

"By then, the whole territory will become chaotic!"

"If I know thus, why not extinguish this evil spark ahead of time?"

Kuisi widened her eyes at Master Lynn.

Until Lynn finished speaking, Kuisi seemed to have realized something, her eyes clear of guilt and remorse.

Kuisi spoke calmly, "Master Lynn, I understand!"

Lynn nodded.

After allowing Kuisi to continue work, he once again mounted his horse and headed towards the open-pit salt mine.

In Lynn's mind, thoughts began to stir.

The population of the territory will grow larger in the future.

Even Lynn cannot ensure everyone's character.

Under temptation of money, food, or beauty—even the seemingly simple farmer can harbor evil thoughts.

Naturally, various incidents will emerge.

Quarrels, harassment, robbery, theft, even clashes...

Such trivial matters can't all be handled personally by Lynn.

The territory needs a court to handle disputes among villagers, accountable only to him!

And if there's a court, naturally related regulations need to be established!

However.

This is just a thought for now.

The territory is just at its beginning, he does not have the bandwidth to do these things.

Arriving at the open-pit salt mine, Lynn surveyed ahead from horseback.

Silhouettes were busy on the open-pit salt mine.

From excavating rock salt, initial crushing, to transportation, all procedures were clearly divided.

The longer you work on something, the more experience you gain.

Thus, they could improve work efficiency.

What pleased Lynn was, after such prolonged mining of the open-pit salt mine, the surface rock salt only concaved slightly.

No bedrock was visible!

Lynn felt this large open-pit salt mine could be exploited for decades at least!