The World Best Engineer novel - chapter 49

Episode 49. Perfect completion ceremony (1)

“What’s up and what’s up!”

　 Whoops! Viscount Lacona’s forearm violently cut through the air. Tendonous wrists and fingers pierced the air. A chunk of her onion in her hand was thrown with force. Scratch it! The moment the onion was thrown, friction arose. One side of the reddish onion skin caught on the tips of the index and middle fingers. Like a fastball pitcher scraping the seams of a baseball, the onion took a spin. Onion drew the trajectory of an intense two-seam fastball. flew away It ran across the office coolly. And it crashed into the wall. Perseok! The onion was crushed. It was the moment when Sir Xaviel Asrahan’s blood, sweat, and tears poured into growing this onion were etched in avant-garde patterns on the wallpaper of the neighboring lord’s office. Of course, Viscount Lacona didn’t pay any attention to that fact. He cast an angry gaze. I glared at the pathetic administrator.

“The report you just heard, listen again.”

“Ah, yes… … .”

The administrator shrugged his shoulders. I unfolded the piece of paper. It was a leaflet produced and distributed by Baron Prontera.

“As I said earlier, the frontera estate distributed leaflets containing the policy of encouraging migration to the Marez reclaimed land. But the contents of this leaflet… … .”

“Whoa, continue.”

“Ah, yes. The contents of the migration incentives announced this time are as follows.”

The reading by the administrator continued.

“Residents who decide to relocate to clearing land can enjoy protection for three years. Seeds to be sown are received free of charge, and taxes are fully exempted. In addition, in case of poor harvest, one meal per day per household will be provided.”

The administrator who had been reading up to that point narrowed his eyes.

“In addition, residents who have moved to the Marez clearing have an obligation to live only in the clearing for the next five years, and are restricted from relocating to other areas. Umm, this part is written very small at the very bottom.”

“Ok.”

A deep wrinkle formed between the viscount’s forehead. When I heard it before, my blood pressure went up, but now I hear it again. It had to be.

‘These crazy people.’

It was clear that the migration incentives were very well thought out. Just because you wrote a policy that spreads out a lot? It wasn’t. The key was in the last line written in small letters at the bottom of the leaflet.

‘If you decide to move in, it means that you must settle there for 5 years unconditionally.’

You can do whatever you want when you go in, but not when you come out. at least 5 years. During that time, they were obliged to be tied to a clearing. But what about the hugely generous benefits above?

‘Only until the first three years of migration. That’s the point.’

The protection benefit is only 3 years. However, the mandatory residency period was 5 years. Then, what about the remaining two years after the benefits end?

‘I have to endure intact without any stimulus. What if the farm fails? I have no choice but to starve to death.’

That was the scary thing about the migration policy announced by Baron Prontera this time. It was also the part that made Viscount Lacona the most nervous. Worried about farmers who will migrate to the clearing? Of course not. It was because the reaction of farmers to that policy was expected.

‘For now, you’ll only see the tremendous benefits of protection for three years. What is the remaining 2 years of obligation without benefits? Even if you know, I will ignore it. No, you’d think it would be fine. If you work hard on the clearing for the first three years, you’ll think you’ll be able to last the remaining two years.’

that’s human psychology Even if others fail, you can do well. Even if you show a lot of statistics, you will be different. It is easy to lose an objective attitude and install confidence first. So, he resists the people around him and opens a store, but it goes bankrupt. Sometimes they try their hand at various investments and lose their fortune. The burden after that was because of the psychology that I could make up for with the benefits right in front of my eyes.

‘I dug into that part very cleverly.’

At first glance, a policy that seems to be full of great benefits. However, if you dig into it, the policy will be terrifying. At first, you will be happy going into the clearing. However, as time goes by, you will find that it is not easy. From then on, the farmers who entered the clearing will literally risk their lives to cultivate the farmland.

‘That’s the purpose from the beginning.’

Pressure on migrants with the burden of the two years hidden behind the benefits. To lead that pressure to exert maximum labor force. After 5 years like that? The Marez clearing will be reborn as a perfectly fertile land. So the Viscount had a stomach ache. I was envious and envious, and my stomach was twisting. All the more so when you consider that the southern half of that clearing was originally the territory of the Viscounty.

‘I can’t leave like this.’

It was the land that should have belonged to him. It was such a waste of land to just suck your fingers and step back. He didn’t want to give up. Before the clearing land was settled, I wanted to take it away under any pretext or by earning anything. The viscount chewed his fingernails. Then, all of a sudden, an idea popped into her head.

‘That’s right. That’s it.’

The viscount raised his head. He ordered to the administrator who was still watching.

“You should call the director of the dye workshop right now.”

The viscount giving the order was smiling with only one lip. It was a smile that assured the success of the plan.

　 ♣ A few days have passed. In the meantime, Lloyd’s plan went smoothly. The Marez Reclaimed Land, which has been steadily reclaimed and is about to be completed. He widely publicized his policy of support for the settlers who would migrate there. There were more applicants than expected. However, there were also applicants who occasionally showed anxiety. It was not anxiety about three years after the end of the protection benefit period guaranteed by the migration incentives.

‘What if it rains and the water doesn’t drain?’

That was what everyone was most concerned about. It wasn’t even a crowd. This has been a wetland for a long time. Because it was so low-lying, whenever it rained, water from the nearby river overflowed. Since the distant past, swamps have spread throughout the land. Such a place was changed by human power. Dikes were built and the water was drained to turn it into dry land. But I couldn’t help but worry about how long it would last. Farmers here were still more familiar with the name ‘Marez Wetland’ than ‘Marez Clearing Land’. Since I was young, of course, the land was only regarded as a swamp. It was because there was still not enough time for that perception to change. Of course, Lloyd was well aware of the anxious psychology of such farmers. So it provided something to see for everyone. It was a completion ceremony.

“Come on, stand in line!”

It was the day when a total of 6 screw-type water pumps were completed. The baron and his wife, the Corps of Engineers, and most of the villagers gathered at the embankment. It rained heavily as if the sky was helping. The entire wetland was soaked in an instant. Rainwater collected through elaborately designed drains. And they gathered at the drainage yard where waterwheels were waiting. The water collected in the drainage basin went into the water wheel. The new waterwheel, which still smelled of wood, turned vigorously. A screw-type pump rotated and pumped water into the gutter. It was pushed against gravity and into the drain pipe on the other side. Wow! The water discharged through the drain pipe spilled out into the tributary of the river running outside the embankment. At the same time, the level of the water collected inside the embankment and in the drainage basin quickly went down. The aberration proved its performance properly. And soon the rain stopped. Lloyd led the baron couple and the estates. He took everyone along and showed them every nook and cranny of the clearing. Of course, it was still a barren yellow earth. It was an empty land with nothing to see but weeds sparsely growing. However, it was the land that looked most desirable to the farmers looking at the clearing. Filling empty land with new crops. Because that was what farmers wanted most.

“Honey, isn’t this place better than I thought?”

“That’s right. It rained like that just now… … .”

“I can’t even see a puddle, let alone a puddle of water.”

“I guess so. Is there a drain on this side and on the other side, so the water has drained?”

“I think so. But it’s interesting. You can see that the ground here is still moist.”

“It seems that only the water to be drained is gone, and the water in the soil remains.”

“Yes, I see. Besides, look at this dirt here.”

“Let’s see. Ummm, this doesn’t even need to be fertilized, right?”

“Yes? I have never seen such fertile land. I think everything will grow well no matter what you plant here.”

“… … .”

“honey. We, until when can’t we just live on other people’s land?”

“… … .”

“The kids are growing up too… … .”

“… … .”

“My eldest son wants to study. To have them study, they would have to send them to the city, but to do so, money… … .”

“… … Got it. I will think about it seriously.”

Farmers touched the land everywhere and witnessed the drainage system. A drainage ditch made like a spider’s web all over the clearing. All of those ditches had been carefully arranged according to Lloyd’s calculations. Thanks to this, no matter how heavy the rain came, there was no excessive accumulation of water in the clearing. Only as much water as was needed for farming was left in the soil. All the rest of the water drained through the drain. In addition, the condition of the soil here was also the best condition for farming. It was a land that had been a swamp for tens of thousands of years. Over that long period of time, a huge amount of plants and creatures died, swelled up with water, and choked. In that state, it was half decayed and piled up layer upon layer. The accumulated organic matter became soil. It was the most fertile land, literally no need for manure. A reliable drainage system that you don’t have to worry about. A fertile land that any farmer will return to. The hearts of the local residents watching the Marez clearing land jumped in real time. Of course, Lloyd didn’t miss that golden opportunity. Youngjimin coming out after touring the clearing. Before they knew it, Lloyd was welcoming them. It was with the contract table that was quickly set up.

“Now, sit comfortably here. Did you have a good look around the clearing?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to… … .”

“How do you feel? Oh, would you like some water?”

“Go, thank you.”

“Yes, is the weather hot?”

“no. Uhm, what can I say? Looking around the ground, I didn’t even feel hot.”

“why?”

“It reminded me of crops that I can plant right away.”

“haha. You must have liked the cleared land quite a bit?”

“Yes.”

“Then are you thinking of moving here?”

“Um, of course I want to, but… … .”

“By the way?”

“I don’t know if you know, but I’m working on Mr. Hans’s field… … .”

“Aha. The man who runs the orchard?”

“Yes.”

“why? He said he couldn’t let you go?”

“Um, maybe a little… … .”

“That’s it. it’s solved Have you heard of this migration encouragement policy?”

“Ah, yes.”

“That is officially supported by the estate.”

Lloyd leaned against the back of his chair and grinned. The farmer leaned his upper body toward the table.

“What about official support?”

“You can’t stop peasants from wanting to emigrate.”

“But the field I am in charge of now… … .”

“Aren’t you going to move here tomorrow?”

“It is.”

“Then you just have to finish your work in the field and come across. Did you really want to live your whole life cultivating other people’s land? Isn’t it like that?”

“Ah, yes.”

“right. That’s it. I mean, this is such an opportunity. You say you can have the land.”

“… … .”

“Of course it won’t be easy. You really have to work hard on the ground for five years.”

“I-I know that.”

“How are you, are you confident?”

“… … .”

“Don’t hate it.”

“Oh no!”

“Nope? Are you going to try it, then?”

“Yes.”

“Really? there’s nothing to complain about later This is your last chance.”

“I’ll do it.”

“… … great. I can’t help it because I want it that much.”

Lloyd put his hand under the table reluctantly. With a skillful hand, she pulled out a piece of contract. He pointed to items here and there in the contract.

“Then let’s sign. here and here again And here. Just use your name.”

“Hey, I don’t know the letters well… … .”

“Then you can do it with Jijang. finger.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Take a picture here. That’s right. you’re good. next here. right.”

“Go, thank you.”

“What is gratitude? Next year, I will work hard on the land here.”

“All right.”

“okay. go carefully Then the next person!”

The farmer nodded as he got up from the contract table. he backed away Even after that, numerous locals were standing in line. They were mainly peasants who did not have their own land.

‘done. Migration to clearing land, this is perfect.’

Lloyd’s lips curled up. On that day, in just one day, all the relocation contracts for the Marez reclaimed land were gone. It was a perfect completion ceremony. In addition, Lloyd’s unexpected harvest continued in a row. Ding dong. [Obtaining a monumental space-time achievement] [You have reclaimed a swampy area for many years in an impressive way. This Marez Reclaimed Land, which was a wetland until now, will now be cultivated into an affluent land that promises a bountiful harvest amid the sweat and laughter of farmers.] [You have left a distinct footprint in the history of civil engineering on the Laurasia continent.] [You The civil engineering achievements you made will be recorded in the kingdom’s construction history.] [Special rewards will be given for monumental achievements.]