Chapter 53: Chapter 49: Crazy Reproduction
Luo De also wanted to catch fish, but he had more important things to do.
At first, the water flow was quite fast. Luo De led his people downstream along the flow, carefully inspecting the loss of soil in the canal, and appropriately replenishing gravel and sandbags where the damage had occurred.
At the same time, Luo De was looking for suitable places to install waterwheels.
Such a long irrigation canal is not only for watering fields but also for enhancing productivity.
The waterwheels can not only be used to make hydraulic mixers but also to construct hydraulic forging hammers, significantly improving the efficiency of forging iron.
Otherwise, relying solely on the manpower of three blacksmiths, it would take ages to arm a fully equipped steel army.
For a long time in the future, the waterwheel will be the main source of power.
So when the canal was completed, the slaves were given a half-day off, and the town’s carpenters, along with their daughters and apprentices, were sawing so vigorously that the sawdust was smoking.
The initial water flow was unusually turbulent and muddy, but once Luo De ordered the irrigation canal gates to be closed, the water flowed gently over the gate and gradually cleared.
Then, the slaves released small fish into the fish pond, and Luo De finally received a system prompt,
[Completed fish pond construction and stocked with a thousand pounds of fingerlings, unlocked tag: Crazy Reproduction]
[Crazy Reproduction (Green): The pregnancy rate of creatures you directly or indirectly fed within your territory is increased by 100%, and it enhances the constitution of the mother and offspring, reducing mortality rate by 80%]
[Next tag: Build poultry livestock pens and raise at least five kinds of poultry livestock (≥50 of each), unlock: Stable Affinity]
"Green tag? It’s acceptable; as long as you participate in feeding, you can achieve it."
It’s not exactly a surprise but proves to be useful.
In this era, mother animals often suffer miscarriages or lose offspring due to malnutrition or improper care, and this tag greatly improves their survival chances.
The trigger method is simple; just notify everyone to take care of poultry and livestock properly, and the slaves managing the fish pond simply need to feed the fish diligently every day.
Unlocking the next tag [Stable Affinity] requires a bit more effort.
Primarily because livestock transportation is somewhat difficult, Northern Wasteland’s meat mainly relies on hunting.
If offspring are desired, Luo De will have people purchase in Border City.
"If it’s not possible, raising wild rabbits, chickens, and ducks is also viable."
Luo De plans in his mind and checks the prompt again.
When he sees the [Crazy Reproduction] tag again, a disconcerting thought suddenly occurs to him.
——Does this include humans?
The answer is necessary!
This Crazy Reproduction tag effect is incredibly powerful!
Just speaking of children alone, in this era, the mortality rate before age five reaches 40%, and this tag reduces it to 8%!
No wonder it’s a green tag!
Moreover, the pregnancy rate can also increase!
He’s practically a nemesis for infertility!
If this was in the past life, banners would be hung all over the room!
Luo De couldn’t wait and immediately had Otto convey the order in town, ensuring it reached everyone.
The order is simple:
"Eat well."
...
...
"Your swordsmanship foundation is already skilled; now you need to employ more techniques."
"For example, enticing the opponent to strike, slightly lowering the sword tip, then swiftly blocking and counter-attacking when the opponent strikes above."
In the manor’s training ground, Durant seriously explained swordsmanship knowledge to Luo De.
The waterwheel making process is intricate, needing various gear carvings, all consuming time.
With some free time, Luo De could seize the chance to enhance his own skills.
After all, unlocking some tags requires combat.
"Come, sir, let’s give it a try."
"Alright."
Luo De lowered the sword tip as instructed by Durant, and when Durant’s sword attacked, he swiftly swung his sword to block!
Crunch—
The two practice swords collided, both breaking.
"This..."
Durant smiled wryly, "Sir, your strength is too great and not suitable for wooden training swords."
"Indeed, I also feel this wooden sword is too light and flimsy."
Luo De was somewhat helpless.
It seems Hammer and the others need to forge some unsharpened iron swords for training.
Durant couldn’t help but ask, "Sir, why is your strength so great?"
"I don’t know, maybe just naturally strong."
Luo De casually replied dismissively, shaking his head slightly.
"Alright then."
Durant was helpless, sensing there might not be another answer.
It’s just that the Tulip Clan seems not to have such outstanding lineage.
Durant didn’t focus too much on it, instead concerned, "How is your Breathing Technique Cultivation going? Have you felt the presence of chi in your body?"
"Hmm, there’s a little in the chest, but it’s not obvious."
Even though busy daily, Luo De never neglected his Breathing Technique Cultivation.
Every night before bed, he practiced for an hour or two, then soaked in a bath before sleeping.
"Next, during cultivation, you’ll feel chi in your limbs, and you’ll enter Junior Knight stage, with enhanced constitution and strength."
The primary standard for judging Junior Knights is chi, while others involve endurance and strength as assessments of physical qualities.
However, the judgment of body qualities is inaccurate, like Luo De’s strength clearly exceeding expectations.
Luo De nodded slightly and asked, "Oh, can Gang Le still learn the Knight’s Breathing Technique?"
"It’s difficult; Knight’s Breathing Technique requires enlightenment before adulthood; you’re already quite late when learning it."
Durant awkwardly shook his head, "I believe Gang Le can learn, but almost impossible to sense chi."
"So if I want to nurture knights, should I choose from children?"
"Yes, choose those naturally physically well, provide them adequate food, and have them regularly take some herbs."
Durant sighed, "But it’s rare for a commoner child to meet the requirements of Breathing Technique cultivation; they simply can’t endure it."
Luo De slightly nodded in agreement, recalling how painful it was when he first started Breathing Technique Cultivation, nearly failing to endure.
And many common children directly passed out from the pain, losing cultivation qualification.
It’s understandable, actually; common children barely have enough to eat and seldom have meat, milk, or eggs, resulting in poor physiques.
Except for a few prodigiously gifted, most can’t withstand the bodily changes from the Breathing Technique.
With abundant diets, noble offspring, even someone like Luo De, an illegitimate child, ate eggs and roasted meat daily, naturally having decent physiques.
"But regardless, we still have to select and nurture, even if their talents aren’t high."
Luo De had no foundation and couldn’t rely solely on Durant himself.
Importantly, Durant was not young and shouldn’t be on the front lines ten or twenty years later.
Not just soldiers, but knights under Luo De should flow continuously like a stream.
"And regarding the matter with your wife last time, if you’re unable to decide, then keep them all—one true wife and two concubines. As long as they’re willing, I can take responsibility for their livelihood."
"Huh?"
Durant was surprised; how did the conversation loop back to him?
"Getting married isn’t important; what’s important is getting them pregnant."
Luo De pats Durant’s shoulder, comforting him, "For the sake of the territory, sacrifice a bit."
Durant smiled wryly, wanting to say something but was interrupted by Luo De.
"Don’t waste too much time on such things, just treat it as doing me a favor."
Luo De didn’t give Durant the chance to refute, then continued, "How is new recruit training going? I’m planning to develop the iron ore in Black Stone Mountain Range."