This time, the Months of Demons lasted for nearly five months. When the dark clouds dissipated and the warm sunlight reappeared in the Western Region sky, spring had already passed its prime.

An urgent task was placed before Roland.

It was the spring ploughing.

While initiating a war to conquer the Far South during the Months of Demons, when other forces could barely move, could save a great deal of time and allow the subsequent unification strategy to unfold with ease, the consumption of grain was also alarming.

Due to the lack of input and the rapid increase in population, the granary of the Border Area was emptied for the first time. Roland secretly rejoiced that the first thing he did after annexing Longsong Stronghold was to hand over the "Golden No. 1" seeds cultivated by Yezi to Peiluo and order him to forcibly promote the improved crop, otherwise, it would have been really difficult to get through these Months of Demons.

The cement boats traveling between the Border Area and Longsong formed the lifeline of the First Army, and large quantities of flatbread made from coarse wheat flour were distributed to the soldiers fighting on the front lines via shipping.

So, on the second day after the end of the "Victory Day" celebration, Roland convened a spring ploughing combat meeting.

Not only the Department of Agriculture, but the entire City Hall, including the second-level officials of the Longsong District, as well as the Zoning Administrator Peiluo, and the Fallen Dragon Ridge Administrator Speer, were summoned to Neverwinter Castle. Especially Speer. Percy was directly airlifted by Maggie, his cheeks pale when he landed, and he added a few words of complaint when he saluted him.

And Karl. Kant's position as the temporary administrator of the Northern Region was replaced by his daughter Edith and his second son Cole. Roland always felt that the Northern Pearl, who had returned from the Impassable Mountain Range, had an extra sparkle, and Cole, who was behind her, seemed much weaker, and that set of clothes... wasn't it a little too sexy?

In any case, by this point, the meeting had gathered representatives from all parties in Graycastle. Apart from the Eastern Region, which had not yet submitted, and the partial areas where the City Hall system had not yet been established, this could basically be regarded as a national congress.

He surveyed the hall with satisfaction, then tapped the table.

Everyone immediately quieted down, turning their attention to the king.

"I know you must be wondering why the banner uses the word 'combat'," Roland said, pointing to the red banner hanging on the wall behind him, "because this is a war. It not only concerns whether this year's strategic plan can be implemented smoothly, but also determines the correctness of Neverwinter's rule! As early as when I was attracting refugees, I promised that as long as they are willing to work hard, they will never go hungry."

"I have done this for the past three years, expanding the territory from a remote border town to more than half of Graycastle. There is no reason why I cannot achieve it this year. Only when the people have enough to eat and drink will the kingdom be stable. Therefore, I require everyone to take the spring ploughing seriously and complete this year's cultivation in accordance with the regulations and planting manual formulated by the Department of Agriculture." He paused, "And starting this year, a special assessment will be implemented for agricultural work, including the area of cultivated land, the number of farmers, and agricultural output. These will all become standards for measuring whether you are suitable to serve as the head of a region!"

Looking at the bewildered participants, Roland couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. "It doesn't matter if you don't understand what these assessment items are. Later, Seni, the Minister of Agriculture, will spend a day explaining them to you in detail. In short, if you don't meet the standards I require, it can only mean that your ability is limited and you are no longer suitable to continue serving as a zoning administrator."

Although no one spoke, it was clear from their expressions that they were noticeably nervous.

This was exactly the effect Roland wanted. Abolishing the nobility system, in addition to being able to take back the power of the fiefdoms, another point was that the territorial officials were no longer a lifetime hereditary system. He didn't mind these people enjoying rights, but he wouldn't allow them to hinder his development plans.

And the agricultural assessment was just the beginning.

Roland unveiled a curtain behind him, revealing the numbers marked in large red letters below, "The other standards for the first year can be appropriately relaxed, but in the agricultural output item, I require you to reach this number!"

Everyone took a breath of cold air, "Fifty thousand *hu*?"

He wasn't surprised by this reaction. After all, according to the average level of this era, the annual harvest of an ordinary city was about 10,000 *hu*, and important towns like the old royal capital could reach 15,000. When Border Town first used "Golden No. 1," it only harvested

more than 7,000 *hu*, which was already considered a sensational bumper harvest at the time.

Of course, the actual harvest in various places was also greatly related to the area of farmland and the number of farmers. Unlike Border Town's development of high-yield agriculture, large cities completely relied on the barbaric cultivation of surrounding villages and towns and tens of thousands of farmers to obtain so much grain, so he included these two items in the assessment content.

After all, the fewer farmers there were, the more workers the factories could accommodate.

Roland gestured for everyone to be quiet. "In fact, when you see the experimental fields of Golden No. 2, you will feel that this goal is not a fantasy. After Yezi's repeated tests, the unit yield of Golden No. 2 can reach more than twice that of No. 1. The ears of wheat grown in the fields are enough to overwhelm the wheat stalks."

This time it was Peiluo's turn to exclaim, "Your Majesty... can it really reach more than twice as much?"

Among the officials from other places, he was the one who felt the most deeply about the amazing yield of Golden No. 1—during the entire Months of Demons war, the Longsong District provided more than 50% of the First Army's rations because a large surplus of grain appeared after switching to Golden No. 1. If it had been ordinary wheat before, it wouldn't even have been able to feed the people of one city.

"That's right, but Golden No. 2 is not without its shortcomings," Roland looked at Yezi on the side. "Next, let Yezi *xiaojie* of the Witch Union explain its characteristics to you in detail."

Yezi nodded and saluted, then walked to his side with a bag of ripened wheat grains and began to show everyone "Golden No. 2". "It is different from all the wheat you have come into contact with before. It can only be planted once, so you must come to Neverwinter City to lingqu new seeds every year. I have also greatly strengthened its root system, allowing it to absorb nutrients from deeper underground, but this also makes it extremely nutrient-consuming and requires fertilization for planting. Otherwise, you can only divide three plots of land for rotational fallowing. And..."

Roland looked at Yezi, who was a little restrained at first, but became more and more fluent as she spoke, and touched his chin with satisfaction—Golden No. 2 can be said to be a new type of wheat with Jinkela. Its root system can extend to four to five meters underground, and it has strengthened the absorption of fertilizer. Except that it cannot be continuously reproduced, other aspects are almost completely superior to Golden No. 1.

And the only shortcoming is actually an advantage for Neverwinter City—the inability to leave seeds means that once other cities start planting Golden No. 2, they cannot do without the supply of the new royal capital. At the same time, other low-yielding wheat will be squeezed out of the market, which is very beneficial for him to monopolize grain sales and put this resource under national control.

Roland believed that no farmer would go back to planting ordinary wheat after trying to plant Golden No. 2.

As long as this new improved seed is promoted nationwide, it can greatly alleviate the food shortage in various places.

With food... naturally, more people can be accommodated.

After all, Graycastle alone cannot satisfy him.