"The army...power...granting fields?"
Monkey Kuruka opened his eyes wide and read for a long time before he recognized the words on the book. He thought carefully for a moment before speaking half in surprise and half in joy.
"Your Highness, do you really want to give land to the warriors?"
"Of course! Before the decisive battle with the Royal Army, I personally made a promise to the Northern Army: If I win this battle, I will be rewarded and knighted, and the fertile land will be divided up! Today, I have established a country in the land of the lake, and it is time for these promises to be fulfilled. The samurai commander mentioned to me that even the samurai of the personal guard regiment are impatient!"
Having said this, Shulot looked at the warrior commander beside him. Bertard had remained silent until then and then spoke with a smile.
"These boys don't dare to talk to His Highness, so they always ask questions around me, which makes my ears calloused. The same is true for other ministries. These legion warriors follow His Highness in the battles, fight bravely and die, and are loyal. Second, it is His Highness’s greatest foundation!”
"Dividing fields is what the military aspires to do, and it must be done. Only by allowing the warriors to settle down, take root in the fields, and own properties, houses and families in the feudal country. Only then can I truly establish my foundation on the land in the lake. A solid foundation!”
The young king nodded, then pondered.
"I have a detailed plan for the levels of warriors and nobles. Warriors are promoted based on military merit, and the number of acres they own is linked to their level and title. This will be a complete promotion path that will allow all warriors in the feudal country to Militiamen and even slaves see hope of rising!”
Having said this, Shulot smiled slightly. There is no doubt that the origin of this system is the military merit and nobility system of Qin and Han Dynasties. The land is owned by the king, and then the land is awarded according to military merit, the land is given according to the title, and the old land of the nobles is confiscated.
The Young King has been thinking about this system for several years. It's just that the great nobles in the Mexican Alliance are deeply intertwined and affect all aspects of the alliance. This kind of radical reform must be extremely cautious, otherwise it may be the end of Shang Yang.
It was not until this time that he took possession of the land in the lake as a fiefdom and a loyal and powerful legion, and then took out the plan again. Most of Tarasco's old nobles were destroyed in the war, and those who remained were insignificant and unable to resist. The old order of the kingdom collapsed, like a brand new blank sheet of paper, and he really had the opportunity to calmly design a new system!
Shulot opened the book while meditating. The first few pages of the book are all about recording and planning the output of the acres. Only by clarifying the land system and understanding the yield per acre and labor consumption can the rights and obligations of warriors and nobles of different ranks be clarified. In short, it is what level, how many fields should be sealed, how many serfs should be assigned to farm, and how many warriors should be sent out to fight.
"Now one man can take care of five people, manage a hundred acres of farmland, and earn one and a half stones a year."
The young king turned to the first page and looked at the memories he was trying to recall. This is Li Kui’s estimation of agriculture during the Warring States Period. One stone here is about 20 liters, containing 24 kilograms of grain. In the Warring States Period, the area was small, with three and a half acres equal to one market mu. Therefore, in the days of land granting in the Qin State, the good fields in the Yellow River Basin were harvested once a year, and each young man cultivated 5-6 acres, with an average yield of more than 120 kilograms per mu.
Next, Xiulote moved his finger, and the second sentence was, "Ten dendrobiums per acre is called fertile land, and it is also a common name in the world." This is a record from the Wei and Jin Dynasties. At this time, one and a half acres was one mu. , one dendrobium is about half a stone of the Warring States Period, or 12 kilograms. In other words, one mu of good-quality farmland has a yield of 180 kilograms.
Therefore, throughout the Qin and Han dynasties, the yield per mu of land in the Yellow River region was between 120 and 180 kilograms. However, the land of Qin is short of water and the land is mostly in middle and lower acres, so the output will be much less, only about one hundred catties. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, agricultural technology had not yet developed, and the south had not yet been developed. In fact, the yield per mu was much less than that of Milpa in the land of the lake. The number of fields awarded for military merit should also be adjusted based on the current situation.
Shulot continued to think, looking towards his distant motherland. In the mid-Ming Dynasty of this era, because American crops were not introduced, the north usually harvested once a year and the south harvested twice a year.
In the north during the Jiajing period, there were a large number of dry land and thin fields due to restrictions on water and soil, especially rainfall. "The land in the north is barren, and the income per mu is no more than a few bushels." Each bucket is calculated as 18 kilograms, which means that ordinary fields in the north where water is scarce can only produce 90-120 kilograms per mu.
For fields in the north with sufficient water along lakes, such as Huaiqing Prefecture, Zhangde Prefecture, and Minzhou Wei, and along rivers, it is usually "ten or eight dendrobiums per mu", and "three or four stones per acre". ." According to the "Research on Grain Yield per Mu in Chinese Dynasties", one stone in the Ming Dynasty was about 180 kilograms, and one acre was about 3 acres. That is to say, in the Ming Dynasty, the yield of fertile land in the north was slightly more than one stone, about 200 kilograms.
Therefore, in this era, the yield of the northern dry fields of the Chinese Empire was 90-200 kilograms of raw rice, and only about 3-4 acres could fully support a young man. This is similar to the lake district of Milpa, which has high yields of crops, is located in the tropics and receives sufficient rainfall. The yield per acre of Milpa is 80 pounds of corn and beans, and about 200 pounds of pumpkin.
In fact, the ancient American civilization with corn, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and potatoes was never inferior to any country in the Old World in this era in terms of food production. This is also the reason why the ancient stone-bronze American civilization was able to support a population of millions to tens of millions with a small amount of land.
In this era, in the south, where paddy fields were cultivated intensively and harvested twice a year, it was a completely different situation. The yield per acre of the best fields in the south is extremely amazing, 4-5 times that of the fertile fields in the north, and is very similar to the floating fields in Tenotictlan. However, such output also requires a large amount of manure and river mud to maintain nutrient input.
In the Lianghu area where two-crop rice is grown, "the harvest from the rich fields is no less than five or six stones per mu." In the Pearl River Delta, "the upper fields in Guangdong harvest eleven or ten baskets, the next eight or nine baskets, and the lower ones five or six baskets." Usually 2 baskets are equal to 1 stone. In the Guangzhou area, the upper field harvests 5-6 stone per mu in two seasons. , nearly 1,000 kilograms; the subfield is about 4 stone, about 600 kilograms; the lower field is 2-3 stone, about 400 kilograms.
Based on this calculation, the yield per mu of paddy fields in southern Daming is about 400-1,000 kilograms of raw rice in two seasons. Of course, paddy fields are the most abundant, with the total average yield per mu being about 500-600 kilograms. One mu of paddy fields is enough to support a young man.
Seeing this, Shulot paused for a moment and sighed softly.
At the end of the 15th century, when the Old and New Worlds had not yet communicated, due to limitations in temperature, precipitation, crops, and agricultural levels, Europe's per-acre harvest was actually far inferior to that of the Near East, India, the Chinese Empire, and even ancient American civilizations.
In 15th century manorial records in Norfolk, England, wheat yields were approximately 8-9 bushels per acre, while barley yields were 6-7 bushels. Each bushel of wheat is about 54 pounds, barley is 42 pounds, and 1 acre is slightly more than 6 acres. After conversion, each mu produces only 40-80 kilograms of grain. In Northern Europe, which has a cold climate and barren mountains, the output of these grains is much lower.
Generally speaking, every 10 acres of land in medieval Europe could support one adult male, and each man used a plow horse and iron tools to cultivate 20-40 acres, including extensive planting, low harvest, and pasture.
In this era of early exploration, the entire Europe had low yields and was plagued by plague. The total population is only about 80-90 million people. Among them, France, the most populous country, has less than 15 million people, and Italy and the HRE have about 10 million people each. The colonial empires of Spain and Portugal combined had only 7-8 million people. Before the introduction of the cold-hardy potato, the population of Northern Europe was extremely limited. On the small British Islands, the total number of people in each region is only 3-4 million. At the same time, Denmark and Sweden both had 6 million people, while Norway only had 3 million people.
Only after the discovery of America, the navigators obtained high-yielding American crops and brought them back to the Old World in ecstasy for the first time, did the whole of Europe usher in the 16th century with a population explosion and a new era of rapid development of civilization.
Where corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes and pumpkins spread, barren mountainous lands could be cultivated, the yield per acre in the fields increased several times, and the new population increased explosively. The rapidly increasing population also provided the foundation for the great colonial era.
It is no exaggeration to say that the discovery of America ignited the first flame of Europe's emergence. American crops are the most important cornerstone of Europe's hundreds of years of development, and have truly changed the entire world!
Shulot stared quietly for a moment, countless future scenes flashing in his mind. He took a deep breath and buried everything in his heart. The monkey looked at His Highness carefully and felt that there was fire burning in His Highness's eyes.
Then, the young king continued to scroll down, and finally came to the land granting book he had written himself. Bertard and Kuruca approached at the same time and carefully looked at the graphics and words on it.
There are five characters in the first line of "Book of Land Granting for Military Merit Promotion", which depicts a small man holding a weapon, next to a battle suit symbolizing status, and farmland where crops are grown.
"All young people who graduated from community military schools, militiamen who have passed the actual combat test, and some strong and powerful slaves can join the feudal army and become the most basic young warriors."
Bertard read the first line that followed. He was no longer calm, his expression changed rapidly, and he was obviously thoughtful. After a while, the warrior commander asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, do you really want to open the honorary warrior class to ordinary militiamen and humble slaves?"
Shulot nodded calmly and affirmed.
"Of course! I will open this avenue to the sky to all suitable warriors, and even allow some devout foreign mercenaries to join. In my feudal country, I have the final say! I want to strengthen the legion as much as possible, Integrate all peoples under your rule!”
Monkey Kuruka's eyes flashed. He looked down quietly but quickly, and soon saw graphics of warriors of different levels.
"Young warriors, distribute sleeveless cotton armor, war clubs and shields. Capture one alive and behead one, and be promoted to a first-level binder and become a first-level warrior."
"First-level warriors are awarded battle clothes, leather hats and obsidian daggers. They capture and behead two people alive and are promoted to second-level Vastek hunters, that is, second-level warriors."
"Level 2 samurai, awarded a cloak of honor. Granted 20 acres of land, 1 serf and servant. Captured and beheaded 5 militiamen and 1 samurai, then promoted to level 3 elite fire warriors... 5,500 militiamen in the Lance Corps, all promoted to level 2 The samurai plans to grant 11,000 acres of land and 5,500 serf households?!"
Seeing this, Kuruka shouted in surprise. All the spear corps under him were promoted to samurai, and he himself naturally became the samurai leader.
"Your Highness, do you really want to promote all the spear militiamen to warriors? There is indeed no shortage of land now, but where are the slaves who farm so much?"
Hearing this, Shulot nodded with a smile and only answered the first question.
"The Lance Corps has been tempered by wars for a long time. They have made countless military exploits along the way. They also defeated the central army of the Royal Tarasco Army and captured the King's Flag of the Condor! Their fighting power is seen by everyone. In the group battle, At that time, they were not inferior to the samurai army, and their tenacity was even higher. They deserved to be rewarded!...
Granting 20 acres of farmland, minus the fallow, only works 8 acres per season, requiring one serf. If you raise 1 cub in 4 acres, you can feed exactly 2 people. "
"The food consumption of samurai training can be worth 3 cents per person. Therefore, samurai of this level need to stay in the military camp frequently and receive centralized support and military training from the feudal state. If they return to their own fields, they will not be able to completely leave their jobs. .”
The young king pondered for a moment and gave a brief explanation. The so-called samurai of this level are actually similar to the elite ashigaru of Japan's Warring States Period. They are the backbone of the legion and the main force with the largest number.
"Third-level warriors are awarded high-level battle uniforms. They are granted 100 acres of land and 5 serfs and servants. They capture and behead 12 militiamen and 2 elite warriors, and are promoted to fourth-level senior warriors. The total number of warriors in each department is awarded 4,000 people, and they are granted 4 fields. Ten thousand acres and 20,000 slaves.”
This level of warrior can be regarded as the lowest level of military merit. The status is similar to that of a public official among the military meritorious ranks of Qin and Han Dynasties, and among the scholar class. The actual cultivation of 100 acres of land is 40 acres, requiring 5 people, and the grain produced can feed 10 grains. These serfs distributed theoretically came from the capture of warriors when they were promoted. The consumption of a full-time warrior is 3 ding, and during battle it is around 5 ding.
In other words, a third-level samurai is a full-time professional soldier and can provide his own food to a certain extent. They can also be considered the lowest level of military meritorious landowners. This is exactly the class that Shulot hopes to focus on cultivating.
Bertard took a deep breath. This military merit conferment document is still nominally based on the alliance's promotion system, but its actual connotation is completely different, and it can even be said to be a subversive reform. The warrior captain shook his head and continued to look at the enfeoffment of the fourth-level senior warriors.
"The fourth-level warrior is awarded elite leather armor and is allowed to wear various feathers symbolizing honor. Granted 240 acres of land and 12 slaves. The job is to lead a squad of 20-80 people in the army. In wartime, there are 2 warriors, or 1 warrior 1 auxiliary soldier. If he performs a great service, he will be promoted to a first-class military noble. Each department has a total of 16,000 people, 40,000 acres of land, and 20,000 slaves."
When you reach the level of a fourth-level senior warrior, you can start your own family and become an independent samurai family. Its status is similar to that of the Qin and Han military meritorious ranks, among the scholar class, with exemptions from labor service. 240 acres of farmland are allocated, and the actual cultivation is about 100 acres, which requires 12 people and can raise 24 animals. Converted into military population, a fourth-level senior warrior can support 2 professional warriors and 1 semi-full-time auxiliary soldier. These people are usually family members.
The warrior captain and the monkey looked at each other for a while, with thousands of thoughts in their hearts, all of which turned into silence in the hall. After a while, the two of them continued to look at the nobles conferring fields below.
"A first-class military noble, possessing jaguar or eagle uniforms, exquisite animal helmets, and equipped with copper axes... 800 acres of land and 40 servants. He is a captain of 200 men in the army, or a samurai battalion commander. He goes out in war. 2-3 warriors, plus 1-2 auxiliaries. 500 people were promoted from each department, plus 400 people from the Jaguar Chapter were transferred to feudal states, a total of 900 people. 72,000 acres of land were granted, and 36,000 slaves were granted."
The first-level military nobles can be compared to the doctor class in the twentieth-level nobility system, and can also be regarded as the aristocratic knights in the European Middle Ages. Of the 800 acres of land granted, more than 300 acres are actually cultivated, which can support 80 farmers. A first-level military noble can support at least 5 full-time warriors on land, plus 2-3 auxiliary soldiers. They are already the lowest-level members of the feudal military group who have the right to speak politically.
Bertard nodded. This kind of reward is higher than the treatment of the alliance's military nobles, but it is generally at an acceptable level. He continued to look down, frowning unconsciously.
"Second-level hereditary nobles, participate in the affairs of the feudal state, and the feudal land is passed down from generation to generation... Granted 2,000 acres of land, 120 servants. The position is comparable to the battalion commander and legion commander of the thousand-person army. In wartime, 8 warriors are sent, plus 4 auxiliary soldiers. people. This time, 20 people were promoted, 48,000 acres of land were granted, and 2,400 servants were hired.
The specific list is as follows: veteran Etalik, monkey Kuruka, black wolf Toltec, navy captain Anatri, eagle warrior Barda, Tarasco captain Ezpan, gray earth Puap, crocodile Marshal Ospai, Lord of the Sky Family Horta..."
"Your Majesty! Thank you for your reward! I swear to die for you, monkey!"
Seeing this, Kuruka breathed out. He fell to his knees with excitement, tears flashing from his eyes.
The second-level hereditary nobles, as the name suggests, are hereditary lands and titles. They are already the pinnacle of promotion for most families in the alliance, and are the true aristocratic class... As an ordinary warrior, this is also the pinnacle of life that he once longed for. I didn’t expect that just by following His Highness for a few years, I would be able to achieve it today!
Shulot smiled and nodded, reaching out to lift Kuruca up. The hereditary nobles were granted 2,400 acres of land, 1,000 acres of land were actually cultivated, and they had 120 servants and could raise 240 children. Relying solely on the output of their fields, aristocratic families could maintain a comfortable life and support at least 15 warriors and half of the auxiliary troops. They will participate in the decision-making of major issues in the feudal country and lead the army during expeditions.
On this list, Kuruka, Toltec and Ezpan, who were born as commoners, were promoted by two levels, and most other generals who were born as nobles were promoted by one level. The surrendered general Horta was flatly sealed. The glorious nobleman Osipai, who lost his family warriors, was demoted.
Also supposed to be on this list are the Jaguar warrior Orosh and the leader of the Divine Blessing Legion, Natalie. However, after the autumn harvest, Orosh will lead the Holy City Legion and return to the Holy City with his father; while Natalie's Divine Blessing Legion will also return to the city of Xilotepec. Shulot temporarily recorded the merits of the two of them, waiting for someone who would have the right to reward them.
After the monkey stood up, he bowed deeply again. After a while, he calmed down his excitement and read through the list, but did not see the name of the warrior commander. His heart raced, and he looked down again. Another desire that he had never thought of suddenly arose in his heart.
"The third-level honorable noble, participates in national affairs, and inherits from generation to generation... Confers 8,000 acres of land, 400 slaves, and ranks as commander of the army... During the war, there are 30 warriors and 15 auxiliary soldiers. One person was promoted this time, Saint Eagle Warrior Chief Bertard!”
The glorious nobles were granted 8,000 acres of land, 3,200 acres of land were cultivated, and 400 servants were able to support 50 full-time warriors and more than 20 semi-full-time auxiliary soldiers. This is already the highest level of nobles in the feudal kingdom, second only to the supreme theocratic king.
Seeing this, Bertard pursed his lips. He knelt down on one knee and bowed deeply to His Highness. Then, he kept kneeling and suggested to Shulot in a loud voice.
"Your Highness, please take back this reward! I was born as an ordinary civilian warrior, and I have always been your guard. I have never led a legion, and I have not made any outstanding achievements. Now rank me above all generals. I’m afraid everyone will be dissatisfied..."
"Bertard, what are you talking about!"
Shulot interrupted loudly with a smile. Then, he looked solemn and said seriously.
"You were the first to follow me, you have always been by my side, and you have saved my life several times! You led the personal guards, trained many warriors and generals on your own, and have always been loyal! You have always been quiet and few words, and when in trouble Be decisive and strategic, act without arrogance or impetuosity! In terms of qualifications, merit, ability, character, and even popularity... You are a first-class existence, why can't you accept this enfeoffment and become the highest-status glorious noble? ?!”
Hearing this, Bertard looked moved. Facing the majestic His Highness, he opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment. The warrior commander had to lie down on the ground and bow solemnly before continuing.
"Your Highness, it is not appropriate to have such a generous reward when a feudal country is just established. You can wait for the future..."
"This award to you is, on the one hand, to set an example for the generals, and on the other hand, it is for the future! I have a long-term plan, and I need you to cultivate your own confidants and truly take charge!... In a few years Finally, you have to go to the great eastern lake... to the snake-like island in the lake... to conquer the local natives... in the far east... waiting... to capture..."
Upon hearing His Highness's prophetic narration, Bertard looked shocked, and then his expression turned solemn. He saluted respectfully again and said decisively.
"Your Highness, your will is my life. Even if I go to the endless lake thousands of miles away, I will capture the foreigners in the prophecy!... Just..."
The warrior commander paused for a moment, looking hesitant.
"But it doesn't matter!"
"Your Highness, I am not speaking for myself. It's just that this land grant letter, although it is pretending to be an alliance level, is actually completely different. The rewards of the warrior class are extremely generous and their status is quite high. Military merit and nobles are roughly the same. And hereditary and honorary nobles, Compared with the Alliance, it is much more harsh... Does His Highness intend to restrict the top nobles and cultivate the warriors in the middle?"
"Haha, you still see clearly! Bertard, you are the only one around me now who can entrust me with big things!"
A real smile appeared on the young king's face. The old nobles in the southern part of the feudal country occupied most of the local villages and fields. Their number of acres and slaves far exceeds the standards in the military merit land award book... This is also the basis for the next step.
"Monkey, didn't you just ask me where are the slaves who farm so much?
Shulot laughed loudly, his laughter filled with heroic and murderous intent.
"This time, 11,000 people will be awarded land. Almost everyone in the North Route Army will be promoted and rewarded. 220,000 acres of land will be granted and 110,000 slaves will be granted...and these fields and slaves all come from here!"
The young king stretched out his finger and tapped it hard on the huge map, as if waving the battle flag of the legion. And where the bright red battle flag points, where the Mexica Army is advancing, is in the south of Apachingan State, a prosperous city on the fertile soil by the river, Curamo City!
