Henwell possesses significant funds, allowing him to purchase an adult serf for around three gold coins. If it weren't for the challenge of supporting so many people, his treasury could buy all the serfs in Peace Haven.

  By spring, Henwell has acquired hundreds of vilge houses and thousands of serfs. He disperses these serfs across various vilges, settling them into the purchased homes. Using his influence, he consolidates the acquired nds into centralized areas within each vilge.

  Each house accommodates ten serfs, who are responsible for cultivating about a hundred acres of nd. On average, each vilge has three to four groups of serfs, who monitor each other internally and across groups.

  Henwell provides them with food, and their task is simply to farm diligently. A third of the annual yield goes towards their redemption fee, enabling them to gain freedom in roughly five years.

  Henwell promises that once they are free, those who choose to stay and manage the nd can continue to live and eat for free. At that point, Henwell will only take half of their produce, leaving the rest for them to manage.

  Henwell's pn involves cultivating different crops in various vilges, with variations in farming techniques and seed selection. He aims to experiment with rge tracts of nd to identify the most suitable crops for the region.

  Typically, vilgers are reluctant to experiment with different crops or alter farming methods, as their annual food supply is at stake—it's a matter of life and death. Nobles have the wealth, nd, and bor force but ck interest in crop experimentation; they simply follow suit with whatever is being pnted.

  Henwell, however, is determined to find the most suitable crops for Peace Haven's nd, employing the most efficient farming methods to produce maximum yield with minimal bor, thus freeing up more workforce.

  Therefore, Henwell doesn't expect significant harvests in the first year. The serfs needn't worry, as their redemption fee remains a third of a typical crop yield, regardless of the actual harvest. To prevent ziness or deceit among serfs, Henwell compares the harvests within each group. If there's a significant disparity proving someone's scking, Henwell won't hesitate to show his harsh side.

  Conversely, those who achieve Henwell's desired results will be richly rewarded. Not only will they shed their serf status and become free individuals, but they'll also receive property and nd as a reward.

  After dealing with those matters, Henwell turns his attention to the workshops. He pns to establish several rge workshops, ranging from initial food processing to smelting and forging, all requiring skilled craftsmen.

  Due to his push for urbanization, a rge portion of the vilge popution has been drawn to the city, leaving vilge craftsmen with reduced income and compelling them to seek work with Henwell.

  Henwell organizes various craftsmanship competitions, offering thousands of gold coins and establishing numerous awards. Through these contests, he identifies the most scable techniques.

  For instance, while the best swordsmiths win prizes, they aren't exactly what Henwell needs. He aims to create assembly lines and standardized workshops, requiring skills that bance time, bor costs, and quality control, along with a foundation for streamlined processes.

  Otherwise, even the most skilled individual can only produce a limited number of high-quality goods. Henwell's goal is to flood the market with affordable products.

  Of course, Henwell doesn't waste the exceptionally talented master craftsmen. Those with potential are pced in the research department, while those who excel at producing high-quality goods are assigned to boutique workshops.

  In the rge workshops, the varied skill levels of the craftsmen on the assembly line result in products of inconsistent quality. Henwell opts for internal bulk procurement, supplying food to serfs and initially producing farming tools from metal.

  In many vilges, several households share farming tools, and serfs often use entirely wooden tools. The inefficiency doesn't bother them, as they believe keeping the serfs busy justifies their spending.

  Thus, Henwell isn't worried about the demand for his affordable metal tools. As production scales up, workers become more proficient, gradually improving quality. Through continuous refinement, the products will eventually rival those crafted by the finest artisans.

  In Henwell's territory, no nd is cultivated; instead, massive workshops are being erected. Unfortunately, there's no local coal or iron production, or he could have established a complete industrial chain.

  The neighboring Ogiro region, not far from the border, has coal and iron mines, but these are reguted trade goods. Fortunately, Henwell has smuggling routes, and the northern Fabio territory also produces coal and iron, so raw materials aren't a pressing concern for now.

  Henwell often ments that while his territory thrives in trade, it's missing key resources for development. Besides the ck of minerals, there's no major river, which prevents him from building water-powered hammers, mills, and the bellows and turbines needed for traditional bst furnaces. These remain mere blueprints, gathering dust in Henwell's treasure chest.

  Even with these resources, Henwell doubts he could quickly develop these technologies. It requires expertise, and this is still a serfdom-based society, unlike the centralized feudal empire where his compatriots reside.

  Without a knowledgeable community, there's no way to foster a spiraling upward research group. Advancing technology isn't about a few isoted innovations; it's about uplifting the entire system.

  This requires a vast community of knowledgeable craftsmen, which can't be established overnight. Henwell understands that building this foundation is a long-term endeavor, one that demands time and the cultivation of a skilled workforce.

  In this region, even basic literacy is out of reach for most people. While in imperial dynasties, commoners face significant barriers to accessing education, at least they have the opportunity. Here, books are tools for the nobility and wealthy, never meant for the lower csses.

  Some lords even enact ws prohibiting their subjects from accessing books and literacy. Such deliberate policies of keeping the popuce ignorant are simply to maintain stable control without incurring high governance costs.

  Moreover, due to low productivity, people are unwilling to invest resources in educating their children. Even if Henwell wants to implement educational reforms, it's a tough battle.

  Currently, he can only ensure that the children of his warriors and craftsmen attend his school for a few hours each day. This is one reason why Henwell is focused on building a military force; he aims to establish a merit-based system. Even if this transforms his power into a military meritocracy, it represents significant progress over the current dismal state.

  What a mess it is! Henwell is determined to bring about change, recognizing that even small steps can lead to meaningful improvements in the long run.