The priest and the village chief talked about the tithe, and the village chief agreed without asking anyone to consult the knight's wife.

Roger estimated that the knight had made an explanation before going out. If anyone dared to do this under his mother's hands, the grass on the grave should be a foot high next year.

The village chief also promised to help the priest collect them and send them to him. He also said: "This place is too far from your church, and it is very inconvenient for the villagers to worship."

Roger felt that this sentence was true, and the priest was also a little embarrassed.

The village chief also nagged the baron: "Can a market be opened in the town? There have been fewer merchants coming recently, and it is very inconvenient for the villagers to exchange needles, threads and brains."

Roger felt that letting the Baron make this decision would cost him his life. He might already regret entering this village now. He might rather spend the night in the wild or even have a fight with a bear.

Sure enough, the baron just scratched his head, but this time Roger supported the baron. He knew that he could not agree to this matter. There was a problem with the location of the baron's town. Even the traveling merchants were unwilling to go. How could the market be opened?

In the end, the baron gave the reply "I'll think about it later". The village chief was very happy. Roger knew that the village chief definitely didn't understand what the baron meant and thought that the baron would really consider it carefully.

But Roger's modern way of thinking gave him ideas that were different from those of this era.

On the road the next day, Roger mentioned it to the Baron: "Baron Rollo, that terrible basin is your territory. Have you ever thought about developing it?"

The Baron scratched his head. Roger knew that he had asked the wrong question, so he said it another way: "Baron Rollo, have you ever thought about expanding your territory and increasing your income?"

This time the baron reacted quickly: "Where to fight? We are surrounded by our own people, and we all have some friendships. I am too embarrassed to attack."

"Perhaps you can develop the wasteland in your territory, such as that bad basin."

The baron had a question mark on his face: "Can't people live there?"

The forest ranger also emphasized recently: "The place is terrible. If you plant in autumn, it will be washed away by water in winter. If you plant in spring, it will not survive the intense heat of summer."

"The key is water," Roger said. "I have an idea. Build a dam at the mouth of the canyon of the two seasonal rivers and dig a trench at the edge of the basin. When the flood comes, put it into the trench and drain it to the Alcantara River. , the water blocked by the dam is used for irrigation. The soil in the basin is relatively fertile. Without flooding and with irrigation, a lot of fields can be opened. Once the fields are opened and there are people to take care of them, there will not be so many mosquitoes. Luoluo Baron, do you object to the addition of fields?"

"Of course I won't object to this." The baron was very happy, as if he saw a pie falling from the sky. The ranger thought thoughtfully.

The priest interjected: "This will cost a lot of money."

The baron's smile immediately disappeared and was replaced by an embarrassed expression.

"It's mainly labor," Roger began to analyze. "Of course it's best to find a professional builder to guide you, but the main work is manual labor. You don't plan to collect the taxes owed by the people in the mountains, do you?"

The Baron nodded: "They are having a hard time, and they can't collect anything."

"Then it's okay to let them use their efforts to deduct taxes." Roger said, "I estimate that it will take three months to build the dam and dig the ditch before the winter rain. When the floods are gone, we can continue to prepare the land before the scorching heat. I can still plant a crop of oats before now.”

The baron's eyes gradually lit up.

Roger continued: "The reason why the mountains are poor is that there is little output and too many people. Let them divide a group of people to work on the land. Baron Rollo, you share the harvest with them, and everyone will benefit."

The proud Roger scolded Fang Qiu, and the baron's eyes became brighter and brighter.

The ranger was also moved and said, "This is a good thing. I think the people in the mountains will not object."

The priest came to pour cold water again: "You can't let them prepare their own food after three months of work, right? Rollo, do you have so much food?"

The baron's eyes began to dim.

But Roger took everything into consideration. He said: "The baron still has three villages by the river that owe taxes. Let them pay the tax with grain. They are allowed to use old grain, coarse grain, whatever they can eat."

The priest stroked his beard and thought for a while: "Including the tithe, it should be enough."

Roger looked at the priest in surprise: "Don't you need to submit it to the Holy See?"

"Just say it was confiscated and handed over. Anyway, I didn't pay it in the past few years." The priest looked indifferent.

Roger thought for a while and felt that the risk for the priest would be too great. If he didn't collect taxes, he could just use his lack of ability as an excuse, but if he collected them and embezzled them, it would be an unforgivable crime.

Roger asked a question: "Father, if your jurisdiction becomes smaller, I mean, if a parish is added to the baron's territory, would you have any objection?"

"I wish I could," the priest said firmly. "The tithe has to be paid. If you don't pay it to the Bishop of Messina, you will be in trouble. How can I cover such a large area by myself? I should have added more parishes long ago." Yes, I talked to him about it this time, but he said there was no priest."

Roger knew that there was indeed a shortage of priests. Sicily had been ruled by the Arabs for more than two hundred years, and now that the customs were changing, there was a rush for priests everywhere.

But training a priest is not that simple. He looked at the bearded priest. If it weren't for the shortage of priests, he would have been withdrawn long ago.

So Roger said: "I have another idea."

"Anything else?" the baron asked while rubbing his hands. He seemed to be thinking about a better tomorrow just now. Hearing that Roger had other ideas, his train of thought was pulled back and he listened happily.

Roger said seriously: "We can ask the Bishop of Messina for permission to add a parish in the basin we plan to develop. We can build a church there, so that it will be convenient for people in the mountains and nearby riverside villages to worship. .”

The baron was so shocked that he couldn't speak. It seemed that he was having a fierce psychological struggle between his piety to God and his pain about spending money.

The priest reminded: "The church is not easy to build. It costs a lot of money. And it must have a priest. There is a shortage of priests everywhere now."

Roger winked playfully: "I know, but I didn't say that Baron Rollo would spend money to cover it."

The baron came to his senses immediately: "Agree! Then, who will pay for it?"

Roger revealed his plan: "Abbot Benedictine has been worried about the lack of reputation of their monastery. A church can solve their problem. Nothing can better demonstrate their piety and wealth than this. And Benedictine Dean Keding is fully qualified to serve as a priest."

The priest nodded: "Dean Benedictine is indeed qualified."

Roger continued: "We just need permission from the Holy See of Messina. I can write to my mother. The papal envoy status obtained by my father is now inherited by Simon, but it is actually in the hands of my mother. She and the Bishop of Messina Tell us that the bishop will agree to the establishment of a new diocese. Then we will propose to use the tithe from the barony to build the new diocese, so it will be justifiable."

"A very good plan." Everyone nodded in agreement, and the Baron was already smiling from ear to ear.

"I have another idea," Roger continued.

"Wait," the Baron suddenly interrupted, "let me come to my senses first."

The baron took a few deep breaths, then calmed down and said, "Go on, I think I'm ready."

"The baron's estate needs a mill."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"The water in the Alcantara River is too small in summer, floods in winter, and the canyon is full of strange rocks. In short, it is not suitable for building a mill."

"Yes, yes" everyone agreed.

"If you open a water gate on the dam and connect it to a canal, you can have stable water power and build a hydraulic mill."

"Yeah," the friends nodded like hoopoe looking for food.

"Next, you can build a market," Roger continued, regardless of whether others nodded. "This market will definitely prosper, because both the mill and the church will bring people."

"Wait a minute," a bearded hoopoe stopped and nodded, and said, "The church can't be built in a day. It takes many years. How can it attract people before it's completed?"

Roger snapped his fingers: "It's easy. You can build a wooden prayer room first. As long as you start preaching, people will come."

"Good idea." "It works." "Hmm."

One hoopoe who was used to being poor nodded his head very diligently, as if he saw countless food in front of him.

"If you need stone to build a church, you can mine the isolated stone mountain nearby. If you need wood, you can cut it up the mountain. But these are the property of the baron, so Dean Benedictine must buy them."

The poor hoopoe smiled happily and nodded more diligently: "Yes, yes, you must spend money to buy it."

"But the monastery has no money."

"What!?" The baron stopped suddenly and nodded, looking depressed.

Roger ignored him and continued: "So the market is necessary. The monastery has a lot of products that can be exchanged for money through the market."

"Ah ha, I should have told you earlier." The baron felt comfortable again.

"Construction, mining, felling, and planting all require tools, as well as regular repairs, so a blacksmith shop is very necessary."

The blacksmith who had been silent all this time immediately became energetic. He nodded and said, "Yes, and the demand will not be less."

"Artisans, workers, and farmers all need accommodation, and their own houses and inns must be built. If people want to eat, restaurants and baking rooms are necessary. If necessary, leather tanning workshops and wool bleaching workshops are also needed.

Reserve a location. The grapes of the mountain people can be used to make wine, and the location of the winery must be determined first. Of course, it can also be combined with a restaurant. For citrus and lemon pressing, a special pressing workshop can be set up, so that it can be almost a town away. "

The baron was depressed again: "I have no money."

"All of this doesn't cost money. We just need to circle the land and let the owners build it themselves. Of course, they have to spend money to buy stones and wood." Roger circled his hand and drew a big cake for the Baron.
Chapter completed!