In his previous life, Austin’s reading interests were wide-ranging, and he had once read such a case.
In the eighteenth century, due to the high yield of potatoes, they defeated many other crops and became one of the main crops in the Ireland region. Then, in a certain year, a potato virus swept through the entire Ireland region, leading to a significant reduction in potato output that year, creating a dreadful famine that caused a quarter of the population in the Ireland region to sharply decrease. Google seaʀᴄh ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
It was precisely because he remembered that case, that even though the world environment was different, in case of any possibility, Austin still spent great effort to achieve diversification of food species.
Of course, current planting cannot stop, and even for a relatively long period in the future, kudzu vine might still be the main food of the Dragon Nest Tribe.
Because even after a few months of development, the stock of kudzu vine within the Dragon Nest Tribe is only enough for the entire tribe’s two-month consumption. As long as no major problems arise, the planting of kudzu vine will always take up most of the fields.
Whether it’s thorn fruit or earth rice, these two are only insurance against future reduction in kudzu vine yields due to disease.
As a result, even though wild rice isn’t fully domesticated and its yield is low, Austin still ordered the beastmen to start planting rice on a small scale to add another layer of protection to the food security of the Dragon Nest Tribe.
"It’s a pity that there was only one taro obtained that day. To plant it on a large scale, at least we need to wait a few years until enough seeds are reproduced."
Recalling that taro made Austin somewhat depressed. Later, he even had the centaur leader Chiron lead a team to look around the ruins of that tribe, but in the end, no clues were found.
Although a bit regretful, Austin is not the type to dwell on it. He soon put this regret behind him with a thought.
As Austin proceeded with the decision for food crop diversification, the beastmen of the Dragon Nest Tribe naturally couldn’t stay quiet and uninformed.
Especially when it comes to the foundation of the beastmen’s survival and livelihoods, naturally causing quite a stir within the tribe.
Since whether planting wild rice in paddies or thorn fruit and earth rice on dry land, the effort expended is much greater than simply propagating kudzu vine, this also left the beastmen of the Dragon Nest Tribe somewhat puzzled.
In their view, since planting kudzu vine is both simple and yields a lot, why put in so much effort planting those grain crops which don’t even reach a tenth of the yield of kudzu?
However, despite the puzzlement, none of them had any thought of resistance or objection.
Not to mention that during military training and transformation, they went through political indoctrination; every beastman knows that it was the most esteemed Lord who initiated the idea of opening land and farming to solve their issues of livelihood, giving them an unparalleled admiration for Austin.
In their understanding, being able to fill their stomachs daily, live in warm and comfortable houses, enjoy a safe living environment, and win every battle easily, all are because of the great His Highness Blue Dragon.
Even if it meant dying for Austin, they would do it without hesitation, let alone just expending more effort to plant other crops.
Moreover, some beastmen thought that although kudzu vine has been the staple food for the past half year, and compared to the days of hunger, being able to fill the stomach is already very good.
But even for beastmen, after solving the issue of food and clothing, they too aspire for better development. Hence, after getting used to kudzu vine, if they could switch to other food, that would also be nice.
In the Kawa Great Forest, among many beastman tribes, the status of deer-men was somewhat awkward, caught between the middle and lower tiers.
As half-bodied humans, their size was larger than kobolds or jackal wolf people, but deer-men also inherited the characteristics of moose. They were timid and cowardly by nature, often fleeing first when faced with danger, unable to confront powerful beasts preying upon them. Physically, neither their running speed nor endurance could compare to the centaurs.
Due to many factors, deer-men in mixed beastman tribes often had a status similar to kobolds.
Finn was a wandering beastman.
He was driven out during the cold winter, or more accurately, he escaped himself because at that time, food in the tribe was at rock-bottom, and staying there meant even if he wasn’t starved to death, he might still be eaten by the brutal crocodile-headed leader.
During the cold winter, it was freezing and snowy everywhere, the earth covered by thick ice and snow, even tree roots and bark were hard to find, the stomach felt as if it was burning with hunger, all while facing the cold’s erosion. Countless wandering beastmen were frozen into sculptures before the next day’s sun rose.
Finn didn’t even dare to recall that period of tough struggle.
But miraculously lucky, he struggled through the freezing winter, the snow began to melt, but by then, he was already skin and bones, on the brink of collapse.
It was then that he felt the luckiest event in his life happened.
He saw a towering black smoke pillar in the distance, after arduous trekking, he finally reached that Dragon Nest tribe’s recruitment location and successfully joined the Dragon Nest Tribe.
From that moment on, he was reborn.
No longer would he starve, no longer would he worry about wild beasts attacking while he slept, no longer would he be concerned about having no shelter during rain...
Even though the Dragon Nest Tribe had various strict regulations, giving a feeling like living in a prison, even if given a choice, Finn would choose the Dragon Nest Tribe without hesitation.
For no other reason, simply because here he could fill his stomach.
Thinking of a full meal, Finn couldn’t help but touch his freshly filled belly.
"Thank the esteemed lord, thank you for your mercy..."
Finn murmured in his heart, praying sincerely.
He had reason to do so, for in his heart, there was boundless admiration for the lord above, Austin.
"Finn, your wood materials for today have arrived!"
"Oh, alright, coming right away!"
A voice came from afar, Finn quickly came to his senses and ran over.
"This is all the oak wood for today, move it all into the mushroom house. Stack the raw oak in the corner to dry and decay before using it as a substrate, remember to keep records, perhaps the lord will come to inspect one day."
The beastman squad leader left after giving his instructions, and Finn began his work for the day.
His main work involved moving the pile of oak logs before him into the mushroom house, for the unified mushroom cultivation to produce enough edible mushrooms.