Chapter 40

Long ago, there was a common misconception among people about agriculture.

It was the thought that people in all countries must have used human waste to increase crop yields equally.

The origin of such a misconception began in our country, especially during the Joseon period, where we utilized the excrement of humans, pigs, cows, and chickens to make compost…

However, in the West, while they might have used animal dung, the idea of using human dung on land where edible crops are grown was considered unacceptable, and thus they never used it.

In fact, even today, Westerners sometimes touch “perfectly sterilized and chemically treated compost” just to check its state…

They don’t think it dirty to handle compost made from chicken droppings or cow dung, but when it comes to compost made from “human feces,” they wash their hands vigorously, claiming it to be dirty.

And now, in this Croilet Count territory where I live, when I went on a rural inspection before, Zackri mentioned that we use the dung from “chickens, cows, and pigs” for compost.

With that, new ideas began to spark in my mind.

Yes, there was that time during my master’s studies when my professor suddenly had a seizure, saying:

“These days, there are novels themed around ‘isekai reincarnation’ coming out amongst the youth, but how does it make sense for a protagonist to turn the world upside down with such shallow knowledge?”

He wrote a lengthy book opposing isekai reincarnation, which went over 1000 pages.

Constructing related materials was a grueling task I endured with my doctoral coursemates…

Yet now, I picked up my pen feeling grateful for that professor who drove me to my limits during my graduate school days, and began to record the plan I was forming.

After an hour, two hours—or quite a lengthy time—I was surprised to find that I had composed a complete outline.

When I checked once more to confirm that there were no issues, I let out a loud cheer alone in my office.

“I did it! If I just follow this plan, we can be liberated from this irritating dung and urine. We can hire the poor as well and increase agricultural productivity—this is alchemy!!!”

Then, perhaps due to my late-night struggles, I felt overwhelming drowsiness.

So, I didn’t resist it and quietly laid my head on the desk and fell asleep.

**

“Ah, I slept well…”

I felt refreshed from a deep sleep, but because I slept with my head on the desk, my back ached terribly.

I tried to stretch and straighten my back when I suddenly noticed a blanket draped over my shoulders.

Did Ela come in to cover me because I might be cold, or was it another maid or servant?

I wasn’t sure exactly who it was, but thanks to them, I was able to sleep warmly.

When I woke up, I splashed some water from the glass on my desk to wash my face and then called for a passing servant.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s almost noon. I just heard from Sebastian that the territory inspectors will be arriving soon.”

“Alright, thank you.”

**

As noon approached, the inspectors from my territory hurriedly burst into my office.

It seems that my frustration towards their inefficiency yesterday and my direct orders for them to investigate the slums had an effect.

Going forward, perhaps I should tell them that if they don’t work properly, I’ll personally go do inspections…

“Alright, give me your report.”

Upon hearing that, the inspector closest to my desk bowed his head slightly and began to speak.

“Yes, first, the five of us inspectors led the bailiffs, guards, and attendants to directly investigate the conditions in the slums. As a result, we found that the poor bathe only once every two months, and the feces piled up in the streets is relatively recent.”

Every two months? No matter how medieval this world is, if people don’t wash like that, even the strongest will catch skin diseases…

So, upon meeting people living in the slums, I often sensed that a considerable number carried a scent that reminded me of decay…

“Then how about skin diseases or infectious diseases?”

“We couldn’t assess skin diseases, but when we asked the poor directly, they reported that there had been outbreaks of infectious diseases inside the slum.”

Indeed, it seems I’ve been fortunate that there haven’t been any outbreaks yet, despite the appalling hygiene…

In this age, if diseases like typhoid or cholera were to emerge, apart from offering oral rehydration salts, there would be no solutions, and even then, one out of a thousand would die…

Furthermore, to make oral rehydration solutions, one would need a tremendous amount of sugar and salt, so if sugar is used to save lives…

I would have to bear the massive loss of giving up the revenue from sugar sales, which could lead to potential uprisings and reduced productivity from the decrease in the citizen population.

With such thoughts, I sighed and asked,

“I see. But why hasn’t this been reported to me? If there had been an outbreak during my father’s time, a report would have been mandatory.”

Upon hearing this, the inspector’s face paled as he responded.

“In the slums, in such cases… when a highly contagious disease breaks out… they confine the patients in their homes until they die. They take such measures, discard the food the patient had eaten, and close off all sources of water for about one to two months.”

Memories from my studying of the black plague flashed through my mind.

In Europe, occasionally during a black plague outbreak, in some cities, if a family member was infected, they would confine the infected and their family members in their home to starve to death or burn them alive.

I had thought that this was a rational “sacrifice of the few for the good of the many,” as it could potentially prevent the black plague, which had a mortality rate of 30-40%.

While studying and researching at that time, I wished that there might have been “more humane methods.”

But now, hearing that people are starved to death merely for catching a disease seems dizzying.

“Continue your report.”

“As a result, there was an outbreak in the slums, but they were able to wrap up the situation with only a few dozen deaths.”

The inspector, seemingly afraid I would be angry, finished speaking and knelt to beg for forgiveness.

To stop him, I stood up, suppressing my angry emotions and spoke with a smile.

“No, this isn’t something you could have managed on your own. It’s also my fault for failing to issue a thorough supervision command for the slums. Therefore, about this matter… I’ll settle it with a light reprimand. The salary of the inspector in charge of this region will be cut by 20% for two months, and the bailiff will have a 15% cut for the same period.”

At the relatively light punishment of a salary reduction, the inspector’s expression eased a bit.

Then I continued to receive reports from the inspectors and organized all the information in a large book.

After I finished organizing, I ordered a servant outside to bring in the document I had organized yesterday and some chairs for them to sit on.

A while later, the servant and a few attendants brought in the chairs and the document containing my plan, which they hung on the wall of the office.

Once the inspectors were ready to transcribe what I explained, I began to speak.

“I believe that infectious diseases tend to arise from unsanitary places. As evidence, won’t you find that slums are always where these epidemics start?”

Upon hearing this, the inspectors nodded, accepting my reasoning to some extent.

“Therefore, as the lord of Croilet, I intend to collect and manage the dung and urine from where they live, or better yet, from the entire Count territory. And this plan is detailed on the paper hung here. Are you ready to take notes?”

“Yes, we are ready.”

As they began jotting down notes, I picked up my conductor’s baton from on the desk and pointed to the first item.

“First of all, I command that toilets or containers to collect excrement be installed anywhere in Croilet. It should be done within a month, reaching every corner of the rural areas. Additionally, to gather this excrement, I will hire a few second and third sons from the countryside. They will receive two meals a day and three coins for each day’s work, with their wages increasing with their service duration, up to six coins.”

While explaining, one official raised his hand and asked.

“However, we are concerned about the budget. And wouldn’t it be better to provide food instead of coins for those doing such labor?”

Honestly, in present-day Croilet, unless I were to cover this mansion in gold, the likelihood of a ‘budget shortage’ is practically nonexistent.

However, it is indeed better to provide food to the rural and poor folk, though money is good, you can’t eat money.

Moreover, once this is all turned into compost, food production will increase, creating a need for consumption.

“Alright, then instead of money, I’ll provide 60 kilos of barley per month.”

“Isn’t 60 kilos too much? A serf typically consumes about 120 kilos per year… Wouldn’t it be better to reduce that amount?”

I raised my voice at the inspector who said that.

“Stop talking nonsense! Such statements may fly elsewhere, but isn’t our Croilet rich in food? And to develop the abundant land and expand commerce, we need people! In other words, we must create a society where the second and third sons can marry!!!”

“My, my apologies, Your Excellency.”

“Just understand. Now, let’s continue explaining. However, they will work about 10 hours a day, not 8 like the serfs, and their tasks will be as follows. Are you ready to take notes?”

After a short break, I continued to elaborate.

“First, they will go around each house once a week to collect dung and urine into carts. Then they will transport that dung and urine to the designated location I specify. They will place the dung that comes from the carts along with straw and other plant materials into the holes I have dug and separately collect the urine to ferment for two weeks before pouring it in.”

One of the inspectors, seeming hesitant after hearing this, raised a hand and asked.

“Your Excellency, are you suggesting we collect human feces to make fertilizer?”

“That’s right.”

The inspector, looking serious, inquired further.

“But why on earth would we use human feces when it’s much easier to use dung from chickens or pigs? Isn’t that dirty?”

Hearing this, I let out a chuckle and replied.

“Human excrement, pig dung, and chicken feces are all equally regarded as dirty in the scriptures. Therefore, when it comes to using them for compost, it makes no difference. Furthermore, if we handle the manure and convert it into fertilizer, it will greatly benefit the serfs. I will continue.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“And create a lid that fits the holes, mixing the dung and urine before covering them. One week later, we will open the lid again, overturning everything with a shovel, and then cover it once more. We will repeat this process until there is no smell, at which point it can be freely provided to the serfs. That’s all, you may leave.”

Upon hearing this, one of the inspectors looked at me in disbelief and said,

“Understood. Your Excellency, but if we’re giving such dirty work to crime offenders, wouldn’t it be better to assign them to do it instead?”

Thinking about it, I had kept criminals locked up in the prison tower without assigning them any specific tasks…

“Let’s do just that.”

**

A few days later in the city of Croilet.

“Ugh, the smell!! No matter how much of a crime I committed, why do I have to sit here immersed in someone’s dung and urine?! And even if I don’t do this, I still get the same barley porridge for meals!!!”

“Well then, if you live honestly, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Hurry up and work! You bunch of pests, you’re making my life hard too!!”

After saying that, a guard kicked a complaining prisoner who was beside him scooping dung and urine.

The guard then looked up at the sky and complained.

“While it makes sense to use criminals for compost, why do we have to endure the smell while doing their work… Your Excellency…”

From this point on, the fear of ending up in a situation where you have to “scoop dung and urine” if you get caught became a deterrent for would-be criminals in Croilet…

Slightly reducing the crime rate in the Count territory.

I looked over that report and began to prepare for the next reform.

“The military must be fed before they can march. Then, I shall provide you with combat rations filled with the essence of Western modern times. We should load them up with something denser than bricks…”