Jason Liu wanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings, so he asked directly.
His response was firm and confident. "Don't worry about recruiting too many people this time. Try to bring in men and women from nearby villages who are free after the wheat harvest. I need them to help build a logging farm. As for the number, let's start with a target of 2,000!"
Jon was completely stunned. His mouth fell open, and the thin fuzz of hair above his lip, a sign that he was still a boy, trembled as he stammered, "You—you're not joking, right, my lord? That's too many people."
Bringing in so many workers at once just to build a logging farm?
Managing such a large workforce would be a nightmare.
It was a huge task—too big...
Jon wasn't the only one shocked. dicken, Kenta, Rubin, and Chris, who were standing nearby, were just as dumbfounded.
"Two thousand people?" Kenta muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
None of them had ever seen so many people working in one place in their entire lives.
"My lord, perhaps you should reconsider. Even for a large logging farm, this number seems excessive. Almost everyone in the villages will be coming!"
Kenta, still looking concerned, added, "And as a kind and generous lord, you'll surely pay them well. That means a huge amount of money! Please think this through carefully."
Kenta's face showed genuine worry. He knew Jason Liu had a habit of spending generously, and in his opinion, it wasn't necessary to be so kind to simple farmers and their wives. Paying high wages for labor was too costly.
Although Kenta himself had once been the son of a farmer, his status had changed. Now, as a knight under Lord Jason, he saw things differently. He believed that, as nobles, they had to prioritize their wealth and resources wisely.
dicken, on the other hand, was too simple to argue. He just knew that recruiting this many workers at once seemed excessive.
Rubin, the last of the group, didn't voice an opinion. He preferred practicing swordsmanship over thinking about such matters. As far as he was concerned, whatever Jason Liu decided was always right.
Jason Liu was slightly surprised to hear his men questioning him. In the past, they had always followed orders without hesitation. Now, seeing them voice their concerns, he was both surprised and pleased.
As his responsibilities grew, he realized he needed subordinates who could think for themselves and solve problems rather than blindly obey orders.
Obedient followers were easy to manage, but a leader couldn't do everything alone. If his men learned to think critically and make decisions, it would lighten his burden in the long run.
So instead of getting angry or embarrassed that his decision was being questioned, Jason Liu smiled and patiently explained, "I understand that we don't need this many people just to build a logging farm. That's not the real reason for recruiting so many."
The men looked at him, confused.
"The logging farm is just an excuse to gather them," Jason continued. "These villagers have spent their whole lives farming and raising cattle. Most of them have never considered working outside their villages. I want to change that. I want them to see that there are other opportunities besides farming."
His men still looked skeptical, so he elaborated.
"Many of these villagers have never left their homes. They are cautious and fearful. If we simply ask them to work in a logging camp long-term, many will hesitate. But if we recruit them temporarily to build the farm, they'll get used to the idea of working outside their villages. Once they start, they'll be more willing to continue working even after the construction is done."
Jon slowly nodded, starting to understand. "You're right, my lord. Many people in these villages are afraid to leave their homes. It's not just fear of the nobles—it's their way of life. They've spent their entire lives planting crops, harvesting, and planting again. The idea of doing anything else rarely crosses their minds."
Kenta, however, still disagreed. "But my lord, if the wages are good, won't people come willingly? Didn't you recruit hundreds of workers easily when you built your new house?"
Jason Liu shook his head. "Those were townspeople, not villagers. Townspeople aren't as reliable. They don't work as hard as farmers, and they often demand more for less effort."
He leaned against the carriage and continued, "Compared to townspeople, farmers who've worked in the fields their whole lives are much better suited for cutting and transporting timber."
His men were silent, considering his words.
Jason climbed into his carriage, then looked at Jon. "The rest is up to you, McCann, and Bud. Make sure the recruitment goes smoothly."
Jon straightened and responded loudly, "Yes, my lord!"
Jason nodded, and Kent closed the carriage door behind him.
Barlow, who was seated up front as the driver, took hold of the reins, turned the horses, and set off toward the north of Winterfell.
Behind them, Jon and the others followed on horseback, along with a ten-man cavalry unit escorting the carriage back to the castle.
Meanwhile, in Winterfell, Maester Luwin was in the Ravenry, retrieving a letter from one of the birds that had arrived from the Eyrie.
Jon Arryn, the Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East, had recently passed away. His death had deeply saddened Lord Eddard Stark, and now a letter had arrived from the Eyrie.
Maester Luwin examined the wax seal, then turned the letter over. On the front, in elegant handwriting, were the words: "To my sister, Lady Catelyn."
Luwin's brow furrowed slightly. The only person who would address Lady Catelyn as "sister" was Lysa Tully, Jon Arryn's widow and the Lady of the Eyrie.
But wasn't Lysa supposed to be in King's Landing?
Why was she writing from the Eyrie?
With these thoughts in mind, Maester Luwin carefully picked up the letter and left the Ravenry. He made his way toward the courtyard, where Lady Catelyn was overseeing the inventory of Winterfell's food supplies.
He knew this letter could hold important news, but what it contained remained to be seen.
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