Ox-drawn plough (3)

 Losif had already prepared his own compost manure and he was also very thankful to the king who gave them the farming tools even if some farmers still didn't get the tools, Losif was very lucky to have gotten his hands on the most anticipated and controversial tool - that was the ox-drawn plough and an addition of a rake, he didn't manage to get the other items because they were selling like hotcakes and even it caused some people to fight over them.

Actually, Virtya was selling the farming tools to the farmers at a slightly expensive price because it was hard to produce these tools with the medieval method which costed tremendously. Virtya also needed to pay the blacksmiths and he also needed to get profits from this activity so that he could ensure the continuity of his projects. Apparently, it could be seen that most of the poor farmers could not afford the price of a tool like the plough, they could only afford to buy a single tool like a hoe but that was also an improvement. Virtya couldn't do anything about the poor farmers being unable to buy more tools because he needed his project to show some valueness. He was not a saint who would give the tools to the poor farmers for free just because he pitied them, no. In the future when it would come the modern way of fabricating these tools, then Virtya would consider selling the tools to the poor farmers at a low price that they could easily afford. As of now, the Ox drawn plough was being sold at a whopping price of 10 gold coins while a simple tool like a rake or a hoe was going for 10 silver coins. 

Make no mistake, 10 gold coins could buy five horses or two carriages therefore, it could be noted that the cost of the ox-drawn plough was ridiculous.

One should know that some demonstrations on how to use the farming tools were also done in front of the farmers and all of them were thus contented with whatever they had seen especially the function of the plough which was heavenly to these farmers.

In the meantime, today was the day that Losif was going to prepare his land for planting. He woke up very early in the morning and tied the plough on his four bulls, he had also asked his friend to help him to control the bulls while he on the other hand, provided the needed effort by pressing the handle of the plough so that the mold board could sink into the ground thus breaking the hard ground to fine tilth and removing the "outgrows" while at it. 

While using the plough, Losif could not help but praise the crafftmanship of this tool, it surely made the work on the farm easier and also Losif could see that he would cultivate his entire land this year round. 

Make no mistake, Losif was forced to sell a part of his land so that he could buy the plough because he couldn't afford 10 gold coins with his poverty life. Fortunately, his land was in Whiten which was a place that was desired by many thus, the price of land in Whiten was a no joke.

"What do you think of this plough that his majesty made it for us?" Losif stopped pressing the handle of the plough and asked his buddy while panting heavily. 

"Well... This thing seems simple yet no one came up with such a design, I have studied all the tools that his majesty made and I can attest that they are just simple stuffs that could be made by any blacksmith yet no one had ever made them, I don't know if it is just out of ignorance or we are simply dimwitted..."

"Most of the blacksmiths have specialized themselves in only creating weapons of war but what his majesty had came up with is sure an eye opener to those blacksmiths, I think they would now start creating these farm tools instead of creating those weapons of war."

"With this eye opener, maybe those blacksmiths will come up with something anew, something that will be even much better and productive that the ox-drawn plough, you never know." Guarin Gross answered while shrugging his shoulders. He then whipped the bulls to initiate a turn so that they could dig another furrow on the farm.

"It has only been mere moments but the land that we have ploughed is much larger. I would have never done this while ploughing with that useless broad spike of mine, it would have taken me ages just to finish the piece that we have ploughed right now." Losif fucked around flippantly before changing the topic.

"By the way, I heard that king Virtya is recruiting some individuals who are literate so that they can work in his upcoming projects, what do you think of that." Losif was now serious.

"Erm, I attended most of Mr Grisha's classes and I can say that what he taught was something new and... wonderful but understanding the teachings is what is a problem for most of the people. Only a few individuals managed to take in the knowledge and you know what?" Guarin paused for a moment making the bulls to halt their advances as they curiously perked up their ears to hear what he would say next.

"What?" Losif urged him.

"I was also picked up by Mr Grisha. Next week, some knights will come in to pick us up, I wonder what His majesty has kept in store for us. I am also curious... I feel like a change is going to happen in Azuhai kingdom for sure. The invention of these ploughs is simply the beginning. Haha!" Guarin said with a smile. Losif could only be jealous of his friend because Guarin passed the test and he was among the so - called geniuses that king Virtya was looking for.

Losif on the other hand didn't pass the test even if he attended most of Grisha's lessons especially when food started being offered to the attendees. It was not that Losif was stupid, it was just that he still held some skepticism about himself and when he saw his farm and the new tools especially the plough, he felt contented, he didn't need much as he was not that overly ambitious like Guarin.