How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

The Christmas season, the biggest holiday in Christian culture, had ended. People returned to their daily lives as they cleared away Christmas decorations scattered everywhere.

Not that daily life meant much. It was the agricultural off-season from January until spring arrived in earnest in March.

Even in Europe, where capitalism was actively developing, the basic economy still revolved around agriculture, so our community had become equally relaxed.

I went to find Oitotan, who served as the head of the Agricultural Knights, professional diplomat, and salesman. Together with the knights he assigned to me, I traveled around in a Porter.

"Since January is starting and the weather will gradually improve, we've decided everyone should focus on land development during this period. Things will probably get busy in earnest around March or April."

"Hmm... how much land has been distributed to each resident so far?"

"Thanks to the increased number of knights and tractors, it's grown quite substantially! Now at the very least..."

...Oh.

Since declaring that we would distribute 25 hectares per person, even crawling infants now owned land several times larger than my farm. Ugh, I feel somewhat deprived.

Of course, in reality, hardly any of our 100,000 residents farm directly.

Rumble! Rumbling!

"Aaaargh! The tractor stopped working while Mr. Nemo is here inspecting!"

"Those technicians, how did they even do the maintenance?"

For the most part, the knights did the actual farming, while landowners just occasionally visited to check the crop conditions.

In a way, the knights in our community served the same role as pioneering farmers in American history. Ambitious people who wanted to become wealthy went to the frontier to develop new land.

They literally fed our community.

"This time, our fortress plans to increase the proportion of wheat significantly according to the landowners' demands. Other places will likely do the same. The demand for rye continues to decrease, so..."

Naturally, planning the community's agriculture was also their responsibility. They would proceed after consulting with the landowners, of course.

Upon arriving at a fortress in the western region, someone who was introduced as a commander of some knight order bowed respectfully to me before pointing to papers pinned to the wall and methodically explaining their plans.

"Although each fortress is reducing the proportion of rye and increasing wheat, in reality, since natives prefer corn and the demand for chili peppers is growing, the proportion of wheat cultivation will also decrease."

"Besides, now that fertilizer is being distributed in earnest, there's no reason to hesitate with corn farming."

The reason for the decreasing demand for barley and rye within our community was simple.

They didn't taste good.

Although the fields weren't completely replanted since the crops were still used as animal feed and for export, people rarely ate anything but white bread now.

It was similar to how Japanese, once they reached a certain level of comfort, wouldn't touch brown rice unless it was for health reasons.

However... while reviewing the report, I noticed something strange and asked:

"Didn't you just say you're reducing the proportion of rye and barley?"

"Yes, that's correct!"

"Then why has the expected cultivation area increased?"

They say they're reducing the proportion, yet they're planting more. Isn't that strange?

At my question, the knights tilted their heads... then pointed to one side of the report I was holding and said:

"Look at the total cultivation area."

"..."

How many square meters is this? Hmm… maybe around 3 square meters?

...

...

...

Increased by 30% compared to last year?

As I opened my mouth after finishing the mental calculation, everyone in the room nodded with satisfied expressions.

Damn, 30% in one year—how much has the cultivated area expanded...

"I think the amount of grain we'll ship to England will increase significantly this time."

Not just "significantly," I think?

The expected export volume is... this much. Converting to pounds, then to Osello...

...

...

...

"So real estate is the best investment after all."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

I trembled with the sudden wave of emotion. Everyone looked at me strangely, but they moved on, reacting as if to say, "That must mean he's impressed by our achievements!"

Even if some office worker from Tokyo had been transported here with his apartment, he couldn't have done this. What could city slickers who don't know about fertilizer, can't build tractors, and don't know the difference between tractors and cars do?

Those guys wouldn't have accomplished anything even if you'd thrown educational comic books at them. You need to major in history to be transported to the past and change history?

Nonsense.

A town of 100,000 people producing enough food for 500,000 with surplus.

Agriculture... is the future.

==

Virginia's economy was supported by three main pillars.

First were the massive gifts from across the northeastern North America, mainly furs.

The vast wealth brought by numerous Native Americans entangled in the community's trade network from extensive territories brought overwhelming prosperity to Virginia.

The second largest share came from grains like wheat and rye.

Virginia's grains heading to Britain helped support hundreds of thousands of people, falling like sweet rain on England, which suffered from chronic food shortages.

Although their added value was lower, they were the most stable sector building wealth for Virginia. Their proportion in the economy was gradually increasing.

Finally, there were various luxury crops like fruits, luxury goods like wine, and resources from Kin Issei's home such as aluminum.

These consisted of products with the highest added value.

Although they seemed to have the smallest proportion of the three in terms of volume, considering that a bunch of Shine Muscat and Black Sapphire grapes cost several pounds, their significance couldn't be underestimated.

To summarize, Virginia—monopolizing the New World's fur trade, determining England's grain prices, and selling luxury goods that were all the rage everywhere—was...

Probably one of the richest regions in the world right now.

The community's residents each wore fur coats in winter and lounged like Roman nobles enjoying various fruits in summer.

Accordingly, their attention turned toward luxury.

The shopping complex selling luxury goods such as interior decorations and high-end clothing was always bustling. People practically lived there.

"...Wait."

"Why don't we just move near the shopping complex?"