Chapter 45: An Annoying Person
The census was extremely necessary. Knowing the population count, their age distribution, and their occupations would make many things easier, such as selecting qualified labor and identifying priority groups. Not to mention that the upcoming crisis demanded comprehensive knowledge in order to prepare properly.
Likewise, knowing the area of arable land and the number of livestock was essential so that he could implement a suitable and excellent system to increase and improve production.
Everyone present was surprised when they heard his orders. After a brief moment of silence, one of them suddenly spoke. He was a handsome young man in his twenties, with an elegant appearance, blond hair, and greenish-brown eyes.
"Milord, conducting a census of the barony’s population is a great idea, but it’s a bit difficult and will take a lot of time. So, I’d like to ask—and I know you have the answer—do you know of a way to make it easier for us?" The young man spoke with such tact and respect, and his expressions and gestures matched his status so strangely well that anyone would accept his questions openly. In fact, everyone in the hall nodded in agreement with his inquiry.
Naturally, Arthur had a plan that would ease the census process. It was based on the system used in his world. But for some inexplicable reason, he found himself slightly impressed by the young man’s way of speaking. He calmly replied:
"Yes, there is. Simply put, we’ll divide the barony into twenty-five sections. Each of you will be responsible for a specific section. Every house you count will be marked with white paint on the door, so there’s no confusion.
When I say ’counting the people’, I don’t mean tallying them like livestock. It’s not that simple. You must sit with the head of each household and ask in detail: How many people live in the house? What is their relationship to him? How many children does he have? What are their ages? Their genders? Does he live with his parents? How many wives does he have? If more than one, what is his occupation? What skills does he possess? Does he have any adult children living outside the barony?
Does he own any farmland? If so, he should inform you of its area, location, and what crops he grows. Also, the annual yield from each plot.
Naturally, there are more questions, but now’s not the time to discuss them. Before you leave, each of you will receive a sheet containing all the required questions and the area you’re responsible for.