Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 159

“Now that we’ve addressed the pressing issues, shall we continue our discussion?” I ask, eager to keep the momentum going. We’ve been inspired by our on-site experiences, and I want to ensure we don’t lose that energy. The deacons seem to feel the same.

“First, let’s review the rural development plans against the preliminary data. What differences do you notice between the initial plans and the actual site?”

By verbalizing and sharing the differences, we create a standard for evaluating the real-world experience, making the discussion more organized. Without this, the meeting could easily turn into just an exchange of impressions. With the valuable insights we’ve gained on-site, it would be a waste not to use them effectively.

“The figures in the report are unreliable. Even with the same type of wheat, price differences arise due to quality. We need to factor that in.”

“We should have checked when the local maps were last surveyed. With such discrepancies, planning based on outdated maps isn’t feasible.”

“We can’t rely solely on the birth register. Not only are the homeless unaccounted for, but also tenant farmers who are living as respectable villagers. They need to be included in the village labor force.”

The deacons offer various opinions, all reflecting a newfound commitment to aligning the plans with reality. They seem eager to face these real-world conditions and adjust the development plans accordingly.

One comment from Deacon Michelino stands out. “The smell was different.”

Curious, I ask, “The smell?”

Michelino closes his eyes, speaking slowly as if recalling a vivid memory. “The farmers were covered in grime, the children had lice, and there was the smell of manure from the fields and livestock. Yet, this was evidence of life. The figures in the books don’t convey that smell. I intend to remember it every time I look at the records.”

It’s often said that the sense of smell is strongly linked to memory. His approach of connecting today’s sensory experience with his record-keeping seems reasonable. It shows he’s sincerely trying to process and understand the situation.

The other two deacons seem to be reflecting on the smell of the village soil as well.

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Once the differences are summarized, the discussion moves forward.

“Are there any points where the preliminary plans and reality actually match?” I ask.

Even though there are significant discrepancies, it’s crucial to highlight the positive aspects of the initial plans. Continuous improvement is key to enhancing their completeness. If we negate everything and go back to the starting line each time, progress will be impossible.

“I felt that the location near the center of the village and the arrangement of the fields seemed reasonable to trust based on the preliminary data.”

“The fact that the church priests and village leaders didn’t intentionally hide data or harvests is a positive aspect unique to church-managed land.”

“If the data is correct, the methods for developing the land outlined in the preliminary plans can be applied as we were trained.”

While the reliability of detailed information collected in advance decreases as we get closer to specifics, the preliminary data still seems somewhat reliable for gaining a rough understanding. The case study learning itself also proves meaningful. Despite large discrepancies with reality, the exercise in agricultural land development was significant.

I realize I need to incorporate this experience into improving the accuracy of future case studies as well.

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Now we approach the real topic of today’s discussion:

“How do we address the differences between the preliminary plans and reality in future development efforts?”

We need to figure out how to incorporate the findings from this investigation into our development plans.

“Let’s conduct thorough preliminary surveys. We should refer to records from surveyors, circuit judges, wheat merchants, and compare the discrepancies between head tax records and birth registries. This will reveal the gap between the actual population and what’s recorded.”

Adelmo’s suggestion to summarize the discussions so far meets general agreement.

“The issue now is how to handle the hidden fields.”

What should we do about the hidden fields found in rural areas? Over-taxing or regulating them could severely impact the farmers’ livelihoods, but leaving them unchecked could lead to injuries and affect productivity. Neither outcome is ideal.

This is where we need to apply our wisdom