A shocking piece of news spread throughout Gohor.
The king was personally plowing fields.
According to the [Targaryen Daily], a newspaper published by the royal household~
Viserys would personally lead members of the royal family, along with several high-ranking officials including the Hand of the King, in breaking ground and cultivating farmland at the royal estate.
"Why would the king work the fields himself? Is there not enough grain to eat?"
Many common folk found the idea unbelievable.
"Impossible," said an aging farmer whose temples had already turned gray. "The last harvest was only recently stored. Has the royal family already run out of food?"
In his view, there were not many people in the royal household. Even if they ate ten meals a day, they should never run short.
"Could it be because of the dragons? His Majesty's dragons are growing so fast. They must eat a tremendous amount."
"Don't be ridiculous. Dragons eat meat!"
Viserys's true intention was to demonstrate the crown's respect for agriculture by personally working the fields.
He hoped to encourage farmers and increase food production, allowing Gohor to stockpile as much grain as possible before the end of summer.
In the original timeline, the red comet known as the Bleeding Star had another name—the Sword That Cuts the Seasons.
Its appearance heralded the end of summer and the coming of winter.
But at present, the world was still firmly in summer.
If Viserys's memories were correct, autumn would arrive in a little over three years.
Once temperatures dropped, crops would no longer yield two or three harvests a year.
They had to take advantage of the current abundance while it lasted.
Unfortunately, the people of Gohor completely misunderstood his intentions.
Many believed the royal granaries were running low.
As a result, when Viserys announced that he would personally work the fields alongside the royal family, citizens began bringing food donations to the palace.
Village elders and local officials spent considerable effort convincing them that the royal family had more than enough grain.
Even if Viserys fathered ten princes and eight princesses, there would still be plenty to spare.
Once reassured, many commoners instead traveled to the royal estate to watch the king work the land with their own eyes.
Even Daenerys had never spent time in farmland before. As for Rhaella, this was her first experience as well.
Both were fascinated by what Viserys was about to do.
Rhaella understood her son's intentions and supported him wholeheartedly.
Before beginning, Viserys assigned tasks to everyone.
"Mother, you're the Queen Mother. There's no need for you to work the fields with us. Just prepare some water for everyone."
"Very well."
Rhaella smiled warmly at her son.
"Rhaenys, Dany, the two of you will follow behind me and scatter the seeds."
"No problem."
"Got it!"
Then Viserys turned to Aegon and Aemon. "As for you two, one will carry water and the other will handle irrigation."
"Understood!"
"Yes, Uncle!"
"Elia, Lyanna, you can help Mother prepare tea and water."
"Of course."
Lyanna and Elia exchanged smiles and nodded.
That covered the royal family's responsibilities.
As for the ministers and nobles, Viserys left them to organize themselves.
Knowing none of them had ever farmed before, he assigned an experienced old farmer to each group as an instructor.
The elderly farmers were terrified.
Even if they lived eight lifetimes, they could never have imagined ordering around such important people.
At first, everyone insisted that a few acres of land were nothing and that they could manage on their own.
But with the royal family working the fields personally, the ministers could hardly refuse.
They obediently followed the farmers' instructions.
Once Viserys had finished assigning tasks, Arianne asked eagerly, "What about me? What about me?"
You're not even a Targaryen.
Rhaenys silently grumbled to herself.
In the past, she would have said it aloud.
But after remembering Arianne's behavior at Viserys's funeral, she held her tongue.
Besides, Arianne had privately stated that she would not mind becoming a royal consort.
That concession had helped secure Rhaenys's and Daenerys's acceptance.
"You can help Mother and the others boil water for everyone."
"Alright!"
Arianne agreed cheerfully.
After settling all the arrangements, Viserys turned toward his ministers. "Each team gets five acres. The first group to finish will receive a reward."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The ministers responded in unison.
None of them complained.
The older officials wholeheartedly approved of Viserys's focus on agriculture.
Clinton, for example, believed this was an excellent tradition that should become an annual event.
Davos, who had grown up in Flea Bottom, thought it would teach discipline and humility to the royal household.
The younger ministers had even less reason to object.
To them, the resurrected king clearly had his reasons.
Their role was simply to follow his lead.
Since this world had no equivalent of the ancient rites Viserys remembered from his previous life, the ceremony began with music instead of offerings to heaven and earth.
As the musicians played, the three young dragons circled overhead.
When the performance ended, the dragons descended.
Viserys lightly tapped the plow ox on the rump.
The animal tossed its head, its bell jingling softly as it began pulling the plow forward.
Viserys gripped the handles.
Behind him, Rhaenys and Daenerys scattered seeds into the fresh furrows.
Only after he had advanced a considerable distance did the ministers begin following suit.
The sight left the watching commoners speechless.
"Gods above, the king is actually plowing the fields himself!"
"Is he truly a king? Does a king like this even exist?"
"If the king works the land himself, does that mean this year's harvest will be better?"
"Of course it will! His Majesty is the king who rose from fire and brought dragons back into the world!"
In this era, there was no concept of political theater.
The people genuinely believed that if the royal family worked the fields, the harvest would surely be blessed.
Viserys, of course, had no illusion that farming personally granted any magical bonus.
The real reason was far simpler.
The year's irrigation projects had finally been completed, ensuring adequate water for the fields.
As he guided the plow, Viserys occasionally glanced back at Rhaenys and Daenerys.
Before his transmigration, he had never truly experienced hunger. But he understood exactly how catastrophic food shortages could be.
The North had recorded multiple winters in which entire harvests failed.
If the Long Night truly came, bringing darkness even to regions that normally enjoyed sunlight, the death toll would be unimaginable.
To prepare for that future, he had exhausted every idea he could think of.
This world lacked miraculous inventions such as chemical fertilizers.
The only thing he could rely upon was human effort.
Every additional grain harvested today would become another measure of strength against the Long Night tomorrow.
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