Weird Harold wrote:Louis R wrote:Which is no real surprise - consecration must be far, far more complex a process than simply burning off the native vegetation, plowing the land and planting Terran crops. And that assumes that the land _is_ plowable.
I was figuring on "consecration" of just enough soil to grow enough terran crops to feed immigrants. Complete "consecration" would take far longer. That would involve importing enough terran biota/compost to establish tillable soil after burning out the native biota -- a bit more complicated than slash-and-burn, but not much.
Ok, so it'll take 3-5 years to consecrate enough land to support 5-7 million people. Transporting the MH and dependents will take about 3 years. The MH will come in 4-5 waves over that time. During that time those that await their turn can work the fields of Tarikah to offset the food the immigrants and their families will need in Silverlode. 1 million or so ex serfs can work quite a bit of farmland and can easily support 7 million immigrants. Once they leave for Silverlode, Siddermark will once again have working farms in the area. MH contingents ship out, Siddermarkians can move back in.
Once the last of the MH arrives in Silverlode, some portion of the consecrated land can begin to be farmed. That acreage will only expand over time. Yeah, this is a big effort but consistent with what God wants from His children. The devout Harchongese will find the effort a soul cleansing experience after being Clyntahn's hachet men.
The more I think of it, I doubt all the MH will move to Silverlode. The Lord Protector will accept some smaller number of immigrants and their families as opposed to the entire MH. Just how many is open to question. I also wouldn't be surprised if these new Charisian immigrants get together with some ship owners to transport serfs from North Harchong to Green Tree and from their to Silverlode. I believe Safehold Historian will call that the "Undergound Canal" or "Silverlode Ferry".