Reborn in the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao Doesn't Want to Be a Widow Anymore

Chapter 334 Three Visits to Tianlong
Within the field, some of the wheat was orange-yellow, suggesting a potential harvest, while in another part of the field, rice appeared to be planted, but it was thin and sparse, with weeds growing much more abundantly.

Qiao Wei couldn't help but recall the famous lines from Tao Yuanming's poem, "At dawn I rise to tend the overgrown weeds, where the grass is lush but the bean sprouts are sparse."

"The land is good land, the water is good water, and the wheat is good wheat."

Qiao Wei and Wu Fan came down from the hillside and walked along the paths into Mr. Zhuge's field.

An elderly farmer standing nearby, seeing that the two were strangers, became wary and called out to them, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"We've come to see Mr. Zhuge. His fields look interesting from afar, and we've heard he's very knowledgeable about agriculture, so we've come to ask him for advice," Wu Fan said in a standard Jingzhou Nanyang accent.

The old farmer lowered his guard a bit, but when he heard Wu Fan say that Mr. Zhuge was very knowledgeable about agriculture, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Look, look, another fool has been tricked." The old farmer stroked his beard and shouted to the other farmers working in the fields, "You people only listen to the praise from outsiders, but you don't even look at what they've grown."

Whose fields are built with such crooked and haphazard ridges? It's such a waste of such a large piece of land. If he really knew how to farm, he wouldn't have turned a perfectly good field into this mess.

Look at this wheat, it's not even growing as well as the wheat in my field. And over there, I don't know what to plant. The perfectly good fields have all been flooded, how can they grow well?

"What a waste of such good land! You scholars are good at talking, but if you want to learn about farming, you'd be better off asking me how to plant!"

Wu Fan scrutinized Qiao Wei's expression, seemingly worried that Qiao Wei might be angry because of these words.

However, Qiao Wei showed no displeasure whatsoever.

"Madam, shall we still go to find that Mr. Zhuge?"

"Does the gentleman think we should seek it out?" Qiao Wei asked Wu Fan in return.

Wu Fan nodded, "Well... we're already here."

When the old farmer heard that the two were going to see Zhuge Liang, he cursed them for being foolish and said, "He's probably slacking off somewhere in the fields! If you can find him, go ahead and look for him!"

After saying that, he shook his head and stopped talking to Qiao Wei and the others, as if he thought they were stupid as pigs and wouldn't listen to advice, so he might as well let them learn their lesson by hitting a wall.

The field wasn't particularly large, nor was it small. Most importantly, the wheat ears and weeds provided some cover, and the ridges were crisscrossed, making it difficult to find someone within it.

Qiao Wei found a tree branch and roughly drew a diagram on the ground using sand, based on the shape of some of the field ridges he had just seen on the hillside.

Wu Fan saw through Qiao Wei's intention and found a thin twig from the side to add the details he could see.

The two discussed and drew diagrams together. Qiao Wei's understanding of military formations was only superficial, and he relied on Wu Fan to deduce the main content.

Just as they were engrossed in their discussion, a pair of hands suddenly appeared between them, pointing to the very center, "This part is drawn wrong."

Qiao Wei didn't realize anything was wrong, and casually handed over the branch in his hand, "Then I'll trouble you to fix it for us again, sir."

The young man in blue casually made two changes, making the entire formation more complete.

"Sir, you are truly talented. Only with this modification can one understand its profound mystery," Wu Fan exclaimed. "In this way, using the Eight Trigrams as the basis, one can avoid wind, thunder, floods, and droughts at the four corners of the formation."

In this way, the land is divided into eight plots, each suitable for growing grains and vegetables. With continuous cultivation throughout the four seasons, several acres of land can sustain a family. If there are also chickens, ducks, fish, and pigs, then they will have no worries about food and clothing.

Qiao Wei saw more than that. If this method could be implemented, it could be used to help a family seek refuge, or it could be used in conjunction with Sun Quan's proposed military-civilian land reclamation system to ensure that the Jiangdong army was self-sufficient in food and supplies.

The man in blue looked at Wu Fan and said, "I dare not accept your praise, sir. Apart from the wheat, which is still of some value, the rest of the crops in this field have been a complete failure."

Theories and visions are always promising, but practical application is always fraught with setbacks.

Wu Fan comforted him, saying, "Sir, you have the courage of your predecessors, which is already rare. Besides, the wheat is ripe, so how can you be completely defeated?"

Wu Fan picked a rice stalk from the paddy field, peeled off the husk, and revealed the rice inside.

"Sir, are you also planning to grow double-cropping rice?"

Upon hearing the term "double-cropping rice," the man in blue's eyes flickered slightly. "Sir, you also know about double-cropping rice?"

Wu Fan nodded, "I didn't know that before, but I was ordered by my master's wife to go to Jiaozhou to learn this art. I am ashamed to say that I only learned a little bit of the basics."

If you don't mind, sir, I might be able to speak with you about it.

The man in blue didn't mince words, "Please enlighten me, sir."

"This variety is indeed from Jiaozhou, but you surely understand the principle of 'oranges from the south become trifoliate oranges when planted in the north' better than I do. If you want to plant Jiaozhou varieties in Jingzhou, it will certainly not work."

Regardless of the soil, climate, or weather, the eight formations are used to harmonize the elements.

Upon hearing the term "Eight Formations Technique," the man in blue immediately became alert, his expression changed slightly, and his tone became more rigid. "Sir, you're probably not here to simply discuss farming with me!"

Wu Fan had not expected the man in blue to suddenly change his attitude. "Have these words offended you, sir? I have no other intentions. I have only heard that the Eight Trigrams Formation is extremely profound, so I came to ask for your guidance."

"I am a descendant of the peasant family, and the Eight Trigrams Formation originally originated from the peasant family's Four Derivations Method. If it can be effectively applied to the farming practices of the common people, it would be a great act of righteousness for them."

Upon hearing this, the man in blue looked Wu Fan and Qiao Wei up and down. "I see. May I ask how you are addressed, sir? We had a pleasant conversation just now and I forgot to ask your name. How rude of me."

"My name is Wu Fan, courtesy name Wenze. I am an unknown person and I am truly unworthy to be addressed as 'sir'. You may call me by my courtesy name."

The man in blue returned the greeting, saying, "My name is Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming. Your sincerity is truly appreciated."

Wu Fanlian said he dared not.

"Sir, you are a great talent by the side of Lord Sun. Even if you only came for agricultural matters, this lady must have come for more than that!" Zhuge Liang changed the subject and looked at Qiao Wei and Youxuan behind him.

No matter how hard Wu Fan and Qiao Wei tried to hide it, it was hard to conceal from their eyes and actions who the guards behind them were protecting.

Qiao Wei knew that Zhuge Liang must have become suspicious. How could someone as intelligent as him not guess his identity?

If Wu Fan was Sun Quan's subject, yet he had to act according to Qiao Wei's wishes in everything, then Qiao Wei's true identity is self-evident.

“Sir, you are very perceptive. I have come here not only for agricultural matters, but also to seek out a talent like Guan Zhong.”