Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 231 What do you think of Yuan Fang's matter?
The wind and frost of Wuyuan cannot reach Taiyuan.

It can't even reach the eastern part of Xihe County.

Zhaoyuze was a resettlement site for Yellow Turban refugees during the harsh winter.

The area is now filled with earthen houses and crisscrossed by fields.

On the narrow ridges between the fields, a group of teenagers, led by several local women dressed in clean cotton clothes, were carefully picking wild vegetables such as shepherd's purse and lamb's quarters along the ridges and ditches, carrying small baskets.

"Walnut! Slow down! Don't step on the newly raked ridges!" a woman called out with a laugh.

"Okay, Aunt Zhang!"

A dark-skinned, thin boy with bright eyes turned around and answered.

"If you pick some wild vegetables, Aunt Qian will make you wild vegetable dumplings for lunch!"

"Great! We get to eat wild vegetable dumplings!" the children cheered.

This heartwarming scene of local women and children working together with the children of migrants was unimaginable when they were resettled at the beginning of last year.

At that time, the refugees were filled with inferiority, wariness, and numbness. But now, after the land was distributed before the spring planting, they have finally and completely integrated into the land and water of Bingzhou.

The creaking sound of wheels echoed from the straight road beside the fields.

"Brother Da Niu, look over there!" Walnut suddenly shouted, pointing to a man in the fields along the official road in the distance.

Several large carts, pulled by strong mules and covered with tarpaulins, were slowly making their way along the newly built rammed earth road, escorted by county soldiers.

The ruts were deep, indicating that the vehicle was carrying a heavy load.

"Grain seeds have arrived! And new farm tools have also arrived!"

Shi Daniu's eyes lit up as he realized what was going on.

"Hurry! Everyone, give it your all! Finish this plot of land and then we'll go get the seeds! I heard there are new seed drills too!"

The news spread like wildfire, and excited shouts and even more energetic cracking of whips echoed through the fields.

The threshing ground in Zhaobeitun was cleaned up and turned into a temporary distribution point for supplies.

The officials in charge of land reclamation, granary administration, and public works were busy but not chaotic.

A long line formed, filled with representatives from various production teams in Zhaobeitun, their faces beaming with anticipation.

Old Zhao, the land reclamation official, held a thick register of household registrations and land records and said in a loud voice, "Third Production Team, Shi Daniu!"

"To!"

Shi Daniu quickly squeezed out of the crowd, rubbing his hands nervously.

Old Zhao read aloud from the booklet one by one.

"The head of the household is Shi Daniu, with two sons. He was granted fifty mu of land. According to regulations, he was exempt from taxes for the first three years. This spring, he rented five curved plows, two oxen, and one strong mule for the whole team to use."

Twenty bushels of wheat seeds, five bushels of bean seeds, three thousand pumpkin seedlings, and two new animal-drawn seed drills were provided for the entire team.

All of this is under your control! Any problems will be addressed to you. If there are no objections, you can sign off on it!

As Shi Daniu watched the officials unload the bulging sacks, exuding the aroma of fresh grain, from the cart, along with the intricately designed curved plow gleaming with tung oil, his eyes instantly reddened.

"No. No objections, no problems whatsoever, I'll pay with my life!"

With trembling hands, he wrote his name crookedly on the document bearing the bright red seal of the Taiyuan Prefectural Governor's Office, and then solemnly pressed his fingerprint on it.

"Thank you... thank you!" Shi Daniu's voice choked with emotion as he bowed deeply.

"No need for thanks, this is the agreement set by General Zhang and Chief Clerk Xun!"

Old Zhao waved his hand, a smile on his face.

"Plant well! Take good care of the land, harvest the grain in the fall, return the rented seeds and oxen, and the rest is yours! Your wives and children will be well-fed and clothed, and the kids will be able to go to school—that's what really matters!"

"Yes! Yes! Definitely! Definitely!"

Shi Daniu nodded repeatedly, then called to several able-bodied men in the team to carefully lift the seeds and plows as if they were precious treasures.

The distribution site was orderly and filled with anticipation for the future.

The distribution ended, and the crowd dispersed.

Beside the threshing ground, several local women from the migrant camp were washing freshly picked wild vegetables around several large wooden basins.

They chatted about everyday things while deftly picking and washing the vegetables.

"Hey girl from Shijiazhuang, your belly... looks like you're three or four months along, right? You need to be careful and not overexert yourself."

An old woman looked at Shi Zhoushi's noticeably protruding belly and said with concern.

Shi Zhoushi was the wife of the previous Shi Daniu. She became pregnant after coming to Bingzhou from Guangzong last winter.

Shi Zhoushi's face radiated maternal glow as she smiled and touched her belly.

"It's alright, Grandma, the child is very healthy. The local doctors come to check his pulse every few days and they all say he's doing very well."

Population growth was something Zhang Xian valued highly, so if the household registration officials found any pregnant women in his jurisdiction, they would inform the physicians trained by Zhang Xian.

Today, Taiyuan has also established a Medical Bureau, which is responsible for epidemics and medical matters. Under the coordination of the Medical Bureau, the medical professionals will personally visit pregnant women's homes three times a month to check on their health.

"Oh my, that's a tremendous blessing!" another displaced woman said enviously.

"I heard that the general's wife also became pregnant with the little general last year. Perhaps your child will also benefit from this good fortune!"

When the topic of General Zou Wan's pregnancy came up, the women started talking non-stop.

"That's right! I heard that everyone in the General's Mansion in Jinyang City is on edge! That General Xiahou is personally leading troops to guard the inner courtyard, checking everyone who comes in and out!"

"I heard that everything we eat and use has to be tested by the physicians first, even the water!"

"General Zhang is fighting far away in Wuyuan, he must be thinking about this. If he has a little general, our Bingzhou will be blessed!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter, a displaced woman carrying a swaddled baby rushed over from a short distance away, her face deathly pale.

"Sister-in-law Shi! Granny Wang! Quick...quick, come and see my Er Ya! She...she was fine this morning, but suddenly she started convulsing! Her whole body is burning hot!"

Shi Zhoushi and Granny Wang quickly put down their work and went over to them.

The baby girl in the swaddling clothes had a flushed face, was breathing rapidly, and her tiny body was twitching intermittently.

"Oh dear! This is infantile convulsion!" Granny Wang, with her rich experience, immediately panicked upon seeing it.

"Quick! Pinch the philtrum! Wipe the body with warm water to lower the fever! We need to find a doctor right away!"

"Medical worker Li from our village has gone to the next village for a round of medical visits! He won't be back for a while!" The child's mother cried anxiously.

Shi Zhoushi made a quick decision: "Quick! Pick up the child! Today is the distribution of grain seeds. The two mules from the village will be given to my family. Have my husband hitch up the cart and we'll go straight to the pharmacy in the county town!"

She turned to a boy next to her and shouted, "Walnut! Hurry up and go to my house to have Da Niu hitch the cart! Quickly!"

Walnut responded and took off running.

Shi Zhoushi disregarded her own weight and helped carry the child, quickly walking towards the entrance of the village.

The cart was quickly harnessed, and Shi Zhoushi sat down with her child in her arms. Granny Wang and the child's mother also squeezed in.

Shi Daniu sat on the carriage shaft and drove the carriage himself.

"drive!"

With a shout, the mule cart sped along the newly built official road towards Jinyang City.
-
Jinyang City, the former general's residence.

Sunlight streamed through the rough frosted glass panels into the greenhouse in the backyard, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Zou Wan leaned against the soft couch covered with thick brocade cushions, a light quilt covering her body.

Six or seven months of pregnancy made her originally slender waist become rounded, and her belly bulged high.

She held a ledger in her hand and was quietly checking the household expenses with the steward standing beside her.

Although Zhang Xian told her to rest and recuperate, she was idle anyway, so she would still manage the household affairs and supervise the workshops, but she delegated more specific tasks to reliable subordinates.

"Madam, a new batch of our own fine cotton fabric has arrived in the storeroom. It's soft, absorbent, and breathable, perfect for making swaddling clothes and undergarments for our future son. What do you think...?"

The stewardess respectfully inquired.

Zou Wan gently stroked her swollen belly and nodded with a smile.

"Yes, prepare the finest and softest materials, and also prepare more. I heard that there are quite a few more new mothers among the people settled in Zhao Yuze. Their conditions are difficult, so in the name of the General's Mansion, allocate a batch of cotton cloth and cotton wadding there, and have the pharmacy under the Mansion's jurisdiction distribute some pregnancy medicine to newborns and new mothers in need."

"Madam is kind and benevolent!" the steward's wife praised sincerely.

At this moment, Xiaoyun, the personal maid, came in carrying a delicate white porcelain bowl containing steaming hot stewed fish maw.

"Madam, it's time for some tonics. This was prepared under the personal supervision of Commander Xiahou, and the physician has verified it."

Zou Wan took the bowl and gently stirred it with a small silver spoon.

A rich aroma filled the air.

"What is this? I don't think I've seen it before?"

Zou Wan began to ask questions.

Xiao Yun, the maid who came with the dowry, immediately chimed in: "This is fish maw. Last autumn, the general asked someone to search for it in Youzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou. I heard it's especially good for pregnant women. Some arrived a few days ago. Commander Xiahou ate it himself and also let me try it. I only dared to stew it for the lady after I found no problems."

As Zou Wan watched the steam rising from the bowl and listened to Xiao Yun's rambling, her gaze drifted northward.

My husband Zhang Xian is currently in Wuyuan, where the north wind is howling, fighting against the barbarians... Although he has sent letters home to report that he is safe, how can I, as his wife, not worry about him?
"Xiaoyun, have there been any new military reports from Wuyuan recently?" Zou Wan asked after taking a few bites of her food and putting down her bowl and spoon.

"Reporting to Madam, the day before yesterday, Prefect Xun sent a message mentioning that General Zhao and Commandant Zhang's raid in Yunzhong went smoothly, the two tribes of the Hu are in the midst of internal strife, and the former general is stationed in Jiuyuan, and everything is fine."

Xiaoyun quickly comforted her.

"Mm." Zou Wan nodded, lowered her head and sipped the tonic, feeling slightly relieved.

She knew that her condition concerned many people and was related to the safety of the child in her womb, so she had to remain calm.

Outside the flower hall and conservatory, under the corridor.

Xiahou Lan stood in full military attire, a long sword hanging at his waist, his hand resting on the hilt.

His face was stern, his eyes sharp, and he vigilantly scanned every corner of the courtyard.

Since Zou Wan became pregnant, he resigned from all his duties and personally took charge of the security of the General's Mansion.

The number of guards inside the manor has now doubled, all of them elite soldiers selected from the army. Everyone entering and leaving, regardless of rank, must undergo strict checks. Food is of paramount importance; the source of all ingredients must be clearly traceable, the cooking process is supervised by a designated person, and the finished product must be tasted by the physician and himself before it can be presented to the emperor.

A physician, carrying a medicine chest and accompanied by two guards, came to routinely take Zou Wan's pulse.

Xiahou Lan personally checked his waist tag, and then scrutinized him from head to toe before slightly turning aside to let him pass.

The physician was already used to this kind of scene, and he hurriedly entered with his head down.

"General, aren't you... a little too nervous?" the lieutenant asked in a low voice.

"The city of Jinyang is relatively peaceful."

Xiahou Lan's gaze remained cold and stern: "Our lord is far away on the frontier, and your wife is six months pregnant. This is the foundation of our Bingzhou! We cannot afford the slightest mishap!"
Stability? The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease! There are many enemies in the court who are attacking our lord, and those people in Luoyang may very well extend their reach to Jinyang as well!
"Pass down the order: add two more night watch shifts! Test all water sources within the manor for poison three times daily! Arrest any suspicious individuals who approach within thirty paces of the residence!"

"promise!"

The lieutenant felt a chill run down his spine and solemnly accepted the order.

Taiyuan Prefectural Governor's Office.

Xun Yu sat upright behind his desk, dealing with a mountain of official documents.

He was still wearing a blue scholar's robe.

Several important documents were laid out on the desk. One was from Wuyuan, concerning the latest developments in Yunzhong and an order to continue allocating some grain and fodder.

One document is a briefing from Han Ji on the progress of the new repeating crossbows manufactured by the artisan battalion and the successful application of steam engines in mine river pumping tests.

The majority of the reports came from Zhaoyuze and various counties in Bingzhou regarding the progress of spring plowing, the resettlement of displaced people, and the number of newly reclaimed fields.

He put down his pen and rubbed his temples.

Zou Wan was pregnant, and Zhang Xianyuan was far away on the border, so the heavy burden of civil administration in Bingzhou almost entirely fell on his shoulders.

Spring plowing is of paramount importance, as it relates to whether hundreds of thousands of displaced people can truly settle down and whether Bingzhou's future granary will be secure.

He had to ensure that every seed was sown, every ox was used properly, and every ditch was kept clear.

He walked to the window and pushed open the carved wooden window.

A warm spring breeze, carrying a hint of moisture and the scent of earth, wafted towards us.

In the distance, from the direction of the Jinyang Craftsmen's Camp, the faint rumble of steam hammers could be heard.

The city streets were bustling with people, the cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and the rumble of carriages and horses all blending together, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Behind this prosperous and stable scene are countless ordinary people working hard in the fields and craftsmen sweating profusely by the furnace.

"With shallow roots, spring blossoms await autumn harvest..."

Xun Yu muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the north, as if he had traversed thousands of mountains and rivers to see the fluttering banners atop Wuyuan City and the bustling battlefield at the foot of Yinshan Mountain.

"My lord, Wenruo will certainly live up to your trust and safeguard the foundation of Bingzhou. When the news of victory arrives from Yunzhong, it will be the time when the rice paddies along the Zhaoyu Marsh are swaying and the granaries are full!"

He turned back to his desk, picked up his pen again, and began writing clear and forceful replies on one official document after another.

The sunlight outside the window cast a long shadow of him, making him appear calm and resolute.

Despite the seemingly peaceful daily life, the capable advisors in Jinyang City remained constantly on edge, providing the most solid support and the most abundant strength for everything on the front lines.

War is never a matter of simply rushing in blindly; it requires a massive investment of resources and logistics.
-
Soon it will be another day.

At 4:40 AM, the sky was still a deep, dark blue, with the morning star hanging alone.

Jinyang City was still asleep, with only the sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing lonely through the quiet streets and alleys.

However, a crowd had already gathered in front of the Taiyuan Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

Under the dim yellow glow of the lanterns, shadowy figures moved about.

All the officials, big and small, from the various departments of the prefecture, including the household, granary, public works, law, agriculture, market, and medical departments, appeared in their respective positions on time.

Most of them were dressed in blue gowns and wore matching turbans. Their faces still showed signs of sleepiness, but no one whispered to each other. They simply tidied their clothes and checked the counting rods, bamboo slips, writing brushes, and other items they carried with them.

The air was crisp and cold, and breath turned to frost; the only sounds were the light footsteps and the rustling of things being tidied.

This is the unwavering Yin Zheng (3-5 AM) roll call at the Taiyuan Prefectural Governor's Office.

"Check in!"

With a loud announcement, the heavy iron-clad gates of the prefectural government slowly opened amidst the creaking of the winch.

Two county soldiers stood solemnly on either side, their hands on their swords, their eyes piercing.

Inside the gate, Chen Ji stood on the steps, holding the roster, his expression solemn.

Behind him stood several clerks holding thick stacks of official documents.

The crowd filed in and lined up in the spacious front courtyard square according to their respective departments.

No one made a sound, and the formation quickly took shape. Although it was not as neat and uniform as a military formation, it was still very orderly.

"Wang Xiang, the Registrar of Household Affairs!"

"To!"

"Li Que, the clerk in charge of the granary!"

"To!"

"Zou Qian, Clerk of the Ministry of Works!"

"To!"

"Zhao Shi, the legal clerk!"

"To!"

Chen Ji's voice was steady and clear as he called out names one by one.

The clerk whose name was called responded loudly and stepped forward.

The officials in charge of performance evaluation quickly marked the names on the roster while their sharp eyes scanned the appearance and demeanor of those who were supposed to be on duty.

Those who are late, poorly dressed, or appear listless will not only be publicly reprimanded, but will also have a mark made on their performance record, directly affecting their monthly salary and even their year-end performance evaluation.

After roll call, no one was absent or late.

Chen Ji closed the roster and glanced at the entire room.

"Chief Clerk Xun has decreed that spring sowing is the foundation of the nation and cannot be delayed for a moment! Each department must perform its duties efficiently and effectively today!"

Household official, you must verify the land registers for the last three villages of Zhaoyuze today and submit them before noon!

Granary official, the five thousand shi of bean seeds borrowed from Lüsi County have arrived at the South Granary. Immediately check and store them in the warehouse, register them, and ensure there are no errors!
The Workers' Office: Two hundred curved plows and fifty seed drills newly allocated to Wuyuan by the Craftsmen's Camp must be loaded onto the carts before 9:00 AM and escorted by soldiers dispatched by the prefecture government!
Tian Cao, the three newly constructed water diversion canals in Zhaoyuze East District must be inspected and accepted today, and drawings submitted!
Ji Cao, thoroughly investigate whether grain merchants in the city are hoarding grain or driving up grain prices!

Medical Officer: Send more medical workers to various resettlement areas to prevent the spring plague!
"Officer, the cases accepted yesterday must be investigated and preliminarily adjudicated today! Does everyone understand?"

"understand!"

The officials responded in unison, their voices particularly clear in the pre-dawn silence.

"Disperse!" Chen Ji waved his hand.

The queue dispersed instantly and swiftly in an orderly fashion.

The officials hurried off to their respective government offices, warehouses, workshops, or outlying garrisons.

The entire prefectural government began to operate in the dim morning light.

The roll call was not only a constraint on attendance, but also an incentive for the mental state of the officials.

Not only them, but even Xun Yu, the former Right Chief Secretary of the General's Office and the Prefect of Jinyang, got up early to start his daily work.

To the east of the main hall of the prefectural governor's office was Xun Yu's office for signing confidential documents.

The interior furnishings were extremely simple: a table, a chair, a bookshelf, and a small couch for guests.

The documents on the table were piled up like a mountain, categorized and arranged in an orderly manner.

He had been sitting behind his desk for quite some time.

What was laid out were one important official document after another.

Xun Yu read very quickly, his eyes focused, his slender fingers occasionally lightly tapping over the key data.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote his approval on a document requesting an additional allocation of high-quality iron ore from Wuyuan County.

[The warehouse clerk is instructed to verify the iron reserves in the government warehouse. If there are sufficient reserves, 70% will be allocated as requested by the engineering clerk. The remaining 30% will be discussed after the clerk submits a detailed analysis report on the several steam hammer condenser tube bursts last month.]

If the government treasury is short of funds, approve 30%, with the remaining 70% to be approved later.

The comments were concise and clear, satisfying the urgent needs of production while leaving room for accountability in the event of a quality incident.

He was constantly reviewing and revising official documents, just like Han Ji back then, without a moment's rest.

The official documents on the desk were lowered by one layer, and then quickly replaced by several more layers.

They were busy like this until noon.

Chen Ji knocked on the door and entered, bowing and saying, "Chief Secretary."

"What is it, Yuanfang?" Xun Yu glanced at Chen Ji, but his pen showed no sign of stopping.

Chen Ji stepped forward a few paces, his face showing a mixture of doubt and disbelief.

"A letter arrived from the post station in the Shangdang direction, saying that a group of students from the Imperial Academy have come to Bingzhou and want to serve the Marquis of Jinxiang."

"Aha?"

At this moment, even the usually composed Xun Yu was surprised.

"Students of the Imperial Academy?!"

"Coming to Bingzhou to serve?!"

He got up and paced back and forth for a while before turning to Chen Ji and asking.

"Yuanfang, what do you think of this?"

(End of this chapter)