My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In February, the cold wind in Youzhou was still biting, but the news from Luoyang was even colder than the wind, chilling to the bone, freezing the hearts of everyone who still had a shred of conscience.

Sima Zhi, the governor of Julu, committed suicide by poisoning himself at Mengjin, leaving behind a written remonstrance to the emperor.

The news struck like a thunderbolt, shattering the lifeless atmosphere of the imperial court and also shaking Ji Xuanyuan and others far away in Zhuojun.

Inside the study, the flickering charcoal fire illuminated the ashen faces of Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Lu Zhi.

Guo Jia leaned against the window, unusually not raising the wine gourd in his hand, his peach blossom eyes filled with cold mockery.

"Sima Zhi...a renowned scholar from Hanoi, known for his integrity and outspokenness." Lu Zhi's voice was hoarse and dry, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"He served as a county magistrate during the reign of the late emperor, but was dismissed for offending the eunuchs. Your Majesty... Your Majesty briefly reinstated him after ascending the throne, but was later sidelined again. This appointment of the governor of Julu was originally... originally a turning point."

"A turning point?" Tian Feng sneered, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"The turning point is forcing him to pay ten million in 'palace repair fees'? His Majesty 'shows compassion' for his poverty, reducing it by three million, so it only requires seventeen million? Sima Zhi has served as an official for twenty years, remaining incorruptible, with only ten acres of meager land at home, an elderly mother still alive, and a wife and children in simple clothes. How is he supposed to pay seventeen million? To exploit the people of Julu who have just been ravaged by the Yellow Turbans and forced to resort to cannibalism?!"

Ju Shou slowly unfolded a meticulously copied copy of his final remonstrance, his voice heavy as if filled with lead:

"Your Majesty, I was originally a commoner, but Your Majesty promoted me to the rank of two thousand shi. I think of repaying this favor and cannot sleep at night. However, my appointment is not to govern the prefecture and bring peace to the people. It is more like a merchant buying and selling goods. I have to pay a huge sum of money to take up my post. My family has no surplus wealth, and I cannot bear to exploit the people and oppress them. If I were to do this, I would be failing Your Majesty, ashamed of the common people, and dishonor the teachings of the sages. I would be guilty no matter what I do. I can only die to show my sincerity and to advise Your Majesty: selling official positions destroys the discipline of the court; excessive levies lose the hearts of the people! I humbly beg Your Majesty to remember the hardships of Emperor Gaozu's founding of the dynasty and the difficulties of Emperor Guangwu's restoration. Please be close to virtuous ministers and keep away from petty men. Stop the harsh taxes and heal the wounds... Your Majesty is truly terrified and bows your head repeatedly. It is useless to die. I only hope that Your Majesty will consider my words and stop this evil policy. Then, even if I die, I will feel as if I have lived."

Every word is written in blood, every sentence pierces the heart.

The study was deathly silent.

Even Guo Jia, who was always carefree and unrestrained, slowly closed his eyes.

"With the Eastern Han Dynasty in such a decadent state, what future does it have?" After a long silence, Ji Xuanyuan coughed lightly, breaking the silence.

He was wrapped in a thick fur coat, his face appearing even paler in the dim light, but his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, churning with anger, sorrow, and a deeper sense of resolve.

Lu Zhi, tears streaming down his face, covered his face with his sleeve: "A loyal minister remonstrates to the death... to the death! But His Majesty... he only suspended court for a few days, just for show! As soon as the storm passed, he went back to his old ways! I've heard that he's now building the 'Hall of Ten Thousand Gold' in the West Garden, piling up mountains of gold, silver, and jewels from selling official positions and 'tribute' from various places! He's even... even depositing tens of millions of coins in the homes of eunuchs like Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong!"

Tian Feng slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle: "That's not all! That eunuch is now so arrogant, daring to openly overstep his bounds! Your Majesty... Your Majesty actually uttered such... such utterly disgraceful and ignorant words during a banquet, saying, 'Zhang Changshi is my father, Zhao Changshi is my mother'!"

"Zhang Changshi is my father, and Zhao Changshi is my mother."

These ten words, like ten poisoned daggers, pierced the hearts of everyone who still cherished the Han dynasty.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The Emperor actually recognizes eunuchs as his parents!"

Where is the proper etiquette and law?

Where are the fundamental principles of morality and social order?

The emperor's majesty has been completely swept away!

"Incompetent! Degenerate! Beyond redemption!" Tian Feng's beard and hair stood on end, his anger reaching its peak.

"Pfft—" Guo Jia finally couldn't help but sneer, but his laughter was full of sorrow and mockery.

"Father? Mother? Hahaha... What a filial son and grandson! This Han emperor recognizes eunuchs as his parents, where does that leave the ancestors of the Liu family? Where does that leave the subjects of the world?"

Ju Shou sighed, "This matter has spread throughout the land, scholars are in uproar, and public resentment is boiling. But what can be done? Memorials are like mud oxen sinking into the sea, and honest advice is like autumn wind passing by our ears. This court... is rotten to the core."

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Ji Xuanyuan.

The young lord was gazing at the gray sky outside the window, his fingers unconsciously toying with the mutton-fat jade pendant.

Sima Zhi's blood, Liu Hong's incompetence, the arrogance of the eunuchs, the resentment of the people... all of this weighed on his heart like heavy lead, and also on the hearts of everyone who still had passion.

But he knew that anger and lamentation were useless.

"Sima Gong's integrity is admirable; his blood will not have been shed in vain." Ji Xuanyuan spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a chilling power.

"At least, it made us, and all those in the world who are not yet completely numb, see that expecting this court to reform from top to bottom is a pipe dream."

He turned around and glanced at everyone: "We can't change Luoyang, but at least we can protect Zhuojun and let the people here live and live a better life."

"What is your intention, my lord?" Tian Feng asked solemnly, his anger subsiding.

"Spring plowing is imminent." Ji Xuanyuan uttered four words, his eyes regaining a pragmatic light.

"Everything starts with ensuring that the people have enough to eat."

In mid-February, the snow in Zhuojun was gradually melting, and the ground was beginning to soften.

In previous years, farmers would have already started worrying about spring plowing by this time.

The old-fashioned long straight-shaft plow was cumbersome and difficult to use, did not plow deeply enough, was inconvenient to turn, consumed a lot of manpower and animal power, and was inefficient.

But this year is different.

Inside the massive curved plow workshop in the north of the city, the furnace fire burned day and night.

Following Ji Xuanyuan's design of an "assembly line operation," the craftsmen had clear divisions of labor. The clanging of forging plowshares, the rustling of planing wooden frames, and the shouts of assembly and debugging blended into a busy symphony.

Brand new curved plows were being manufactured in an endless stream, painted a uniform dark brown, gleaming with the unique luster of wood and iron.

"Free distribution?" Inside the workshop, Guo Jia blinked his peach blossom eyes as he looked at the order signed by Ji Xuanyuan.

"Senior brother, this is a huge expense. Although the profit from refined salt is considerable, we need money for everything: raising soldiers, providing relief to the people, building schools, and setting up secret guards. Even if we only charge a symbolic hundred or so coins for this curved plow, it's still a source of income. Ordinary farmers can squeeze out that money by tightening their belts for a month or two."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "Fengxiao, that's not how you calculate it. Spring plowing is the foundation of the year's livelihood. It cannot be delayed or taken lightly. The sooner we distribute the curved plows, the sooner the people can benefit, and the more hopeful we will be for the autumn harvest. This is much more important than collecting that little bit of money."

He walked to a newly assembled curved plow and stroked the smooth plowshare: "As for expenses... we can still afford this money. If we let the people cultivate the land well, eat their fill, and live in peace and contentment, they will naturally repay us with their labor and loyalty. Sooner or later, this money will return to us in another form."

He looked at Tian Feng and Ju Shou: "Yuanhao, Gongyu, you two are in charge of the distribution. Make sure that every township, every pavilion, and even large villages can receive the supplies in time. At the same time, select clever and reliable officials or literate soldiers to go to the countryside to 'guide' their use. This is called 'grassroots performance evaluation' and it also hones their practical skills."

"Yes, sir!" Tian Feng and Ju Shou accepted the order.

Once the order was given, the entire bureaucratic system of Zhuojun began to operate efficiently.

One after another, curved plows were loaded onto oxcarts and donkey carts, and escorted by soldiers, they were sent to various villages and towns. The accompanying "instructors" carried simple illustrated booklets, ready to provide on-site instruction.

On a rare sunny day in mid-February, a large crowd of people gathered around an experimental field belonging to the government outside Zhuoxian County.

Ji Xuanyuan actually came in person.

He was still wrapped in that conspicuous white fox fur coat, his face pale, almost transparent in the early spring sunlight.

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun guarded him on the left and right, respectively, while Xiang Yu, Guan Yu, and other generals also accompanied him.

"Fellow villagers." Ji Xuanyuan's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I've invited everyone here today so you can see for yourselves how this new 'curved plow' is better than the old plow we used before."

He gestured, and two guards led over a sturdy yellow ox and harnessed it to a brand-new curved plow.

Surprisingly, Ji Xuanyuan slowly walked to the back of the plow.

"My lord!" Zhao Yun and the others exclaimed.

Ji Xuanyuan waved his hand and said gently to an old farmer who had been chosen to demonstrate, "Uncle, please watch from the side. If there is anything wrong, please point it out."

The old farmer was so excited he didn't know what to do, nodding repeatedly.

Ji Xuanyuan gripped the plow tip and gently tugged the reins.

The ox strode forward, and the plowshare of the curved-shaft plow easily cut into the soil.

Despite his illness, Ji Xuanyuan seemed to operate the equipment with remarkable ease.

He slightly adjusted the plow, making the plowshare go deeper into the soil. When it reached the end of the field, he gently pulled the plow tip, and the curved plowshare moved the entire plow body, making a flexible turn with almost no effort!

"Look! It's spinning! It really is spinning! So lightly!" exclaimed the onlookers.

"Buried deep! Look at the soil that's been turned up, how thick it is!"

Ji Xuanyuan only plowed a small section of the furrow before stopping and handing the plow to the old farmer: "Uncle, why don't you give it a try?"

The old farmer had been eager to try, so he took the plowshare, gave a shout, and the ox moved forward again.

He quickly mastered the trick, and the more he plowed, the smoother it became. His wrinkles beamed with joy: "Amazing! Absolutely amazing! This thing takes less than half the effort of that old straight-shafted machine! Turning is so easy! It plows the land so deep and evenly!"

The atmosphere at the scene immediately became lively.

The people gathered around, touching the plowshare, examining the plowshare, and asking all sorts of questions.

The accompanying officials took the opportunity to loudly explain the labor-saving principle, adjustment method, and maintenance instructions of the curved plow.

A middle-aged farmer with a weathered face pushed his way to the front and suddenly knelt down before Ji Xuanyuan, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Honor! You are truly Your Honor! This plow is so good! In previous years, my father, my old ox, and I would toil for seven or eight days to finish our small plot of land, until we were exhausted. But with this new plow, it will only take three or four days, and we won't have to work so hard! You have saved our entire family's strength, and more importantly, you have saved our autumn harvest!"

"Yes, yes! General Ji not only exempted us from many taxes and distributed wasteland and grain seeds, but now he's even giving us farming tools for free! This is truly... truly a living bodhisattva descended to earth!" an old woman said, wiping away her tears.

"I've always heard that officials find ways to extort money from us, but General Ji is finding ways to give us benefits!"

"With General Ji by our side, we people of Zhuojun have hope!"

The sounds of praise rose and fell, sincere and enthusiastic.

These people, who toil in the fields from dawn till dusk, don't understand any grand principles. They only care about whoever helps them survive and live a better life.

Supported by Zhao Yun, Ji Xuanyuan looked at the simple yet hopeful faces before him, and the pent-up emotions in his chest caused by Sima Zhi's death and Liu Hong's incompetence seemed to dissipate slightly.

What he did may be insignificant and cannot change the whole world.

But at least at this moment, on this land, he gave some people a tangible hope.

"Fellow villagers!" he raised his voice, weak yet clear.

"A good plow needs a good person to use it. I hope everyone will cultivate diligently and not waste the spring sunshine. If there is any damage, you can go to the local government office for free repair or replacement. I have no other requests, I only wish that this autumn in Zhuojun, every household will have full granaries and smoke rising from every chimney!"

"Thank you, Your Honor!" The people cheered.

The warm spring sunshine shone on the newly turned fields, which exuded the fragrance of earth, and also on the smiling faces of the people.

In the distance, the decadent music and bloody remonstrances of Luoyang seemed far away.

Nearby, the hope of deep cultivation takes root and grows in the soil.

Chaotic times are like a harsh winter, but there are always people who strive to light a fire and protect a little warmth in their homes.

And the hearth fire in Zhuojun burned ever brighter thanks to the new curved plow and the persistence of the sickly prefect.