Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The lingering effects of the whipping, like the frost of late autumn, quietly covered every inch of Starfire Fortress. For the next few days, the atmosphere within the fortress became solemn and disciplined.

Inside the military camp, armor and weapons were polished to a gleaming shine, and the dust in the corners of the barracks was swept away. The soldiers' words and actions were noticeably more restrained, especially the younger, more impetuous ones. When they saw villagers carrying water and firewood coming towards them, they would instinctively step aside to let them pass. Even if they were splashed with mud or water, they would only frown and wipe it off, never daring to easily scold or shove them. When the platoon leaders and squad leaders supervised the drills, in addition to shouting about fighting techniques, they also emphasized the importance of "strictly adhering to military regulations."

In the residential area, the stolen half-length of coarse cloth was quietly placed at the owner's doorstep early on the third morning. No one admitted it, and no one pursued the matter. After finishing work, the able-bodied migrant workers would carefully wash their farm tools and neatly return them to the communal shed, no longer leaving them lying around carelessly. If there were any disputes between neighbors, they would mostly seek the mediation of Zhao Tiezhu or a few elders, and there were rarely any more street arguments. Even children playing too close to the well or hearth would be sternly stopped by adults, for fear of causing trouble that would implicate the whole family.

The prisoners in the hard labor camp kept their heads bowed even lower while working, yet dared not slacken their efforts in the slightest. Wang Jian's whip and reprimands continued, but privately, he began to follow Chen Xing's instructions to write down the names of several prisoners who were the most diligent and accumulated merit points quickly, preparing to report them when the time was right. Liu San, who had once secretly rummaged through the ruins, had been unusually silent these past few days, only burying himself in digging, his hands blistered and bleeding without stopping. Only when he occasionally looked up at the fortress did the lingering gloom in his eyes remain.

Chen Wei's enforcement team patrolled daily, and wherever their gaze fell, everyone stood solemnly. The bloodstains beside the wooden stake at the village gate where the execution had taken place had been washed away, but the invisible deterrent effect remained deeply etched. Li Shu meticulously recorded the incident, along with the punishments and deductions of merit points for Sun Er and others, writing them all in the corner of the public notice board for people to view at any time.

On the surface, the ironclad rules have begun to show their effects, with order prevailing within the fortress and everyone in their proper place. But Chen Xing knows that beneath this calm, there are still hidden worries, especially regarding the fundamental issue—food.

That morning, Chen Xing, along with Chen Wei and Zhao Tiezhu, inspected the reclaimed land on the north slope. Over thirty mu of newly turned land, dark and bare, lay exposed to the sun, exuding the earthy smell of soil. Zhao Tiezhu pointed to the land, his face showing the earnestness and worry characteristic of a farmer:

"My lord, the land has been turned over, and the soil quality is acceptable. However, it's already close to April, and the best time for spring sowing has passed. The millet and sorghum seeds we have are all ordinary. Even if we plant them immediately, we'll be lucky to get one and a half shi per mu by the autumn harvest. At most, these thirty mu will yield only forty or fifty shi. Our fortress has nearly two hundred mouths to feed, plus those dozens of prisoners. Even with wild vegetables and roots, we won't last until next spring. The little grain stored in the warehouse, if we eat sparingly, will only last for three or four months at most."

Chen Wei frowned and said, "If we encounter natural disasters or foreign invasions that delay the farming season, things will be even more difficult. Food is the lifeline, and we cannot afford to be complacent."

Chen Xing listened silently, his gaze fixed on the uncultivated slopes in the distance and the vast, desolate forests further on. He knew Zhao Tiezhu's words were true. In this era, agriculture depended entirely on the weather, with outdated varieties and low yields. Relying solely on traditional crops and existing land to feed a growing population and accumulate strength was an impossible task.

He must introduce variables.

"Tiezhu, if there were a type of grain that was not particular about soil fertility, could withstand drought and barren soil, could yield ten or even twenty shi per mu, and could be harvested in three or four months, what do you think?" Chen Xing suddenly spoke up, his tone calm.

Zhao Tiezhu was taken aback at first, then his eyes widened and he shook his head repeatedly: "My lord is joking! How could there be such a divine thing? Even the legendary auspicious grains and wheat only yield three to five shi per mu, and that requires the careful tending of top-quality paddy fields. Ten or twenty shi? That would be divine food! Harvesting once every three or four months? That's impossible! Millet and sorghum both require more than a hundred days, and even buckwheat requires seventy or eighty days."

Chen Wei also looked puzzled, wondering why his lord would suddenly ask such a seemingly pointless question.

Chen Xing remained noncommittal, only saying, "The world is vast and full of wonders. In my younger days, I traveled with a merchant caravan and heard of such a crop in the far west. Its tubers are buried in the soil, shaped like pebbles. They can be boiled or steamed, and are sweet and substantial, capable of saving countless lives. The people there call them 'earth pebbles' or 'ground beans'."

He was describing potatoes, of course. But to Zhao Tiezhu and the others, it was nothing short of a fantasy.

Zhao Tiezhu asked skeptically, "My lord, even if such an unheard-of thing exists, where would you find the seeds?"

Chen Xing's gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling the past: "The caravan leader once gave me several seeds, saying they were durable and could be used as seeds. I've treasured them until now, intending to prepare for any eventuality. Now it seems, the time has come."

Chen Wei and Zhao Tiezhu exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with indescribable shock. Their lord truly possessed such a wondrous item? And had treasured it all this time? This was far too coincidental, almost as if divinely inspired. But seeing their lord's composed demeanor, seemingly genuine, and knowing his actions were always unpredictable, coupled with the fact that he could produce such exquisite farming tools and miraculous healing medicine, perhaps… he truly had a miraculous encounter?

"My lord, is this thing... truly as highly productive and fast-growing as you say?" Zhao Tiezhu's voice trembled slightly. If so, the food crisis of Starfire Fortress might be easily resolved!

"Seeing is believing," Chen Xing said. "I have the seeds, but not many. They need careful cultivation and expansion before they will show their true effects. Tiezhu, are you willing to give it a try?"

Zhao Tiezhu knelt down with a thud, excitedly saying, "If such a divine object truly exists, let alone trying it, I would guard it day and night without hesitation! As long as it can produce more grain, feed the old and young in the fortress, and ensure the continuation of our lord's great cause, I would risk my life for it!"

Chen Wei also solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Since my lord possesses such a wondrous item, it is a blessing from heaven! This humble general is willing to do everything in his power to protect it and ensure its absolute safety!"

"Alright." Chen Xing reached out to help Zhao Tiezhu up. "This matter concerns the very foundation of the fortress's survival, so we must be absolutely careful. Tiezhu, select two of your most reliable and skilled confidants, and keep it a secret. Chen Wei, assign four absolutely loyal soldiers to select a secluded, sunny spot within the fortress with loose soil, and cultivate a small garden there. They must guard it day and night, and no one except Tiezhu and his confidants is allowed to approach it, including other refugees and laborers."

"Yes!" the two replied in unison.

"I'll fetch the seeds shortly," Chen Xing said. "Tiezhu, you must carefully remember the planting method I'm about to describe: This plant prefers cool weather and dislikes intense heat, so now is the perfect time. Plant it in sections, each with a bud, spaced one and a half feet apart and two feet apart in rows. Before sowing, the soil needs to be deeply tilled and coated with wood ash and well-rotted manure. During the growing season, it needs to be cultivated and weeded one to two times, avoiding waterlogging. When the stems and leaves turn yellow, it's ready. Dig it up carefully, being careful not to damage the tubers."

Zhao Tiezhu listened very attentively, afraid of missing a single word, and repeatedly recited it in his mind.

Chen Wei replied, "My lord, rest assured. I personally selected the land for the garden, and the guards are all chosen from people of good family background and who are loyal and reliable. There will be no loss."

That afternoon, Chen Xing returned to his residence and closed the door for a moment. In fact, he was communicating with the system in his mind and using the 100 task reward points to exchange for "potato seeds"—the system labeled them as "high-yield tuber crop seed potatoes," weighing about fifty pounds, which had been processed to be suitable for cutting and seedling cultivation.

When he walked out of the house carrying an inconspicuous burlap sack and showed the pale yellow tubers with tiny buds inside to Zhao Tiezhu, who was already waiting by the secluded garden, Zhao Tiezhu carefully picked one up, examined it closely, and smelled it. His eyes still held disbelief, but more than that, they held the piety and expectation of a farmer facing an unknown seed.

"Is this it?" Zhao Tiezhu murmured. "Its appearance is indeed somewhat peculiar... My lord, the method of cultivation is somewhat similar to that of taro, yet different."

"You can learn the specific care methods through practice," Chen Xing said. "This plant may be susceptible to diseases, so you need to observe it carefully. After the first harvest, you need to select the largest, best-shaped, and disease-free plants for seed. Repeat this process to ensure the quality of the seed and increase the yield."

The garden, about half an acre in size, had been prepared as Chen Xing had requested. It was located on a sunny, sheltered slope in the southeast corner of the fortress, surrounded by a newly woven fence. Four Wei soldiers, each wielding a long halberd, stood guard like statues on all four sides, their eyes alert. Chen Wei himself was stationed there to oversee the operation.

The two trusted men Zhao Tiezhu summoned were experienced, seasoned farmers from Zhao Family Village, and tight-lipped. Following Chen Xing's instructions, the three carefully cut the seed potatoes into pieces, ensuring each piece had a healthy eye, then coated them with wood ash before digging holes and planting them. Their movements were gentle, as if handling a newborn infant.

Chen Xing watched quietly, a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, often including reflection and contemplation) in his heart. These fifty pounds of potatoes were the first truly significant seed of "technology" he had sown in this chaotic world. They carried not only the hope of solving the food problem, but also a possibility that transcended the times. If successful, their significance would far exceed seizing a warehouse or enacting a set of rules.

"Tiezhu," Chen Xing solemnly instructed them after they finished planting, watering, and covering the soil, "This matter is currently classified as a top secret within the fortress. To the outside world, it can be said that it is the root of a rare Western Region medicine that I found, and we need to test its effects. Only the three of you will be responsible for its daily care. Before the harvest, no one is allowed to inquire or spy on it. The necessary fertilizer and water will be delivered regularly by Chen Wei's arrangements. Can you manage that?"

Zhao Tiezhu solemnly replied, "My lord, rest assured! This matter concerns the lives of the entire fortress, and I know the gravity of it! These three acres of land are my lifeline, and I cannot afford to lose them!"

Chen Xing nodded, then said to Chen Wei, "The guard duty is in your hands. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures may be necessary."

"Understood, sir!" Chen Wei said in a deep voice. "Anyone who trespasses will be killed without exception!"

As the sun set, it cast long shadows of the gardens, fences, guards, and the hardworking farmers. This small patch of seemingly ordinary land was, at this moment, more important to Chen Xing than the thirty acres of newly reclaimed hillside.

Hope has been quietly planted in the soil. What follows is waiting—waiting for it to sprout, waiting for it to break through the soil, waiting for that tuber, which could change the fate of many, to grow silently in the darkness.

Most people inside the fortress were completely unaware of this. They continued to busy themselves with daily merit points, the wasteland outside the walls, and the solemnity of military regulations. Only a very few knew that a seed, so different from the rest of the world, had been planted, waiting to ignite a wildfire.