Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 237 The Prodigy

In June, the sun in Jinyang City gradually gained weight, the cicadas were about to break through the soil, and the old locust trees in the courtyard were already covered with tiny white flowers.

Inside the general's mansion, an invisible tension overwhelmed the summer's languor.

The doors and windows of the main house in the inner courtyard were tightly closed, cutting off the warm breeze and fragrance of flowers from outside, leaving only a faint smell of blood and occasional cries of pain in the air.

Four experienced midwives stood in a circle around the bed, their temples damp with sweat. Their low voices, trembling almost imperceptibly, hummed like muffled thunder rolling through oppressive clouds.

"Madam... push harder! I can see the head, the head is coming out!"

"Inhale! Madam, inhale deeply, yes, push harder!"

Zou Wan lay on her back on the thick brocade quilt, her black hair completely soaked with sweat, sticking messily to her pale cheeks and neck.

She clenched her teeth, her lower lip already bitten raw, a glaring bloodstain seeping out, which slid down mixed with sweat.

Each contraction brought excruciating pain, making her body tense like a fully drawn bowstring, and she could only manage suppressed sobs.

Her swollen belly rose and fell violently with each exertion of her body.

Zhang Xian knelt by the bed, tightly gripping Zou Wan's cold, sweaty hand. He had lost his previous composure and calmness, and only the veins on his forehead bulged and his lips were pressed into a straight line with tension.

"Wan'er, take a deep breath, don't be afraid, I'm here."

As the most skilled physician in Bingzhou and also his wife's husband, he rebuked those who said the delivery room was filthy and should not be entered, and patiently accompanied her during childbirth.

"General, the lady is exhausted! Give her some ginseng soup!"

Zhang Xian steadied his hands and fed Zou Wan the ginseng soup. After receiving some nourishment, Zou Wan's condition improved considerably.

The ginseng soup here is a medicinal soup he brewed that can restore vitality and physical strength, with immediate effects.

Outside the courtyard, Xiahou Lan stood like a nail in his iron armor before the steps, his hand gripping the hilt of a knife, his knuckles white from the excessive force. His gaze was tense as he vigilantly scanned every inch of the shadow on the courtyard wall.

The elite guards behind her were all heavily armored, firmly protecting the delivery room.

We cannot help but take this seriously; the future of Bingzhou lies in the room behind us!

Production time was passing by little by little.

"Wan'er!"

Inside the room, Zhang Xian stroked Zou Wan's cheek and wiped the sweat from her face.

"Listen to me! One last push! Push harder!"

Following his voice.

Zou Wan let out a heart-wrenching scream!

"Wow--!"

A loud cry, loud enough to tear through all the gloom, resounded throughout the tense delivery room!
The sound pierced through the tightly closed doors and windows, going straight into the courtyard!

Xiahou Lan's face, which had been as taut as a rock, blossomed into a slightly silly smile the instant that cry rang out, as if a spring breeze had melted the frozen surface of a lake.

The smile grew wider and wider, the corners of his mouth almost reaching his ears, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"Xian Ge has an heir! Bingzhou has an heir!"

He abruptly sheathed his drawn sword, then slammed his fist heavily onto his sturdy breastplate, making a dull thud as if releasing all the tension of the past October!
The maids standing in the corridor, especially the younger ones, couldn't help but cover their mouths, and suppressed sobs leaked out from between their fingers—tears of joy.

The tightly closed door finally creaked open a crack from the inside.

A strong smell of blood and medicine wafted out.

An elderly midwife poked her head out; her face and head were covered in sweat and exhaustion, but the excitement and smile in her eyes were undeniable.

Congratulations! It's a baby boy! Mother and child are both safe and sound!

The words "Mother and child are safe" completely ignited the emotions that had been building up in the hospital for so long!

"Madam Tianyou! Young Master Tianyou!"

"Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes!"

"Congratulations, General! Congratulations, General!"

The guards could no longer contain themselves and erupted in deafening cheers!

In the delivery room.

The strong stench of blood had not yet dissipated, mixed with the smell of herbs and sweat.

Zou Wan looked as if she had just been pulled out of the water, her whole body was soaked in sweat, her disheveled black hair clung to her cheeks and neck, her face was pale, her lips were chapped, and there were traces of blood.

She closed her eyes wearily, each breath seeming weak and labored.

Zhang Xian was doing the final finishing touches for her, cleaning up the bloodstains and removing the placenta.

These tasks should have been done by the midwives, but Zhang Xian was worried about them, so he did it himself.

His movements were gentle, as if he were afraid of hurting Zou Wan again.

Amidst the busy work, the midwife also wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes and placed it beside Zou Wan's head.

Zou Wan looked over weakly.

The baby in the swaddling clothes had rosy skin with wrinkles from just being separated from the mother's body, looking like a tiny monkey.

Sparse, soft baby hair lay flat against the scalp.

He closed his eyes, his small fists clenched tightly beside his cheeks, seemingly a little uneasy about this strange world he had suddenly arrived in.

But its small chest rose and fell powerfully, and the loud cry from before turned into a whimpering sound like a kitten, which only added to its endearing innocence.

"So ugly."

A smile spread across Zou Wan's face as she looked tenderly at the baby in the swaddling clothes.

A midwife carefully approached, carrying a bowl of warm ginseng soup. "Madam, please have some ginseng soup to help you regain your strength."

Zou Wan obediently sipped the warm ginseng soup, a warm current sliding down her throat, dispelling some of the chill and exhaustion in her body.

Her gaze never left the tiny swaddling clothes.

"Husband..." She finally mustered a little strength, her voice barely audible, filled with weariness and contentment.

Who does he resemble?

Zhang Xian looked up and carefully examined his son's rosy little face. It was indeed wrinkled and not very pretty, but he still smiled gently and said.

"His eyebrows and eyes are like yours, delicate and pretty; he'll definitely grow up to be handsome..."

A faint blush finally appeared on Zou Wan's pale face, and she fell into a deep sleep.
-
Inside the signing room of the Taiyuan Prefectural Governor's Office.

The mountain of bamboo slips and wide-paper documents almost submerged the large desk.

The ice in the bronze mirror had long since melted away, leaving only shallow watermarks.

Xun Yu sat upright behind his desk. To his left was an open register of household registration and land records, and to his right was a detailed list of farm implements distributed by the Ministry of Works. In front of him was a memorial requesting approval to establish a library in Jinyang and to widely print elementary school textbooks.

His hand holding the pen was steady and strong, the pen tip moving quickly across the wide paper, leaving behind elegant and vigorous characters.

His brows were slightly furrowed, clearly weighing the details of choosing a location for the library and allocating woodblock printing craftsmen.

The noise outside the window seemed to be shut out by an invisible barrier, unable to disturb his world amidst his desk. "Master Xun! Master Xun! A momentous occasion!"

The door to the signing room was suddenly pushed open, and a young subordinate officer practically rushed in, his face beaming with barely suppressed elation.

"The General's Mansion... the lady has given birth to a son! A little boy! Mother and child are both safe!"

Xun Yu's pen suddenly stopped!
A drop of ink, full of color, fell silently from the tip of the wolf-hair brush due to the sudden pause, landing squarely on the end of the document in front of him, which had just read, "Elementary education is the foundation for cultivating people over a hundred years. The establishment of a library should attract talented people and carefully collate good books..."

The thick black ink quickly spread across the plain white paper, like a plum blossom suddenly blooming, covering the words "rare book".

Xun Yu's gaze was fixed on that sudden drop of ink.

The tension from endless paperwork and the weighing of countless tasks seemed to freeze in that instant with a drop of ink.

The faint cheers from Jinyang City that drifted in from outside the window finally penetrated the invisible barrier and clearly reached his ears.

An indescribable, complex emotion, like the ink silently spreading on the paper, quietly permeated his heart.

It was a sense of relief, a feeling of being relieved, and a sense of security that the foundation of Bingzhou could be continued.

The fact that the general has an heir is of great significance to the entire Bingzhou region, far exceeding the significance of an ordinary birth.

This signifies inheritance, stability, and a concrete place for countless followers to place their hopes for the future.

Xun Yu's gaze slowly shifted from the ink plum blossom on the paper to the bustling city of Jinyang outside the window.

His handsome face remained as gentle and composed as ever, but a complex and elusive light flickered deep in his eyes.

There are heartfelt blessings for the newborn son, expectations for the future of Bingzhou, and also a deeper sense of solemnity and contemplation.

He gently put down his pen and slowly pushed the ink-stained document aside.

Then, he spread out a clean, wide sheet of paper, picked up his brush, and dipped it in thick ink.

The elegant handwriting flowed across the paper.

"Your subject Yu respectfully submits this memorial to report that we are overjoyed to hear of the birth of a son in the former General's household. The Lady Zou, virtuous and gentle, has been a model mother, and both mother and child are safe and well. This is an auspicious sign that Heaven blesses Bingzhou and its people! Upon hearing this, we are all filled with joy and gratitude beyond measure..."
-
"It's a baby! The lady has given birth! It's a little boy! Mother and child are both safe!"

"May God protect Madam! May God protect Young Master! Mother and child are safe!"

"Great news! Great news! The general has an heir! The lady and the young master are both well!"

The tightly closed gates of the former general's mansion suddenly burst open, and the servants who came to announce the good news seemed to have sprouted wings, shouting the good news over and over again as they rushed through the streets and alleys of Jinyang City!

This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples!
"What? She's given birth? Mother and child are safe? Thank God! General, you are blessed!"

An old man selling steamed buns at a roadside stall suddenly threw down his palm-leaf fan upon hearing this, his cloudy old eyes lighting up with excitement, his beard trembling.

"Young master! It's a young master! The general has an heir! Our Bingzhou is blessed!"

The manager of the nearby grain store poked his head out, rubbing his hands excitedly and cheering repeatedly.

"Quick! Go back and tell your wife to bring out that bolt of red cloth she's been saving! To pray for the young master's good fortune!"

"Prepare the wine! Today the whole city celebrates! It's on me!"

A wine merchant stood at the entrance of the restaurant, waved his hand, and spoke loudly, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The entire city of Jinyang seemed to be ignited by this joyous news!

The streets were instantly packed with people, acquaintances and strangers alike, all congratulating each other with genuine smiles on their faces.

Doors were pushed open, and people flooded the streets, talking and laughing.

The children, not understanding why, ran and played with the adults in the streets and alleys, their clear laughter echoing everywhere.

This wave of celebration, centered on Jinyang City, spread rapidly throughout Bingzhou like ripples in water.

Taiyuan Prefecture, Lüqi County.

The summer sun shines down on the vast, newly reclaimed fields.

The lush green wheat seedlings rippled in the breeze, stretching all the way to where the water met the sky.

Countless figures toiled on this vibrant green carpet, their dark skin covered in mud, sweat streaming down their foreheads and necks, glistening in the sunlight.

Pulled by strong oxen, the heavy curved plow broke through the damp earth, turning up waves of dark brown mud.

Farmers called out to their livestock, bent over to replant, or wielded hoes to weed. The air was filled with the earthy smell, the fragrance of grass, and the salty taste of sweat.

Between the ridges of the fields, several modern animal-drawn seed drills were being supported by strong men, moving at a steady pace across the leveled land.

Inside the wooden seed drill, plump wheat seeds were evenly scattered into the shallow furrows as the drill moved along.

It is far more efficient than sowing seeds by hand.

"Ergouzi! The ridge has been straightened! It's leaning all the way to your grandma's house!"

A dark-skinned young man dressed in a short brown robe stood on the edge of the field, hands on his hips, shouting loudly at a man holding a plow in the field. He was none other than Ruan Yu, a student of the Imperial Academy who had been sent by Xun Yu to Lüqi County to assist in the promotion of new agricultural tools.

Months of experience in the fields had worn away his scholarly air; his skin was tanned dark, and his voice had become much louder, carrying the straightforwardness of a farmer.

"Understood, Officer Ruan! I'll correct it right away!"

The man called Er Gouzi responded honestly and quickly adjusted the direction of the plow.

Ruan Yu wiped the sweat from his face and looked at the endless expanse of green before him, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Just as he was about to inspect the next area, a rapid sound of horses' hooves and a distorted shout suddenly came from the official road in the distance:
"Good news from Jinyang! The wife of the former general has given birth to a son! A little boy! Mother and child are safe and sound!"

The messenger's voice, like rolling thunder, pierced through the wind in the fields and the shouts of the farmers, reaching everyone's ears clearly!

In the fields, all the figures bending over, sweating profusely, suddenly stopped! The men holding plows forgot to urge their oxen on, the young men holding seed drills forgot to take a step, and the women bending over to weeds forgot the hoes in their hands…

Everyone suddenly looked up, following the direction of the sound, their faces filled with astonishment, followed by unbelievable ecstasy!
"Young Master?"

"The general has an heir?!"

"Thank God! Are Madam and Young Master both safe?!"

After a brief silence, came a volcanic eruption of cheers!
"The lady is safe! The young master is safe! Great joy! Great joy indeed!"

"With the general having an heir, our foundation in Bingzhou is secure! Secure!"

An old farmer's mud-covered hoe fell to the ground with a clatter.

He stared blankly in the direction of Jinyang City, and turbid tears welled up instantly, winding down his deep, knife-carved wrinkles.

He shakily pushed away his son who was helping him, and with a "thud," his knees slammed heavily onto the soft ridge of the field. He knelt down deeply in the direction of Jinyang, his forehead touching the soil fragrant with green grass, and let out a hoarse cry.

"A unicorn has been born! Heaven blesses Bingzhou! Heaven blesses the General! Heaven blesses the Lady and the young master!"

As if a silent signal, countless figures, regardless of age or gender, knelt down in unison towards Jinyang, in the fields, along the roads, and by the irrigation ditches, like waves of wheat swaying in the wind! The voices of tens of thousands of people converged, carrying the most sincere gratitude and blessings, soaring into the sky.

"A unicorn has been born! Heaven blesses Bingzhou! Heaven blesses the General! Heaven blesses the Lady and the young master!"

The roaring sound echoed across the vast surface of the Hutuo River, startling countless water birds into flight that fluttered into the clear blue sky.

Standing on the edge of the field, Ruan Yu looked at the magnificent scene of ten thousand people kneeling in worship, their voices shaking the heavens, and a surge of unprecedented emotion welled up in his chest.

He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly in the direction of Jinyang.

(End of this chapter)