Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 257 Farming

The banquet was a great success, and all the guests enjoyed themselves.

The gathering at the General's Mansion gradually dispersed only after the cassia tree was in full bloom.

One by one, the guests left, and in the main hall, the servants of the general's mansion cleaned up the mess.

Zhang Xian then summoned Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Lü Bu, and Xiahou Lan to the inner courtyard study.

The men still smelled of alcohol, but their eyes were bright and they didn't seem too drunk.

The main reason for keeping them was that Zhang Xian had given new instructions regarding appointments.

"Find a seat yourself." Zhang Xian waved his hand, pulled over a stool, and leaned against it.

The other four did the same, and there was little awkwardness between them.

After the five people sat down, Xun Yu and the others all looked at Zhang Xian.

After the latter called out "Tea" to the crowd, he also looked at everyone.

"Wenruo, all the supplies for the Ruishi Battalion have been sent there in the past two days. We have recruited half of the top 100 from good families. These people are of good character and will, and most of them are literate. I plan to train them well."

"Rest assured, my lord, the distribution of supplies for the elite troops was arranged by Yu two days ago, with a six-month supply for three hundred men."

Xun Yu rested his hands on his knees, displaying a rare air of languor.

Zhang Xian nodded: "That's good."

He then looked at Lü Bu and said, "Fengxian, you should take a good rest after returning from beyond the Great Wall. The elite troops need a few generals to come and give lectures, and you are one of them."

Lu Bu was slightly taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "I will follow your arrangements, my lord."

Zhang Xian nodded and continued, "Select ten men from your wolf riders to join the elite troops, as future officer candidates."

"Brother Lan." He looked at Xiahou Lan again.

"My lord." Xiahou Lan bowed.

"You've stayed by my side as a guard for too long; it's time for you to join the army."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Xiahou Lan's face, but he still nodded and said, "What are your orders, my lord?"

Zhang Xian nodded and looked at Guo Jia: "This time, when you return to Xihe, take Lan Di with you and let him serve under Zhao Gou. Also, send a letter to Zilong, asking him to temporarily place his troops under Wen Yuan's command and return to Jinyang to serve as the garrison commander of the elite troops."

"Jia knows."

Guo Jia's face was flushed; he had drunk his fill at the banquet.

Zhang Xian didn't manage Guo Jia's drinking as strictly as Xi Zhong did. This kid is physically fit, as long as he doesn't get involved with the Five-Stone Powder later.

"Does the lord mean that the Elite Battalion will become a necessary path for officer promotion in the future?"

He pondered the meaning for a moment: "The elite battalion has a quota of 300 people. Only half of the top 100 in this conference will be selected. That means there are still hundreds of places to be chosen from various armies?"

Zhang Xian gave Guo Jia an approving look: "That's right. The Elite Battalion is right after the tournament so that these top 100 contestants can adapt to the Bingzhou military discipline as soon as possible. They come from all over the country, unlike our Bingzhou army, which has emphasized discipline and obedience from the beginning. So we need an atmosphere to get them into it as quickly as possible."

"The same goes for Dian Wei and others. Although they have been granted official positions, they still have to go to the Elite Battalion before they can officially join the Bingzhou military faction."

"Fengxian, I need to implement the same system for the Elite Battalion as the Bingzhou Army: military law takes precedence, orders must be obeyed without question, and I will train them all like ordinary new recruits!"

"Rest assured, my lord, I understand."

He had been on loan from Ding Yuan to Jinyang for a year and a half, during which time he had already adapted to the strict military discipline of the Bingzhou army under Guo Jia and Huang Zhong.

Zhang Xian patted him on the shoulder: "Most of the top 100 contestants are self-confident in their bravery, so you and A-Yun need to suppress them as much as possible. If you encounter a challenge, you should fight it. As long as they are not killed by me, I can save them!"

"Fengxiao, tonight you write letters to Lishi, Qiangyin, and Jiuyuan, instructing Zhicai and Hansheng to select 240 qualified individuals to enter the Elite Battalion for training."

“In addition to martial arts and physical training, the Elite Battalion also focuses on teaching military strategy. Fengxiao, you are well-versed in military books, so you will be in charge of the military strategy class.”

"Tse Jia obeys!"

Guo Jia sighed and accepted the order: teaching is the hardest thing.

Tea was brought into the study, and Zhang Xian poured a cup for each of them, continuing the discussion on the post-training system for the Bingzhou army.

The discussion in the study continued until past midnight before it finally ended.

Ten days later.

As dawn broke, the brand-new gate of the elite infantry camp in the west of Jinyang City slowly closed with a heavy creak, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the outside world and locking a completely different kind of iron-blooded aura within the high walls.

Zhao Yun and Lü Bu stood on the left and right sides, respectively, on the high platform for reviewing generals.

Their gazes slowly swept over the already assembled ranks below.

Three hundred people, clearly divided into two groups.

Two-thirds of them were elite soldiers selected from the Bingzhou army. They stood as if rooted to the spot, with solemn expressions and resolute eyes. They exuded a deep and dignified killing intent that came from being a veteran of countless battles. Their formation was as neat as if it had been cut by a knife and axe.

The other half consisted mostly of martial arts heroes and respectable young men who had distinguished themselves in this World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament and ultimately chose to stay in Bingzhou.

Although they tried their best to stand straight, they couldn't hide their awkwardness as newcomers to the army and their inherent arrogance.

Their eyes darted around, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and some with a hint of challenge; their auras carried a touch of the uninhibited nature of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).

Dian Wei stood at the front of this group of people, his massive, mountain-like body encased in slightly tight new leather armor.

His large, fan-like hands were unconsciously stroking the pair of heavy iron halberds in his hands. The cold metallic touch could not suppress the slight restlessness in his heart caused by the unfamiliar environment.

Not only him, but seven of the top ten who attended the banquet at the General's Mansion that night were also there.

Although they were all given official positions, they were only qualified to formally enter the Bingzhou military clique after completing the elite battalion's intensive training.

On the stage, Lü Bu and Zhao Yun exchanged a glance. As always, Zhao Yun chose humility and let Lü Bu take the lead.

Lu Bu nodded slightly, took a step forward, and his voice rang out like the clang of metal on metal.

"This is the elite troops camp, not a place for martial arts contests, nor a leisurely field! Those who enter here must obey military orders! Orders must be obeyed without question; those who disobey will face the ruthless laws of the military!"

He paused slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the prominent faces of Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Gan Ning, and others, with undisguised scrutiny.

"From this day forward, all your past glories and disgraces are but a thing of the past! Here, only one identity is recognized: the elite warriors of Bingzhou!"

He waved his hand sharply: "Forget your fists, first learn to listen to orders! Look at the flag! Remember what comrades are, what a military formation is! Scatter! Team leaders, lead your men!"

The order was given, spreading like ripples on a lake.

Those squad leaders and platoon leaders who came from the Bingzhou army immediately sprang into action, their commands short and forceful.

The ranks began to move, and the veterans moved swiftly and in unison.

The newly joined "elite soldiers" appeared somewhat disorganized, their steps hesitant, their eyes still darting around. Dian Wei took a deep breath, suppressing the awkwardness of being treated like a new recruit, and strode forward, following his assigned squad leader to the barracks.

His imposing figure stood out in the somewhat crowded ranks, but the invisible aura of a top-tier martial artist was subtly suppressed by the solemn atmosphere of the military camp.

Just as the Elite Battalion began its intensive training.

Spring sowing and land reclamation in Bingzhou also sounded the clarion call on every inch of the land.

The core area of ​​Taiyuan and Xihe County, on the banks of Zhaoyuze.

On the vast lake and plain, the spring waters rise and irrigate the fertile land.

This place was once a barren land overgrown with reeds, but now it has become the core of Zhang Xian's plan to build the "Great Granary of Bingzhou".

As far as the eye can see, the vast fields have been divided into countless neat squares, like a giant chessboard.

Humans have become the most active pieces on this chessboard.

A land reclamation army of hundreds of thousands of resettled people covered the entire plain.

The strong men, shirtless and revealing their bronzed, sweat-drenched muscles, toiled in the fields.

Women and children followed closely behind, using rakes to break up the clods of earth and level them, their movements swift and efficient.

"Hurry! Everyone, get to work! Spring planting waits for no one. If we miss the planting season, we'll starve in the fall!"

A loud, boisterous shout rang out across the fields.

The one who shouted was Shi Daniu, a former Yellow Turban refugee who was struggling on the brink of death last year, but is now a well-known captain of the third production team of Zhaoyuze Reclamation Area.

He rolled up his trousers and stood barefoot in the soft, damp mud. His trouser legs were covered in mud, and his dark face was etched with the lines of sweat. But his eyes shone brightly, filled with enthusiasm and hope for the land beneath his feet.

He gripped a brand-new iron hoe tightly in his hand, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. This was a new type of farm tool uniformly distributed by the prefectural governor's office, far sharper and more durable than the wooden and stone tools they used in the past.

He strode briskly through the plots of land under his production team's jurisdiction, his eyes sharp, pointing out directions from time to time: "Erzi, your furrows over there are too shallow! Deeper! The seeds won't take root! Third Aunt, break up the soil finer! Even finer! This land is precious!"

A few teenagers led a mule pulling a wooden seed drill, carefully making their way along the newly leveled field ridges.

The plump millet seeds in the seed drill were evenly sown into the moist soil as the drill foot vibrated.

Shi Daniu walked over, bent down, grabbed a handful of soil that had just covered the seeds, and rubbed it between his rough hands, feeling its warmth and smoothness. A simple and satisfied smile appeared on his face: "Good land! It's really good land! Heaven has opened its eyes, and the former general has shown mercy, allowing us poor people to be able to cultivate such land in our lifetime!"

"Brother Da Niu, how much land reclamation work did our production team get this year? This land will be finished being sown soon, so the reclamation should start soon, right?"

As I passed by someone, that person looked up and asked.

Shi Daniu punched the man: "Take care of the work at hand first! The land officials will inform us of the land reclamation matter once they have discussed it."

The man scratched his head and chuckled, "Isn't this because I was thinking of getting more land reclamation tasks? Last year, tens of thousands of us cleared 800,000 to 900,000 mu of wasteland. This year, we should clear at least a million mu. It will be such a spectacular sight when we harvest the grain in the autumn!"

"Haha, you're really daring, kid. Alright, I'll make a big fuss about it and get the land official to give our team more land reclamation tasks! You'll have plenty to do then."

Shi Daniu laughed loudly.

Last autumn, everyone had surplus grain at home, and this year the desire to reclaim wasteland is even stronger.

They weren't the only ones who thought this way; the people of Jinyang thought the same.

Zhaoyuze, a place where three rivers converge, is very suitable for farming. This year, Jinyang has assigned the task of cultivating 300,000 to 500,000 mu of land in addition to ensuring the planting of the existing fields.

The entire area surrounding Zhaoyuze will be fully utilized, and rubber grass will be planted on some saline-alkali land.

After two years of cultivation by Jiayuan Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, the yield of rubber grass planted in the field can now reach more than 30 jin of rubber per mu.

Last year, the total rubber production in Bingzhou reached 60,000 jin, and it will be even higher this year.

Moreover, the planting of rubber grass does not take up the previous share of farmland.

All that's needed is to cultivate the land on saline-alkali soil.

Moreover, the soil conditions of saline-alkali land that has been planted with rubber grass will also be improved. After four or five years of planting, this saline-alkali land may well be transformed into fertile land.

Spring planting is in full swing, perfectly coinciding with the conclusion of the martial arts tournament. Yanmen County, which consolidated power last year, is also actively making improvements.

Last year, Zhao Shi, the judicial officer, took over and used an iron fist to regain real military and political power in Yanmen.

The capable officials of the Ministry of Justice were like nails driven into the counties. For eight whole months, they fought a bloody war, carrying out just punishments and beheadings, finally uprooting the deeply entrenched local powerful families.

Ding Yuan hastily fled to Luoyang to seek refuge with Yuan Kui, leaving a power vacuum that was quickly filled by Zhang Xian, who then firmly controlled the position through a judicial official who was well-versed in the law.

The decree to distribute land equally swept through the exploited countryside of Yanmen like a spring breeze.

When those poor people, who had been tenant farmers or even serfs for generations, received the land deeds stamped with the bright red official seal and specifying the ownership of a certain plot of land from the judicial clerk with trembling hands, many of them knelt down on the spot and wailed loudly.

That thin piece of paper was their lifeline, something their ancestors had never dared to dream of!
The atmosphere in Yanmen County this year is completely different.

Outside the city of Yinguan, the county seat, the vast fields were also bustling with the scene of spring sowing.

The fields were divided into more regular sections, with paths crisscrossing them in an orderly manner.

The swaggering of powerful local tyrants and their private armies has disappeared, replaced by the sight of government officials and clerks patrolling the fields.

The farmers' faces were replaced by a cautious anticipation, and they tended the land with extra care.

Several elderly farmers, dressed in faded, patched browns, were taking a short rest around the edge of the field.

A young man dressed in a dark brown official robe and wearing a minor official's hat approached, holding counting rods and a book, asking questions and taking notes.

"Sir, the land records show that your family of seven was allocated 50 mu of low-grade farmland and 20 mu of medium-grade farmland last year. Are these records accurate?"

The official spoke in a calm tone.

When asked, Old Zhao quickly put down his water jug, wiped his rough hands on his clothes, and his face was full of grateful smiles: "That's right! That's right! Absolutely right! Thanks to the former general and the government! Last autumn, after paying the rent and taxes, we actually had surplus grain left at home."

He pointed to a field not far away where tender green shoots had already sprouted, his voice choked with emotion, "Look, this spring, the government encouraged land reclamation again, and the taxes will be reduced for the first three years after it's reclaimed! I, an old man, along with my two sons, worked from dawn till dusk, and managed to reclaim another ten acres of new land! There's hope for the future!"

Another old farmer chimed in, "That's right!"

Zhang Wenshu smiled as he took notes, nodding occasionally: "Okay, I've noted it all down. As long as it's correct."

"Old man, take good care of this land. Let it grow for two years, and it will become fertile soil. The prefectural government has ordered that the total number of acres of reclaimed land in all villages of Yanmen this year must double compared to last year! Everyone, work harder! Every acre of reclaimed land means an extra granary after autumn! The government will set up 'grain collection points' in every major village this year to buy back surplus grain at a fair price, ensuring that no one is left behind!"

"Double it?" Old Zhao and several other farmers gasped, their eyes lighting up with determination.

"Alright! With the government backing us up, we farmers have plenty of strength!"

Similar dialogues and scenes are playing out in the fields and countryside of Yanmen County.

The land's longing for life and its passion for production, suppressed for too long, flourished like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, nurtured by fair irrigation.

(End of this chapter)