Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

After the call to spring plowing sounded, the land near Black Wind Ridge seemed to be infused with a kind of urgent vitality. Radiating outwards from Xinghuobao, vast stretches of wasteland were filled with people wielding hoes, wooden plows, and stone shovels. The shouts, the neighing of livestock, and the clanging of tools, mixed with the pungent smell of freshly turned soil, created a bustling yet hopeful scene of land reclamation.

Zhao Tiezhu indeed worked tirelessly. He organized all the able-bodied people—the fortress inhabitants, newly arrived refugees, and even some of the submissive Hu prisoners allowed to participate in labor—into teams of ten or five, assigning them specific areas to work in. He himself, like a tireless ox, ran barefoot through the fields every day, his voice hoarse from shouting, his eyes bloodshot, yet still full of energy. Chen Xing went to see it twice and felt somewhat relieved to see the carefully tended potato seedlings, already growing to a hand's height with lush green stems and leaves, and the newly sown millet and bean seeds beside them. Grain was always the first sword hanging over their heads.

However, another sword quietly appeared—water.

When Xinghuobao was chosen as its site, its proximity to a stream was considered. However, the stream flowing down from Heifeng Ridge had a limited flow, and as spring temperatures rose and the snow melted away, the stream's water level visibly decreased day by day. Most of the newly cultivated fields were located on slopes or flat areas far from the stream, and relying solely on carrying water by hand was far from sufficient to meet irrigation needs. Several days passed without rain, and the newly sown seeds desperately needed water to germinate, while the transplanted seedlings drooped. An atmosphere of anxiety began to spread across the fields.

"If it doesn't rain soon, all our hard work these past few months will have been for nothing!" Zhao Tiezhu stormed into the council hall, his hair still covered in bits of grass, his face streaked with mud and sweat. "The land near the stream is a little better, but the land on the slopes is practically cracked! Carrying water? How many people are enough? We've already broken several carrying poles!"

Chen Xing put down the report on resource consumption submitted by Li Shu, which he was reviewing, and frowned slightly. He had known that irrigation would be a problem, but he hadn't expected the spring drought to come so suddenly. Relying on the weather was ultimately not a long-term solution, nor was it what he wanted.

"Mr. Wu, I remember when you surveyed the surrounding terrain last time, you mentioned that there seemed to be a spring in the mountain valley to the north?" Chen Xing looked at Wu Xuejiu beside him.

Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard and pondered: "Indeed. It is a hidden spring with a decent water volume, but the terrain is low and it is separated from the fields in front of the fort by a low hill and a rocky beach, making it difficult to draw water. In previous years, a few displaced people had considered drawing water, but the project was quite large and could not be completed by dozens of people in ten days. Moreover, it required someone who knew how to survey the terrain and plan the irrigation canals to take charge, so in the end, all of them failed."

"Draw water..." Chen Xing stood up and walked to the rough map on the wall, which Wu Xuejiu, Li Shu, and others had gradually improved based on on-site surveys and the prisoners' accounts. His gaze followed the upstream of the stream, across the area marked with mountain symbols to the north, and finally landed on the newly reclaimed slopes and plains.

In my mind, fragments of memories from another world were churning. Contour lines from geography textbooks, principles of hydraulic engineering, even the field ditches I saw in the countryside as a child... Although not systematic, the basic concept was clear: to use the difference in terrain elevation to build water diversion channels.

"Perhaps... we can give it a try." Chen Xing turned around, a resolute glint in his eyes. "We can't just rely on God's bounty. This irrigation canal needs to be repaired."

"Repair?" Zhao Tiezhu's eyes widened. "My lord, that's not just digging a small ditch! The spring in Beishan is at least four or five li away! There are hills and plains in between. How are we going to dig it? Even if people could dig it, how long would it take? Spring plowing can't wait!"

"We must repair it even if we can't wait. And we must do it quickly." Chen Xing's tone was firm. "We must not only quench the immediate thirst, but also lay the foundation for water supply for more fields and even the fortress in the future. Tiezhu, you continue to be in charge of protecting the seedlings in the fields. Use water to relieve emergencies where possible. I will plan the canal repair."

He immediately ordered: "Li Shu, gather all those who have worked as bricklayers, stonemasons, or participated in road and wall construction, and assemble them at the drill ground in one hour. Mr. Wu, please bring a map and two experienced hunters or herb gatherers familiar with the terrain of Beishan who are agile. Chen Wei, dispatch a garrison of soldiers to be responsible for the security and safety of the canal construction site. General Murong," he looked at Murong Mingyue, who was listening quietly, "please send several riders to expand the reconnaissance area in the direction of Beishan to ensure that there will be no wild animals or enemies harassing us during the canal construction."

As the orders were clearly issued, although the crowd still had doubts, they saw Chen Xing's resolute expression and knew that this matter was of paramount importance, so they all accepted the orders and left.

Before leaving, Murong Mingyue hesitated slightly and asked, "Lord of the Fortress, building the canal requires a large number of men, and some of the able-bodied men in my tribe can also be drawn to participate. However... this water diversion project is no small matter. Are you truly confident, Lord of the Fortress?"

Chen Xing noticed the worry in her eyes and knew she was concerned that if the project failed, it would not only be a waste of resources and manpower but also damage the morale that had just been built up. He said in a deep voice, "Planning is up to people, and success... also depends on people. Although I am not entirely certain, this method is theoretically feasible. As for manpower, your cavalry's primary duty is to patrol and patrol, so we will not mobilize them for now. If needed later, we will redeploy them."

Murong Mingyue said no more, clasped her hands in a fist and left.

An hour later, seventy or eighty people had gathered on the training ground of Starfire Fortress. Most of them were emaciated refugees or ordinary people from the fortress, with only a few who looked like skilled craftsmen. They all looked bewildered, wondering why the young fortress lord had summoned them.

Chen Xing stood on a makeshift wooden platform, with Wu Xuejiu and two elderly mountain villagers who had been brought to his aid. He didn't preach any grand principles; he simply described the threat of the spring drought and the necessity of irrigation in the most straightforward terms.

"...Relying on the heavens is unreliable; relying on carrying water is impossible, as we can't possibly carry it all. If we want to survive, and if we want to have grain in our granaries after autumn harvest, we must bring water from the north mountain! That's why I've gathered everyone here today—to work together to accomplish this!"

The crowd below whispered amongst themselves, a murmur of noise filling the air. Some eyes gleamed with hope, while many more were filled with doubt and dread. Four or five miles, traversing hills and crossing rivers—it was simply a pipe dream.

Ignoring the commotion below, Chen Xing had someone bring him several flat wooden boards and charcoal pencils. He squatted down and, using the boards as a reference, began to draw and explain.

"We won't dig a long ditch that's the same depth from beginning to end; that would be too much work. We'll follow the terrain and find a route where the water can flow naturally." He drew a winding line on the map with a charcoal pencil. "Starting from the spring, this is the highest point. We'll dig a small reservoir here to collect the spring water and stabilize the water level."

His charcoal pencil moved down the imagined route: "Then, following the contours of the mountain, where the slope is gentler, we'll dig a main channel. The main channel doesn't need to be too wide or deep, but it must have a certain slope so that the water can flow down on its own. Where the terrain is steep or there are piles of rocks," he paused, recalling the methods he remembered, "we can use bamboo pipes or hollowed-out wooden troughs to build an 'aqueduct' so that the water can pass over it; or, if there are too many rocks, we can simply take a short detour and choose a route that is easier to dig."

His explanation wasn't very professional; he used more straightforward metaphors to explain many terms, such as "water head," "slope," and "aqueduct." But the core idea was clear: utilize gravity, choose the optimal path, construct in sections, and adapt to local conditions.

The craftsmen and villagers below the stage were initially confused, but gradually, a thoughtful glint appeared in the eyes of several older craftsmen. They might not understand the "principle of gravity," but years of experience gave them a basic understanding of "water flowing downhill" and "winding around rocks." Chen Xing's plan, though bold, upon closer examination, seemed... not entirely reckless?

"Mr. Wu and these two gentlemen are familiar with the terrain," Chen Xing pointed to the villagers beside him. "They will lead the way and help us find the most suitable route. We need to split into several teams: a survey team, responsible for following Mr. Wu to determine the final canal line and driving in wooden stakes as markers; an excavation team, the largest in number, responsible for excavating the main canal and branch canals according to the markers; a materials team, responsible for collecting suitable bamboo, wood, and stones to build aqueducts and reinforce the canal banks; and a logistics team, responsible for transporting tools and food."

He straightened up and scanned the audience: "This project is of equal importance to land reclamation, and merits will be awarded according to the Merit Regulations! Merit points will be awarded for each day's work! Those who complete the task first and offer effective suggestions for improvement will receive double the merits!"

Upon hearing the word "merit points," many people in the audience lit up. Merit points meant tangible food, cloth, and even the hope of future land and houses.

Seeing that everyone's emotions had been stirred up, Chen Xing officially began to assign tasks. He personally selected ten of the most clever and quick-footed young men, along with the two old mountain villagers, and led by Wu Xuejiu, to form a survey team. They immediately set off for the North Mountain Spring to conduct on-site surveys of the canal route.

The remaining people were roughly divided into excavation, materials, and logistics teams based on their previously registered skills and physical abilities. Chen Xing appointed an old stonemason who had participated in the construction of a small dike and had some prestige among the refugees to temporarily lead the excavation team, and had Zhou Dashan transfer personnel from the Internal Affairs Battalion to be in charge of logistics. The materials team was temporarily managed by Wang Jian, as he was familiar with the materials and craftsmanship within the fortress.

All afternoon, Xinghuobao was like a tightly wound machine, operating at high speed around the core goal of "canal repair". The drill ground was filled with the clanging and banging of tools as people received their tools, formed ranks, and collected their rations. Although it was still noisy, there was less confusion and more focused busyness with a clear goal.

The scouts dispatched by Murong Mingyue brought back news that there were no unusual developments in the direction of Beishan. A garrison of soldiers deployed by Chen Wei was also in position.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Wu Xuejiu returned with his survey team, everyone exhausted but excited. They had spent the entire night surveying and had preliminarily determined a feasible water diversion route, marking key points with wooden stakes. The route was longer than expected, about six li (approximately 3 kilometers), requiring them to traverse two low hills and cross a rocky beach about thirty paces wide, but avoiding the most difficult rocky areas to excavate.

Chen Xing listened carefully to Wu Xuejiu's report, and after comparing it with the more detailed topographical sketch they brought back, he pondered for a moment and made a few minor adjustments, mainly reducing an unnecessary bend and selecting a location on the rocky beach to build a simple wooden and stone aqueduct.

"Let's get started!" Chen Xing waved his hand.

For the first time in countless years, the foot of the North Mountain echoed with the clamor of large-scale human intervention in nature. The excavation team, chanting slogans, followed the marked wooden stakes, wielding picks and hoes, constantly digging up and carrying away soil and gravel. The materials team moved between the forest and the construction site, cutting down suitable bamboo and trees, and collecting regularly shaped stones. The logistics team carried loads of water and coarse grain cakes mixed with bean curd and dried vegetables.

Chen Xing did not sit inside the fortress and direct operations remotely. He spent most of his time on the construction site every day, sometimes discussing local problems with Wu Xuejiu and the old stonemason, sometimes personally picking up tools to demonstrate how to dig more efficiently and how to beat the canal walls to make them stronger and less prone to collapse, and sometimes working with the materials team to study how to use rattan and wooden wedges to connect the bamboo pipes more tightly and prevent leaks.

His hands quickly developed blisters, his robes were covered in mud, and his face was reddened by the gentle spring sun. But his focused expression, his hands-on approach, and the occasional seemingly whimsical yet effective "ideas," such as using bamboo tubes to make a simple level to measure the slope, gradually won the trust of everyone on the construction site. Even the most skeptical old craftsmen couldn't help but mutter to themselves, "This lord of the fortress... he really does have some strange and unusual knowledge."

Murong Mingyue had visited the construction site twice. Once was during a routine patrol, and the other time she brought a batch of captured Hu-style short pickaxes, more suitable for digging. As she rode her horse, she watched Chen Xing, covered in mud but with bright eyes, mingling with the craftsmen and laborers in the distance. She watched him stand on the nascent canal bank, pointing into the distance and speaking to the crowd, eliciting nods and shouts of even greater enthusiasm. The taut string in her heart seemed to relax a little.

This man was not only capable of wielding a knife in battle and strategizing, but he could also stoop to such "humble" civil engineering work. And he did these things not to display authority, but to genuinely pave a path for everyone's survival. This complex and multifaceted character made her feel both unfamiliar and irresistibly drawn to him.

The irrigation canal, at a visible pace, stretched inch by inch towards Xinghuo Fortress. Like a newly awakened blood vessel, it was about to infuse this parched land with the life-giving water.

Hope, like the flowing water in this canal, began to stir gently in everyone's heart.