Chapter 95: Stalemate

The villages near Haicheng have had another harvest, especially since the weather was favorable this year, and with the use of Fertilizer, the vegetable leaves have grown quite well.

The happiest ones are the families who received the Corn, Sweet Potato, and Potato Seed last year.

Although they were forced to plant one mu of land with these crops, they have now all had a bountiful harvest.

What surprised them even more was the yield of the Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes.

The family of Wang Dazhu in Wang Family Village was also forced to plant these high-yield crops.

At this moment, Wang Dazhu regrets his initial hesitation: "I should have listened to the Prefect back then and planted more; that way, we wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing for the whole year."

But who could have foreseen this in advance?

They picked the Sweet Potatoes, as well as the Potatoes and Corn, and filled several large baskets.

Wang Dazhu picked up a Sweet Potato at random, "Tell me, can this thing even be eaten? It's covered in dirt."

Wang Dazhu still remembered the cooking method taught by the Prefect; after washing them clean, he put them in a pot to steam along with the Potatoes and Corn.

His son, Wang Jinbao, slurped his saliva, his eyes seemingly glued to the pot.

Wang Jinbao didn't forget to ask: "Dad, do these taste good?"

Wang Dazhu: "It's good enough to have something to eat; you want it to taste good too?"

He felt that this thing couldn't possibly have both a high yield and a good taste, right?

As long as it doesn't kill anyone, that's fine.

After about half an hour, a sweet, fragrant scent actually wafted from the pot.

The several children of the Wang family all crowded around, waiting eagerly for the Sweet Potatoes and Corn cobs to finish cooking.

The Wang family has many children, and he didn't dare put in too many of these new things for fear of wasting them.

Before long, they were cooked.

Looking at the children staring eagerly into the pot, Wang Dazhu first cut the Corn cobs into seven pieces, one for each person, and then cut the Sweet Potato into seven pieces, so everyone had one in their hand.

As for the Potatoes...

They didn't look very appetizing, so they were left there.

Wang Dazhu also tasted a bite of the Sweet Potato, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Such a high-yield Sweet Potato, and it actually tastes this good!

The Sweet Potato is soft, waxy, and sweet, and the Corn is also plump with kernels; every bite is sweet.

Wang Jinbao looked at his father and said eagerly: "Dad, I want more."

Wang Dazhu patted his head: "Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating. Most of the Sweet Potatoes here have to be used to cultivate Sweet Potato seedlings. You can eat a bit more Corn, but don't even think about the rest."

As for the Potatoes, they can plant more next year; although the taste is bland, it can fill one's stomach.

Those who had adamantly refused to plant the new seeds back then were now regretting it to the point of their intestines turning green.

If they had known these things were delicious and high-yielding, they definitely would have fought tooth and nail to plant them.

Especially those people in Wutong Village, who had rejected the Prefect's request back then and now couldn't even buy Corn seeds.

The families in the nearby villages had been forced to plant one mu of land, and they didn't have many seeds either.

Thus, the people of Wutong Village, along with those stubborn ones who didn't listen to advice, came to Haicheng together.

About a hundred people knelt on the ground and begged: "Prefect, please give us some more seeds for the high-yield crops."

"We beg the Prefect—"

They knelt before Lu Wanshun, each and every one of them filled with regret.

Lu Wanshun said: "I don't have many seeds left either."

After all, the taste was too good, and he had eaten the surplus himself.

Seeing that the people below were about to cry, Lu Wanshun said: "You can go look around Taohua Village; they might have extra seeds."

Mentioning these seeds, Lu Wanshun felt a bit conflicted in his heart.

Such good things were provided by the First Prince's family, who even thoughtfully taught everyone the planting methods.

Lu Wanshun struggled a bit; this First Prince is indeed better than the current dim-witted ruler.

The few people from Wutong Village did not buy seeds from Lu Wanshun and immediately went to Taohua Village.

But it seems there is another village before this Taohua Village?

And there are several red Watchtowers in this village?

Just as they were preparing to enter, Zhuo Heng on the Watchtower barked: "What are you doing?"

As he spoke, several guards carrying swords drew their blades and pointed them at them.

Frightened, the legs of these people from Wutong Village went soft, and they knelt directly on the ground.

The village chief of Wutong Village hurriedly said: "My lord, the commoners are here to purchase Corn, Sweet Potato, and Potato seeds, and have no intention of offending you."

Yan Ning and her father had not yet returned home, and Ji Lan, who was guarding the house, frowned and said: "Our seeds here are not enough either; you should go to the villages near Taohua Village to buy them."

They have a large area planted with Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes, but no matter how large it is, they must keep them; so many soldiers all need to eat.

Those people immediately got up and prepared to go to Taohua Village to ask again; they must plant these high-yield seeds next spring, or they would starve to death.

After some time had passed, early one morning, just as Yan Ning stepped out, she heard Zhuo Heng's words.

"Miss, many soldiers have come from the North; they might be targeting us."

Yan Ning immediately climbed the Watchtower and looked directly over.

Good heavens, there are quite a lot of troops; I'm afraid there are several thousand of them?

Soon, they arrived at the opposite bank of the river.

Yes, they came by land; hearing that Yan Ze and the others have Explosive Packages, they didn't dare use boats for fear of being wiped out in one go.

Upon reaching the opposite bank, a guard shouted loudly: "Don't come over!"

Qian Jiangjun on the opposite side sneered: "You tell me not to come over, and we just won't come over? I have brought five thousand troops!"

The guard looked over with contempt: "Although we only have a force of two thousand, we wiped out twenty thousand Woguo troops; are you sure you want to come over?"

The other side hesitated at once and did not dare to come over.

Zhuo Heng walked to that Watchtower, lit the semi-failed Explosive Package Yan Ze had given him, and threw it into the air.

"Bang—"

The soldiers could still feel some of the shockwave from the explosive.

Everyone's hair stood on end.

Zhuo Heng said to the people on the other side of the river: "I advise you to give up this idea; that was just a semi-failed explosive, if you dare to advance, I will blow you to death."

After speaking, Zhuo Heng took out another Explosive Package.

Qian Jiangjun on the other side did not dare to say a word, fearing he would anger Zhuo Heng and be blown to death directly.

Qian Jiangjun said helplessly, "I am also just acting under orders."

Zhuo Heng said: "We are also just defending ourselves."

Taking advantage of the moment Zhuo Heng and Qian Jiangjun were talking, Yan Ning hurriedly arranged for the Ji Family, as well as the old and young, to leave.

There was a medium-sized boat, taken back from the Woguo pirates, which could carry several hundred people across without any problem.

Zhuo Heng had Wei Wu take them away.

Qian Jiangjun on the other side could no longer sit still and prepared to charge over with a few men.

But Zhuo Heng's movements were faster than theirs; he threw an Explosive Package over, and trees fell one after another in response to the sound.

Qian Jiangjun was a bit too close and was injured by the shockwave of the explosive.

But it was not fatal.

Zhuo Heng took out another Explosive Package: "If you dare to move recklessly again, the next time won't be as simple as just blowing up trees."

Qian Jiangjun watched with some regret as that boat took the people away, yet he was powerless to do anything.

Both sides remained in a stalemate just like that.