Chapter 167

As midsummer arrived, the scorching sun blazed.

But when it shone upon the vast fields of Luo River, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, and Riverbank counties...

Yet it seemed to be covered with a layer of golden radiance that intoxicated the heart.

Wheat waves rolled, the ears drooping low.

That heavy bounty was a sight that made anyone who had lived through famine years feel their heart race.

The summer harvest began.

This was a battle in which all the people participated, and also a celebration filled with joy.

Men, women, old and young—anyone who could still move—almost all flooded into the fields.

Sickles flashed silver in the sunlight, swathes of wheat stalks were cut clean at the roots, and bound into sturdy sheaves.

Then sturdy laborers carried them load by load, cart by cart, to the village threshing grounds.

The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of new wheat, mixed with the scent of sweat, forming a movement of abundance.

Wang Ru wore a sun-shading veil hat, walking beside the most fertile patch of land in the outskirts of Luo River County.

She held pen and paper, occasionally recording what she saw, her delicate face unable to hide her excitement.

As the official specifically responsible for civil affairs statistics and supervision, she understood better than anyone what this bounty before her signified.

"Assistant Secretary Wang, look! Look at this wheat ear!"

An old farmer clutched a bundle of wheat just cut, running excitedly to Wang Ru's side; his wrinkled face broke into a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"As an old man, I have farmed this land all my life and have never seen wheat so solid and dense!"

"One mu can yield at least thirty percent more—no, possibly over fifty percent more!"

Wang Ru took the bundle of wheat; it felt solid in hand, the grains plump.

Although she did not engage in farming directly, she also knew well how previous harvests had been.

Under the continuing influence of the "Extensive Bestowal 8x" effect, not only did crop growth speed increase,

it also showed in more developed root systems and enhanced lodging resistance.

and most crucially in improved photosynthetic efficiency, ultimately reflected in this astonishing yield per mu.

"Elder, this is all due to your hard work combined with favorable weather."

Wang Ru smiled as she returned the bundle of wheat, her tone gentle.

She certainly could not mention the Defense Commissioner's mysterious ability, attributing the credit only to timing and human effort.

"Yes, yes, yes, thanks to the Defense Commissioner's grace, thanks to the government's grace!"

The old farmer nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of gratitude.

"The irrigation canals built by the government have really proven very useful this year!"

"They didn't delay watering when needed, and the new composting method makes the soil fertility visibly greater than before!"

Beside him, another man binding sheaves straightened his back, wiped sweat, and laughed loudly.

"It's not just that the soil is fertile! Assistant Secretary Wang, you don't know, since the Defense Commissioner arrived."

"When we work, we feel full of energy, our hands and feet much more adept."

"In previous years we needed ten-odd days to finish the work, but now it feels like seven or eight days suffice, and we don't feel tired at all—it's uncanny!"

Wang Ru understood clearly in her heart.

This is probably the subtle, pervasive effect of the "Extensive Bestowal," boosting laborers' overall efficiency and endurance.

She merely smiled and nodded, without exposing it.

On the threshing ground, it was even more extraordinarily lively.

The flails rose and fell, emitting a rhythmic "patter-patter" sound.

Golden wheat grains fell like raindrops from the ears, piling up on the ground, growing thicker and thicker.

The workers in charge of winnowing used the wind to blow away the chaff mixed in, leaving clean, plump wheat grains.

Children played and roughhoused by the wheat piles, occasionally being chased off by laughing adults scolding them, the air filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Zhang Cheng sat in the county office, listening to the preliminary yield estimates reported from each village and hamlet, the smile on his face never fading.

Before him lay an open ledger recording one exciting datum after another.

"Luo River upper fields, expected yield per mu: two shi five dou!"

"Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping middle fields, yield per mu also one shi eight dou!"

"Riverbank newly opened slope fields, even have over one shi per mu!"

These figures far exceed the average of past years, and even surpass the records of some abundant years by a large margin.

The state granaries' storage had long been repaired and reinforced, now opening its "big mouth" to receive this unprecedented influx of grain.

The community granaries set up in each village were likewise required to be filled, to prepare for emergencies or to lend to farming households facing a gap between harvests.

"Hurry, organize the labor, dry and store—absolutely no mold, and don't let rats and birds ruin it!"

Zhang Cheng ordered his subordinate clerks, his voice hoarse from excitement.

"Spread the word: this summer's tax will be levied exactly as before, not a single grain more—let the people enjoy a peaceful and prosperous summer!"

The order's transmission elicited even more jubilation.

The people don't fear paying taxes; they fear that the grain they painstakingly harvested will mostly be plundered away.

The Defense Commissioner not only brought a bountiful harvest but also light corvée and low taxes—this is practically the sort of good days only dreamed of.

As grain poured continuously into the storehouses, a sense of steadiness and stability grew ever stronger throughout the three counties.

On the streets, the vendors' cries rang out a bit louder.

Those with sallow faces grew ever fewer, replaced by people whose complexions gradually took on a healthy ruddiness.

The former refugee gathering shanty area is now orderly as well, with able-bodied labor organized to participate in land reclamation or waterworks construction.

Even the elderly, weak, women, and children could receive basic porridge relief until they could support themselves.

On the streets of Luochuan County, the scene of "no starving bodies on the road" appeared for the first time.

Occasionally, traveling merchants from elsewhere who saw this scene would all click their tongues in amazement.

People said this place showed signs of a prosperous, peaceful age.

One day, Chen Wen, accompanied by Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and others, inspected several important government granaries.

Looking at the grain piles stacked like mountains, smelling the fragrance of new wheat, he also felt a myriad of emotions.

"When granaries are full, people know propriety."

He softly said to Zhang Cheng beside him.

"With grain in hand, the heart is not panicked. Only when the people can fill their stomachs can we discuss education, discuss rules, discuss resisting foreign aggression."

Zhang Cheng deeply agreed and nodded.

"What the commander says is utterly correct. Last year and this spring, we still had to exhaust our efforts for military grain and for relieving refugees."

"After this summer, at least within the coming year, the military and civilians of our three counties will have no worry of running out of grain."

"This is the foundation of consolidating the root, the stone of strengthening enterprise!"

Wang Ru added.

"Not only that, abundant grain can also attract more refugees to settle and support our stockpiling of more strategic supplies."

"Following your orders, subordinates have begun secretly using part of the surplus grain, through reliable channels, to exchange for good horses and furs to the north."

Chen Wen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the expanse of golden "mountain ridges."

The intangible Fortune Momentum vortex within his body also seemed to become more substantial due to this rich material foundation and the coalesced popular sentiment.

It became more substantial and active, slowly circulating, as if containing boundless power.

Although he could not actively command it, he could clearly sense it.

It grew ever more closely linked to this land and to the people living on it.

The foundation, at a visibly perceptible pace, was becoming deep and solid.

Just then, a courier galloped in on a fast horse, presenting a document from Chan Prefecture.

Chen Wen opened it and saw it was a routine dispatch from the Jiedushi's office.

It mentioned that the imperial court's dispatched supervisor would soon arrive at Chan Prefecture and the stations of various defense commissioners.

It required all places to make preparations.

"To assist in military affairs and audit accounts."

Chen Wen passed the document to Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru; his face showed no surprise, only his eyes grew slightly cold.

"What was bound to come has finally come."

He said lightly, his gaze once again turning to the granary full of grain.

"However, we now have much more confidence."

The joy of the abundant harvest was not completely swept away by the impending political clouds.

Instead, it made Chen Wen and his subordinates even more confident that, as long as their foundation is deep, they can calmly cope with external storms.