Chapter 27: Eightfold Farm God Reclaims Wasteland Fields, Fertile Land Spans Thousands of Qing, Foundations Firm

Hu Biao's threat was completely eradicated, although the confiscated weapons and small amount of stored grain relieved the urgent need.

But the most fundamental problem facing Jiao Tu Zhen was—food!

It still weighed on Chen Wen's heart like a huge rock.

More than three hundred mouths needed to be fed every day, and the number of refugees kept increasing.

Reclamation and farming were urgent.

Early the next morning, Chen Wen brought Zhang Cheng and a group of selected able-bodied youths to a large tract of gentle slope south of the town that had already been surveyed.

Here the land was relatively fertile, close to a water source, making it an ideal area for reclamation.

But the ground was covered with shrubs half a person's height, tangled vines, and stubborn roots, making it look daunting.

"Chief,... how long will it take to clear this?"

A youth looked at this "hard bone" and couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

In the past, reclaiming such wasteland required first burning it, then digging with a hoe one strike at a time, which was extremely inefficient!

Often a strong laborer could not open even a few fen of land in a day.

Chen Wen said nothing, merely hefting the specially made thickened and weighted iron hoe in his hand.

Eightfold strength surged within his body.

"Today, clear this entire patch."

He calmly pointed to the area of at least fifty mu ahead.

Hearing this, everyone drew a cold breath, feeling the chief might be overly confident.

Chen Wen said no more, took a deep breath, and his arm muscles bulged!

The heavy iron hoe, with a whistling wind, slammed down onto the ground!

Boom! A muffled sound!

It seemed as if he were striking not soil, but solid leather!

The hoe head sank deep into the soil, and the immense force instantly shattered the surrounding land, several thick grass roots snapping with it!

【Reclaiming wasteland, strength and stamina proficiency increased (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+5!】

He did not pause, pulling out the iron hoe and striking down again! His movements were swift, precise, and tireless!

Boom! Boom! Boom! The heavy striking sounds like war drums, resonating rhythmically.

Under his hand, the hard land seemed to turn into soft tofu, being swiftly torn and turned.

The stubborn shrubs and roots were no match for absolute force.

One person alone, he produced the momentum and efficiency of at least ten old farmers working simultaneously!

The able-bodied youths following behind stared agape, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.

"What are you staring at? Follow the chief and get to work!"

Zhang Cheng reacted first, shouting excitedly and raising his hoe to start working.

The others, as if waking from a dream, were all infected by Chen Wen's inhuman efficiency and enthusiasm, shouting as they began clearing the remaining roots and stones from the loosened soil.

【Leading and motivating the team in production and construction, organizational ability increased! Diligence Points (WP)+3…+3… (ongoing)】

Chen Wen not only worked himself, his eightfold observational acuity could at any time spot others' improper tool use and mistaken force techniques, and he would immediately call them out.

"Keep your wrists down, use your waist strength!"

"Make sure the hoe lands accurately, don't waste strength!"

"Pile the cleared stones over there for later use in building field ridges!"

Under his guidance and by his example leading from the front, the Reclamation Team's efficiency became astonishingly high.

What was originally estimated to take months of work was now advancing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

At noon, while eating and resting, Chen Wen was not idle. He gnawed on dry rations while using his eightfold mental speed to plan waterworks.

He observed the slight elevation differences of the terrain and quickly designed a route for an irrigation channel in his mind.

Water could be directly diverted from the nearby stream into this newly reclaimed field.

In the afternoon, reclamation continued.

Chen Wen even began trying more efficient methods.

He found several extremely tough old vines, tied heavy stones to them, and made a simple "earth-breaking hammer."

Then, using eightfold strength, he swung it wildly and smashed it into the ground.

He performed large-scale loosening of the land, after which others did the detailed work.

【Innovative farming methods, practical efficiency increased! Diligence Points (WP)+20!】

As the sun set in the west, when everyone turned back with weary yet excited bodies, they were all shocked by the sight before them.

A full fifty-plus mu of land!

The original thickets of shrubs and rocky beaches vanished, replaced by neatly turned, fragrant earth—a brand‑new fertile field!

The field ridges were also preliminarily built, and even the planned irrigation channel had already been dug a short segment!

One day! Just one day!

"A miracle... this is practically a miracle!"

An old farmer knelt on the soft soil, grabbed a handful of earth, and was moved to tears.

He had farmed all his life and had never seen such efficient reclamation.

All those who participated in the reclamation looked at Chen Wen, their gazes no longer seeing merely a capable chief, but a living agricultural deity!

【Efficiently completing large‑scale reclamation, solving the key problem of food production, gaining the populace's fervent acclaim! Diligence Points (WP)+400!】

【Current WP: 2986】

Chen Wen looked at this new field, his heart also filled with a sense of accomplishment.

The tangible feeling of directly creating a survival foundation through effort reassured him more than any victory in battle.

In the following days, Chen Wen pushed his eightfold abilities to the limit.

Seed selection: thanks to his eightfold vision, he could quickly pick the plumpest, most vigorous batch from a huge pile of seeds.

Breeding: he consulted the town's most experienced farmer, instantly grasping the essentials with his eightfold learning and memory, and could precisely control water temperature and soaking time to promote germination.

Fertilizing: he organized labor to collect livestock manure and plant ash from inside and outside the town, and even used his eightfold knowledge integration to try formulating simple organic fertilizers.

Waterworks: he personally led the team digging canals; his eightfold strength and stamina made him a human excavator, and the canal project progressed by leaps and bounds.

Under his leadership, Jiao Tu Zhen launched a grand production drive; the newly reclaimed fields were quickly sown with seeds.

Mainly drought-resistant, fast-growing millet and beans; the creek water was successfully diverted, creating a scene of thriving prosperity.

However, Chen Wen was not satisfied.

He knew that grain crops need time to grow, while the town's consumption is daily.

They needed to find a food source that could be harvested quickly.

His gaze turned to the forests and rivers surrounding the town.

The next day, he formed the Hunting Team and the Fishing Team, and personally led them.

Hunting: his eightfold senses (smell, hearing, sight) let him easily spot game, and his eightfold strength and precision made his javelin throws almost always hit; the Hunting Team reaped a bountiful harvest.

Fishing: he improved the fishing net, and his eightfold craftsmanship produced a net that was tougher and more durable.

He even tried luring fish at night with torches, then striking with his homemade spear at eightfold precision, yielding a huge catch.

【Leading the hunt, gained large amounts of meat, survival security increased! Diligence Points (WP) +80!】

【Innovating fishing methods, gained large amounts of fish, survival security increased! Diligence Points (WP) +80!】

【Current WP: 3146】

The food problem is being solved by Chen Wen at an astonishing speed.

In Jiao Tu Zhen's granary and dried-meat storehouse, supplies are visibly growing.

The townspeople's faces no longer show pallor and worry, but are full of hope and a healthy glow.

Their trust and admiration for Chen Wen have reached the utmost extent.

Everyone knows that as long as they follow the leader, they can survive—and live better and better!

Chen Wen stood on the ridge of the newly reclaimed fields, watching the busy townsfolk in the distance and the lush seedlings, his heart filled with heroic ambition.

The foundation has been laid; Jiao Tu Zhen's base is becoming ever more solid.