Chapter 432: The Benefit of Agricultural Governance

Chen Dynasty, Ministry of Works experimental field.

Zhao Lao Nian squatted beside a newly dug irrigation channel, gripping a handful of wet mud, his brow furrowed.

Before him lay three or four different styles of water wheel models, plus several sheets of paper covered with improvement sketches, the ink still wet.

"No good, this dragon-bone blade angle is still too steep; in muddy channels it easily jams."

He muttered to himself, casually crumpled a sketch into a ball, and tossed it into the nearby scrap bin.

"That one, though, is light, but its transmission efficiency is too low—it can't draw more than a few feet of water…"

The assistant carefully handed over a cup of strong tea.

"Sir, you've been pondering this for two days. How about eating first?"

Zhao Lao Nian didn't even lift his head, took the tea cup and gulped a big mouthful, his eyes still fixed on those models.

"You can eat anytime, but if this thing isn't settled, I won't feel at ease."

What he received was an order personally issued by Chen Wen—screening for tool diagrams suited to False Song's current technical level that could genuinely boost agricultural efficiency.

This task seemed simple, but it actually tested one's abilities severely.

If the device is too advanced, False Song's artisans won't understand it, can't make it, and will instead arouse suspicion;

nor too outdated, or it won't achieve the effect of a "good law," wasting a penetration opportunity in vain.

What's worse, this item is ultimately meant to be "given" to False Song's local officials; it must be sturdy, durable, easy to maintain, and able to withstand the handling of clerks and farmers who may not be technically savvy.

"Damn it, this is more exhausting than my own inventing."

Zhao Lao Nian grumbled, then picked up a water wheel model improved with a gear set, his fingers tracing the gaps between the gears.

In his mind surfaced Chen Wen's admonition: "Focus on practicality and easy promotion."

Finally, his gaze settled on a water wheel model that looked the most archaic, yet had a few subtle improvements in key parts.

The basic structure remained the common False Song style, but optimizations were made to the blade shape, the choice of wood for the drive shaft, and the foot pedal's labor‑saving design.

Efficiency is estimated to rise by twenty to thirty percent, durability is better, and manufacturing difficulty has not significantly increased.

"This is it!"

Zhao Lao Nian slapped his thigh, finally breaking into a relieved smile.

"Pair it with the optimized curved‑shaft plow blade diagram, and one irrigation, one plowing—job done!"

He immediately ordered the assistant.

"Draw out the detailed exploded views, material specifications, and key points for these two items clearly for me. Remember, use the notation that False Song's artisans can understand—don't bring along the Ministry of Works' internal symbols."

"Understood!"

The assistant promptly agreed, spread out the paper, and began carefully drawing this special "gift."

Days later, False Song, Jingxi Circuit, Xiangzhou Yicheng County.

County Magistrate Zhang Yong was worried about the spring plowing.

Last winter had little snow, this spring's rainfall fell short of usual, and the water levels in several main irrigation channels dropped sharply.

If no solution is found, the summer harvest is likely to suffer a reduction.

Though he came from a civil official background, he was no mere poetry‑loving scholar; he deeply understood that "the people regard food as heaven," and often went down to the fields to visit.

At this moment he stood beside a canal, watching farmers laboriously lift water with traditional bailers, efficiency low, every face clouded with worry.

"Your Excellency,"

The chief clerk of the county office stepped forward and spoke softly.

"The few funds in the treasury are far from enough to support large‑scale water‑works construction. Should we submit a memorial upward requesting an allocation, or ask to defer part of this year's grain tax?"

Zhang Yong furrowed his brow and slowly shook his head.

"Submitting a memorial means layer after layer of approval; by the time the funds arrive, the farming season may be lost. Deferring the grain tax is no trivial matter—it's not for us to decide unilaterally."

He sighed, his gaze sweeping over a riverside blacksmith shop not far away.

"If only we had a labor‑saving, efficient water‑lifting device…"

Just then the blacksmith shop's owner—a swarthy, sturdy middle‑year man—came over, rubbing his hands, his face showing a mix of hesitation and hope.

"Your Honor,"

The blacksmith bowed.

"I… I recently happened to obtain two sheets of drawings."

"Drawings?"

Zhang Yong expressed some doubt.

"Yes, one is an improved water wheel, the other is a diagram of the blade for a curved‑shaft plow."

The blacksmith explained.

"Supposedly it was dropped by a merchant from the south while doing business in the shop. I looked at the ingenious drawings, tried to follow them, and found… found they really work! The water wheel draws water much faster than the old type and saves effort. The plow blade sinks deep when plowing and doesn't easily snag grass."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yong's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light.

"Oh? Where are the drawings? And the actual objects made from them?"

The blacksmith hastily led Zhang Yong to the shop's rear courtyard.

There stood a water wheel that looked no different from an ordinary one, but when turned it ran noticeably smoother and discharged water more abundantly, now under trial run.

Beside it lay a curved‑shaft plow whose blade angle had been optimized.

Zhang Yong stepped forward himself, tried pressing the water wheel a few times, then picked up the curved‑shaft plow to examine it closely.

Although he wasn't skilled in craftsmanship, he still had basic judgment.

Though this improvement wasn't earth‑shattering, it genuinely solved some of the present pain points.

"Good! Good!"

Zhang Yong uttered two "good"s in succession, and all his worry vanished.

Do you still have this blueprint?

Kept, kept!

The blacksmith hurriedly pulled out two slightly worn blueprints from his bosom and respectfully handed them over.

I dare not keep it privately; I was planning to present it to the County Magistrate.

Zhang Yong took the blueprint and examined it carefully.

The drawing technique is indeed not like that of a government workshop, and the annotations are easy to understand, making it suitable for promotion.

His heart stirred, and he asked:

What did those southern merchants say? Did they leave their name?

The blacksmith shook his head in confusion.

No. They seemed to be selling silk goods to the south, hastily grabbed some things and left. This blueprint was probably picked up by them somewhere and accidentally fell out among the cargo.

Zhang Yong did not pursue the matter further.

He faintly felt this was somewhat coincidental, but resolving the spring plowing difficulty is the top priority now.

No matter where this blueprint comes from, as long as it solves the urgent need, it's a good thing.

Immediately gather the carpenters and blacksmiths of the county, and according to this diagram, forge these two tools with all effort!

Zhang Yong issued the order decisively.

Prioritize supply to villages suffering severe water shortages. The required materials and funds will be taken partly from the miscellaneous items in the county's ever-normal granary.

Yes!

The chief clerk and the blacksmith responded in unison, their faces showing delight.

Almost at the same moment Zhang Yong issued the order.

Chen Dynasty, a quiet chamber in a private villa.

Chen Wen, who was trying to combine 'Shi Yong' with his martial arts training to obtain another kind of 'growth' method, felt a slight stir in his mind.

He did not deliberately sense afar, but an extremely faint yet vital 'Fortune Momentum' fluctuation, like a tiny stone tossed onto a calm lake surface, sent out a barely perceptible ripple in his mysterious sensory field.

The source pointed toward the Western Capital Road, in the direction of Xiang Prefecture.

That fluctuation did not come from a powerful individual, but was faintly linked to the concepts of 'land', 'cultivation', and 'livelihood improvement'.

Although faint, it was pure and positive.

Chen Wen slowly withdrew his posture and opened his eyes.

He walked to the large map hanging on the side of the quiet chamber, his gaze falling on the location of the Western Capital Road.

"It has begun…"

He murmured to himself.

Although he could not know the exact details, he could be certain that the 'gift' screened by Zhao Lao Nian had, via the cleverly arranged channel of the 'South Wind Chronicle', been delivered into the right hands and begun to take effect.

He turned his gaze inward again.

That intangible growth-progress vortex seemed, thanks to the successful indirect intervention that crossed the light curtain and benefited the people, to advance by an imperceptible thread.

Accumulation is completed in this way, bit by bit.

He was not in a hurry to see earth-shaking changes immediately.

This solid, foundational seepage is like spring rain: it moistens silently, yet truly nourishes the land and transforms the underlying ecology.

This is far more capable of shaking a dynasty's long-term foundations than a single fierce military clash or political upheaval.

More importantly, this method avoids, to the greatest extent, the Iron Crow Army's sensitive monitoring of major historical junctures.

"The benefit of agricultural policy is a yang stratagem."

Chen Wen's lips curled into a faint arc.

"Even if the Iron Crow Army notices, as long as this truly benefits the False Song's 'rest and recuperation' and its proclaimed 'civil governance', they will find it hard to forcibly stop it; indeed, they might even welcome its success."

"After all, in their script, the early Zhenzong Court also indeed needed such a period of recovery and development."

"We can, moreover, make good use of this east wind to spread our spark wider and deeper."

He returned to the center of the quiet chamber and resumed his stance.

His mind once again sank into exploring and honing his own abilities.

The path of growth is long and arduous.

But he has sufficient patience and wisdom, so each step he takes is steady and sure.

That ripple on the Western Capital Road will, with time, spread to broader waters.

And similar ripples will continue to arise in many places, one after another.