Chapter 46

Late summer, early autumn.

The sunlight turned mellow and warm, pouring over the fields outside Jiao Tu Zhen.

Those plots of land, once barren, later soaked by diligent sweat and the water of wisdom.

Now, a miracle that enchants the heart is unfolding.

Heavy millet ears bent the stalks, sending golden waves rippling in the breeze.

Pods plump, vegetables fresh and lively.

Even the newly planted fruit trees along the field ridges stubbornly bore unripe fruit.

This was Jiao Tu Zhen's first large-scale harvest after taking in refugees and building waterworks.

Its scene of abundance far exceeded everyone's expectations!

Especially the villagers of Xiaohe Village who had recently joined.

They looked at the crops yielding several times more than their original land, and were moved to tears.

"Eightfold... This isn't just strength; even the earth's qi seems to have caught the leader's blessing, becoming so fertile!"

Zhao Lao Nian stroked a plump millet ear, murmuring to himself, his face full of awe.

They naturally did not understand the system's mysteries.

They could only attribute this miraculous harvest to Chen Wen's mysterious "ability" and the "fortune" of Jiao Tu Zhen's land.

The harvest season is Jiao Tu Zhen's festival.

The whole town, young and old, men and women, took up sickles and busied themselves in the fields.

Laughter and chatter replaced the former heaviness, the air filled with the fresh scent of new grain and the joy of harvest.

Chen Wen was also among them; he did not use x Bonus speed to reap the wheat.

Instead, he worked at an ordinary pace, experiencing the steadiness and satisfaction after labor.

But his very presence was an intangible encouragement and symbol.

【Waterworks took effect, summer grain harvested abundantly, agricultural development planning effective, force consolidation increased (x Bonus indirectly manifested)! Diligence Points (WP)+180!】

【Current WP: 7181】

The granaries were quickly filled, even requiring urgent expansion of new storage.

Looking at the grain piled like a mountain, Aunt Wang finally showed a relaxed smile that came from deep within, long absent:

"Brother Wen, with this grain we can finally get through this winter in peace!"

The harvest brought not only material abundance, but also far-reaching renown.

The news of Jiao Tu Zhen wiping out Black Wind Stronghold at little cost had already spread like wings.

It circulated among refugees, merchants, and small villages.

Now, adding this astonishing harvest scene, the three words "Jiao Tu Zhen".

became a symbol in the chaotic times representing "abundance" and "safety".

Thus, after Qian Gui, Jiao Tu Zhen welcomed more visitors.

First, several struggling nearby villages sent timid representatives, who dared not hope to be absorbed.

They merely hoped to exchange some mountain goods, animal hides, or handicrafts for a little life-saving grain.

Chen Wen did not refuse this; instead, he established a relatively fair exchange rate, thereby easing the other side's urgent need.

It also brought scarce supplies to Jiao Tu Zhen, and invisibly expanded its influence.

Next came more merchants.

They swarmed in like bees sensing flower fragrance from all directions.

That day, two groups came to outside the town.

One group was an old acquaintance of Qian Gui, also a trader in hides and medicinal materials, with a scale somewhat larger than Qian Gui's original entourage.

The other group consisted of strangers, speaking a slightly different accent, mainly selling salt blocks and a small amount of ironware—exactly the supplies Jiao Tu Zhen urgently needed.

The temporary trade zone set up outside the town gate instantly bustled with activity.

The newly arrived merchants, seeing Jiao Tu Zhen's orderly fields, thriving crops, sturdy wooden walls, and spirited militia, all showed looks of astonishment.

This was utterly different from the refugee camp they imagined, just after experiencing war.

"Old Brother Qian, you… you've found a treasure land!"

Qian Gui's old acquaintance grasped his hand and exclaimed in a low voice.

"This isn't barren land; it's clearly fertile fields! Look at those crops, look at the populace…"

Qian Gui felt rather pleased, stroking his beard as he laughed:

"Brother Wang, you overpraise; it's all thanks to Chief Chen's good leadership and everyone's willingness to work hard."

He then went on to praise Chen Wen's "benevolence and righteousness" and "ability" again.

Meanwhile, the leader of the salt-and-iron merchants, a thin middle-aged man, paid more attention to Jiao Tu Zhen's defense and order.

He carefully examined the militia's equipment and stance, then glanced at the smoke rising from the workshop direction, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Chen Wen personally received these merchants, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

He needed these merchants to bring outside information and scarce salt and iron, yet he also kept sufficient vigilance.

The trade went quite smoothly; Jiao Tu Zhen exchanged surplus grain, hides, and a small amount of "spoils" taken from Black Wind Stronghold for a batch of urgently needed salt and iron.

During a lull in the trade, Chen Wen seemingly casually asked the salt-and-iron merchant:

"Boss, how's the outside world lately? Have any big shots like Liu Du Tou or Chuan Shan Bao made any moves recently?"

The lean merchant heard this, his face slightly changing.

He glanced around cautiously, then lowered his voice:

"Chief Chen, to be frank, the world is becoming increasingly unsettled."

Liu Du Tou's side, the momentum is incredibly fierce!

I heard they've already annexed several sizable strongholds; their forces are likely close to a thousand.

As for the Mountain-piercing Leopard, they also seem to be desperately expanding, causing considerable friction between the two sides.

We traders are now being extra careful, afraid of bumping into anyone's blade.

He paused, then gave Chen Wen a meaningful look.

Chief Chen, this place... is a good place.

But when a tree stands out, it invites wind; nowadays, being too conspicuous isn't necessarily a blessing.

I heard... Liu Du Tou's people have recently been inquiring about the situation in this western area.

They seem quite concerned about the earlier destruction of Black Wind Stronghold.

Those words were like a bucket of cold water.

Poured onto the joy of the harvest.

Chen Wen's expression remained unchanged, but his heart tightened.

It seems the news Qian Gui brought earlier was not baseless.

Liu Du Tou's gaze has indeed turned toward this place.

Seeing off the merchants, Jiao Tu Zhen regained a temporary peace.

The granaries were well stocked, the people's hearts were at ease, and thanks to prosperous trade, the town gained a bit more bustling vitality.

But Chen Wen knew that beneath this calm, the undercurrents grew ever more turbulent.

Liu Du Tou's massive shadow, with each round of trade and information transmission, became increasingly clear and ever closer.

The joy of harvest is certainly intoxicating, but in troubled times, excessive prosperity often marks the beginning of disaster.

Jiao Tu Zhen must make use of this precious respite to grow stronger, faster.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the fertile fields, bustling workshops, and training militia, finally turning toward the distant horizon.

The calm before a storm is always especially precious, yet also especially unsettling.