Tie Lanshan dismounted.
Because there were many people down the slope, the sound of horse hooves was too loud.
So he tossed the reins to his personal guard and walked down along the bushes himself.
The guard followed for two steps but was stopped by his raised hand.
"Stay here and don't make a sound."
The guard lowered his voice: "Commander, the people below are from the Field Administration Office. I'm afraid they are here to cause trouble."
Tie Lanshan didn't look back.
"I'll see how they cause trouble first."
He walked for more than half an hour, bypassed the old ditch, and crossed a low slope. The scenery under his feet changed.
In the distance, large patches of green were spread out, ridge after ridge. From the head of the field to the edge of the ditch, the row spacing was neat, and the ditch lines were clear.
Tie Lanshan stood on the slope and looked for a long time.
Isn't this Yanmen Wasteland? That Hetao region.
He still remembered passing by this place ten years ago, when the horse's hooves stepped down, the salt crust shattered into white powder.
When the wind blew, it covered people's faces, and the ridges of the fields were rotten.
The memorial submitted by the Field Administration Office stated clearly that the saline-alkali land was difficult to treat, and there was no hope for military farming.
But now, the land under the slope had actually come alive!
The soil was yellow, the seedlings were green, and there was water in the salt drainage ditch!
Tie Lanshan squatted down, pushed aside a clump of alfalfa at his feet, pinched off a tender stem, and smelled it under his nose.
This smell was too rare in the northern border.
He looked at the ditch again. There was water flowing at the bottom of the ditch, and white salt foam floated on the edge. It was just that someone had scraped it into a small pit outside the ditch with a wooden piece, and a bamboo stick was inserted next to the pit with a cross drawn on it.
This was someone treating the land with their lives.
The sound of wheels suddenly came from under the slope.
Tie Lanshan loosened his fingers, and the broken grass fell back into the field.
He pressed his body behind the bushes and moved forward dozens of steps along the ridge of the slope.
Twenty years of border life had given him a habit: when he heard a noise, he would first look for cover. Even if it was a yamen runner, he would not stand out openly to be a target.
In the direction of the north slope, a group of people and horses came down the dirt road.
In the front were six yamen runners in black clothes, with knives hanging from their waists and iron chains in their hands. In the middle was a small sedan chair with blue cloth, and behind were three empty carts with tarpaulins laid on the cart boards.
The sedan curtain was lifted, and a fair-skinned civil official poked half his face out from inside, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief.
Tie Lanshan recognized the person.
Zhang Gui of the Field Administration Office.
This person had been to the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion twice, each time holding an account book and complaining. When he asked him for silver to build canals, he was full of respect. When he asked him why the wasteland had not improved, he talked about natural disasters, terrain, and insufficient manpower. Nine out of ten sentences were about this.
Tie Lanshan didn't have much patience for this kind of person.
He didn't make a sound, touched down a few more steps, and found a position where he could hear clearly and squatted down.
Under the slope, more than five hundred disabled soldiers, women, and children had stopped working.
Zhang Gui got out of the sedan chair, straightened the corner of his robe, and unfolded the document.
"Lin Siniang, the Field Administration Envoy, listen to the order—"
The circle of people on the field ridge didn't kneel.
Zhang Gui's hand paused, and he raised his voice.
"Investigate Lin Siniang, the Field Administration Envoy of Yanmen Wasteland, who arbitrarily breached the river embankment without reporting, causing the official fields to be flooded and destroying the military farming works."
Tie Lanshan squatted behind the bushes, frowning.
He looked down at the seedlings under his feet, and then at the ditch that was still draining water.
Destroying official fields?
This official field used to be so white that it blinded people, and not even mice were willing to dig holes.
Now living things grew on the ground, and the ditch was draining salt water. Whose destruction could destroy it into this state?
Zhang Gui continued to read: "Also investigate her for disobeying agricultural orders, abandoning grain and planting grass, disrupting the military farming regulations. She is to be immediately escorted back to Zhenbei City for trial. All grain seeds, account books, and agricultural tools in Yanmen Wasteland are to be sealed on the spot. The farming personnel are to stand by on the spot and are not allowed to go to the fields without authorization. Violators will be punished for disobeying orders."
After the document was read, the field ridge exploded.
Sun Qi leaned on his crutch and stomped forward.
"Whose field are you sealing? We dug this land, and we cleared the ditch."
"We even planted the seedlings. You want to seal them just like that?"
A man with a severed finger let out a yell and cursed: "Zhang Gui, you collected silver to build canals a few years ago. The canal collapsed and only half was left, and you didn't even fart. Now that seedlings have grown in the fields, you run fast!"
"Yes! You used to think it was dirty and smelly here, and now you have time to come and lock people up!"
Several women also surrounded them, holding wooden shovels in their hands.
"Whoever dares to touch Field Administration Envoy Lin, step over my shovel first!"
Zhang Gui was scolded so much that he couldn't back down. He rolled the document in his hand, and sweat broke out on the back of his hand.
He looked at the people around him and forced a bureaucratic tone.
"I am carrying out an errand under the orders of my superiors. Do you farming households dare to gather and disobey orders?"
Sun Qi spat.
"Disobeying orders? I lost my leg under the northern city wall, and the arrowhead is still buried in my bones! I have given my life to the Zhenbei Army, and you use the Field Administration Office's broken paper to scare me?"
The disabled soldiers on the field ridge squeezed forward a step.
The yamen runners in black clothes also pressed forward a step, holding their knife handles, and the iron chains rattled in their hands.
Zhang Gui took half a step back, and felt that this was too embarrassing, so he straightened his waist.
"Lin Siniang, come out yourself, don't implicate these people."
Lin Siniang handed the water gourd to the woman next to her and walked two steps forward.
"Lord Zhang, the alfalfa in the field has just sprouted, and the water cannot be stopped. If this ditch is sealed for three days, the salt will return to the top."
Zhang Gui snorted coldly.
"I'm not here to listen to you talk about farming."
Lin Siniang pointed to the seed preservation area.
"Those five millet seedlings are salt-tolerant seeds that took three years to breed!"
"Enough!"
Zhang Gui stuffed the document into his sleeve and raised his hand to point at her.
"At this time, you are still using a few blades of grass to fool me. It is a fact that you abandoned grain and planted grass! It is also a fact that you arbitrarily diverted river water! Go back to the city with me today, and talk about your seedlings in court!"
Sun Qi held his crutch horizontally, blocking Lin Siniang behind him.
"Try locking her up!"
Zhang Gui's chin trembled.
He looked at the circle of mud-legged people on the field ridge, and his ears were full of curses.
The little official prestige in his heart was worn away, and he waved his hand to the head yamen runner.
"Arrest her!"
Two yamen runners rushed up with iron chains.
One reached out to grab Lin Siniang's arm, and the other directly drew his knife, the blade pressing towards Sun Qi and The dark-faced woman.
As soon as the knife was unsheathed, the crowd on the field ridge squeezed forward instead.
Sun Qi smashed his crutch on the ground.
"Come! Hack here! I'm missing a leg, I'm not afraid of missing an arm!"
The man with the severed finger pushed the seed bag behind him and was about to pounce on him with his bare hands.
Just then, someone spoke on the slope.
"Who is the knife drawn against?"
The yamen runner who drew the knife turned his head first.
After he saw who was coming, his wrist trembled directly.
The person who came was not wearing any armor, nor did he put on any airs. He was just wearing casual clothes.
But as soon as he came out, the six yamen runners were all quiet.
The fat runner standing next to the sedan chair had originally wanted to watch the fun. But when Tie Lanshan approached, his knees went soft, and he knelt down with a thud.
"Com... Commander!"
The thin runner followed suit and knelt down, knocking his head on the dirt.
"Greetings, Commander!"
The six yamen runners in black clothes knelt on the ground.
The one who drew the knife was the most miserable. He didn't even have time to put away the knife, and his hand trembled even more. Finally, it dropped at his feet with a clatter.
Zhang Gui hadn't turned the corner yet.
He first cursed: "Where did this idler come from, daring to disturb the Field Administration Office's errand—"
Halfway through his words, he saw Tie Lanshan's face clearly, and the remaining words in his throat were all blocked.
Tie Lanshan walked up to him and reached out.
Zhang Gui's hands were empty, and he was stunned.
Tie Lanshan spoke: "The document."
Zhang Gui hurriedly pulled the document from his sleeve and offered it with both hands. As he handed it over, his arms trembled so much that the paper rustled loudly.
Tie Lanshan unfolded it and read through it while standing by the field ridge.
No one in the field made another sound.
After reading the last line, Tie Lanshan folded the document.
A reprimand from the capital?
Zhang Gui gulped.
To answer the Commander-in-Chief, it... it was forwarded by the superiors at the Bureau of Military Farming. I am merely acting on orders.
Who approved it?
This... it has an official seal on it. According to the rules, it was transferred to the Bureau of Military Farming, and I simply received the document to carry out my duties.
Tie Lanshan tucked the document into his robes.
I will keep this. Later, I will have someone investigate where this official dispatch came from and whose hands it passed through.
Zhang Gui's body instantly went limp.
He knew this piece of paper all too well.
The reprimand from the capital was real, and the additional charges appended at the end indeed bore the seal of the Bureau of Military Farming.
But how it was passed along the way, and who had added those strokes, no one dared to speak of openly.
If it were truly investigated, all the funds for canal repair, farming tools, and rations in the Yanmen Wasteland over the years would be unearthed.
Zhang Gui's tongue felt tied in knots.
Commander, this matter... there might be a misunderstanding. I was only afraid that the regulations of the military settlement would be ruined, which is why I hurried here to seal the account books.
Tie Lanshan ignored him and turned to look at Lin Siniang.
You treated this land?
Lin Siniang nodded.
Yes.
You diverted the river water too?
Yes.
Why didn't you report it first?
Lin Siniang raised her hand and pointed to the old floodgate in the distance.
The old gate has been rotting for years. Once the peak of the rainy season passes, the opportunity is gone. If I had waited for official approval, the yellow mud would not have entered the fields, the salt would still be pressing down on top, and this year would have been wasted waiting.
Tie Lanshan walked to the edge of the seed preservation area and saw five broomcorn millet seedlings surrounded by wooden stakes, with dry grass laid around their roots.
Can it grow grain?
Lin Siniang crouched down and brushed aside a layer of fresh mud on the surface, revealing the whitish, old saline soil underneath.
Not this year.
Hearing this, Zhang Gui immediately looked up.
Commander, you heard it, she admitted herself that it won't work this year! Using military farming land to grow grass, she won't be able to report any grain yield at the end of the year...
Tie Lanshan turned his head and gave him a look.
Zhang Gui swallowed the rest of his sentence.
Lin Siniang continued speaking.
The fresh mud is only three or four inches deep, and underneath is still saline soil. So if we forcefully plant broomcorn millet this year, the seedlings won't survive for more than a few days.
But alfalfa has deep roots that can loosen the soil, and once cut, it can even be used to feed horses. The roots left in the ground can be plowed under next year to fertilize the fields.
These five broomcorn millet plants are seed preservation seedlings. This year, we only seek to save the seeds, and we will try again next year when the salt has receded.
Tie Lanshan crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil, and rubbed it between his fingers.
How many men do you need?
Lin Siniang replied quickly.
To answer the Commander, five hundred men will be enough.
Do you need grain?
Yes.
How much?
Based on the current number of people, we will need another three hundred shi of assorted grains to last until after autumn.
Sun Qi added a sentence from the side.
Commander! We also need wooden stakes, straw ropes, and waterwheel axles!
There are too many broken things here, and patching them up is truly a great hassle.
Tie Lanshan turned to Sun Qi.
What is your name?
Sun Qi, formerly an infantryman of the Zhenbei Left Camp. After breaking my leg, I was reassigned to farm in the Yanmen Wasteland.
Do you still want to return to the camp?
Sun Qi's Adam's apple bobbed.
My leg is ruined. If I go back, I'd only be a burden to my brothers. If the Commander is willing to let this land live, this lowly one will stay here and guard the fields.
As soon as these words were spoken, the group of disabled soldiers on the ridge all lowered their heads.
Ever since they were injured, they had waited for relief year after year, long regarded by the government office as useless people.
But today, these green seedlings had earned them a breath of dignity.
Tie Lanshan raised his hand and pressed down on Sun Qi's shoulder.
Then guard it well for Zhenbei, guard it well for the Great Qian!
Sun Qi's back instantly straightened.
Yes, sir!
Tie Lanshan returned to stand before Zhang Gui.
Zhang Gui was already slumped on the ground, not even daring to straighten his crooked official hat.
Commander, I...
Shut up.
Tie Lanshan cut off the rest of his words.
Over the years, the Bureau of Military Farming reported that the saline-alkali soil of the Yanmen Wasteland was untreatable, saying that repairing the canals was futile, and that military farming was impossible to achieve. I accepted your memorials and approved the funds.
Sweat trickled down from Zhang Gui's temples.
Tie Lanshan pointed at the alfalfa seedlings at his feet.
Now that this land has grown seedlings, you bring chains to arrest people, and you even brought empty carts to confiscate the grain seeds.
You certainly know how to pick a day!
Ah?!
Zhang Gui dropped to his knees with a thud.
Commander, please see clearly, I was truly just carrying out orders... That document clearly states that Lin Siniang breached the river dike without authorization. I dared not disobey and had to come!
You dared.
Tie Lanshan said angrily.
You even dared to chain the person who grew the seedlings! You even dared to seal this living land back into a dead one!
The head yamen runner pressed his head into the mud.
Spare our lives, Commander! We were only following orders!
Even when following orders, you need to use your brains.
Tie Lanshan turned and walked away.
After taking a dozen steps, he stopped on the ridge without looking back.
From today on, this piece of land falls under the jurisdiction of the Zhenbei Army.
Zhang Gui's head jerked up.
Commander, this does not comply with the regulations of the Bureau of Military Farming!
Tie Lanshan raised his hand and rested it on the hilt of his sword.
Then go to the General's Estate and discuss regulations with me there!
Zhang Gui's mouth hung open, but he didn't dare utter another syllable.
Tie Lanshan spoke again.
Lin Siniang will continue to manage the land as usual. If anyone comes to cause trouble again, tell them to find me at the General's Estate first.
The field ridge was quiet for a moment.
The dark-faced woman was the first to shout out.
Mighty Commander!
Following closely, the disabled soldiers all roared.
The Zhenbei Army has taken charge! This land belongs to the Zhenbei Army now!
Farming Commissioner Lin doesn't have to leave!
The seedlings are saved!
Leaning on his crutch, Sun Qi forced himself down on one knee.
Lin Siniang also bowed in salute, her hands still stained with mud.
Tie Lanshan didn't let them kneel for long.
Get up, all of you. The seedlings are still small, don't trample the ridge.
At these words, the few people kneeling by the field quickly scrambled back, terrified of crushing the tender shoots.
...
Tie Lanshan walked to the top of the slope, where his personal guards came forward leading his black steed.
Commander, returning to the estate?
Tie Lanshan swung up onto his horse and patted the document tucked in his robes.
Yes.
The guard glanced down the slope at Zhang Gui.
And the men from the Bureau of Military Farming?
Tie Lanshan pulled on the reins, his voice dropping low.
Let them walk back themselves.
He paused, then added another sentence.
Tomorrow morning at first light, pass on my orders.
Bring the last ten years of old accounts from the Bureau of Military Farming, along with the men and the ledgers, to the General's Estate.
