The eyes of the crowd lit up. Right—how could they have forgotten that? It was really just that Jiang Jin’s private “army” had such a low profile that they always unconsciously overlooked it.
Xia Chanyi exclaimed excitedly, “Lord, your people can transport grain to Lin County?”
Jiang Jin nodded. “Naturally.”
“Excellent,” Yun Ci couldn’t help but admire. “That way, there won’t be much of a problem.”
Zhou Sui agreed. “Correct. Digging tunnels isn’t difficult either. We can start in the winter. Just send a few experienced people over then.” With countless intricate tunnels already dug beneath Ge Feng, there were plenty of experienced hands available.
“It’s just a pity there’s no time to build firewalls or heated brick beds. The troops heading to Lin County will have it harder as a result,” Xia Chanyi remarked.
Zhou Sui chuckled. “What’s so hard about it? Soldiers have always endured like this throughout history. It’s only been comfortable since you arrived, Lord.”
Yun Ci chimed in, “Exactly. Soldiers should be soldiers. If they can’t handle hardship, how can they serve? If you ask me, you’re actually being too good to them, Lord.”
Despite his words, inwardly he marveled—it was precisely because of a lord like this that the troops of Jin Yang had such terrifying cohesion and combat strength.
Jiang Jin shook her head with a smile. “When it’s time for hardship, they endure; when it’s time for comfort, they enjoy it. When the time comes, equip the soldiers stationed at Lin County with military greatcoats and make the quilts thicker.”
She tapped the table and continued, “Now, everyone, discuss where we should set the tunnel exits in Lin County. And how to coordinate with our hidden agents to take the county…”
—
In Chun Rong County, Qiu Liao left the city and rode along Chun Shan Road toward Shan Guan County. He spent a few days making arrangements with Xu Chuan.
With things in Chun Rong County mostly settled, he decided to head to Shan Guan County to take over Luo Qingci’s work.
Watching the commoners zealously clearing the road, working with fervor, his own heart burned with enthusiasm. Even in this chaotic age—or even in times of relative peace during the past—he had never seen such a scene of thriving renewal.
As he was thinking this, he spotted Mu Qing surveying the terrain and soil quality nearby.
“Elder Mu, how’s the farmland? Fertile?” Qiu Liao dismounted, greeting him with a smile.
Mu Qing brushed the dirt off his hands. “Elder Qiu, what brings you here?”
Qiu Lao stroked his beard. “Our Lord has ordered me to go to Shan Guan County.”
Mu Qing understood and pointed to the soil beside him. “This land is quite fertile. Pity it’s all gone to waste.”
“I plan to have these withered weeds burned and mixed into the soil to make it richer. If we plant grain next year, the harvest will surely be bountiful.”
Qiu Liao looked at the dry, yellow weeds, his face tinged with worry. “Fertile land is useless without water.”
But Mu Qing wasn’t concerned. “Our Lord said that if next year continues to be dry, his lordship will find a way to divert water here from Liu River.”
He had absolute trust in Jiang Jin. If Jiang Jin said it could be done, then it would be done.
He only needed to follow the plan and prepare everything that could be done in advance.
Rarely finding someone to chat with, he felt a desire to share. He took a simple map he had drawn from Mu Wanbai and pointed. “Look here, and here.”
He indicated several spots on the map. “They’ve already started digging fish ponds in these places—even bigger than the ones in the new Ge Feng town.”
“They can store water, raise fish and ducks, irrigate the farmland, and provide drinking water for livestock.”
“And these—” He pointed to dozens of crisscrossing lines on the map. “These areas will have channels dug, and these smaller streams…”
All of Jiang Jin’s preparations were based on the climate patterns of the Little Ice Age: cold winters with heavy snowfall, followed by a year without rain like this one.
So she had people dig fish ponds to store large amounts of water from melted snow and ice, while also raising fish and ducks in abundance.
Her population had now multiplied several times compared to before, and the demand for meat had skyrocketed.
The common people aside, her soldiers absolutely needed a supplement of meat; otherwise, how could they maintain strong bodies?
Why were her troops superior to others? Besides rigorous training, physical fitness was a crucial piece.
For her, having enough to eat was the foundation, and eating well was the goal.
Take her elite Dragon Shadow Guard—they were guaranteed meat every day. Even other soldiers ate meat every few days.
So she had to develop not only agriculture but also animal husbandry. In the future, not only soldiers but also common people would be able to afford meat.
Mu Qing continued enthusiastically, “Our Lord said each of the three villages can raise pigs, chickens, cattle, and sheep.”
“Especially Green Mountain Village, with its large grasslands and slopes. In time, the livestock manure can be used as fertilizer…”
Qiu Liao listened intently, inwardly marveling at how thorough Jiang Jin’s planning was—everything arranged for the worst-case scenario.
Once these water systems were completed, they would maximize water storage to facilitate irrigation.
Somehow, a surge of heroic pride welled up in him. He seemed to see vast fields of golden rice stalks, flocks of chickens and ducks everywhere, and quiet, bustling villages.
Glimpsing that vision, he nearly wept.
—
Outside Jiu An City in Si Prefecture.
Chen Xi faced repeated questions from several village leaders, his face showing hesitation.
Ma Feng made a deep bow to him. “Master Chen, I’ll be honest—we’ve reached the end of our rope. Winter is coming. If we still can’t settle down, I fear that all of us…”
An Liu spoke with sorrowful sincerity. “The Han Chinese force you mentioned earlier—is it where your employer resides?”
“Could they possibly take us in? We can work. We can do anything. We only ask for a chance to survive.”
During their time with the Feng Ge Xuan people, they had also gleaned a lot of information.
It was said that the commoners there could all find work, and work paid wages. One month’s pay could buy over half a stone of refined grain, and even more if they bought coarse grain.
It was said the commoners there all had houses. If they didn’t have the money, they could buy on credit from the government. They had never heard of a government lending money to commoners before; in the past, it was always the government finding ways to collect money.
It was said that the houses there would heat up just by lighting a fire. They had never lost a single person to winter cold.
It was said there was something called honeycomb briquettes—one piece could burn all day and cost very little.
It was said there was a kind of clothing called a cotton coat, stuffed with cotton, very warm…
Such a wonderful place was beyond their imagination. At first, they couldn’t even believe it.
How could such a place exist in this world?
The more they doubted, the more they inquired; the more they inquired, the more amazed they became. Gradually, they began to believe. And then they began to yearn for it.
As the weather grew colder day by day, their desire to reach such a wonderful place became urgent.
Ma Feng’s voice was pleading. “Master Chen, please show us a way to survive. The infected in our village have mostly stabilized, and the cold season is starting.”
Chen Xi sighed and decided to tell them the truth. “To be honest, my lord is far away in Feng Prefecture.”
