After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 763 - 753 Valuing Agriculture

Early the next morning, as soon as the city gates opened, people from within the city streamed out towards the outskirts.

When the sun rose, the fields and bordering lands were already full of people. When Zhao Hanzhang arrived with officials from Chen County, aside from the space in the middle of the road left for carriages, the rest was crowded with people.

Despite such congestion, there were still vendors weaving through the crowd, carrying their wares and hawking.

Seeing the sea of people, Zhao Ming felt joy; on his usually solemn face appeared a smile. They all came for Third Lady; it showed her growing prestige, which was a good thing.

Zhao Hanzhang was also delighted, thinking to herself: these are all people and wealth.

With a smile on her face, those on either side of the road felt happy too, excitedly greeting her with hand gestures and bowing, "Governor, Governor, look at me, I’m from Qian Family Village, just nearby..."

"Governor, I’m from Xiping, we’re fellow townsmen!"

"Governor Zhao, I’m from Jizhou, specializing in selling your family’s glass..."

Zhao Hanzhang greeted them with a raised hand, making the crowd even more excited. When they felt she couldn’t see them after bowing, they raised their hands and waved, hoping she’d glance at them a few more times.

In the pressing crowd, a little girl carrying a large basket was pushed forward, unable to stop. The soldiers guarding on either side of the road were momentarily slow, and she fell right in front of Zhao Hanzhang’s horse.

Zhao Hanzhang’s horse was a warhorse, and she had been attentive all along. As soon as someone stumbled out, she pulled the reins slightly, halting the horse. It lazily lowered its head to look at the person who fell before it, then nonchalantly raised its head again, snorting.

The crowd fell silent, somewhat fearful, and a soldier immediately stepped forward to grab the girl’s arm, intending to drag her back. Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to stop them and looked at the pale-faced little girl, smiling as she asked: "Did you hurt your leg?"

"No, no." The girl immediately got up from the ground, stumbled a bit because she stepped on her dress, and from the basket covered with burlap two cakes fell out.

The little girl frantically picked up the cakes, almost bursting into tears.

Seeing her red eyes and flushed face, Zhao Hanzhang leaned forward, smilingly asking, "Are these cakes for sale? Are they tasty? How much for one?"

Instinctively, the girl extended the cake in her hand, "two cents, very delicious, does the Governor want to try one?"

"Sure." Zhao Hanzhang immediately took it. Seeing some dirt on the cake, she didn’t mind, brushing it off before biting a large piece; adding scallions to the cakes and baking them dry made them crisp and exceptionally tasty.

She nodded approvingly, taking out two new coins from her purse and giving them to her, "Indeed delicious."

The girl didn’t accept the money, retreating repeatedly in refusal.

With a smile, Zhao Hanzhang tossed the money into her basket, landing right on the burlap without dirtying the remaining cakes, "Keep it, Zhao Family Army has discipline, no taking even a needle and thread from citizens; you can’t let me break the rules."

The girl held the two new coins tightly, not letting go.

The soldiers gentled a bit, stepping aside to let her move to one side.

The little girl curtsied and made her way to the side of the road quickly, the crowd also promptly made space for her, then looked at Zhao Hanzhang even more excitedly.

Though they weren’t the ones talking to Zhao Hanzhang, nor did they receive the two coins, like that little girl, a sudden warmth surged within them, filling them with energy. Everyone excitedly waved at Zhao Hanzhang, gazing intently as she rode away.

Reaching the fields, Zhao Hanzhang dismounted, the village chief and officials who waited ahead promptly approached, "Governor, the altar is ready."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, first lighting incense to offer prayers, then took out the sacrificial text Zhao Ming had prepared for her and recited it. This was to bless the mountains and lands, praying for favorable weather.

Knowing this year’s climate was unfavorable, she hoped heaven would pity the people, avoiding the harshness described in history, letting fewer lives perish and allowing more creatures a chance to survive.

After reciting the sacrificial text, she publicly burned it and knelt, devoutly offering her prayers.

Scientifically speaking, she and Fu Tinghan might have arrived here through energy conservation, meaning no ghosts or gods existed; but philosophically, anything is possible.

Regardless of its existence, she sincerely prayed to heaven for fewer natural disasters, wishing for favorable weather and flourishing life for all.

Once Zhao Hanzhang knelt down, surrounding citizens observing also knelt, following her in prayer.

However, their wishes varied greatly; most, like Zhao Hanzhang, prayed for a favorable year and bountiful crops, while others sought safety, health, and prosperity for their families.

After Zhao Hanzhang respectfully completed her kowtow, she stood up and rolled up her sleeves. Yesterday Zhao Ming didn’t act, but today he joined Fu Tinghan to help her set up the plow.

Then, Zhao Ming, the Prefectural Governor, led the cow in front while Zhao Hanzhang held the plow behind, plowing a piece of land before everyone.

Zhao Hanzhang also directed the officials from the Governor Mansion and her Inspector Mansion to carry hoes into the fields for soil breaking, weed removal, and land leveling.

Zhao Hanzhang said: "Food is the prime necessity of the people, so grain is fundamental. Spring sowing and summer harvesting are most crucial; you must collaborate with the people to execute spring farming diligently."

Leading respectfully, Zhao Ming agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang added a few important notes on spring farming, such as prohibiting troops from encroaching on civilian farmland, ensuring seeds distribution across counties, villages, and towns, providing cattle and farming tools to the people as much as possible; also manage irrigation diligently and prevent disputes over water;

No matter the status, trampling or damaging seedlings is forbidden; if anyone knowingly violates the law and intentionally damages seedlings, they will be severely punished.

This plowing event showed Yu State citizens how much Zhao Hanzhang valued farming, prompting both Inspector Mansion and Governor Mansion officials to personally engage in fieldwork.

Indeed, if she alone advocated, officials like Yu Sima, with aristocratic origins, wouldn’t wish to follow suit, but Zhao Ming also responded.

Zhao Hanzhang went to the army, joining soldiers in fieldwork, occasionally inspecting fields to assist hardworking farmers;

Zhao Ming additionally spares time after affairs to plow his field, processing government matters quickly to have half a day daily in the fields.

Top-down influence led Yu Sima and others to follow, each tending their government fields, not letting resources seep outside.

During plantation, they uncovered numerous issues, such as: "The rake’s spacing is too wide, missing weeds, it must be tighter."

Thus Yu State counties allocated funds for rake improvement.

Furthermore, "I asked the Ministry of Agriculture folks, they mentioned fertilizing after raking fields leads to stronger seedlings and better yields."

Thus Chen County constructed over ten new latrines, spreading to other counties; additionally, many fertilizers were shared by the Ministry of Agriculture, although the officials disliked them, they still instructed families to follow.

Inspector Mansion conveyed news: those who cultivate outstanding crops with high yields will be rewarded with promotion and rank advancement.

Though advancing in rank seemed impossible, aiming for a promotion was feasible.