Chapter Seventeen: Expanding the Cultivated Land

For over a decade, Xiyun County had struggled with a severe shortage of farmland. To sustain its military, it had to spend vast sums of money every year on grain. Now, it seemed they had found a fool willing to help them feed their population for free.

To the magistrate of Xiyun, his county was strong and well-equipped, capable of dismantling the Protectorate at any moment. Even if Fang Han harbored grand ambitions, he would be crushed long before he could ever grow strong enough to pose a threat.

"Is that true, my lord? How many laborers will you require?" the man asked.

Fang Han pondered for a moment and replied, "One hundred laborers for one water-plow."

The man was overjoyed and promptly took his leave.

Back in Xiyun County, the magistrate was surprised by the news. He had expected Fang Han to fly into a rage and declare war; he never imagined Fang Han would propose such terms.

"My lord, what exactly is Fang Han planning?"

"Hmph, he is merely a child, foolishly attempting to build up his strength," the magistrate said after a long silence. "He is nothing more than a naive youth without any political cunning. His terms are more beneficial to us than harmful; we might as well agree."

"Let him cultivate the labor force for me. Once Xiyun County has sufficient grain and supplies, we shall take the capital directly."

"Tell him I want ten of those plows, and send one hundred soldiers, all with families, to infiltrate the group of laborers."

A few days later, one thousand laborers arrived at the capital. Suspecting the bandits would try something devious, Fang Han ordered them to work in the newly constructed terraced fields while he kept a close watch on their actions.

"Fang Yuan, you must keep a sharp eye on these people. Do not let your guard down."

"Understood."

Fang Yuan was secretly delighted. His scout troop trained all day but lacked real-world combat experience. Now, he had the perfect opportunity to hone their skills.

Although these laborers appeared robust, some displayed an imperceptible vigilance, and their movements were slightly stiff. Fang Yuan understood immediately: there were soldiers mixed in among them. He promptly ordered his scouts to identify the men who resembled soldiers.

For several days, the scout troop kept them under surveillance. Most were sun-tanned and ragged, clearly peasants accustomed to lifelong toil. However, one hundred of them stood with sharp eyes, rigid posture, and sturdy frames. Even as they feigned hard labor, the way they gripped their hoes and the force they exerted felt unnatural.

Fang Yuan reported the list of one hundred suspicious laborers to Fang Han. Upon taking the list, Fang Han chuckled, realizing within moments what their true purpose was. He had initially feared the bandits might send half a battalion of soldiers, which would have made it difficult to act. He hadn't expected them to merely sprinkle a few soldiers among the laborers—likely to relay information back to Xiyun County whenever they pleased.

Fang Han’s expression turned cold. "Liu San, organize these laborers into groups. Assign daily tasks to each of them; anyone who fails to complete their quota will have their food rations reduced."

Liu San acknowledged the order with a grin. "Don't worry, my lord, I’ll get it done immediately." He turned and hurried away.

The next day, before the reclamation team set out, Liu San scanned them and announced in a booming voice: "Due to the increase in numbers and the shortage of grain, the master has decreed: each person must build half a mu of terraced fields daily. Those who fail will have their dinner halved! Do you hear me?"

The original residents of the city were unconcerned; they had been doing this for nearly a month, and half a mu was easily achievable. The newcomers, though unskilled and dissatisfied, dared not speak out.

After a few days, the new arrivals were miserable. Not only was the work high-intensity, but they were also denied a full meal if they missed their targets. The food, already coarse, was even harder to stomach now that portions had been halved. The soldiers, in particular, lacked experience in farm work and failed their quotas daily. Within a few days, they hardly looked like soldiers anymore.

In the fields, one laborer grumbled, "This is no way for a human to live!"

"You're telling me," another replied. He glanced around to ensure no one was watching before continuing, "I'm not even a soldier. I'm just a commoner they forced into this."

"Me too. I just wanted a full meal, but I’ve nearly starved to death since I got here."

Similar complaints spread among the laborers. Many approached Fang Yuan to protest that they were merely peasants, not soldiers. Fang Yuan watched them with a cold smirk. He knew these were the soldiers; the true laborers, having gained experience, could complete their tasks every other day even if they couldn't hit the daily quota. Besides, the real laborers wouldn't dare to complain.

These soldiers, however, relied on the backing of the magistrate to stir up discontent and manipulate the others.

Once they left, Fang Yuan informed Fang Han of the soldiers' complaints. Hearing that they were still causing trouble, Fang Han decided to ignore them and focus on the true laborers. The genuine workers were still toiling away mechanically, doing exactly as much as they were assigned, driven only by the need to fill their stomachs, lacking any real motivation. To win their hearts, he needed to offer something truly enticing.

"Issue my order: from today on, we will implement a labor point system. The more work you do, the greater the rewards. Whether it is food, land, or housing, everyone has a chance to earn them."

Fang Yuan was taken aback; the concept sounded strangely familiar. "Is there a problem?" Fang Han asked.

"No, it just sounds so familiar. Wait—that is exactly what we heard that convinced us to pledge our loyalty to you." Fang Yuan’s tone was somewhat mournful. Back then, Fang Han had promised them wives and homes in the Southern Border, which was why they had escorted him all the way there, only to find the place in such ruins.

Fang Han realized what he meant and laughed. "I haven't forgotten your needs. But there are more pressing matters right now. Besides, you can do as Fang Da did and find a suitable woman for yourself."

At the mention of Fang Da, Fang Yuan felt a surge of irritation. Fang Da had been frequenting the training grounds lately, often accompanied by a beautiful woman, much to the envy of the other men. "My lord, I shall go and make the arrangements," Fang Yuan said, his tone tinged with jealousy as he turned to leave.

The news that "more work earns more" spread like wildfire through the labor camp. Those who had been worrying about their next meal were suddenly filled with vigor. The earliest followers, who had long heard of Fang Han's promises, were moved to tears, finally seeing a path forward.

The soldiers mixed in the crowd were bewildered. Their intuition told them Fang Han was deliberately targeting them. However, some of the more shrewd among them began to think about settling down here. If a war were to break out between Fang Han and Xiyun County, having a home here might be their best chance at survival, regardless of who won.