Chapter 16: The Curved Plow

Liu Feng flipped through the bamboo slips in his hand, listening to the report from the young men beside him.

“Young master, our funds and grain supplies are running low,” one of the youths named Liu Li reported. “The grain is still adequate since the family head had previously instructed that if it runs short, we can collect some from the prefectural government every seven days. But the currency is down to less than twenty thousand coins, and daily fixed expenses exceed seven thousand wen, so we don’t even have enough for three days.”

Liu Li was a relative of Liu Feng’s. His father had followed Liu Bei on his eastern and western campaigns and had died in battle while rescuing Qingzhou and fighting the Yellow Turban rebels.

Another orphan of the Hu tribe who had also fallen in Qingzhou, Saheli, spoke up: “Young master, we calculated that if we stop our studies and reduce the daily eggs, lunch, and the once-every-three-days meat ration, we could save more than five thousand wen.”

Though the others did not speak, their expressions showed agreement.

It wasn’t for any other reason than that they felt Liu Feng had been far too generous and indulgent with them.

Every one of these boys present, as well as those elsewhere, were willing to lay down their lives in service of Liu Feng!

Their family elders had died fighting for Liu Bei, but what kind of world was this now?

Warlords were not limited to Liu Bei alone; other warlords treated their subordinates far worse. Liu Bei was already considered unusually conscientious and principled.

Moreover, whenever they found these orphans after their fathers or brothers had fallen, Liu Bei would always provide them with funds and supplies.

Since Liu Feng’s arrival, their lives had only improved.

Nearly every orphan they could find was gathered together. Liu Feng personally intervened, convincing Lady Wu to release the money Liu Bei had sent back, and persuaded the Liu family elders to provide grain to raise these war orphans.

At the same time, Liu Feng even took it upon himself to teach them literacy and arithmetic.

They ate three meals a day, with an egg added at breakfast and dinner, and a meat dish every three days.

If it weren’t for Liu Bei’s repeated military achievements and rapid rise through official ranks—from temporary magistrate of Pingyuan County to Chancellor of Pingyuan State, then Inspector of Yuzhou, and finally Governor of Xuzhou—no matter how outstanding a prodigy Liu Feng appeared, the Liu clan would never have invested such vast resources to help him raise these boys.

Even so, the fortune Liu Bei had sent back to Zhuo County over the years had mostly been spent by Liu Feng, leaving little remaining.

Fortunately, Lady Wu and Lady Tian adored Liu Feng deeply, and the Liu family in Zhuo County was willing to invest everything to support him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have lasted until his elder brother took control of Xuzhou.

These three or four years of care had not been in vain. During the Han dynasty, the prevailing social values emphasized loyalty and righteousness over profit.

This was not because the people of the Han era were morally superior—just look at the behavior of the great aristocratic families to understand how corrupt they were.

It was rather certain unique factors that fostered a special culture of respect and fame among the lower classes.

Among the common people, especially the wandering knights, honor and loyalty were valued even more than their own lives.

This was because life expectancy was extremely short, especially for the lower classes.

Meanwhile, the wandering knights depended on their reputation to survive.

Once their reputation collapsed, living was no different from dying.

Thus, it was no wonder that reputation was more precious to them than life itself.

“Don’t worry. Go to Steward Liu and withdraw fifty thousand coins on my orders. You needn’t concern yourselves about the money. Focus on your tasks.”

After giving the instructions, Liu Feng asked about the matter he cared most about.

“Young master, as you commanded, the family head sent us craftsmen. After several days of work, we have finally produced the item you wanted.”

“Really!?” Liu Feng straightened up excitedly and turned to Liu Li for confirmation.

“Have you tested it?”

“We have. It works well. The prototype is here, and per your instructions, I’ve also had the craftsman Lu begin making a second one.”

“Good!”

Liu Feng laughed joyfully. The object that made him so excited was none other than the curved moldboard plow, an agricultural tool that would play a revolutionary role in Chinese farming.

Historically, the curved moldboard plow was not invented until late in the Tang dynasty and was initially used only in the Jiangdong region.

By the Song dynasty, after large-scale development in the south, this plow easily outperformed the heavy and difficult-to-operate straight moldboard plow due to its light weight, labor-saving qualities, and efficient performance.

Its appearance marked the maturity of ancient Chinese farming implements.

At its population peak, the Song dynasty had about 120 million people—more than double that of the Tang dynasty. The curved moldboard plow and Champa rice were undoubtedly pivotal tools behind this growth.

Champa rice came from Jiaozhou, thousands of miles away, so it was difficult to obtain quickly.

But the curved moldboard plow was not complicated. Liu Feng, familiar with its design, recorded its overall structure and approximate dimensions and then assigned agricultural craftsmen to recreate it.

To everyone’s surprise, the craftsmen replicated it in just over half a month.

Liu Feng was extremely pleased. This tool would become an invaluable bargaining chip—whether for managing state farms, restoring Xuzhou’s livelihood, collaborating with the Mi family, or even during minor reforms that might encroach upon local Xuzhou gentry interests, to appease Chen Deng’s representatives among the gentry.

How could this not fill Liu Feng with joy?

Thinking this over, he grew restless and stood up. The youths of the Liu unit followed him out.

In the courtyard, they saw the curved moldboard plow.

Though it still differed slightly from Liu Feng’s memory, it was already very close. From here on, they just needed to fine-tune it based on practical feedback during use.

“Good, good.”

Liu Feng turned to Liu Li. “Give Lu a reward of a thousand coins, and two hundred coins each to the other craftsmen and the youths of the Liu unit. Distribute it today.”

“Yes, young master.”

At that moment, a servant came from outside the courtyard to inform Liu Feng that Liu Bei summoned him and wanted him to bring along Pan Zhang.

Looking at the sky, it was nearly noon. Liu Feng instructed the youths of the Liu unit to go eat, then had two servants carry the plow and called for Pan Zhang to head to Liu Bei.

Upon arrival, he learned that Liu Bei planned a luncheon banquet to entertain Zhao Yun and Tian Yu.

Liu Feng smirked. His father’s pace was impressive.

He had just been warned yesterday, and today he was already taking action to remedy the situation.

But then he thought—wasn’t the capital for his father’s remedy prepared by himself?

Others hoped their fathers would become great men; he was supporting his father’s rise. Elder Brother Liu was truly fortunate to have a son like him.

Still, Liu Bei was quite adept at comforting old comrades. Why involve him?

Why specifically bring Pan Zhang along? Could it be that Liu Bei intended to give Pan Zhang an official appointment today as well?

Pan Zhang was somewhat nervous. Although Liu Feng had warmly welcomed him and treated him like a friend, Pan Zhang was still a commoner.

Now, sitting in the main hall was the honorable Governor of Xuzhou, the top leader of both military and civil affairs, who could decide his fate with a single word.