Rice paddy fish concept

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the first day of official business at the government office after the New Year, Mu Sheng ran in hurriedly just as Zhao Xiyao and the others had sat down.

The commotion startled everyone.

"Sima Mu, has something happened?"

Mu Sheng panted for a moment before saying,

"Re... reporting to the Princess, many... many commoners have arrived... arrived outside the city. They... they say they fled from the South of the Ranges area. There... there are nearly ten thousand of them."

"What? Is that true?"

Hearing this news, everyone stood up excitedly and began crowding around Mu Sheng to ask questions.

Previously, the key reason why West City and Menge had small populations and little cultivated land was low grain output.

Without enough food to eat, the commoners' desire to procreate was naturally low, and the population survival rate was also very low.

However, after Gao Yuan's terraced field renovations, a large amount of land available for reclamation suddenly appeared in both places.

At this time, population had become the key constraint on land productivity.

Suddenly having nearly ten thousand more people, all of whom were young men and women—how could this news not be exciting?

Suddenly, the entire hall was filled with an air of excitement, with only one exception: Gao Yuan.

There really was nothing to be excited about; these nine thousand seven hundred and eighty-five young men and women were exactly the ones he had summoned using that Population Card.

Although they were said to be from the South of the Ranges, they were actually a population that had appeared out of thin air.

Gao Yuan finally understood why it was a Rare Card; conjuring living people out of nowhere was an existence that completely broke the balance.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Gao Yuan feigned a cough, inappropriately interrupting everyone's excited discussion.

"Since those commoners have come to seek refuge with us, we cannot leave them without a place to settle;"

"So, I ask everyone to come up with a plan as soon as possible to see how these people should be diverted and settled. Spring plowing is about to begin soon."

Hearing Gao Yuan's words, everyone slapped their foreheads and exclaimed,

"Right, right. If these commoners aren't settled properly, I'm afraid there will be trouble..."

"Yes, yes. The people have come from thousands of miles away to seek refuge; we must never let their hearts grow cold."

Soon, the entire hall became busy, and Gao Yuan stood up to leave.

Zhao Xiyao quickly called out to him,

"Where is the Fuma planning to go?"

Gao Yuan cupped his hands toward Zhao Xiyao.

"I see that it will take at least a few days for you to come up with a plan and then arrange for its execution. We can't let them endure hunger and the cold wind outside the city;"

"I plan to have the First Division go and help set up some tents and cook some rice porridge first."

Zhao Xiyao nodded in approval.

"The Fuma is still the most thoughtful."

"However, I'm using the military supplies of the First Division. Please don't forget to reimburse them later, Prefectural Office!"

After saying that, Gao Yuan walked away nonchalantly, leaving the busy crowd behind.

Zhao Xiyao and the others were very efficient, producing a complete proposal in less than three days.

Nearly three thousand people were arranged to go to Menge City, departing together with the troops for the relief of the guard, ensuring their safety.

Of the remaining people, half were settled around Dehong to participate in the reclamation and cultivation of terraced fields.

The other half were arranged in two abandoned towns.

Everyone received enough grain to sustain them until the autumn harvest, as well as sufficient iron farming tools.

Unfortunately, plow oxen were far too scarce; on average, only one ox could be allocated for every dozen households.

As for the West City's City Defense Forces, Gao Yuan left five hundred men to garrison Dehong City, while the rest were dispersed.

Besides guarding against sneak attacks from other forces, their main task was to protect these newly added populations.

For the following period, almost all work was focused on preparations for spring plowing.

The Curved-beam plows and High-cylinder waterwheels brought out by Gao Yuan were being manufactured with full effort by craftsmen hired with funds and grain provided by the Prefectural Office.

However, although there was no lack of timber and pig iron, the progress was very slow due to the small number of craftsmen.

Seeing the women looking somewhat worried, Gao Yuan was also anxious, but unfortunately, he couldn't help much.

Recently, to solve the labor shortage, half of his First Division would go to the fields every day to help.

Although they didn't understand why Gao Yuan would have them do farm work, fortunately, they were his direct troops; despite their complaints, they still carried out the orders.

Seeing the women working overtime again these days, even forgetting to eat, Gao Yuan's heart ached for them.

He took the food box from the cook and carried it to the main hall.

Seeing the three women still discussing matters around the candlelight, Gao Yuan knocked on the open door.

"My three wives, as the saying goes, 'man is made of iron and food is his steel'—missing one meal makes you feel the hunger;"

"The time it takes for a meal won't delay any major matters. Can you give me some face and eat first?"

The three women looked up at Gao Yuan, then at each other, and all revealed a faint smile.

"Oh, it is so late. It is indeed time for a meal."

"Husband, why did you deliver the food yourself?"

"Husband, you've come at just the right time. I'm famished."

Zheng Wan took Gao Yuan's food box with a beaming smile, while Song Yao quickly cleared the meeting table.

Zhao Xiyao didn't stay idle either, reaching out to help Zheng Wan set out the dishes.

For tonight's dinner, it was the first time the steam pot Gao Yuan had made was being used.

With the new cookware, Gao Yuan instructed the cook to make a Mushroom steam-pot chicken for the three women, along with a pot of fish soup.

"Husband, is this the Steam-pot chicken you mentioned?"

"Yes, hurry and try it. See how it tastes."

"Just one smell and I can tell it must be very delicious."

Giving Gao Yuan a thumbs up, the three women began to eat their dinner elegantly.

While the three women were eating, Gao Yuan walked to the side and picked up the documents on the table to read.

Sure enough, the three women were still worrying about the labor shortage and low grain yields.

Gao Yuan stroked his smooth chin while racking his brains to think.

"Husband, what kind of fish is this? The soup is truly delicious..."

An unintentional question from Zheng Wan gave Gao Yuan a sudden epiphany. He immediately laughed out loud as if he had won the lottery.

"Hahaha, I've got it! Wan'er, you truly are my virtuous helper!"

Saying that, he lunged over and gave Zheng Wan a forceful kiss on the cheek, making the woman's face turn crimson with bashfulness.

Song Yao looked on with envy and curiosity.

"Husband, what did you think of that made you so happy?"

"I've thought of a way to increase grain yields and get a large amount of meat for free."

This piqued the women's interest, and they all put down their chopsticks to look at him.

Gao Yuan didn't keep them in suspense and said the answer directly.

"I want to raise fish in the rice fields."

"Raise fish?"

"Yes, raise fish."

"Wouldn't they eat all the grain?"

Gao Yuan brought up the benefits of rice-field fish farming he had seen before his transmigration to educate the three women.

"No. Let me tell you, when raising fish in rice fields, the fish not only eat weeds and pests, but their droppings also fertilize the rice. It truly kills two birds with one stone."

Although Gao Yuan spoke with certainty, the three women were still hesitant.

Zhao Xiyao thought for a moment and suggested,

"It might be difficult to promote this. After all, the commoners won't accept it without seeing actual benefits."

"Yes, if we push it forcibly, I'm afraid the commoners will be very resistant."

"We need to find a way that satisfies both sides."

Commoners value practical interests most; they would likely find it hard to accept a new method if it were promoted rashly.

Gao Yuan wasn't worried about this at all. He patted his chest.

"It's fine. Our First Division has reclaimed a batch of terraced fields ourselves. We'll start this method with those fields;"

"After this year's autumn harvest, I believe the commoners will follow suit on their own without us having to promote it."

Zhao Xiyao finally made the decision.

"In that case, Husband, go ahead and start. We'll see the results after the autumn harvest."