MLMD -Chapter 185 Family Arrives

Seventh year of Chongzhen

Since November began, the weather had grown colder with each passing day. By early November, heavy snowflakes were falling, covering all of Hunyuan Prefecture in a blanket of ice and snow.

By this time, Yue Yang had firmly established his authority in Hunyuan Prefecture. No one dared challenge him. After all, the incident from last month had left everyone who witnessed it shaken, and even now, the faint scent of blood still lingered on the western training grounds.

Yue Yang rode at the forefront, followed by several dozen cavalry. As they passed through the East Gate, they saw the vast, desolate landscape before them. The Sanggan River flowed swiftly from east to south, nourishing the lands for hundreds of miles around.

After riding for dozens of miles, they came to a stop on a flat stretch of land. Yet despite its size, the area looked barren. Yue Yang sighed deeply and said, “Such a vast and beautiful land, yet why are the people here always hungry and poorly clothed? Why are they repeatedly trampled by foreign invaders?”

Chudi, riding just behind him, replied, “Sir, this land was once fertile and has been farmed for generations by the garrison households of Hunyuan Prefecture. But in recent years, recurring droughts, coupled with the lack of proper irrigation channels from the nearby Sanggan River, have left the fields uncultivated. Most of the garrison households have fled to survive. Today, fewer than three hundred remain struggling here. If the government fails to intervene this year, the consequences will be dire.”

Since Yue Yang had executed the rogue soldiers with thunderous authority, Chudi had resolved to cling tightly to him. Over these past days, he had followed Yue Yang closely, offering advice whenever possible. Yue Yang was not surprised by Chudi’s loyalty. In life, everyone makes choices, and those choices shape their fate. Like Lu Youyuan and the rebel soldiers last month—choosing wrongly had cost them their lives. Chudi, however, had chosen correctly and was still alive.

Although Yue Yang welcomed Chudi’s support, Hu Laosan, Wu Chengfeng, and Feng Xiaoming felt uneasy. After Chudi spoke, Wu Chengfeng asked, “Commander Chudi, the cost of repairing the irrigation channels isn’t actually that high. Why is the government unwilling to invest? And if the government doesn’t act, wouldn’t the garrison repair them on their own?”

Chudi forced a smile and replied helplessly, “Sir Wu, you do not know the full situation. The government is not unwilling to repair the channels. Over the years, it has repeatedly allocated funds for garrisons to build irrigation, but the money is swallowed up by Commander Lu and his officers. After seeing no results following several disbursements, the government refused to allocate more funds. Local officials are not foolish—who wants to throw money into a bottomless pit? As for me, I refused to collude with them and have been marginalized. If it weren’t for a few loyal subordinates, I would have long been sidelined.”

Yue Yang then gestured toward a farther stretch of land and asked, “What about the fields over there?”

“That is wasteland—no one wants to farm it,” Chudi shook his head. “It is too far from the Sanggan River. The cost of building irrigation would be too high, and the government cannot afford it. During the Jiajing period, it was fertile land, but since the Wanli era, it has all fallen into ruin.”

“What a pity!” Yue Yang clicked his tongue and shook his head. This land wasn’t small—roughly hundreds of thousands of acres. With adequate water and proper care, it could have become fertile in just a couple of years. It was truly a shame to see it wasted.

Raising his hand, Yue Yang pointed with his riding crop. “It is a waste for this land to lie idle. When spring comes, the first thing we do is gather manpower to reclaim and cultivate it. If we leave it like this, even Heaven itself would be displeased.”

Chudi hesitated before speaking, “Sir, reclaiming land is commendable, but it requires significant funds—for seeds, oxen, and labor. Most of the garrison households have already fled. Recruiting new laborers now requires food, and the amount needed is substantial. Where will we get so much grain?”

Chudi’s concerns were valid, but Wu Chengfeng and Hu Laosan burst into laughter, clearly amused.

Chudi, momentarily taken aback, frowned. “Sir Hu, is there something funny about what I said?”

Hu Laosan patted Chudi heavily on the shoulder. “Commander Chudi, do you know what our Master Yue did in Yingzhou?”

Chudi nodded. “I’ve heard a little. Master Yue reclaimed land, established workshops and mines, and turned the once barren Wulizhai into a prosperous town with two consecutive bumper harvests. He even monopolized half of Shanxi’s salt trade, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the province.”

Hu Laosan grinned widely. “Then do you know how much grain we harvested this autumn?”

Chudi shook his head. “I do not.”

Hu Laosan waved his large hand in front of him, proudly exclaiming, “Five million dan! Just our autumn grain—five million dan! Do you think our Master Yue lacks the ability to gather refugees?”

“F… five million dan?” Chudi’s mind went blank. Even if farmers contributed only half as rent, that’s 2.5 million dan. Calculated at half a month’s food per five-person family, that’s enough to feed an unimaginable number of people.

He groaned inwardly, his meager knowledge of practical science failing him under the sheer scale.

Seeing Chudi stunned, Hu Laosan laughed while still patting his shoulder. “Commander Chudi, just remember—our Master Yue has the grain. You can rest assured.”

Yue Yang waved them off. “Enough, Hu Laosan, don’t flatter me. Chudi, don’t listen to his boasting. This year, Shanxi and Shaanxi suffered severe droughts. Millions are displaced. Even five million dan seems huge, but in reality, it’s barely enough. The task ahead is long and difficult. I hope you are ready to work alongside me.”

“Yes, I am willing to serve you faithfully, Sir!” Chudi saluted Yue Yang solemnly, a glint of excitement in his eyes. He knew Yue Yang’s words meant acceptance.

At that moment, the sound of hooves came from a distance. A cavalryman rode up, jumped off, knelt on one knee, and reported loudly, “Sir, the Grandmadam and Madam are less than twenty li from the South Gate. Shall we go to meet them?”

“What? Grandmother has arrived?” Yue Yang’s face lit up. “Of course! Lead the way—we’ll go meet them!”

He turned his horse and galloped toward the incoming party, Hu Laosan and the others exchanging a smile before following closely.

Half an hour later, they reached the South Gate. A long caravan stretched outside. Leading were over a hundred cavalry in gray armor, followed by a seemingly endless line of wagons, each packed to the brim. Yue Yang’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but laugh bitterly—had his wives really brought all their belongings from Yingzhou Prefecture?

As the convoy approached, the lead cavalry halted. An officer rode forward, dismounted, and dashed to Yue Yang, exclaiming excitedly, “Young Master, I finally see you!”

Yue Yang laughed heartily. “Shunbao, you’re here? How come?”

It was Shunbao, Yue Yang’s former attendant left behind in Yingzhou. He strode forward, his voice quivering with emotion: “Young Master, I’ve missed you terribly!”

Yue Yang, moved by his sincerity, scolded him playfully: “You’re supposed to be the garrison commander, yet you’re whining like a woman—shameful!”

At the beginning of this month, Shunbao had officially been appointed garrison commander of Yingzhou. Seeing his former little attendant rise to a fifth-rank official made Yue Yang proud.

He laughed. “Even as a commander, you’ll always be my attendant.”

Shunbao chuckled and wiped his face. “Young Master, even if I became a general, I’d still be your attendant.”

Yue Yang laughed again before asking, “How was the journey? Is Grandmother and Madam safe?”

Shunbao nodded. “Rest assured, Young Master. Both Grandmother and Madam are well. I’ll bring them over immediately.”

Soon, Yue Yang’s family was reunited amidst much joy. The cold weather left no time for long conversations, so Yue Yang had the party hurriedly escorted into the city.