In public, Zhao Ming still gave Zhao Hanzhang face and said, “Follow the Governor’s instructions.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Administrator Yu. “This is a good opportunity for them to exercise. After reading ten thousand books, they should also understand the people’s hardships.”
Administrator Yu bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Near the river, more people were working in the fields.
A spring rain had fallen two days ago. The low-lying fields had accumulated some water, but not enough. There was a section of the upstream river close to the fields, so they had opened a breach to let water flow in. The water spread into the fields, and people opened the field ridges with hoes, letting the water flow downward from one plot to the next.
So there were people working throughout this entire area.
Zhao Hanzhang stood with her hands on her hips at the edge of the field ridge, watching for a while. Water had only been released today, and everyone was walking through the fields with hoes, breaking up large clods of earth or trampling some weeds with their feet.
Some weeds had grown too thick and tall, so they pulled them up and tossed them onto the ridges.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Will plowing begin here tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Zhao Ming pointed to a field that had already been watered and even plowed once. “You’ll plow that one. Do you know how to plow?”
Zhao Hanzhang saw there was a plow and an ox in the field. She immediately rolled up her sleeves. “Uncle Ming underestimates me. I’ve worked the fields with the soldiers plenty these past two years. Even if I haven’t eaten pork, haven’t I seen pigs run?”
Zhao Ming said, “…So you’ve never actually handled a plow?”
Zhao Hanzhang grinned at him, rolled up her pant legs, and headed over.
She had used hoes and planted seeds, but she really had never handled a plow.
Immediately, a farmer brought over the plow. This was the curved-shaft plow that Fu Tinghan had modified. There might not be many in other places, but in Chen County and Xiping and these main areas, basically all that could be replaced had been replaced.
Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang was going to harness the plow herself, the subordinate officials finally realized this was their Governor. They all rolled up their sleeves to help.
Administrator Yu was the fastest and got to lead the ox first. Magistrate Chen fell one step behind and glared at Administrator Yu without making it obvious.
Administrator Yu showed no fear and glared right back.
Magistrate Chen had no choice but to turn to handle the rope harness instead. Other officials with ranks slightly lower than the two of them stepped forward to help.
But after the group fussed around the ox for a long time, they still couldn’t figure it out. To be safe, the village head had arranged an old ox with a gentle temperament for Zhao Hanzhang. At this moment, it was getting impatient and snorted, very much wanting to shake off all these people fussing around it.
The village head was answering Zhao Hanzhang’s questions, but the corner of his eye was still watching his ox. Seeing them trying to put the rope harness on the ox’s head backward, he couldn’t help getting angry.
He immediately bowed to Zhao Hanzhang, turned around, and went to stop Administrator Yu and the others. “Gentlemen, please stop. My ox isn’t for you to torment like this.”
Administrator Yu was somewhat embarrassed to stop his hands. Under the gazes of Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Ming, he bowed to the village head and humbly asked, “Please tell us, elder, how should this plow be harnessed?”
The village head snorted. “It’s understandable that the Governor is busy with state affairs and military campaigns and doesn’t know how to farm. But you gentlemen govern the people in the provinces and commanderies—how can you not know either?”
The subordinate officials’ faces showed embarrassment, and they felt ashamed in their hearts. They repeatedly bowed in apology.
Zhao Ming’s expression was the worst. Half of the subordinate officials present had been recommended by him and Zhao Hanzhang. The other half had been appointed by Zhao Hanzhang after passing the talent recruitment examination.
When those he recommended performed poorly, naturally his face as the recommender lost luster.
Zhao Hanzhang watched with a smile. In the end, she still considered Zhao Ming’s dignity and spoke up. “Village Head Xiao, if they don’t know, we can teach them. It happens to be spring plowing season. Later I’ll have them come learn from you how to plow fields, sow seeds, and transplant rice seedlings.”
Village Head Xiao immediately softened his angry expression and replied with clasped hands, “Yes.”
Fu Tinghan stepped forward and took the rope harness from Magistrate Chen’s hands, smiling. “Let me do it.”
He soothed the ox, untied the rope harness from the ox’s neck, rearranged it properly, then led the ox forward and pulled the rope harness from behind the ox to place it around its neck.
Village Head Xiao watched and nodded slightly.
The curved-shaft plow was drawn by Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang based on their memories, but they only knew the principles and improvements. Many details were inevitably missing.
This plow needed to be refined through his collaboration with craftsmen, so the curved-shaft plow they made had to be tested in the fields first to see the results.
He had personally tried it many times himself, so he knew how to harness the plow and how to plow the field.
After Fu Tinghan harnessed the plow, he taught Zhao Hanzhang how to hold it.
Holding the plow wasn’t difficult, but there were some small techniques. Not only could you plow deeper, but you could also scatter the plowed earth to both sides, saving effort and making the soil looser.
Fu Tinghan had learned from old farmers. Regardless of his practical results, at least he remembered all the key points and various techniques clearly.
He taught them all to Student Zhao Hanzhang.
Student Zhao Hanzhang walked two rows holding the plow and immediately surpassed Student Fu Tinghan. Her plowing technique was approaching that of experienced farmers who had worked for many years.
Even Village Head Xiao couldn’t help slapping his thigh. “The Governor truly has a natural talent for farming!”
Seeing her lift the plow easily, his eyes brightened even more. He said repeatedly, “With such strength, the Governor, even if you didn’t become Governor and returned to the countryside to farm, you would still be outstanding.”
Most importantly, she had such talent! At first, she didn’t even understand how much pressure to apply to the plow, but after walking just over ten steps while pressing the plow, she found that sweet spot. As for those precautions and techniques Fu Tinghan mentioned, she grasped them instantly. After holding the plow and walking a few steps, she had mastered all those techniques. Simply… born to plow fields!
Not only Village Head Xiao, but the farmers watching the excitement from nearby fields also looked at Zhao Hanzhang with bright eyes. So capable! What a pity she’s a Governor. Otherwise, if they could marry her, from then on the family would have someone to hold the plow.
Zhao Hanzhang felt it wasn’t difficult at all, so she put down the plow and went to try the harrow. In half a day, she tried every farming tool she had never used before, then happily returned to the city. “Tomorrow we’ll begin plowing here.”
Zhao Hanzhang had missed the Second Day of the Second Month plowing ceremony and originally didn’t plan to do it again, but Zhao Ming believed that after last year’s excellent military achievements and the peaceful resolution of the Qingzhou matter, she should make an appearance for people to admire and to reassure the people’s hearts.
So he announced to the fathers and elders of Chen County that she would preside over the plowing ceremony to pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests this year.
Many people came to Chen County several days early just to see Zhao Hanzhang, directly filling all the inns and taverns in Chen County. Even private residences freed up rooms to accommodate guests from other counties. Staying one night cost at least ten cash, and adding two meals a day, it was at least fifteen cash, greatly promoting Chen County’s economic development.
Walking on Chen County’s main street and seeing more and more people on the streets, with many at the city gate carrying luggage, either walking or riding ox carts and donkeys to Chen County to see her, she couldn’t help sighing. “I never imagined that one day my value would be demonstrated in this way. What do you think—if I toured every county and held plowing ceremonies, would they follow me around, promoting economic development in each county?”
Fu Tinghan replied, “A celebrity who rarely makes public appearances—because it’s so hard to see her, when there’s an occasional opportunity, everyone cherishes it. But if she constantly held events and met with fans every few days, how many people would still chase after her?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “That makes sense. Moreover, traveling between counties also takes time. Forget it, forget it. Better to focus seriously on our new currency.”