Early the next morning, as soon as the city gates opened, people flooded out of the city.

By the time the sun rose, the edges of the fields were already packed with people. When Zhao Hanzhang arrived with all the officials of Chen Commandery, except for the space in the middle of the road left for carriages to pass, everywhere else was crammed with people.

And in such crowding, there were actually vendors weaving through with carrying poles, hawking their wares.

Looking at this sea of people, Zhao Ming was very happy. His usually stern face even showed a smile. All these people had come for Sanniang, showing her prestige was growing heavier. This was a good thing!

Zhao Hanzhang was also very happy, looking at these people and thinking to herself: These are all people and money!

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes showed a smile. The people on both sides of the road also felt happy seeing this and excitedly cupped their hands in salute to her. “Governor! Governor! Look at me! I’m from Qian Family Village, just nearby…”

“Governor, I’m from Xiping. We’re from the same hometown!”

“Governor Zhao, I’m from Jizhou, I specifically trade in your family’s glass…”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to greet them. The crowd became even more excited. After cupping their hands and feeling Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t see them, they raised their hands high and waved, hoping she would look at them a few more times.

Among the crowded people, a young girl carrying a large basket was pushed forward by the crowd. The soldiers standing on both sides guarding were a step too slow and couldn’t pull her back. She just stumbled out and fell right in front of Zhao Hanzhang’s horse.

Zhao Hanzhang’s horse was a warhorse, and she had been paying attention all along. As soon as the person stumbled out, she pulled on the reins. The horse stopped, just lazily lowered its head to glance at the person who had fallen in front of it, then raised its head languidly and snorted.

The crowd fell silent, all somewhat frightened. Immediately soldiers stepped forward to grab the young girl’s arm and were about to drag her back. Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to stop them and looked at the pale-faced young girl, smiling and asking, “Did you hurt your leg?”

“No, no.” The young girl immediately scrambled up from the ground. Because she stepped on her skirt, she stumbled again. The cloth covering the basket shifted, and two flatbreads fell out.

The young girl scrambled to pick up the flatbreads, almost crying.

Seeing her eyes were already red and her face was flushed, Zhao Hanzhang leaned down and asked with a smile, “Are these flatbreads for sale? Are they good? How much are they each?”

The young girl instinctively raised the flatbread in her hand. “Two cash each, very delicious. Would the Governor like to try one?”

“Sure.” Zhao Hanzhang immediately took it. Seeing there was still some dirt on the flatbread, she didn’t mind. She brushed it off and took a big bite. The flatbread had scallions added and was baked dry, crispy and especially delicious.

She nodded approvingly. “Indeed very good.” She took out two new coins from her purse and gave them to her.

The young girl didn’t take the money and kept backing away refusing.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and tossed the coins into her basket, landing right on the cloth without dirtying her remaining flatbreads. “Take it. The Zhao Family Army has military discipline that forbids taking even a needle or thread from the people. You can’t make me be the first to break the rules.”

The young girl clutched those two new coins tightly without letting go.

The soldier also became gentler and gestured for her to move aside.

The young girl curtsied to Zhao Hanzhang and quickly retreated to the roadside. Everyone also quickly made space for her, then stared at Zhao Hanzhang even more excitedly.

Their hearts surged with emotion. Although they weren’t the ones who spoke with Zhao Hanzhang, and they weren’t the ones who received those two coins, they felt just like that young girl—a warm current suddenly flowed into their hearts, their whole bodies filled with energy. Everyone excitedly waved at Zhao Hanzhang, their gazes bright as they watched her leave.

Arriving at the field edge, Zhao Hanzhang dismounted. The village head and officials who had arrived early immediately came forward. “Governor, the altar has been prepared.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, first lit incense and performed worship to pray for blessings, then took out the prayer text Zhao Ming had written for her and recited it. This was a prayer to the mountains, rivers, and land, asking for favorable weather.

She knew that this year’s climate wasn’t good. She only hoped that heaven would take pity on the people, that the climate wouldn’t be as harsh as written in history, that natural disasters wouldn’t be so enormous, allowing more living beings a chance to survive.

After Zhao Hanzhang finished reading the prayer text, she burned it publicly, then knelt down and kowtowed with special devotion.

From a scientific perspective, she and Fu Tinghan coming to this world might be conservation of energy—there were no ghosts or gods in this world. But from a mystical perspective, anything was possible.

But whether there were or weren’t, she sincerely prayed to heaven, hoping natural disasters would be fewer, that all under heaven would have favorable weather and flourishing life.

When Zhao Hanzhang knelt, the surrounding people watching the ceremony also knelt one after another, praying together.

However, their wishes were much more varied. Most were like Zhao Hanzhang, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests this year. Some added private requests, praying for heaven to bless their families with health, peace, wealth, and prosperity.

Zhao Hanzhang respectfully kowtowed, stood up, and rolled up her sleeves. Zhao Ming, who hadn’t worked yesterday, also helped today, assisting Fu Tinghan in harnessing the plow for her.

Then Zhao Ming, the Commandery Governor, led the ox at the front while Zhao Hanzhang held the plow behind, publicly plowing a field.

Zhao Hanzhang also had the officials from the Commandery Governor’s Office and her Governor’s Office staff carry hoes into the field to break up soil clods, pull weeds, and level the land.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “The people regard food as heaven, so grain is fundamental. Spring plowing and summer harvest are most important. You all must work together with the people to ensure spring plowing is done well. Do not be negligent.”

Zhao Ming took the lead in respectfully accepting the order.

Zhao Hanzhang said a few more important points about spring plowing, such as: officials and soldiers must not encroach on people’s fields. Each county, district, and village must properly distribute seeds, do their utmost to provide oxen and farming tools to the people.

Ensure proper irrigation work and be vigilant against disputes arising from water competition.

Regardless of status, no one may trample or damage young crops. If anyone knowingly breaks the law and deliberately damages crops, they must be severely punished.

This plowing ceremony let the people of Yuzhou know of Zhao Hanzhang’s emphasis on agriculture. Officials from the Governor’s Office and Commandery Governor’s Office were all led by her to personally work the land.

Actually, if only she advocated this, officials from noble families like Administrator Yu wouldn’t want to follow. But Zhao Ming also responded.

Zhao Hanzhang went to the military camps and worked the land together with the soldiers. She occasionally visited the fields to patrol and would help farmers working there from time to time.

Zhao Ming, on the other hand, worked his own fields during his time off from handling official business. He had always been efficient in processing government affairs, and every day he actually had half a day to work in the fields.

When superiors set an example, subordinates follow. Administrator Yu and others could only follow suit and work the land. However, adhering to the principle of not letting benefits flow to outsiders, they all cultivated their own official fields.

As they worked, they actually discovered quite a few problems. For example, “The spacing on this harrow is too wide. It keeps missing grass. It needs to be denser.”

So the various counties of Yuzhou began allocating funds to improve the harrows.

Another example: “I asked the people at the Bureau of Agriculture. They said after harrowing the fields, it’s best to apply fertilizer once before transplanting seedlings. This way the seedlings will be sturdier and the harvest better.”

So Chen County built over ten new latrines, and this trend spread to other county seats. The Bureau of Agriculture also released several methods for composting. Although the officials looked disgusted, they still had their households follow the instructions.

Word came from the Governor’s Office that anyone who could grow good grain seeds with high yields would receive promotions and ennoblement.

They didn’t expect ennoblement, but they could strive for promotion.