Inside the carriage, Liu Jin said with a smile to Jian Yong, who was beside him!
"Xianhe, just wait two or three days. After these two things are forged, I will personally take you to try them out and see how powerful they are."
"As long as they achieve a good effect, you can start handling this matter and popularize the irrigation of water channels."
"Try to gradually solve the water problem before next year's planting, so that the people in the three commanderies can have a year of abundant harvest."
Upon hearing this, Jian Yong quickly nodded and said loudly!
"Marquis, rest assured, as long as it is effective, your subordinate will do his best to handle the matter well."
Liu Jin nodded. He was very confident in Jian Yong's ability. Historically, he was a civil official in internal affairs, so handling these matters was quite easy for him.
The carriage quickly returned to the Prefect's Mansion. Liu Jin saw that it was already dark.
He did not continue to handle matters but went towards the back courtyard.
After having dinner with his two wives, he chatted in the pavilion for a while.
It was getting dark.
Liu Jin went towards a house in the courtyard, which was the courtyard where Zhen Yu lived.
The two small maidservants standing at the door, seeing Liu Jin's arrival, showed sweet smiles on their faces, their delicate figures slightly bowed, and they said softly!
"Greetings, Marquis."
Liu Jin smiled and nodded, then stepped into the room.
When the two small maidservants saw Liu Jin's gentle and refined appearance, their hearts began to pound, and their cheeks turned crimson.
Their beautiful eyes looked at his tall back, wishing they could offer themselves to him.
One of them whispered!
"Xiao Cui, our Marquis is not only handsome and dashing but also holds high status and power. All the unmarried women in the entire city admire him and want to marry into the Marquis's Mansion."
"Especially towards the two wives, they are full of envy, wishing they could take their place."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui's eyes were full of envy, and she mumbled!
"When can I become the Marquis's woman, even if I'm just a bed-warming maid?"
The small maidservant next to her pouted and showed a hint of teasing!
"You? Go back tonight and see if you can have a spring dream. A dream romance with the Marquis isn't bad either."
Both showed shy expressions, occasionally chattering in low voices.
Liu Jin entered the room and saw Zhen Yu sitting at the dressing table, seemingly dressing up.
As if sensing the arrival of her beloved, a smile appeared on her delicate face. She quickly stood up, turned around, and saw Liu Jin's figure.
Her beautiful eyes showed a seductive look, her delicate body slightly bowed, and she said softly!
"This concubine greets husband."
Liu Jin looked at her beautiful face, which showed a seductive expression. The green gauze dress she was wearing outlined her graceful figure, and the beautiful scenery was even faintly visible.
His eyes showed a fiery gaze, and his breathing quickened slightly.
He slowly walked over, hooked her tender chin, and carefully observed her mature and charming demeanor, which constantly ignited the desire in his heart.
A moment later, the lights in the room went out. Only two figures could be seen through the window, vividly under the moonlight.
Five days later!
Yanmen Commandery, Pingcheng County, Li Family Village!
More than a hundred cavalrymen, escorting several carriages, slowly approached this place.
Several people were sitting in the carriages, chatting with each other, with voices occasionally coming through.
Soon, the carriages stopped outside a village.
Liu Jin lifted the curtain and stepped down. Looking at the surrounding situation, the land was dry, the trees were withered yellow, and the ground was even somewhat cracked, clearly lacking water resources.
Jian Yong was seen stepping down from the carriage, standing aside, and introducing!
"Reporting to the Marquis, this place is Li Family Village. There are quite a few vast fields around, but the only problem is the lack of water resources, which has caused this flat area to become completely dry land."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin nodded, his eyes carefully surveying the surrounding area.
It was indeed a good place. If water resources were available, the vast land around it could be fully utilized, increasing the usable area, and the people living here could become prosperous.
Just then, Li De, the village chief of Li Family Village, was leading several village officials towards this place quickly.
They had just received notification that General Zhenbei Liu Jin had personally arrived, which instantly shocked these village officials.
They had not expected such a prominent figure to come to their godforsaken Li Family Village.
So, everyone dared not neglect and hurried towards the village entrance.
After getting closer, the leader, with an excited expression on his face, quickly bowed and said!
"Your humble servant, Li De, the village chief of Li Family Village, greets the Marquis."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin carefully observed Li De in front of him.
He was about sixty years old, with a wrinkled face, gray hair, and dressed in coarse cloth, appearing simple and peaceful.
Although he served as the village chief, he was one of the lowest-ranking officials in the Han Dynasty.
Basically, they were selected from respected elders in the village, commonly known as the 'Three Elders' of the Han Dynasty, whose duty was to appease the people and set an example.
He nodded slightly and asked!
"Village Chief Li, may I ask you, are there any flowing waters near Li Family Village?"
Upon hearing this, Li De quickly reported!
"Reporting to the Marquis, there is a river near our Li Family Village, and the water flow is quite abundant. All these nearby villages rely on this river to survive to this day."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin looked at the vast land in front of him and asked in confusion!
"Since there is a river, why not irrigate this land in front of us, but let it lie waste here?"
Upon hearing this, Li De looked at the land in front of him, as if past events came to mind, and sighed!
"Marquis, you may not know, but this land used to be our Li Family Village's farmland, and many crops were planted here."
"However, in the past ten-odd years, water resources have been relatively scarce, and a small tributary leading here completely dried up, causing this land to be completely abandoned."
"And that river is relatively far from here, and the riverbed is relatively low, so there is no way to draw water here."
"Even if water could be drawn over, it would probably cost a lot. All these nearby villages would have to dispatch people to help."
"But if we do that, every household would lose some harvest. Life is already very difficult, and annual hard work can only maintain the status quo. If there isn't enough money and food, how will the people survive? So, we haven't tried, to avoid causing dissatisfaction among the villages."
After hearing these words, Liu Jin nodded slightly, not surprised by such a matter.
Such a major undertaking as altering a riverbed would be very difficult for the people of a single village to accomplish. At the very least, the government would have to step in and organize manpower to get it done.
After a moment of contemplation, he immediately said!
"Since that is the case, Village Chief Li, please take us to the only river in your village."
