Chapter 48 – Planting the Heart (1)

Chapter 48 – Planting the Heart (1)

The troops led by General Jang Yang also achieved a resounding victory at Gaochuan Town before returning to Hanzhong. It was reported that his force of three thousand had ambushed an enemy army twice their size, completely annihilating them.

A succession of victories breathed new life into Hanzhong once again.

Jang Yang was overjoyed when he saw the war horses captured by the Wolf Fang Squad. Finally, the legion was equipped with a proper cavalry unit. The cavalry unit, originally consisting of a hundred horsemen led by Commander Han Baek, was expanded to two thousand and immediately began intensive training.

Following this, our forces established an advance base about a hundred and fifty li from Hanzhong, focusing on defeating the enemy's raiding units individually. Over the next two months, they successfully intercepted the enemy five more times. Every time the invader forces crossed the border to plunder, they were completely repelled. Naturally, the Wolf Fang Squad's contribution was the greatest.

With their raids completely blocked, the Hui forces stationed at Chang'an Fortress began to suffer from severe supply shortages. Having no other choice, they turned their attention back to the surrounding villages.

However, the villages under the Hui Dynasty's control had long since abandoned farming. Who would bother to farm when their harvest was stolen the moment it was reaped? Because the occupied lands had already been reduced to ash, there was nothing left to squeeze from them. From the moment they failed to capture Hanzhong, their entire invasion strategy had been derailed.

Faced with this situation, starvation began to spread rapidly throughout the northern region of Shaanxi. Not only the common soldiers but even the officers went hungry. Ultimately, the Hui Dynasty was forced to halt its southward advance until their rear supply lines could be secured.

Having bought this precious time, Jang Yang focused on strengthening Hanzhong from within.

* * *

Hanzhong, bordered by the Han River to the south, possessed ideal conditions for rice cultivation.

Before long, the reclamation of the military farms was completed, and the paddy fields were plowed. Water channels were dug from the river to irrigate the fields, and the dikes were completed. Everything was ready for full-scale farming to begin.

In the Song Dynasty, an advanced agricultural technique called transplanting was widely practiced.

Across the vast fields stretching to the horizon, thousands of farmers were busy transplanting rice seedlings. Among them, one figure in particular caught everyone's attention. He worked tirelessly, planting seedlings with the lower hem of his robe rolled up to his thighs.

An officer approached him, his face filled with concern.

"General, please take a break. You will wear yourself out."

"Haha. This is the first rice planting on our military farms. What could be more joyful and rewarding than this?"

Commander Jin-lip sighed at Jang Yang's stubbornness. Recently, whenever General Jang Yang had a free moment, he would come out alone to help the farmers, making it impossible for the other officers to sit idly by.

"Since these are civilian-run military farms, the garrison is not obligated to assist them," Jin-lip pointed out.

His words were not wrong.

These were civilian-run military farms (민둔) operated by the government lending land to the people. The farmers cultivated the land freely, and after the harvest, they only had to pay twenty percent of the yield to the imperial court and twenty percent to the military.

However, Jang Yang continued his work, offering a warm smile.

"Haha. How can you say it is of no concern? Even if they are civilian-run, a bountiful harvest means our legion's reserves will be plentiful, and the people will be able to eat their fill."

Commander Jin-lip sighed and began rolling up his sleeves. With the general working, he, as the overseer of the military farms, could not simply watch.

Just then, a girl's shout rang out from the nearby path.

"Hiyaaa! Everyone, move aside!"

Jin-lip looked up and saw a massive cart loaded with seedling trays rolling down the dike. Strangely, only the cart was visible; no one could be seen pulling it.

Moving a few paces to the side, he spotted So-so, wearing a straw hat. She was pushing the massive cart with both hands raised high above her head. Because she was so small compared to the cart, she had been completely hidden from view.

"Grandfather! The delivery is here!"

The dikes were muddy and slick, making it difficult to pull a cart.

To think a young girl was pushing a cart that even an ox would struggle with. The sight was both astonishing and heartwarming.

"Good job, child. Hand them over to your uncles."

So-so looked around. Spotting her squad uncles planting seedlings about ten zhang away, she hopped onto the cart and shouted, "Uncles, catch!"

One by one, the wooden seedling trays began to fly through the air, sailing precisely toward the squad members. Her aim and control were remarkable.

The squad members caught the flying trays effortlessly, showing impressive coordination of their own.

"Why are there so many?!"

"Just give us a few!"

So-so continued to hurl the trays relentlessly, shouting back, "They said we can't eat lunch until we finish planting all of these!"

The squad members held their trays, looked at So-so, and shook their heads with wry smiles.

So-so seemed to find her first experience with farming highly entertaining. Having followed General Jang Yang to the fields in the morning, she had worked without a single break. Furthermore, Jang Yang and So-so worked exceptionally well together. Between the two of them, they had completed the most work in the entire field.

Once their target for the day was met, the workers began to leave the mud. A simple meal had already been prepared just past the dikes.

Jang Yang looked down at So-so, who was trailing close behind him. Seeing her work harder than anyone else made him find her incredibly endearing.

"Haha. So-so, do you know what we planted today?"

"I planted grass! What about you, Grandfather?"

"Grandfather planted a heart. Our hearts have become the seeds and fertilizer for this land. What could be more joyful and reassuring than that?"

"What happens when the heart grows?"

"When the heart grows and fills us with joy, heaven responds. Since we have planted So-so's pure heart, let us pray that heaven grants us a bountiful harvest this year."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Though she didn't fully grasp his words, So-so smiled brightly anyway. She was in a wonderful mood, especially since the food was waiting right in front of them. Though it was only simple fare like dumplings and beef jerky, So-so knew this was just the beginning.

General Jang Yang sat on the ground and took a bite of a dumpling. Around him, So-mu and the squad members sat on the grass, eating.

Suddenly, a group of farmers began to approach them.

Their numbers grew by the second, and each farmer carried a dish in their hands.

"General, please try this! It's dongpo pork, marinated and prepared at our home."

"Thank you for saving us, General! I made this steamed carp today. Please have some."

"This is a duck dish my wife prepared specifically for you, General!"

No one had ordered them to do this, nor had anyone asked.

As the dishes began to pile up along the narrow path, the farmers grew eager.

Soon, they were jostling one another, each trying to offer their dish first, nearly starting a friendly squabble.

Seeing this, Jang Yang gestured for the farmers to sit and laughed, "Haha! How can I possibly eat all of this alone? We all worked together today and planted the future together, so let us sit and eat together."

To share a meal with the general was a great honor for the farmers. As the dishes were laid out on the grass, the atmosphere turned festive.

Even with the Wolf Fang Squad and the farmers eating together, the abundance of food was overwhelming.

Jang Yang looked at So-so, who was sitting beside him. She was staring intently at the food without touching a bite.

He knew exactly what she wanted. It was the reason she had worked so hard all day, following him around.

"Haha. So-so has worked hard today, so she has earned her share. Take as much as you like."

With a wide grin, So-so wrapped her arms around Jang Yang's neck.

"Hehe. Thank you, Grandfather!"

So-so pulled out a wrapping cloth she had prepared and began to pack some of the dishes.

The watching farmers smiled warmly. They had witnessed her doing the work of ten grown men by herself.

"Take plenty, sweet child."

"She has such a kind heart."

"To think she is so pretty, yet possesses the strength of a giant…"

Having quickly packed her bundle, So-so hopped away. So-mu watched her leave and asked, "Where are you going, daughter?"

"I'm going to meet Ahae and Cheong-ah!"

So-mu chuckled.

"Have fun."

He already understood.

The parents of Ahae and Cheong-ah, whom So-so had rescued, were poor farmers assigned to the plots on the opposite side of the military farms.

Unlike here, where a crowd had gathered with an abundance of food, they had likely been working all day without a proper meal.

'Now that I think of it, I've forgotten a friend of my own.'

So-mu quietly scanned his surroundings.

After a moment, his gaze locked onto a lone pine tree about three zhang to his right.

With a flick of his wrist, So-mu sent a dumpling flying toward the tree. Amazingly, just before it struck the trunk, the dumpling vanished as if evaporating into thin air. It was as though a ghost had snatched it. The move was so swift and silent that no one noticed.

His gaze returned to the path as a military runner rushed toward them.

"General, the messenger sent to the capital has returned!"

Jang Yang nodded.

"Well done."

Whenever a battle occurred, it was mandatory to report to the imperial court. The messenger's return meant an imperial edict had been handed down.

Having finished his meal, Jang Yang headed back to the camp, with the Wolf Fang Squad escorting him.

"Come with me," Jang Yang said to So-mu as they arrived. He led So-mu straight to his office, where the legion's messenger was already waiting.

"Let us enter."

The messenger and So-mu followed Jang Yang inside.

Without even changing his mud-stained robe, Jang Yang sat at his desk. The messenger presented two scrolls and a small wooden box.

One scroll bore the dragon seal of the imperial court.

The other was a roughly wrapped, plain scroll.

"What is this?" Jang Yang asked, pointing to the second scroll.

"Before I departed the capital, a mysterious individual handed it to me. They insisted it was an important letter that must be delivered to you, General. I accepted it, but…"

"I see. You have done well. Go and rest."

"Yes, General."

Once the messenger departed, Jang Yang opened the imperial edict first.

It was excellent news. It was a promotion decree following their string of victories.

"I recommended you for a promotion to Guard Commander, and it has been approved. Your official rank is now Changmu Guard Commander of the junior sixth rank. You are now on equal footing with the other commanders, so be proud."

It was the first So-mu had heard of it.

Though military ranks held no meaning for him, he was grateful for Jang Yang's gesture.

"Thank you."

"In truth, the Wolf Fang Squad's contributions were the greatest. I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to your deeds, my own rank has risen as well."

Given that Hanzhong was the only region sending news of victories amidst constant defeats, it was a natural outcome.

With this, Jang Yang was promoted to Grand Commissioner of the junior third rank. If he rose one more rank to Military Governor, he would no longer have to answer to the four Great Generals.

However, that single step was as wide as the gap between heaven and earth.

Despite the promotion, Jang Yang did not seem particularly pleased. He clearly had no interest in political power.

"The General's achievements far exceed mine," So-mu replied.

"Haha. No need to be modest."

Opening the wooden box, Jang Yang revealed two nameplates. He handed one to So-mu.

"This is the nameplate for the Changmu Guard Commander. As for your subordinate, Il-gwang, who successfully completed his mission, I will use my authority to grant him the rank of centurion."

So-mu bowed silently in response.

Jang Yang set aside the imperial edict and unrolled the rough scroll—the letter the messenger had received from the mysterious stranger.

As he read the contents, the color slowly drained from his face.