Flowers Bloom on the Continent (2): The Joys of Farming
Flowers were blooming across the continent. Farming was a joy. If it wasn't, you'd have to repeat to yourself over and over that you were doing it just to survive.
Especially if it wasn't your farming. If I didn't have to till the soil myself but could still fill my belly with crops from my own land, it was practically paradise. The secret? "Lend out the land and let others farm it."
I owned vast tracts of land, which I rented to those in need, letting them work it in my stead.
"A perfect plan, isn't it? They have no land, and I lack manpower. It's a win-win."
"For free?"
"No. In autumn, they hand over one-fifth of the harvested rice as rent."
In exchange, I took two-tenths of their yield outright.
"How economically sound is that? Land that would otherwise grow nothing but weeds now yields hundreds of seok of rice."
I profited by turning idle land into fields; landless peasants got enough grain to feed themselves. A perfect mutual benefit. Mutual aid at its finest!
"Isn't two-tenths too low? You should take five."
My adoptive mother, Cai Xuan, voiced her dissatisfaction with my policy.
"Land is precious."
I understood her point.
"The rice from that land is top-quality, fat and fine. Let word spread that you can farm it for five-tenths rent, and hundreds of able-bodied men would flock from Yangyang."
"That good, huh?"
"Of course. That's why our clan claimed it."
It was my land now, but it had originally belonged to the Cai family, and Cai Xuan had given me a portion of her holdings.
"You're too soft on them, son. You should've consulted me first before handing it over to those refugees from Jingzhou."
"My apologies. Their plight was pitiable."
From her view, since I'd given the land to Jingzhou evacuees, two-tenths felt like too little.
"No, even five-tenths is too low. Take six."
"Six? That leaves us with four?"
"No. The landowner takes six. They're just borrowing our land."
"Mother, that's excessive. They're the ones doing the work and harvesting the grain. Six-tenths is too much."
Humans won't lift a finger without greed stirring them. And if they feel shortchanged, their motivation vanishes—or worse, they sabotage others out of spite. Lose half the harvest from fields you've slaved over? I'd never do it.
Not unless starvation was imminent.
"But Wol-yeong, you're the only one around Xinye lending land like this. If they dislike your terms, they'll just leave."
"Where would they go? They fled here because nowhere else would take them."
"People always find a way to survive. If they hate it here, let them go."
"So you'd only accept the desperate ones who'd swallow five or even six-tenths?"
"Exactly."
Cai Xuan's thinking was polar opposite to mine.
"There are plenty of people. Those who dislike the policy will leave on their own."
"What if a neighboring village offers better terms someday? Somewhere more stable than Jingzhou, with land at four-tenths?"
"Ha, as if."
"Just suppose. They say Yuan Shao's winning in the north, stabilizing Hebei. Word is they're renting land for four-tenths there. Your ambitious folk might head north, and we'd lose population—meaning less grain overall."
"...Still, two-tenths is too little."
Cai Xuan propped her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
"The rent doesn't matter much. I'm worried they'll disrespect you. You're treating them kindly now, but as their numbers grow, they might act like the land is theirs. You must always assert your authority as owner."
"I see. Thank you for your wisdom, Mother."
I had no intention of quarreling over this, so I adjusted the terms to satisfy her.
"Very well. Four-tenths it is. But for those who farm well and produce plenty, reduce it to three-tenths the next year. That work?"
"Three-tenths. Perfect. No more than that."
"Thank you, Mother."
Thankfully, she came around to my policy.
"Sigh. I still don't get why you gave land to these Jingzhou refugees."
"It'll pay off as assets in the future."
"Assets?"
"Where will their children go? And parents won't wander while raising kids. They'll stay here till the kids grow, then help work the land."
They'll form villages, bound to this soil. If anyone ever bares their teeth at my territory, these folk will be the first to grab spears and defend it.
"A long-term boon for the Cai family."
"Exactly. Any thoughts on your end, Mother?"
"Hm, good idea. I'll try it too—but as a trial, I'll take six-tenths. The truly desperate will follow anyway."
"Thank you."
Now, not just the land Cai Xuan gave me, but her holdings and the broader Cai clan's lands would be leased at fair rates to Jingzhou refugees.
Thus, we turned idle land into massive profits—not just cash, but material and human resources.
"...But Wol-yeong. Using family land for personal gain means punishment, doesn't it?"
Oh no.
"Mother?"
"I'm still deciding. But they've already started picking plots on your land. Oh dear, we must inform the Emperor. Who to tell? Your uncle-in-law, the Governor of Jingzhou and Administrator of Yangyang?"
"I'll confess to the Governor myself. Spare me!"
"Good. Before it reaches Liu Biao's ears, this mother will scold you thoroughly. No heading back to the academy tonight—I'll lecture you long and hard."
Cai Xuan snapped her fan shut and slid it downward with a graceful motion.
"The price for not reporting a man playing money games with state land. Be my companion tonight."
A chill ran down my spine at her gesture.
"...Mother, you don't mean."
"Yes. You'll console me in your father's stead."
In Father's stead.
"Father still hasn't come home?"
"'Still'? He shows up two or three times a year, if that. Sigh. You haven't met him yet, have you?"
"No."
I still hadn't met my adoptive father, Huang Shengyan.
"What’s he up to these days?"
"Who knows? Last month he ruined three festivals at some farmland event. Now he's off to the southern seas in Wu for trade, saying we need gold. Sigh."
"......"
Father, what kind of life are you living? I need to ask him seriously when we meet.
"You'll have to hear me out, dear. Even Xiangyi's rants lately are all about Liu Biao."
"Rants?"
"Yes. She keeps saying we must avenge Grand Minister Zhang Wan, who died in fury against Dong Zhuo. But Liu Biao claims Yuan Shu's still a threat and won't mobilize."
Zhang Wan. Executed for allegedly conspiring with Yuan Shu to assassinate Dong Zhuo. He was a high official closely tied to the Cai family.
"Grand Minister Zhang Wan... your great-uncle-in-law, right?"
"Yes. That bastard Dong Zhuo executed our clan's pillar in Chang'an too."
The family's power center, gone. Along with most kin.
"How can he? As the Cai son-in-law, Liu Biao should at least pretend to march!"
Rationally, Liu Biao was right. Zhang Wan had died defying Dong Zhuo with fists—not grounds for war.
"Exactly. I'd have sent troops north in righteous fury."
But I approached Cai Xuan and took her hand.
"It must grieve you deeply. And Liu Biao did nothing?"
"Nothing. Like a frog hibernating in a winter well. Married into the family, so now it's all fine? Sigh."
Cai Xuan thumped her chest, then drew close.
"At least you're listening. What a relief."
"Of course."
She didn't want solutions—just someone to hear her out earnestly.
And right now, that was me.
"I summoned Xiangyi too. We'll have a long talk with her tonight."
"...Ha, haha."
Two married women lamenting their fates. Not for the faint of heart.
"It's so unfair. Before Dong Zhuo dies, this country can't stand right."
"Believe me, Mother. Dong Zhuo will die soon."
"That certain?"
"If I read the heavens, would you believe?"
She chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"Enough. Your comfort eases my heart."
"Mother, want to make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Dong Zhuo dies within the year."
"The year? Ha, fun. If you win, I'll grant any one wish."
Cai Xuan set her wine cup on the table.
"Anything."
Dong Zhuo died.