The wicked man then asked, "Last year, some farmers still had doubts about the new law. What about this year?"

The magistrate smiled and said, "Last year's harvest was excellent, and those farmers who had reservations are now vying to plant new rice this year. Some have even gone to neighboring counties to teach the planting methods, afraid that others might not know how."

The wicked man laughed loudly upon hearing this: "This is only human nature. The common people value practical benefits most; as long as they see tangible advantages, they will naturally be happy to accept them."

Tao Rang then interjected, "Grand Commandant, I have good news to tell you. There's been new progress in the selection of 'Qin Zhan No. 5' strains; we've selected several particularly superior lines, with a potential yield of over 500 jin per mu."

"Five hundred catties!" the wicked man exclaimed with delight. "If this can be accomplished, our Great Qin will never have to worry about famine again! When can it be officially promoted?"

Tao Rang cautiously said, "It will still take time. These strains need to be observed for two or three years to confirm their stable traits before large-scale planting can begin. However, we can start with small-scale trials next year to see how they perform."

The wicked man nodded in understanding: "Agricultural work should not be rushed; it's best to proceed cautiously."

In the blink of an eye, midsummer has arrived, and the transplanting of 100,000 mu of rice paddies has been completed. The seedlings have also sprouted new leaves, creating a lush and verdant scene.

However, the good weather didn't last long, as a sudden downpour threatened the rice paddies. Seven consecutive days of torrential rain caused severe flooding in many low-lying areas, and some rice paddies were at risk of being submerged.

Upon receiving the report, the wicked man immediately convened water conservancy officials to discuss countermeasures.

"How is the situation now?" the wicked man asked anxiously.

The water conservancy official replied: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, excessive rainfall in the upper reaches of the Wei River has caused a surge in water levels. More than ten counties along the river have been affected, with over three thousand mu of paddy fields flooded. If the water is not drained in time, the rice seedlings may collapse and rot."

The wicked man acted decisively: "Immediately mobilize able-bodied men throughout the county to raise the field embankments and dig drainage ditches to ensure the rice paddies are saved! At the same time, send men to patrol the riverbanks day and night to prevent breaches."

In the following days, the corrupt official personally went to the areas most severely affected by the disaster to supervise the drainage work. Under his command, the counties quickly organized manpower and resources to dig temporary drainage ditches, use boats loaded with pumping equipment to drain water, and do everything possible to protect the rice fields.