"Magistrate Wang's idea is to build an irrigation canal in the northern part of Zhengyang County to improve the farmland there and increase crop yields."

"Yes, that's what I think too. The northern region is flat and the farmland is very concentrated. The only drawback is the lack of water, which leads to frequent droughts. In a bad year, there may be no harvest at all."

If two crisscrossing canals are built there, the water situation in the northern region will be completely changed.

I have calculated that the total length of the two canals will reach one hundred li.

Since the northern region is flat, building irrigation canals is not difficult. If the manpower and financial resources for construction can be guaranteed, the two irrigation canals can be completed in less than two years.

It's easy to imagine that two years from now, the vast farmlands in the northern part of Zhengyang County will become the granary of Qing'an Prefecture.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian spoke up:

“Magistrate Wang has a visionary approach. The construction of the irrigation canal is a long-term project that will benefit generations to come. I wonder what kind of help Your Excellency needs from me?”

"In the Great Northern Dynasty, there is no shortage of skilled craftsmen. My idea has received the support of the provincial government and Qing'an Prefecture. In addition, Zhengyang County has had good tax revenue in recent years and has accumulated a certain surplus, so there is no major problem in terms of financial resources."

Currently, the only problem is a shortage of laborers to build the irrigation canals. Since this project will take two years, it's difficult to mobilize so many workers in a short time.

Zhao Xian smiled. Wang Zhibo was very clever, and his intention was already very clear. Shuixian Village had an army of 100,000. If these troops could be mobilized, the problem of labor shortage could be solved.

“Magistrate Wang, there is no need to worry. Shuixian Village has an army of 100,000. As long as there is no war, the soldiers can help build the irrigation canal.”

"Your Excellency, please come with me to the military camp to see General Li and see how many troops we can mobilize for the construction of the irrigation canal."

Wang Zhibo was overjoyed. If half of the 100,000 troops in Shuixian Village could be mobilized, this massive project could be completed within two years.

"Then we'll have to trouble Marquis Zhengyang. With the strong support of the soldiers, the irrigation canal project will definitely be completed on schedule."

After Wang Zhibo finished speaking, he got up and followed Zhao Xian to the military camp.

During this period, there was a lot of agricultural work to be done, so Li Guang was probably not in the military camp; he was likely working in the fields.

Zhao Xian took Wang Zhibo to the farm and asked Li Guang which field he was working in.

At the farm, Meng Yaoyao was playing with Li Nan when she saw Zhao Xian arrive with a young man. She then handed Li Nan over to the maid beside her.

"Brother Zhao is here."

"Young Master, let me introduce you. This is Magistrate Wang, the newly appointed magistrate of Zhengyang County."

"Greetings, Your Excellency." Meng Yaoyao performed a curtsy.

Wang Zhibo knew that when Li Guang went south, he married Meng Yaoyao, the young master of the Nanyi tribe. Needless to say, the woman in front of him was Meng Yaoyao.

"My name is Wang Zhibo, and I greet you, young master."

As Wang Zhibo spoke, he bowed to Meng Yaoyao.

"Your Excellency, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

There are stone tables and benches under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, making it a perfect place to entertain guests this season.

As they were talking, another maid brought out a teapot and teacups, preparing to brew tea for the two of them.

“Young master, please don’t be so polite. We are here to see General Li Guang. We need to know where he is. The magistrate wishes to pay his respects to him.”

"Li Guang and Princess Li Xue went to the lakeside. The princess heard that lotus roots could be picked in the lake, so they went to pick them."

I've never seen lotus root hearts before, but I've heard they're delicious.

Zhao Xian certainly knew about lotus root vegetables. This vegetable was not easy to harvest; one had to go down to the lake to pick it, and it also required some skill.

This season is the peak season for lotus root vegetables. Before the lotus leaves form, long, white, tender stems grow out of the mud. Pick them, wash them, cut them into sections, and stir-fry them simply with oil and salt to make a delicious dish.

It must be quite interesting for Li Guang to go down to the lake to pick lotus roots, so Zhao Xian decided to go to the lakeside to take a look.

After saying goodbye to Meng Yaoyao, Li Guang left the farm and led Wang Zhibo toward the lake.

Before long, the two arrived at the lakeside. When they saw the beautiful scenery before them, Wang Zhibo was stunned.

The scenery here is so beautiful. There are pavilions and towers by the lake, and the lake surface is covered with lotus leaves, layer upon layer.

The lotus flowers have not yet bloomed, but you can see a large number of buds peeking out from among the lotus leaves. You can imagine how beautiful it will be when the lotus flowers in the lake bloom in competition.

Arriving at the lake, Wang Zhibo was pleasantly surprised. There were so many koi swimming in the lake; it was truly spectacular.

The distant mountains, the nearby fields, and the waterbirds in the low sky—all of this paints an extremely beautiful picture.

Some time ago, Wang Zhibo visited Shuixian Village during his inspection tour of Zhengyang County, but he did not discover this lake. He did not expect that Shuixian Village had such a beautiful view.

Harvesting lotus roots requires going into the lake to pull them out of the mud, using both hands and feet, and applying just the right amount of force.

At first, Li Guang didn't know how to pick the fruit, so an old farmer came down to the lake to teach him, and Li Guang quickly learned how.

By this time, Li Guang had already picked a lot of lotus roots. Li Xue put the picked lotus roots into a basket, and looking at the full harvest, Li Xue was very excited.

"Li Guang, come up quickly, the basket is already full, there's no more room to pick more."

"Okay, I understand, I'll be right up."

Li Guang pulled the last lotus root from the water and began to walk ashore.

Li Guang was soaking wet, with mud on both legs. Li Xue giggled when she saw this.

It was perfectly normal for Li Guang to look like this when he came ashore after picking lotus roots in the lake, and he didn't think much of it.

But when he saw Zhao Xian leading a well-dressed young man up to him, he immediately lost his composure.

Seeing Li Guang like this, Wang Zhibo was deeply shocked.

Li Guang was the God of War of the Northern Dynasty, the young prince of the current dynasty, and the future emperor, yet he still worked so diligently.

"I am Wang Zhibo, the magistrate of Zhengyang County. I have just met General Li."

Wang Zhibo approached Li Guang and bowed respectfully.

"So you are the magistrate. No need for such formalities."

Li Guang glanced at Zhao Xian, somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"Brother Zhao, please wait a moment. I'll go change into some dry clothes and be right back."

Li Guang took the dry clothes handed to him by the guard and went to the pavilion next to him to change.

At this moment, Li Xue walked over, and Zhao Xian began to introduce her.

Upon learning that the woman before him was Princess Li Xue of the current dynasty, Wang Zhibo quickly bowed.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Guang, having changed his clothes, came over.

At this time, Li Guang was a sunny and handsome young man, after all, he was only seventeen or eighteen years old and very young.

Li Guang invited everyone to sit on a nearby pavilion, which had tables and chairs for tourists to rest.

After the group was seated, the guards brought out tea for them.