The Ma family of Fufeng was renowned for their craftsmanship, but Ma Lun inherited his father’s talent for astronomical observation rather than his grandfather Ma Yan’s skills in craftsmanship.

For this reason, he brought a young apprentice from the Ma family in Fufeng to Luoyang.

[Ma’s disciple, Jun, was young and talented in craftsmanship, unmatched in talent, but not skilled in eloquence…]

“… ” Qiao Yan’s expression changed immediately upon reading this part.

Ma Jun, Ma Jun!

He was one of the most famous inventors during the Three Kingdoms period.

He improved the Zhuge crossbow, invented the directional cart, and enhanced the stone-throwing cart.

Qiao Yan hadn’t expected to hear this name, as Ma Jun was active during Emperor Ming of Wei’s reign, after 237 AD.

But upon reflection, it wasn’t impossible.

The descendants of Ma’s family tended to live long lives.

For instance, Ma Rong lived to eighty-eight, Ma Yan to seventy-two, and Ma Lun was also long-lived.

What about Ma Jun?

Continuing to read the letter, she saw Bi Lan write that Ma Jun, though only fourteen years old this year, played a significant role in helping him complete the construction of the overturning cart.

Being from a poor branch of the family, unable to afford schooling, Ma Lun intended to fund his education.

While he studied in Luoyang, Bi Lan would teach him craftsmanship.

Now knowing where he was, Qiao Yan felt somewhat reassured.

She folded the letter and nodded to the messenger who brought it, sending local produce from Leping as a gift to be delivered to Bi Lan.

After seeing the messenger off, she immediately mobilized carpenters from the county and the Black Mountain troops.

Since Bi Lan had sent the model of the overturning cart, the irrigation device connecting the hillsides had to be completed promptly.

The people of Leping County had somewhat adapted to Qiao Yan’s decisive actions.

Moreover, the logging and production of the wooden overturning cart were ultimately for the county’s benefit, so they were motivated.

As Qiao Yan had said, moist soil wasn’t conducive to locust breeding.

If even the mountainous areas received proper irrigation, aside from foreign locusts, they would have a safer farming environment.

Unfortunately, this year’s spring rains had only come briefly and then stopped, making people uneasy.

Therefore, the production speed of the dragonbone overturning cart exceeded Qiao Yan’s expectations.

In just fifteen days, on the mountain slopes where sweet potatoes were planted, long troughs were already laid out, ready for the dragonbone and chains.

Of course, the longer chains weren’t as easy to handle as Qiao Yan’s previous hand-cranked model.

Fortunately, Bi Lan and Ma Jun had considered this issue and opted to use draft animals for propulsion.

Thus, when this dragonbone overturning cart started operating, it was driven by oxen turning the chain wheels.

Qiao Yan looked up from below the hillside, toward the direction above.

Fifteen days ago, the sweet potato seedlings, showing signs of sprouting, had completely emerged from the soil, with some leaves already growing.

Though not lush yet, they were flourishing like the beginning of spring cultivation.

Support frames had been set up above the seedlings, creating a unique sight previously unseen in Bingzhou.

Qin Yu reported to Qiao Yan, “There are 500,000 mu of arable land in Leping County.

An additional 60,000 mu of mountainous land has been reclaimed, with a survival rate of about 80% for the sweet potatoes planted there.

Following Lord Qiao’s orders, any sweet potatoes that failed to sprout were removed and replaced with soybeans.”

Soybeans were also crops disliked by locusts.

Qiao Yan estimated quietly that if things went as planned, ignoring the soybean yield, the sweet potato yield alone, based on the current survival rate, could reach nearly 900,000 stone measures!

What an astonishing amount!

As Qin Yu spoke, the sound of water gurgling up the mountain through the dragonbone wooden frames filled the air.

This was the signal of the successful operation of the dragonbone water cart!

Muttering to herself, Qiao Yan said, “These structures are suitable for the mountains, but they could also work on flat land. I should ask the county residents if they’re willing to build more dragonbone structures.”

If they were going to do it, they should do it decisively!

If this plan succeeded, Leping’s measures against locusts would indeed be fully armed from start to finish.

While it might seem a bit excessive to prepare for the worst, in times of frequent disasters like these, since she lacked experience in governing an entire county, it was better to cover all bases, just as she had promised Qiao Xuan before—

Being thorough in every aspect was never wrong.

Qiao Yan had originally planned for Qin Yu, who managed agricultural affairs, and the eloquent Lu Yuan to handle the persuasion work together.

However, when Lu Yuan came to report, there was a subtle smile on her face.

“During the operation of the dragonbone overturning cart yesterday, apart from the hired carpenters from the county observing nearby, many other villagers from Leping County also came to watch,” Lu Yuan reported. “They see it as a blessing to be able to change the flow of water from high to low. When Lord Qiao mentioned adding two more dragonbone branches for irrigation, there was hardly any dissatisfaction. Their only request was to slightly adjust the route planning to avoid crops that don’t need as much watering.”

Qiao Yan replied, “That’s natural.”

With consensus reached and the successful construction of the first dragonbone overturning cart, the entire Leping County immediately swung into action.

Although the county’s carpenters didn’t possess the knowledge of Bi Lan and Ma Jun, they had their own methods to ensure the efficiency of the cart’s operation.

For instance—

The varnish used to protect parts of the dragonbone cart was sourced from lacquer trees in the Taihang Mountains.

They carefully selected several types of varnish.

Similarly, key bearings were sourced from the Taihang Mountains’ sandalwood, one of the best woods for making axles.

This sandalwood also happened to be the material used for the wooden spear that Qiao Yan practiced with.

After informing County Magistrate Guo and writing a letter to the Inspector urging Zhang Yi to pay attention, along with several more letters sent out.

Five mountainous dragonbone water carts and four flatland dragonbone carts intersecting were officially completed in Leping County.

On that same day, Qiao Yan received two halves of a spear from the carpenter who had previously received the order for a wooden spear.

The trunk of sandalwood was naturally a yellow-brown color, but the spear presented to Qiao Yan was closer to a dark brown.

Inspecting the join between the two halves, the long spear could be split into two short spears, and when closed, the mechanism was securely fastened without any sign of it coming apart.

It was exactly what she had hoped for!

Seeing Qiao Yan’s undisguised fondness for the spear, Lu Yuan asked, “Lord Qiao, are you planning to formally learn martial arts?”

Given her family’s military background and her near-death experience during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it wasn’t hard to understand why, now that the irrigation project in Leping was complete, she sought to further her ability to defend herself through martial arts training.

Moreover, she is still young, at an age perfect for learning martial arts.

In Lu Yuan’s view, Qiao Yan’s cultural knowledge and political acumen far surpassed what would be expected at her age.

Therefore, devoting some energy to martial arts was quite ordinary.

However, Qiao Yan’s response caught Lu Yuan off guard: “It’s not just for me, but for all of you too.”

“In times of natural disasters and widespread disease, only the strong have a chance to survive. It’s survival of the fittest,” Qiao Yan said as she slowly rotated the spear in her hand, creating a clumsy arc, but clearly enjoying herself.

It was Lu Yuan’s first time hearing the phrase “survival of the fittest,” but he understood its meaning vaguely.

It’s an interesting concept.

Qiao Yan continued, “Even if I’m not aiming to go into battle, staying strong and healthy is important, don’t you think?”

“Don’t you want to see a better future for Leping in the years to come?”

Perhaps, it wasn’t just about Leping.

This reason…

Lu Yuan couldn’t refuse it.

Even Xì Zhìcái, who was not fond of exercising, couldn’t refuse it.

Yet, unable to restrain himself, he wrote several letters, each with the same line:

“Within a single day, up the mountain and down ten times, mountain peaches are exquisite, but I am terribly exhausted, unable to enjoy their fragrance.”

Upon receiving these letters, everyone fell into silence.

Was Xì Zhicai showing off his improved stamina or seeking help?