Chapter 520: Why Do the Immortals Travel North?
To the south of Yuezhou, in a picturesque mountain valley, the agricultural official led two sturdy young men as they patrolled the fields.
Just a few months ago, this land had been barren. And it wasn’t just overgrown with wild grass—that would have been the least of their troubles. Clearing weeds was simple enough; the real challenge was the dense undergrowth, thorny bushes, saplings, and even full-grown trees.
Cutting them down was tedious, but even more troublesome was removing their deep, tangled roots from the soil. Only then could the land truly be made suitable for farming.
Yuan Que had originally been a scholar from Jingzhou. He had little experience with farming, but after repeatedly failing the imperial examinations and driven by a desire to serve his country, he answered the court’s call. He became an agricultural officer and joined the migration effort to reclaim land in Yuezhou.
Fortunately, he was humble and eager to learn, never ashamed to ask questions. He was also thoughtful, strategic, and skilled at inspiring people. Under his leadership, the settlers of the Immortal Homestead had adopted a communal approach to clearing land and planting crops.
Instead of each family struggling to cultivate their own plot, they divided labor based on age, strength, and gender. The fields were tilled collectively, and at the end of the season, the harvest and newly cultivated land would be distributed according to the effort each household had contributed. Next year, they would begin working their individual plots.
It had been a difficult process, but he had managed to earn everyone’s trust. They believed in his fairness, so they worked hard, knowing their efforts would lead to a better future.
As a result, productivity soared.
Now, the once-barren land was lush with crops, green and thriving. It was a sight that filled the heart with joy.
But behind this transformation lay an untold amount of sweat and toil.
“The people of this world don't see,