Iron Fields Equal Land, Su Minwang's Popularity; Corrupt Officials Hinder Proposals, Stirring the Powerful Families

Over the next few days, Zhao Cheng personally led the Mohist School disciples as they moved the Field Irrigation Machines through the furrows of the farmland outside Wu'an City.

From the river valley on the southern bank of the Ming River to the slopes below Fukou Pass, more than a dozen Field Irrigation Machines ran day and night. As their chain buckets whirled and flew, gurgling clear water spilled across the cracked fields.

In barely three days, they had irrigated several thousand mu of land.

The machines ran smoothly without the slightest malfunction. Even Qin Guli, the strictest of them all, could not help clapping his hands in praise.

The people of Wu'an City had initially watched from afar, but gradually drew closer and closer.

Some squatted on the ridges between the fields with rice bowls in hand, eating as they watched the chain buckets spin at dizzying speed.

Some brought their children, pointing at the rising steam as they told them, "This is an iron thing that lets crops drink water."

Some old farmers simply squatted beside the thoroughly watered fields, scooping up moist soil and rubbing it between their fingers. Even the wrinkles on their faces seemed to ease open.

"So all that clanging from the workshops day and night was for making this treasure."

A man carrying empty water buckets sighed as he watched the Field Irrigation Machine. "I thought it was some man-eating demon beast before. Now it seems even more miraculous than the Dragon King in the temple."

"Isn't that the truth?"

The woman beside him took up the conversation. The child in her arms was reaching for the splashing water. "With this thing, we won't have to worry when drought comes again. The crops are sure to bring in a fine harvest."

Yet beneath