The Tuntian Commandant ranked at six hundred bushels and, under Cao Cao, oversaw production, civil affairs, and land taxes in the tuntian districts. His position was equivalent to that of a county magistrate.
When Liu, Guan, and Zhang had arrived in Xudu, they had learned of Cao Cao's tuntian system. But since the general in charge of it was Xiahou Dun, head of Cao Cao's clan, it wasn't easy for the other warlords to simply copy it.
When Liu Bei was in Xu Province, his only trusted aides were Guan and Zhang. He couldn't leave one of them behind to oversee farming. Now that he had Lan Tian, his worries about the rear were finally put to rest.
By the time Lan Tian took up his post, it was already the end of the year, and the people around Xinye were resting for the winter.
Liu Bei now controlled Xinye's military and civil affairs, and he let Lan Tian choose the land for the tuntian fields as he pleased. So even in winter, Lan Tian took Gao Yuan and the others out to survey the land.
Lan Tian's name quickly spread through the countryside, and three days later, an old acquaintance, Li Yang, came calling.
"Young Manor Master, you really came?" Li Yang exclaimed happily.
"Little Li, you look well. These past two years must have treated you nicely." Lan Tian patted Li Yang on the shoulder.
Li Yang was only a year younger than Lan Tian. His skin was dark and his build tall and straight, but years of working in the fields had made him sturdy and strong.
Li Yang smiled. "It's all thanks to the farming skills the Young Manor Master taught me. I've been doing well enough here in Xinye. I heard you'd arrived these past