With spring returning to the land, the several hundred people farming the fields grew busy.
Lan Tian had Li Yang harvest all the green manure on the estate ahead of time. They buried it in the fields during spring plowing to improve the soil, then finished sowing while the spring rains lasted.
One advantage of farming under a military system was that people worked harder. The common folk had been deeply unaccustomed to it at first, since human laziness often crept in on the job, but once they had formed the habit, everything became much easier.
Reward the good, punish the bad, praise the strong, and support the weak.
Their work was assessed and recorded, whether good or bad. At the end of each season, Lan Tian gave them material rewards or punishments. For those who were naturally less capable, he also arranged for the stronger workers to mentor them one-on-one.
By May, the seedlings had been thinned, and the millet in the fields had begun to grow. The broad fields stretched out, all lush green.
Gao Shun had the farm workers take turns training. Li Yang and Elder Master Deng had already explained things to them, so most of the common folk understood Lan Tian's intentions.
All men had a competitive streak, and farmers who spent their days working the fields were no exception. Those taking part in the training were therefore highly enthusiastic.
They trained hard for no one else's sake, but to protect their homes and the grain they had worked so hard to grow.
After farming began at Deng Family Village, Lan Tian had to visit the fields from time to time to guide production, and also personally cultivate and improve new grains, fruits, and vegetables. So he and Lu Lingqi simply moved to the village.