Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1286 - 1283_1

Gradually, Xiao’er began to notice some changes in the space.

Firstly, the open area in the space got larger.

Xiao’er noticed that the open ground in the space had expanded. She could vaguely see the outline of the stone house. Although she could not reach it yet, it indicated that this approach was correct!

"Brother Shangguan, the space has expanded! I think if we really transform the northwest, they will definitely come back during the day!"

"Hmm." Shangguan Xuanyi held Xiao’er with one arm and looked around the space. Indeed, the open ground had expanded.

However, the space’s ability to regenerate soil wasn’t very strong. A day’s time outside could only generate three packs of soil.

Last time when Xiao’er dug up sixty packs of soil from the space, it took twenty days to fill up the large hole in the space!

This speed was considered slow.

"Brother Shangguan, report this matter to the Emperor, then proceed in the name of the Imperial Court!"

"Alright!" He had thought about how to express it.

The existence of a type of soil that could transform wastelands into fertile lands was such an important matter, no one had the right to withhold it from the Emperor.

The Imperial Court must undertake this task, which benefitted the country and people by helping the poor to turn wastelands into fertile lands.

Since the project was being launched on a large scale in the name of the Imperial Court, the source of the space soil had to have a plausible explanation, raising no suspicion.

Shangguan Xuanyi set up a formation near a cave in a large mountain in the outskirts, then filled the cave with the soil from the space.

He arranged for three groups of different people to dig out the space soil from the cave every other time, then transport it to different places to improve the fertility of the land for the people.

The explanation given for this space soil was fertile soil, which Shangguan Xuanyi accidentally discovered on a certain mountain. Once it was all dug up, there would be no more!

Many people heard about it and wanted to dig the fertile soil in the mountains. Especially some of the wealthy merchants, who wanted to dig the fertile soil for sale. Even if they didn’t sell them, they could still fertilize their own land! However, they couldn’t find the location of the cave because of the formation set up by Shangguan Xuanyi.

After many people heard that wastelands could be turned into fertile lands, they rushed to reclaim the land.

However, blind land reclamation could damage the environment! In the end, it wouldn’t benefit the people but rather put them in danger!

As soon as Xiao’er heard about it, she told Shangguan Xuanyi, "Brother Shangguan, we can’t let the people blindly reclaim the land! The Imperial Court must issue a ban on this."

"I know, I’ve heard about this too. I mentioned it to the Emperor in the morning court. The Emperor has already issued an order prohibiting the people from reclaiming the land recklessly! Therefore, anyone who wants to reclaim the land must apply to the Government Office. Moreover, due to the limited amount of fertile soil, the Imperial Court doesn’t provide assistance in fertilizing new wastelands. Also, the price of the wasteland has increased to the same level as that of medium-quality land, and taxes have to be paid starting from the first year! Once this policy is implemented, the enthusiasm of the people for land reclamation will diminish."

"The people were driven to large-scale land reclamation because they saw profits and benefits! If the state charges a high price for the newly reclaimed wasteland, doesn’t provide support with fertile soil, and requires a tax contribution in the first year, it could be said that it’s a big loss! No one would want to continue doing it!"

"Hmm."

Blind land reclamation could cause environmental damage and soil erosion, and the result would not be worth the cost!

The people were only driven by benefits, and they didn’t consider the harm of damaging the environment.

The annual flood alone would be a major headache! A large amount of sediment flowed into the rivers, raising the river bed. During the rainy season, the chance of flooding increased!

And, it was not just this kind of harm!

In short, it is easy to destroy the environment, but hard to improve it! So, it’s better to protect it!

As for the soil in the space, Xiao’er decided to use it to aid the poor who needed help and vulnerable groups.

Of course, the priority was to improve the infertile land in the northwest.

In the following time, Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er focused their attention on this matter.

Day after day, year after year, Shangguan Xuanyi was continually shuttling back and forth between the Imperial Capital and the northwest.

The transformation of the barren land in the northwest was important, so Shangguan Xuanyi needed to visit the northwest from time to time to personally supervise the transformation.

Meanwhile, Xiao’er stayed in the Imperial Capital, occasionally filling the cave with the soil from the space.

The couple led lives where they were often apart.

Without realizing it, two years passed, and the northwest had developed considerably.

In the northwest, people no longer just saw the desolate grassland or the confusing desert.

When the sunlight turned golden, we could see waves of golden wheat rolling in the endless fields. We could smell the mature scent of wheat and see people sweating, standing in the golden fields with joy from the harvest!

Riding on his horse, Shangguan Xuanyi looked at the endless wheat field before him. He thought, ’I must bring Xiao’er to see this. She will be really happy.’

He didn’t linger over the beautiful scene before him. After one look, he turned his horse and urged it into a gallop.

No matter how beautiful a scene is, without a loved one to share it, it loses a sense of happiness.

...

Imperial City

The day gradually cooled down. Xiao’er went to check on each of the four children’s rooms. After making sure that they had slept, she returned to her own courtyard.

After making the rounds, she felt that her entire body was cold.

Xiao’er returned to her room, closed the door, went into the bathroom, and planned to soak in a hot spring bath before retreating to the warmth of her bed.

Xiao’er soaked in the bath and breathed a sigh of relief!

She had been too tired recently! She had been busy meeting with many ladies and young daughters, preparing cotton clothes for the soldiers attacking Nangong Country. She was out early and returned late every day.

After two years, Minze Country had already captured half of Nangong Country!

Meanwhile, her space had basically returned to its previous state.

Only the practice area of the ’Day’ was still covered by a white fog.

But recently, the white fog had started to fade. Xiao’er knew that the ’Day’ was about to wake up!

Great!

While soaking in the pool, thinking when ’Day’ would wake up, Xiao’er unknowingly fell asleep.

The bedroom door was quietly opened.

A dust-covered Shangguan Xuanyi tiptoed in.

It was already late at night. He thought that Xiao’er was already asleep, but he didn’t find her in bed.

Shangguan Xuanyi thought Xiao’er had gone to sleep in the space. He didn’t intend to disturb her, so he picked up a set of clothes and headed to the bathroom.

Upon entering the bathroom, Shangguan Xuanyi saw Xiao’er asleep, slumped over the edge of the pool.

Her long hair sprawled over her pristine white back. There was a mist rising from the water in the pool, and Xiao’er was sound asleep.

Shangguan Xuanyi frowned: How could she fall asleep like this! If he hadn’t come home tonight, how long would she have been soaking in the water!

Shangguan Xuanyi stripped off the dust-covered clothes and gently climbed into the pool, lifting Xiao’er into his arms.

As soon as Shangguan Xuanyi held Xiao’er in his arms, she woke up with a start.

When she realized it was Shangguan Xuanyi, she sighed with relief, yawned, and rested her head on his chest and said, "Brother Shangguan is back."

Having said this, Xiao’er comfortably fell asleep again.