Praying for rain, praying for snow, praying for clear skies…
From a scientific perspective, these ancient mystical arts are utter nonsense.
However, out of curiosity…
Lu Yu had actually read a few "official textbooks" on rain-making.
For instance, *The Taiji Refining Inner Method* states that when performing rituals for rain, clear skies, or snow… one must chant incantations. The key is that you cannot chant aloud; you must recite them silently in your heart. Moreover… although silent, these recitations must be audible to Heaven, for sincerity moves the gods.
If the rain fails to come, there is only one explanation:
It is not that the methods of the Yin-Yang School are ineffective, but that your heart is not sincere!
Doesn't that sound absurd? Doesn't it feel like "The Emperor's New Clothes"!
But… there's even more absurdity. *Dao Fa Hui Yuan* records: "The essence of praying for clear skies lies in stillness, focus, complete nudity, and the circulation of Yin and Yang energies."
What does that mean? It means, as Xun Yu said…
If Lu Yu were to pray for rain, he would first have to strip naked in front of a crowd of commoners. Then… he would need to synchronize his own body heat with the energy of the heavens and earth, creating a cycle of mutual exchange, and then the rain would naturally fall.
To this, Lu Yu could only say… "What the hell!"
If he were truly to go stark naked, it would be no different from a "social death"!
"Ahem…" Lu Yu coughed lightly. The awkward part now was how to refuse, given the "Grand Yin-Yang Master" persona he had established earlier.
"Lord Xun, my understanding of the Yin-Yang School is merely introductory; my cultivation is still shallow. At most, I can barely calculate the timing of great droughts. As for praying for rain… it requires 'stillness, focus, complete nudity, and the circulation of Yin and Yang energies.' I am far from achieving that level of shamelessness… ah, no, that state of purity and perfection. However…"
Lu Yu explained casually…
Of course, the majority of his explanation was weak and unconvincing. The last two words, "however," were the real point.
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. As expected, it was just as he and his officers had discussed: as a successor to the Yin-Yang School, Lu Yu must have a way to deal with this great drought.
"Lord Lu, if you have a method, do not hesitate to speak it!"
As Cao Cao finished speaking, Xi Zhicai thought of something and quickly added, "While locusts can solve the immediate crisis, they are ultimately not a long-term solution, are they, Lord Lu?"
Xi Zhicai had effectively shut down the option of eating locusts as food, lest Lu Yu try to fob them off again with "fried locusts."
The pressing issue was where the main staple food would come from after the July harvest failure.
The main staple food… was not the "miscellaneous grain" that solved temporary difficulties!
At this moment, all eyes were fixed on Lu Yu. For some inexplicable reason, the atmosphere in the pavilion became unusually peculiar.
"Ahem…"
Clearing his throat, Lu Yu announced loudly, "Lord Cao, esteemed strategists and advisors, I have actually thought of a way to deal with the July harvest failure… only…"
"Only what?" Cao Cao asked urgently, and everyone else instinctively leaned forward half a step towards Lu Yu.
"Lord Cao must know that I purchased a large quantity of upland and paddy rice seeds two weeks ago…" Lu Yu revealed a troubled expression as he spoke. "But I have been delaying planting them because I couldn't find a suitable location…"
Upland and paddy rice were not widespread in this era, especially in the Central Plains.
This era could not cultivate the high-yield, delicious Northeastern rice that ripened once a year…
Paddy rice and upland rice often yielded two to three crops a year, but their output was inferior to wheat, and most importantly, they tasted terrible!
Therefore, almost no paddy rice was planted in the entire Central Plains. However, in Yangzhou and Bingzhou, due to their special environments, paddy rice and upland rice were well-liked by farmers…
This explained why Lu Yu's proposal of upland and paddy rice seemed unfamiliar to everyone present.
"Do these upland and paddy rice varieties not require rainwater irrigation?" Xi Zhicai asked urgently, his most pressing concern.
While he was quite capable in strategic planning, he was a complete novice in agriculture.
It wasn't just him; here, apart from Xun Yu and Cao Cao, who had some rudimentary understanding of agriculture, the rest were agricultural novices.
"It's not that they don't require rainwater irrigation… but that upland and paddy rice are irrigated differently. Rainwater irrigation is from top to bottom, while upland and paddy rice irrigation is from bottom to top!"
Lu Yu tried his best to explain the agricultural issues in a simple and concise manner…
Of course, he was not an agricultural expert himself.
But this "from top to bottom" versus "from bottom to top" was actually easy to understand; they were merely different paths to the same destination…
For instance, during certain intimate moments at night, one might use various positions. The saying goes, all roads lead to Rome… Without the Golden Cudgel, can one not enter the Spider Cave?
"Uh… everyone, normally, wheat irrigation involves water flowing from top to bottom into the soil, gradually seeping into the wheat's roots. Nourished by the rain, the roots will grow robustly…"
"However, paddy rice and upland rice are entirely different. Paddy rice is naturally grown in water, with abundant water at the root level. Upland rice, on the other hand, is planted in terraced fields near lakes. The soil in these areas itself contains rich moisture. Therefore… even in a severe drought, even if Heaven doesn't send rain, the roots of upland and paddy rice can retain a large amount of moisture for nourishment, allowing them to grow robustly. This is what is known as reclaiming land from lakes, and it is the only drought-resistant crop I can think of!"
Lu Yu explained the benefits of reclaiming land from lakes as simply as possible…
This did not mean that reclaiming land from lakes had no drawbacks. For example, environmental damage, accelerating the process of lake eutrophication, and increasing the frequency of drought and flood disasters were all downsides.
But the immediate priority was to solve the grain problem for the millions of people in Yanzhou and Xuzhou!
Some environmental damage was unavoidable.
After all, human lives were at stake, and it also concerned whether Lu Yu and Sister Zhaoji could continue to have fun in this land!
Hiss…
As Lu Yu finished speaking, Cao Cao, Xi Zhicai, Xun Yu, and Xun You exchanged glances. Some understood, while others were still utterly confused.
However, they could grasp the core point: upland and paddy rice were resistant to drought, and that was enough.
"Lord Lu? If we plant these upland and paddy rice varieties now, when can they be harvested?"
"In a little over three months!" Lu Yu answered immediately to Xi Zhicai's question. "April is the best time for planting. If planting is successful, then… we can harvest by August. The existing grain in the various commanderies and counties is enough to last until July. If we are a bit more frugal… it will be fine until August."
Wow… this…
Although Cao Cao appeared calm on the surface, his heart was actually stirred. He kept observing Lu Yu's expression. Seeing that he spoke naturally, without any hesitation, and clearly… without any loopholes in his lengthy explanation…
Such conviction… made Cao Cao believe his words even more.
Besides, what other options were there?
It was a case of trying anything to save a dying horse!
However…
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly. "It's a pity that our Yanzhou has no large lakes. To implement the idea of reclaiming land from lakes, we would need to divert water to create lakes, and diverting water would take at least ten days… By then, the optimal sowing time for paddy and upland rice might have already passed."
With this thought, Cao Cao's eyes narrowed again. Yu'er had proposed a good strategy, but… it was a matter of time, the timing!
Immediately… Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai also furrowed their brows deeply. The battle of Puyang had truly delayed agricultural matters.
Lu Yu scanned the faces of everyone present. In fact… his feelings were no different from theirs.
Paddy rice and upland rice were easy to plant, but where could they find lakes?
Or, as Cao Cao suggested, divert water to create lakes? Was it that easy? If it were truly that simple, Lu Yu would have already done it with the Long Xiao Battalion.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire government office became much more somber…
But just then.
"Why are there no large lakes?"
A powerful and vigorous voice came from outside the door. Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, and it was none other than Xiahou Dun who burst into the office!
It was obvious… he had been listening to their conversation outside the office door. Given his status, the guards outside dared not stop him.
"Yuan Rang?"
"General Xiahou?"
Cao Cao and Lu Yu blurted out almost instinctively…
Stomp, stomp… Xiahou Dun strode in. "Big Brother… Fifteen days ago, I led my men to divert the Taishou River, creating a large pond. Over ten thousand brothers worked for more than ten consecutive days carrying soil. Now, terraced fields have formed there, meeting all the conditions for planting paddy and upland rice… Moreover, the pond is so large it can cover several thousand mu of land. Perhaps… Lord Lu could plant upland and paddy rice there?"
Wow… Xiahou Dun was a timely savior!
Cao Cao's eyes suddenly widened. Xun Yu, Xun You, Xi Zhicai, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Hong also looked at Xiahou Dun in astonishment, their gazes as if they were looking at an alien!
When did… Yuan Rang become so insightful?
How did he know to divert the water source in advance, create a pond, and carry soil to cultivate it?
Was this… still the familiar, stubborn General Xiahou?
"Yuan Rang, is this true?" Cao Cao asked with great surprise, his tone deepening with his words. "This concerns the food supply for millions of soldiers and civilians in Yanzhou and Xuzhou. We cannot afford to joke about this!"
"How would I dare joke with Big Brother?"
Xiahou Dun waved his hand, then his eyes turned to Lu Yu. "Lord Lu mentioned to me a long time ago that he wanted to promote paddy fields, but it required diverting rivers to create ponds. Doing this would take at least ten days of work with tens of thousands of men. But later, I thought, whatever Lord Lu does must have a reason… So, I took men to build this pond. Hahaha… I didn't expect Big Brother would need it so urgently!"
As soon as he said this…
Cao Cao jumped up with a shout, haha… hahaha…
His previously worried expression instantly turned into a clear sky.
"Excellent, excellent…"
"If the rice can be harvested in August, then both Lord Lu and Yuan Rang shall receive the highest commendation!"
Hearing this, Xiahou Dun scratched his head. He didn't care about accolades; his sole motivation was one thing: gratitude.
If Lu Yu secretly distributed relief funds to his brothers' families, then Xiahou Dun would reciprocate by diverting the water and enclosing the pond. This was what Xiahou Dun considered gratitude.
Phew…
Xiahou Dun's appearance truly allowed Lu Yu to exhale a long breath. This was truly unexpected.
Despite Xiahou Dun's usual hot temper, his boisterous nature, and his reputation as a losing general, he was truly clear-headed when it came to major matters!
Thumbs up, Lu Yu couldn't help but give Xiahou Dun a thumbs up!
Before Lu Yu could finish his thoughts, Cao Cao had already issued orders.
"Issue an order to the farmers in the commanderies and counties near Chenliu to cultivate paddy fields near the Taishou River pond. Any farmer who responds with support will have their land tax reduced by one-tenth for three years. In addition, all commanderies and counties are to find suitable water flows, divert them to create lakes, and vigorously promote the planting of paddy rice throughout Yanzhou and Xuzhou! This matter will be overseen by Wenruo and Yuan Rang!"
"Xun accepts the order!"
"This subordinate accepts the order!"
Xun Yu and Xiahou Dun both stood up, cupped their fists, and accepted the command…
Hearing Cao Cao's arrangement, Lu Yu nodded approvingly.
Very good, extremely good. Xiahou Dun had troops and experience in diverting rivers to form ponds, and Xun Yu had the brains… With their cooperation, the promotion of upland and paddy rice would surely proceed smoothly!
As expected, a good harvest should be reaped in August…
However, before the harvest, the soldiers and civilians would have to make do for now… Moreover, based on the current situation, the locusts were unlikely to cause a disaster.
This also meant that they would not release volatile compounds like "phenylacetonitrile" due to mass aggregation, nor would they convert "phenylacetonitrile" into the highly toxic compound "hydrogen cyanide" when attacked…
In short, the nationwide locust capture had both alleviated the grain shortage and contained the locust plague. This was a very wise move!
Speaking of which… under the great drought, wheat was bound to fail. Locusts eat wheat, and humans eat locusts. Could this be considered equivalent to humans eating wheat? Perhaps… the nutritional value was even higher!
The issue of grain had been resolved.
Cao Cao sat back in his seat, exhaling a long breath… as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart.
Of course, it was thanks to Yu'er's suggestion that he felt so relieved. If anyone else had proposed reclaiming land from lakes and promoting paddy rice, Cao Cao might not have even bothered to acknowledge them!
So…
Next, the meeting would move to the next issue!
Cao Cao gave Xi Zhicai a signal, and Xi Zhicai stood up and announced loudly, "Everyone, according to the scouts' reports, Lü Bu has arrived within Xuzhou with his remnants…"
"And judging by his appearance, he is either going to join Liu Bei in Xiapi City or Yuan Shu in Nanyang…"
Xi Zhicai had just finished speaking when…
Lu Yu instinctively interjected, "It's Liu Bei…"
It was an unconscious remark. Lu Yu hadn't even realized he had blurted out those three words.
At this moment, everyone's gaze turned towards him.
"Lord Lu? What makes you so sure it's Liu Bei?" Xi Zhicai asked proactively. "Yuan Shu's strength is clearly greater, and he is in greater need of a commanding general! If I were Lü Bu, I would choose Yuan Shu!"
Who Lü Bu would defect to was actually a very important question!
It even affected the future strategic planning of Cao's army!
However…
Lu Yu blinked his eyes. He hadn't intended to stand out too much in this military meeting, but his previous answer was almost a reflex!
Lu Yu was exasperated…
"Ahem…" Clearing his throat lightly, Lu Yu stood up. "I once heard from traveling merchants that Lü Bu had previously defected to Yuan Shu. He certainly wouldn't retrace his steps this time."
Hmm? This time, many were astonished!
Everyone present was also concerned about the state of the world, but few knew that Lü Bu had once defected to Yuan Shu.
In fact…
Lü Bu hadn't just defected to Yuan Shu. After being defeated by Li Jue and Guo Si in Chang'an due to Jia Xu's stratagem, the first person he sought refuge with was Yuan Shu, and only then Zhang Yang and Yuan Shao.
However, because Lü Bu stayed in Nanyang for a very short time when he sought refuge with Yuan Shu, and it was quite secretive…
The two parties eventually parted on bad terms, so very few people knew about it.
"If not for that merchant, I wouldn't have known. But later, I thought it made sense…"
Lu Yu began to explain in detail. "When Lü Bu fled Chang'an, there were only three major powers in the world: Li Jue and Guo Si's Western Liang army, Yuan Shao of Jizhou, and Yuan Shu of Nanyang… Lü Bu had just come from the Western Liang army, so he could only choose between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu!"
"Lü Bu is an extreme opportunist. He seeks the highest possible power. Yuan Shu is the legitimate son of the Yuan family and holds the Imperial Seal. In Lü Bu's view, he might ascend to the throne in the future, so seeking him out first would be logical… however…"
At this point, Lu Yu deliberately created suspense.
"However, what?" Xi Zhicai urged, "Lord Lu, don't keep us in suspense! We are all eager to hear! But… why was there no news about Lü Bu defecting to Yuan Shu?"
"This is easy to understand…" Lu Yu replied without hesitation. "Because Lü Bu is arrogant, and Yuan Shu is not to be trifled with. Their personalities dictate that they could not get along!"
"According to that merchant, at the beginning, Yuan Shu treated him with great hospitality. But at the end, the two parties were at swords' points. They… one did not want people to know that he had served an opponent, and the other also wanted to cover up the fact that a formidable general had returned and then abandoned him… Therefore, apart from a few merchants in Nanyang, hardly anyone knew about this matter!"
While saying this…
In reality… for such a sensitive matter, let alone merchants in Nanyang, even many of Yuan Shu's own officers were unaware.
Lu Yu knew because the books said so.
And the direct reason for the discord between Yuan Shu and Lü Bu was even more ridiculous!
To put it plainly, Lü Bu had become arrogant and thought that Yuan Shu could no longer wield a sword!
…
…