Following Lu Shuang's relay of Fang Er's orders, Zhao Gang, along with the artisans, packed all the cannonballs and bullets made in recent days into crates.
The cannonballs alone numbered three to four thousand. This was the output after efficiency had significantly dropped due to Fang Er's absence.
Fang Er's letter to him included a blueprint, which he had also produced using the lathe. Everything was packed into crates.
Three days later.
Lu Shuang selected one hundred men each from the Fourth and Fifth Battalions of the Skyfire Army, forming a two-hundred-man transport team.
The ammunition filled over a hundred ox carts.
Upon learning that Fang Er intended to remain in Shenyang City, Xiao Qing packed her belongings to accompany him. Lu Shuang found it difficult to refuse.
The convoy of over two hundred men and more than a hundred ox carts set off for Chang'an.
At Tonghua Gate in Chang'an, ten thousand men of the Firearm New Army slowly exited the city gates.
The army was led by Chai Shao and Cheng Yaojin. These two had shamelessly begged Li Shimin for this assignment, believing that with Fang Er present, the command of the firearm army would still fall to him. Li Shimin agreed, considering Chai Shao and Cheng Yaojin would merely serve as figureheads.
Behind them followed countless carts and logistical supplies. Officials selected by the Ministry of Personnel also accompanied them. The two groups rendezvoused outside Tonghua Gate and then proceeded towards Shenyang Commandery.
Shenyang City.
Most of the city's original residents had gradually returned. Damaged houses were repaired, but those completely reduced to ruins were still under reconstruction.
It was already the end of March, and the weather was very pleasant. The seeds for sweet potatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins in the system space were at the right temperature for planting. During the days Lu Shuang was away, Fang Er had already had large tracts of wasteland cleared.
There were too many forests outside Shenyang City! Simply clearing a section yielded excellent fertile land. The decomposed fallen leaves alone were as deep as a hand's breadth!
Inside a house with a heated wall in the city, rows of wooden racks were set up. Wooden basins filled with fine sand were placed on top. The sweet potatoes buried in the sand had already sprouted. In some time, they could be transplanted using their vines.
The potatoes also had young shoots growing.
There were not many sweet potatoes and potatoes, only about a thousand catties of each. Due to the different planting methods, the potatoes were only enough to plant three to four mu of land. Sweet potatoes, however, were more plentiful. This crop was a true "cheat" in terms of cultivation; it could live just by inserting a vine!
Sweet potatoes would require a bit more time for the vines to grow longer before they could be transplanted. Potatoes, on the other hand, were ready for direct planting. Fang Er directed the citizens to cut the potatoes into small pieces, ensuring each piece had at least one eye. Then, they were planted one by one into the tilled fields. Like wheat, in a few years, these few mu of potatoes could cultivate enough seeds.
Combined with sweet potatoes and pumpkins, there would be no more famine in the entire Great Tang!
The people of Shenyang worked with exceptional diligence. This was not solely due to their fear of Fang Er but more so because Fang Er was very generous! After taking Shenyang, they had captured two hundred thousand strings of currency. The points in the system store were enough for Fang Er to spend lavishly, so he hadn't redeemed anything further.
For house repairs and the construction of new houses, Fang Er paid, hiring the people of Shenyang to do the work, including land reclamation and planting. Each person, as long as they reported to work on time and completed their tasks, received twenty coins per day as wages. In a month, that amounted to six hundred coins! Moreover, Fang Er did not discriminate between men and women. On average, each household had two to three people working. The combined wages of these few people were enough to feed the entire family, old and young, which was unimaginable in the past!
Half a month later.
Fang Er, who was inspecting the growth of the potatoes outside the city, suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching from the southwest. Looking up, he saw a long procession moving towards Shenyang.
"Let's go see who has arrived," Fang Er said, dusting the soil off his hands, to Guan Chang beside him.
"Yes!" Guan Chang stepped out of the potato field, untied the warhorse tethered to the edge of the field, mounted it, and galloped towards them.
Not long after, Fang Er saw Guan Chang return on horseback, followed by four riders. As they drew closer, Fang Er walked forward in surprise. It turned out to be Cheng Yaojin and his son, Chai Shao, and Yu Chijin!
"Brother Cheng! Father-in-law! The Emperor sent you?"
"Heh heh, I had to come and see if you've done anything to wrong Yue'er," Chai Shao said, walking up to Fang Er. He then moved close and sniffed vigorously.
"What's this smell! Why is it so foul!" Chai Shao exclaimed, fanning himself with his hand.
"Look over there," Fang Er pointed to the citizens working in the field. Those citizens were carrying dung buckets to fertilize the potatoes, so it was no wonder it smelled.
"Hahahaha! Old Chai, do you want to smell again and see if my brother has any rouge on him?" Cheng Yaojin was pleased to see Chai Shao in an awkward situation.
"Why are you here instead of staying in the city? Also, what are these things you're planting in the field? I've never seen them before," Chai Shao asked, crouching by the edge of the field, looking at the potatoes.
"Heh heh, don't underestimate this thing! You'll know when harvest time comes," Fang Er said with a smile. "The yield is at least ten shi per mu!"