Chapter Forty-Four: The Anniversary Gift Pack

Time flew like an arrow, and another two years passed. On this day, Liu Yao rose early, preparing to begin the lottery draw for year 184. As for the blueprint he obtained in year 183, it was quite ordinary, yet it fulfilled a pressing need. It was a blueprint for a set of farming implements. This was the first time Liu Yao realized that the items in the lottery were not always singular—sometimes, there were sets.

The set included two items: a curved-beam plow and a waterwheel. The curved-beam plow, perfected during the Tang dynasty, was superior to the single-ox plows used nowadays, allowing for greater control over depth and turning the soil to both sides, forming ridges suitable for cultivation. The waterwheel, though in primitive form, was ultimately refined by Zhuge Liang in later times; now, thanks to Liu Yao, its birth came ahead of schedule.

Having acquired these two technologies, Liu Yao immediately promoted them throughout Youzhou. It is worth mentioning that in these two years, another remarkable talent joined Liu Yao’s Hall of Recruitment: Zao Zhi. Though not famed in history, his name became legendary for one thing—the system of military farms. This system reclaimed barren, ownerless land as state property, organized masses of recruited refugees into groups according to military structure, and provided them with land, seeds, oxen, and tools. They would cultivate the fields, and the harvest was divided between the state and the farmers. This policy laid the foundation for Cao Cao’s historic rise to power.

Upon Zao Zhi’s arrival in Youzhou, Liu Yao unhesitatingly appointed him as Colonel of Military Farms, giving him charge of agricultural affairs. Zao Zhi quickly implemented his method, promoting the new waterwheel and curved-beam plow as ordered by Liu Yao. As a result, Youzhou’s harvest tripled compared to the previous year. The people not only had surplus grain, but everyone wore new clothes during festivals; the whole province was filled with joy and celebration.

As for the land issue, it posed no real problem. Youzhou was impoverished, unattractive to major families—only minor clans resided there. When Liu Yao ordered the land to be nationalized, all the small clans resisted fiercely. Liu Yao wasted no words, sending a battalion to wipe out the ringleading clan. Instantly, the entire region quieted; no one dared utter another word.

Of course, after reclaiming the land, Liu Yao did not overly oppress these small clans. He understood the wisdom of giving a sweet date after the stick. Liu Yao entrusted some minor business ventures from his Huoyun Trading Firm to these clans. Immediately, they turned to support him, treating him as an ancestor.

Yet, rumors began to spread, twisted by those with ulterior motives, turning Liu Yao’s land policy into tales of oppression and land-grabbing. All the major families throughout the empire regarded Liu Yao with a degree of hostility.

Liu Yao paid this no mind. The land issue had to be resolved—if the land remained in the hands of powerful clans, the Han dynasty would continue its decline. Conflict with these families was inevitable.

Time passed swiftly. Liu Yao, about to conduct this year’s lottery, felt emboldened by having drawn useful blueprints two years in a row. Soon, the ancient book appeared in his hands once more.

“Begin... End.” Liu Yao performed the ritual with practiced ease. A flash of green light, and he eagerly opened the tenth page of the book. “Pfft...” Seeing the words, he nearly coughed up blood in frustration: “Laser gun blueprint.”

Helpless, Liu Yao glanced at the blueprint and put it back in the book, mocking himself, “Perhaps I’ve grown too greedy, thinking I could draw something useful every time.”

Just then, the ancient book emitted another green light. When it faded, bold characters appeared on the cover: “Congratulations, host. You have activated this system for ten years. A tenth-anniversary blueprint gift pack will be awarded. Please collect it.”

“A tenth anniversary? Such fortune?!” Liu Yao exclaimed in delight. From experience, he knew that anniversary gift packs always contained premium items.

With joy brimming in his heart, Liu Yao opened the book, murmuring, “Heaven help me, let me draw something powerful and useful.” He turned to the eleventh page.

“This... This is...” Seeing the words, Liu Yao’s heart raced to two hundred beats per minute, unable to calm down.

“Shi A, Shi A, come in here!” Liu Yao urgently called to his guard outside.

“My lord, don’t worry, Shi A is here!” Hearing Liu Yao’s anxious shout, Shi A thought something had happened. He burst in, sword in hand.

Shi A scanned the room, finding only Liu Yao, and asked in confusion, “My lord, where is the enemy?”

“Er...” Liu Yao realized his excitement had startled Shi A. “No enemy. Shi A, please relay a command for me.”

“Your orders, my lord,” Shi A said respectfully, fists clasped.

“Send my command: deploy all members of the covert group still stationed in Ji County. Search for descendants of the Mo family and the Gongshu clan. If there is any news of either, report to me at once, wherever I am.” Liu Yao’s face was solemn.

Shi A, seeing Liu Yao’s seriousness, understood the importance and quickly agreed, preparing to leave and carry out the order.

“Wait, Shi A.” Liu Yao called him back.

Shi A turned, puzzled, “My lord, is there anything else?”

“Shi A, issue a reward: anyone who provides information about the Mo family or Gongshu clan receives a hundred gold upon verification. Anyone who reveals their exact residence receives a thousand gold.” Liu Yao pondered. He did not doubt the covert group’s abilities, but his urgency to find these two was overwhelming. The best way to search was to mobilize the people—great rewards inspire brave souls. Unless these two were hidden deep in seclusion, they would surely be found.

“Uh...” Shi A was stunned. A hundred or a thousand gold for mere information—enough for a family to live comfortably for generations. “My lord, is the reward perhaps too high?”

“No matter,” Liu Yao waved dismissively. “Just do as I say.” For Liu Yao, finding these two was worth any price.

“Understood,” Shi A replied respectfully, retreating.

“Ah... Mo family, Gongshu clan,” Liu Yao murmured, gazing at the blueprint in his hands.

In the days that followed, news that anyone who found descendants of the Mo family or Gongshu clan could earn a thousand gold spread swiftly—not only in Youzhou, but also in neighboring Jizhou and Qingzhou. People everywhere searched for members of these two families, dreaming of instant wealth.