Chapter 31: Dividing the Land and Securing the Livelihood

The moment Lin Qian spoke of the ranks for military and civil service, the gathered commoners were struck with absolute astonishment. For them, this was a matter of paramount importance, one that directly impacted their honor and their very livelihoods.

An elderly man with a white, wispy beard trembled as he stepped forward, his voice shaking. "I beg to ask, my lord, is what you say true? Once we are granted these titles, they won't be taken back, will they?"

Lin Qian looked at the old man with a profound gaze, then said calmly, "Unless you commit a grave offense, the titles will not be rescinded. These titles are no different from those of the Great Qian; in fact, to be precise, they *are* the titles of the Great Qian. In time, I will have both the military and civil merit ranks integrated into the official hierarchy of the Great Qian."

"For now, however, the system is not yet fully mature, so we shall start by implementing it here in Chunping City."

Hearing this, the old man finally felt his heart settle. As long as the titles remained, it meant their efforts would not be in vain. Over time, as they cultivated the land, their ranks would rise year by year until they reached the highest possible tier. The idea that farming could yield titles and nobility was something none of them could have ever imagined.

Lin Qian unfolded the parchment in his hand and slowly read out a name: "Wang Laonian, step forward."

Standing in the back of the crowd, Wang Laonian froze. He pointed to himself in disbelief, his face filled with bewilderment.

"That’s right, do not doubt it—it is you!"

Stunned, Wang Laonian stood rooted to the spot. He had never expected this; he had always been a man of no consequence in Chunping City, even during the recent defense of the city, where his only role had been to coordinate the able-bodied men. Bewildered, he emerged from the crowd, still struggling to believe what he had heard.

"Wang Laonian, you were once a wanderer in Chunping City. I now officially declare you a resident and citizen of this city. Your land has been allocated, starting with the first plot in sector A south of the city!"

Wang Laonian was completely dumbfounded. It turned out that over the past three days, while Lin Qian appeared to be resting, he had actually sent men to mark off most of the land surrounding Chunping City. At first, the people had been whispering among themselves, wondering what those lines were for, but now, they suddenly understood.

"What about me? What about me! Wang Laonian, you lucky old dog, to have been granted the best plot!"

The first plot in sector A was, naturally, established farmland. Most of the land outside Chunping City was black earth—incredibly fertile, a gift from the heavens, where crops would grow in abundance with little worry.

Wang Laonian stood in a daze for a long while. He had spent his entire life as a drifter, constantly on the move, living a life of displacement. He never imagined that after half a lifetime of wandering, he would suddenly find stability and become a true citizen of Chunping City.

"Waaah!"

Overcome with emotion, tears streamed down his face. Like a long-lost wanderer finding his home in his twilight years, he wept.

"Thank you, thank you, Lord City Master... thank you!" Wang Laonian stammered, his words incoherent with joy.

Seeing that Wang Laonian had received one of the best plots, the others began to chatter excitedly.

"What about me? What about me? Which plot did I get?"

"Yes, I was a wanderer too, having only arrived in Chunping City five years ago. Can I be granted land as well?"

The allocation of land was always the concern closest to the hearts of the common people. As long as they had land to farm, it meant they would no longer have to endure hunger and had finally secured a proper livelihood. From this day forward, they could bid farewell to their lives of instability. Their own land was a genuine treasure; if they tended to it well, they could build a home, establish a family, and have no trouble feeding their kin.

Some of the elderly bachelors, who had lived solitary, wandering lives for most of their years, finally dared to dream of taking a wife.

As a man from a later age, Lin Qian understood this better than anyone. Marriage and children were luxuries in any era. Without land of one's own, merely serving as a tenant farmer meant that even a lifetime of toil might not be enough to establish a household—especially in an era where the borders were insecure and external enemies lurked at every turn.

A dwindling population was the clearest sign of decline. The prerequisite for these people to have children was a stable life; without that foundation, how could there be a future?

Well aware of this, Lin Qian gestured for silence and looked around at the crowd.

"Do not panic, do not rush! Everyone will have land. While I cannot guarantee that every plot will be the best, I will compensate with the size of the allocation. If the land is already fertile, the acreage will be smaller; if the land is less developed, the acreage will be larger. Do you... understand?"

"We understand!"

Everyone looked on with eager anticipation. Among them were many expert farmers who understood exactly what Lin Qian meant. If they were given more acreage of less developed land, a year of hard work would still yield a bountiful harvest. As the land grew more fertile each year, production would naturally rise, and they would become more prosperous with every passing season.

Furthermore, Chunping City was located in the north. While it was a vital border town, the land was not only fertile, but it had also been spared from the ravages of extreme natural disasters. It was no exaggeration to describe it as a land blessed by favorable weather. With diligent care, such land would surely bloom and bear fruit.

"Li Ernao! Your turn!"

Li Ernao, who had mentioned arriving in Chunping five years ago, was startled. He immediately broke into a wide grin, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. "My lord!"

"You are assigned the second plot in sector A, right next to Wang Laonian. Are you satisfied with that? The size is the same as his: five acres!"

Established land, and five acres at that! Li Ernao was overwhelmed with excitement. He stammered, "M-my lord! Does this mean I am officially a citizen of Chunping from this day on?"

"Indeed!" Lin Qian answered firmly, his words ringing out with authority, confirming Li Ernao's deepest hopes.

In that moment, Li Ernao sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face, his expression fierce with resolve. He made a vow: "If I fail to tend this land well, I, Li Ernao, will chop off my own hands!"