Chapter 110: Great Drought in Guanzhong

The best way to neutralize the impact of one news story is to release another, more explosive one—a principle Merton understood well from his future life.

"Drought in Guanzhong!"

The headline of the second issue of the *Mo Journal* carried this explosive news, immediately reducing the fallout from the controversy over "marrying within the clan" to its lowest point. Only then did the common people of Guanzhong realize that, following the heavy snows around the New Year, not a single drop of rain had fallen across the entire region for about a month and a half.

In this era where grain was more important than anything else, no one discussed the hazards of intermarriage anymore; in the blink of an eye, everyone had become a patriot concerned about the state and its people.

"Clear skies in Huayin!"
"Clear skies in Lantian!"
"Clear skies in Yong County and Yijun!"

Fang Xuanling looked at the *Mo Journal* in his hands, reading the weather reports from across the Guanzhong region. Not only was the weather in Chang'an clear, but the skies over all the surrounding prefectures were also bright and sunny, with not a single cloud in the sky across the vast Guanzhong plains.

A month without rain was not the biggest problem; the real difficulty was that there were no signs of rain for the foreseeable future.

"Could it be that the catastrophe of the fourth year of Zhenguan is about to repeat itself? Is Heaven going to bring disaster upon the Great Tang once again?" Fang Xuanling said, filled with worry.

"Lord Fang, you worry too much. Weather is fickle; it is a perfectly normal phenomenon. Although the Mohists advocate the existence of ghosts and spirits, I, Merton, believe that even if those immortals exist high above, none of them would be so bored as to meddle in such trivial matters as rainfall in the mortal world." Merton put down his brush, looking with satisfaction at the lifelike portrait in his hand; the continuous practice had further refined his artistic skills.

However, no matter how exquisite the portrait was, it could not capture even a sliver of Fang Xuanling's interest. The shadow of the drought once again loomed over this suffering land of Guanzhong. Thinking of the disaster in the fourth year of Zhenguan and the turmoil it had caused, Fang Xuanling felt a heavy weight in his heart.

"Looking at you, it seems you are not the least bit worried about this drought?" Fang Xuanling asked, surprised by Merton’s relaxed tone.

One had to know that the Mohist Village was also a place prone to disaster. Last year's flooding had caused heavy losses; if it weren't for Merton’s sudden rise to prominence, the village’s fate would have been uncertain.

"Lord Fang, you have misunderstood!" Merton quickly explained.

"Your father and I were brothers-in-arms, and you and Jun are good friends; just call me Uncle!" Fang Xuanling said kindly.

"Uncle Fang!" Merton followed suit. "Please look at the second page of the *Mo Journal*, and you will understand why your nephew is not worried about the Mohist Village."

"The second page!" Only then did Fang Xuanling realize today's *Mo Journal* had two pages! He picked up the other page and the first thing that caught his eye was a large advertisement for the Mohist Hospital.

"The Mohists truly believe in keeping wealth within their own circles!" Fang Xuanling gave Merton a sideways glance.

Merton’s advertisements had once been circulated in the imperial court, and Fang Xuanling knew their purpose; seeing the advertisement for the Mohist Hospital, he immediately knew what Merton was up to.

"Uncle Fang, you may not know this, but each copy of the *Mo Journal* costs only one copper coin. After factoring in labor and materials, it’s good if it doesn't lose money! If we don't print advertisements and collect fees, we won't last long. Besides, new ventures like the Mohist Hospital need advertising. It’s a mutual benefit—after all, even the finest wine fears a deep alleyway," Merton explained.

"Fallacious reasoning! If you only print advertisements for the Mohist Village, wouldn't that be unfair to other merchants?" Fang Xuanling reprimanded.

Merton hadn't expected Fang Xuanling to see the pros and cons of advertising so quickly; the wisdom of the ancients was certainly not to be underestimated.

"Rest assured, Uncle Fang. Advertising is a new phenomenon, and the Mohist Hospital is only doing this to break the ice! If other merchants wish to advertise, the *Mo Journal* will treat everyone equally," Merton said.

Fang Xuanling did indeed find a notice on the middle page of the *Mo Journal* inviting advertisers, and he could not help but nod.

The second page was not entirely advertisements; it also contained articles on breeding techniques, farming, and seed cultivation—which were, in reality, disguised advertisements for the chicks, ducklings, and goslings of the Mohist Village.

"A waterwheel!" Fang Xuanling looked with surprise at the advertisement for the waterwheel, which took up as much space as the hospital ad.

"This is a new type of waterwheel modified by the Mohist Village. It simplifies many processes, is sturdy and durable, and is suitable for various hydrological environments," Merton explained, pointing to the *Mo Journal*.

In reality, Merton was introducing a water-powered chain pump, an invention from the later Yuan and Ming dynasties, which allowed the waterwheel to be powered not only by human effort but also by livestock or water flow. Its output was far superior to that of the traditional noria.

"Is the effect of this waterwheel really as good as the advertisement claims?" Fang Xuanling asked skeptically.

He was not a politician ignorant of agriculture; on the contrary, he was well-versed in farming affairs. The Fang family also had its own estates, so he was no stranger to waterwheels.

"Rest assured, Uncle Fang. This has already been tested in the Mohist Village and has received the personal endorsement of the Minister of Agriculture," Merton said, pointing to a passage at the bottom of the page.

"The Water-Powered Curved-Shaft Plow!"

Fang Xuanling looked down and, sure enough, saw the signature of Su Lingnong, who had highly praised the function of the water-powered pump, placing it on par with the curved-shaft plow. This showed the weight the device held in Su Lingnong's mind.

"All the areas near the river in the Mohist Village have been equipped with these water-powered pumps. As early as half a month ago, the irrigation work in the village had already begun. Now, the land within a three-mile radius of the river has been fully irrigated," Merton said, as if describing a mundane matter, without the slightest hint of showing off.

Fang Xuanling could not help but sigh. In the blink of an eye, the Mohist Village had transformed from a dilapidated village into one with such substance, and all of this had been brought about by the frail-looking young man before him.

Thinking of his own children, Fang Xuanling felt a headache. His eldest son, Fang Yizhi, was rigid and only knew how to study, while his second son, Fang Jun, was the complete opposite—not only did he refuse to study, but he was also obsessed with martial arts. The family's scholarly reputation was being squandered by Fang Jun.

"If one were to have a son, one should have a son like the Mohist!" For a moment, Fang Xuanling was moved. Fortunately, this thought only flashed through his mind; the drought in Guanzhong was the more pressing issue.

"The price of this waterwheel must be quite high!" Fang Xuanling considered another possibility. Since the waterwheel was so good, it must be expensive, and if the common people couldn't afford it, it would be useless.

"Uncle, you don't know the full story. The price of this new waterwheel is barely equal to a traditional one. Furthermore, the Mohist Village offers discounts for farmers with land; they can pay half the price upfront and the rest after the autumn harvest. We even offer short-term rentals," Merton said proudly.

"Excellent!" Fang Xuanling nodded in approval. The Mohist waterwheel was affordable, and the flexible sales method was truly a blessing for the people of Guanzhong.

"But what about the land that is far from the river?" Fang Xuanling, being the Prime Minister, asked the crucial question. Land near the river that could be irrigated accounted for at most one-tenth of the total; land without hydraulic access was everywhere. Those were the areas that always suffered the most during droughts.