Chapter 111: Underground Water

“If some land lies far from the rivers?” As the current chancellor, Fang Xuanling posed the crucial question. Only about one-tenth of the fields near rivers could be irrigated, while lands lacking water management were countless. These were historically the hardest hit by droughts.

In this era, dominated by official status, land close to rivers and suitable for irrigation was considered superior. Most of this prime land was held by aristocratic families and landlords, who had deep roots and strong resilience against natural disasters.

The victims of each calamity were the common folk, whose lands were mostly poor-quality, lower-grade fields—either distant from rivers and hard to irrigate or situated in low-lying areas prone to poor drainage. Both drought and flood could cause massive crop failures. Their survival depended entirely on the whims of heaven; they were always the greatest sufferers of natural disasters.

Modun understood Fang Xuanling’s concern. After some thought, he carefully chose his words: “Uncle Fang, besides rivers, there is another source of water that is abundant and nearly inexhaustible, present everywhere.”

“Everywhere, and inexhaustible?” Fang Xuanling felt his mind strain. If such a source existed, why had he never heard of it? Why didn’t the people use it for irrigation?

He looked at Modun with doubt, only to notice Modun’s gaze fixed intently on the ground beneath their feet. Suddenly, Fang’s face lit up in realization: “Well water?”

Modun nodded. “Uncle Fang, you are wise. What I speak of is indeed well water, though the Mo family calls it underground water.”

Modun recalled the future, where countless mechanical wells extracting underground water for irrigation became the norm. Relying solely on river water could never irrigate so many fields.

“Underground water? Water beneath the surface—it is indeed a vivid concept!” Fang Xuanling nodded in agreement. This water source was truly everywhere and virtually inexhaustible.

“I know about well water, but digging a well is extremely difficult. And using buckets to draw water makes irrigating fields nearly impossible,” Fang Xuanling’s hopeful eyes dimmed instantly. Though the source was found, the idea was impractical and unrealistic.

“Uncle Fang, please don’t dismiss it so quickly. The experimental dry farmland south of Mo family village is attempting to draw underground water. You will see for yourself whether it works,” Modun said.

Though near Chang’an city, the Mo family’s hundred-acre experimental field was indeed lower-grade land—low yield and far from rivers, with no irrigation possible. Otherwise, the Mo family would never have acquired it so easily.

“Oh!” Fang Xuanling’s eyes sparkled suddenly. The Mo family’s experimental field was famous in Chang’an, especially since Modun had promised a yield of six dan per mu. Many were ready to mock the Mo family, deeming such high yield on inferior land a pipe dream.

Yet, looking at Modun’s confident face, Fang’s doubts gradually faded, replaced by hope. If Modun could truly solve irrigation on poor land, a yield of six dan per mu might not be impossible.

If this method could be promoted, it would be a blessing for the people of Guanzhong and the entire Tang dynasty.

With this thought, Fang Xuanling could no longer sit still. He immediately took Modun by the arm and hurried outside.

“Hey, hey! Why so rushed? Jun’er’s friend just arrived—at least stay for a meal!” A graceful middle-aged noblewoman approached as Fang and Modun stepped out.

“Madam!” Modun bowed quickly.

Modun knew of this noblewoman’s reputation—Lu Shi, famed for keeping the chancellor obedient. Modun could not help but admire her deeply; the word “jealousy” was born from the likes of her.

“Madam, no time for meals! We have urgent matters!” Fang waved his hand and briskly led Modun out.

“Mother, Modun is leaving—I’m going to see him off!” Fang Jun appeared from nowhere, dashing after Modun.

“That boy!” Lu Shi watched Fang Jun scurry away like a rabbit and grumbled. Soon, she would be dining alone.

“Why did you come along?” Modun asked, somewhat annoyed.

As the chancellor’s residence, the Fang household had many carriages. Still, Fang Jun brazenly insisted on squeezing into the same carriage as Modun.

“Of course! Do you think I want to stay home? If I stayed, Mother would compare me to you all lunch and nag me all day!” Fang Jun shuddered, recalling his formidable mother, and envied Modun, the perfect son of another family.

“Besides, following you won’t be boring. I missed so many exciting moments with you before—I can’t miss this one.”

Modun looked at Fang Jun in surprise, not expecting such a keen nose.

“What’s the matter? Can you tell me now?” Fang Jun was impatient.

Knowing his father well, Fang Jun understood that if the chancellor was this eager, it must be something significant.

“You’ll see when we arrive!” Modun teased, making Fang Jun exclaim in frustration.

With the chancellor’s official pass clearing the way, they traveled swiftly, soon arriving at the South Gate. Less than two miles outside the gate lay the Mo family experimental field.

Outside the field, the crowd was still bustling.

Spring plowing was over, and the rush for curved plows had subsided, but the sale of artificially hatched chickens, ducks, and geese remained brisk. Moreover, citizens of Chang’an, having seen Mo family advertisements, flocked to buy the new water-powered chain pumps.

Fang Xuanling dismounted and immediately saw five massive waterwheels neatly arranged beside a pond at the Mo family field. This pond once held live fish but was now fully occupied by the waterwheels.

“Splash, splash!” Each waterwheel had two strong men energetically stepping on pedals, drawing large amounts of water from the pond with every push.

Water gushed continuously from the outlet, flowing around half the pond before returning.

“What an impressive water output!” an onlooker from Chang’an exclaimed.

Compared to traditional bucket wheels, these water-powered chain pumps delivered much greater flow, meaning far higher irrigation efficiency. Their price was comparable, making them very appealing to those who could afford them.

“This pond has no natural source,” Modun explained to Fang Xuanling, “If the water doesn’t flow back, the pond will be drained in a day.”

Fang Xuanling was pleased. The Mo family’s advertisements were not exaggerated—the waterwheels were indeed advanced, easy to operate, and had large water output.

With this impressive water-powered chain pump before him, Fang looked forward even more to the underground water extraction tool Modun had promised.