Under a series of operations by the National Salvation Army, more than 100,000 victims not only became turbulent without the reduction of food rations, but the morale and the hearts of the military and people in the defense zone reached an unprecedented height.

Faced with the arrival of spring plowing, all the talents in the defense zone showed unprecedented enthusiasm.

At the Yangquan Command of the National Salvation Army, Tang Yufeng rushed in and reported with excitement: "Captain, our hard work during this period is worth it."

"After receiving the fish that the troops have worked hard, more than 100,000 victims not only did not feel dissatisfied with our decision to reduce food rations, but also were grateful to us, and their enthusiasm for land reclamation has also increased greatly!"

"After statistics, 130,000 victims have reclaimed a total of 150,000 mu of land less than half a month before spring plowing. If there were no rumors deliberately created by the war zone, the number would probably exceed 200,000 mu."

"The other people in the defense zone have also reclaimed almost 150,000 acres of land."

"All the main forces of the defense zone, local troops, local cadres, agricultural reclamation brigades, and labor reform brigades have reclaimed a total of 60,000 mu of land, and the per capita average of more than two mu. If we can have good weather this year, the grain we grow ourselves alone can meet the needs of the entire army for nine months!"

Seeing Tang Yufeng becoming more and more excited as he spoke, Zhou Cheng did not respond.

Compared with previous years, today is the beginning of a severe drought, it should be impossible to have good weather and good harvests.

But the defense zone suddenly added so much land, and the grain output was the same as last year, or even exceeded a certain proportion.

And these newly reclaimed lands will always exist.

After the drought is really started next year, even if the grain output is greatly reduced due to water shortage, the defense zone will reduce considerable losses due to the increase in the number of fertile fields...

Therefore, Zhou Cheng encouraged the people in the defense zone to reclaim land on a large scale and encouraged the defense zone troops to be self-sufficient. In addition to increasing the grain output of the defense zone, the biggest reason is that the defense zone can survive the subsequent drought.

Of course, relying solely on increasing the number of fields cannot completely seek the crisis in the defense zone.

Zhou Cheng thought of the water conservancy investigation report sent by Dong Hao a few days ago.

Although they only investigated the water conservancy situation in Yangquan, the contents of the investigation report were very scary, and it is not an exaggeration to describe it as the four shocking words.

For decades, the local government has been in a state of turmoil. Even if it has money, it is used to expand its troops, purchase weapons and ammunition, and increase its own strength. Few people will spend money to build water conservancy and do such stupid things that cannot see the benefits for a long time.

Therefore, the only water conservancy projects in Yangquan were built decades ago, and the damage was particularly serious and the role played was only 30 to 40% of the time it was built.

As a result, most of the land in Yangquan relies on the harvest of food in heaven.

In case of drought, the people can only rely on the people to carry water to relieve the drought.

Land that is closer to the river can still preserve some harvest. Land that is farther away from the river can have no choice but to watch the crops in the fields die.

The next major drought will last for three years. According to Yangquan's current water conservancy situation, it would be great to be able to preserve 20% of the land crops in the year when the drought is the worst.

Seeing this, Zhou Cheng finally understood why in history, the people were helpless in the face of this severe drought, and even ate Guanyin soil, and a large number of people were starved to death...

Zhou Cheng can't control other places, nor can he take care of them, but the National Salvation Military Defense Zone must not starve to death due to drought, otherwise it would be that his regiment commander was too dereliction of duty.

The spring plowing is about to end, and Zhou Cheng feels it is time to put the plan to build water conservancy on the agenda of the national rescue army.

Not to mention, after this water conservancy construction, the year when the drought is at its worst, the defense zone must maintain at least 50% of the crops, otherwise the stability of the defense zone will be affected.

When he thought about it, Zhou Cheng immediately took out the water conservancy investigation report sent by Dong Hao: "Old Tang, please take a look at the conclusion of this investigation first!"

Tang Yufeng is the one who knows Zhou Cheng best when the National Salvation Army reads the report and understands Zhou Cheng’s thoughts: “Captain, do you want to build water conservancy in the defense zone?”

Zhou Cheng did not respond and frowned and asked, "Old Tang, do you think you should practice it?"

"Of course, our National Salvation Army is the ranks of the people. As long as it is a thing that is beneficial to the people, we should do it." Tang Yufeng looked at Zhou Cheng blurted out without any hesitation.

"The report said that once a severe drought occurs in Yangquan, the county can only save 20% of the crops, and these 20% of the crops will also reduce their yields due to water shortage. This is equivalent to the fact that after Yangquan encounters a severe drought, the grain output in that year can only reach 15% of the usual ones. This little grain is not enough for the villagers to eat. This result is too scary. We must do something. This happens in our defense zone in the year."

"Although I don't know when the drought will occur in Yangquan, the price we can't bear after it happens."

"Our defense zone is so big, and Yangquan is still a very important production zone. There must be no accidents. It is necessary to prevent problems before they happen."

"But we are now building water conservancy on a large scale, will it be too urgent?"

Zhou Cheng shook his head and made a quick decision: "Old Tang, if you think we should practice it, let's practice it!"

"As for time, I think it's just right after the spring plowing ends."

"Among more than 20,000 young and strong among the more than 100,000 disaster victims, as long as these people are used up, it will be enough for us to repair all the water conservancy projects in the defense zone."

"The report said that as long as we build reservoirs in eight places in Yangquan, block the river water and repair the original four reservoirs, these reservoirs can irrigate at least more than 40,000 acres of land, plus the land along the river, even if Yangquan encounters an unprecedented drought, the villagers can still maintain the harvest of more than 80,000 acres of land."

"We can also raise fish and ducks in the newly built reservoir. This will not only increase the income of local people, but also help everyone when the food is out of stock!"

"My thought is: no longer provide free rations to the victims when the spring plowing ends."

"Except for special circumstances, every household of the victims has to spend a strong labor force and buy food from us with their own strength."

"A strong labor exchanges for three people's rations, all calculated according to the standard of 4 taels of grain per person per day. As for the young and strong who are working on water conservancy with us, our National Salvation Army is responsible for the food."

"The more young and strong the family produces, the more food they get, and the better their family's life will be."

"We will send all these young and strong people to repair the reservoir, and we will definitely be able to repair all the places in the defense zone that need to be repaired at the minimum cost."

Tang Yufeng frowned and fell into deep thought.

Within a minute, his frown stretched out and he agreed happily: "This idea is so good. Leader, I think we will do it like this, it's better to do it right away!"

As soon as the spring plowing that lasted for more than half a month ended, the people of Yougang Village began to gather at the entrance of the village, staring at the official road at the entrance of the village every day, waiting for the arrival of the second batch of grain.

Three days before the final agreed time, two large trucks appeared at the entrance of the village as promised.

More than 200 people were like a group of wolves that smelled blood. They all gathered at the threshing ground at the entrance of the village in less than half an hour. Then, there was no need for the militia captain to explain it. Each family had a head member and took the initiative to line up.

The militia captain was very satisfied with the current reaction of the villagers, and did not talk nonsense, and said straight to the point: "Friends, the second batch of grain promised by the National Salvation Army to everyone has arrived, right by my side, and brought two or three hundred kilograms of fish. But these grains cannot be given to everyone in vain, and the villagers need to exchange it with their strength."

After more than a month of getting along, most of the people regard the National Saving Army as their benefactors, and then choose to believe the National Saving Army without reservation.

As soon as he heard the words of the militia captain, someone stood up and shouted: "Captain Wang, we have so many people in the countryside. As long as the National Saving Army gives orders, we are willing to do all the work, and we must do it well for the National Saving Army."

"Yes, we all listened to the National Salvation Army. The National Salvation Army gave us food and brought us back from the King of Hell. I believe the National Salvation Army..." Dozens of ordinary people immediately agreed.

A few thorns hiding in the crowd wanted to make trouble. After seeing the reactions of most villagers, they were afraid that their disagreement would be the target of public criticism, so they immediately lowered their heads and became a turtle with a head-shrinking turtle.

The militia captain responded in front of everyone's eyes: "Thank you for your support from the villagers. Please rest assured that what the National Salvation Army has allowed us to do is not only not dangerous, but also brings great benefits to all of us."

"In order to save us from drought, the National Salvation Army decided to build a reservoir near us, each family providing at least one strong labor."

"During the reservoir repair, the National Salvation Army not only managed food, but each strong laborer could also exchange one pound and two taels of grain every day. This means that the more strong laborer the family spends, the more grain it will exchange."

"We first built the nearest reservoir. After that, we can go home and rest for two days, and then go to other places to continue to repair the reservoir, which will end before the autumn harvest begins."

"Because repairing a reservoir is a physical job, in order to ensure everyone's health, only young and strong people over the age of sixteen and under forty-five can register!"

"One person can advance the reward for ten days from me, a total of 12 kilograms of grain, one kilogram of fish and two liang of meat. If two people at home sign up, they can get twenty-four kilograms of grain, two jin of fish and four liang of meat at one time. Ten days later, we will advance the reward for the next ten days. All registered people gather at the entrance of the village early tomorrow morning. Someone will take you to the place where the reservoir is built and you cannot go home in the middle. After one reservoir is repaired, you can go home for two days to rest. Registration is now started!"

There will be no pie out of thin air in the sky. For many ordinary people, eating the relief food of the National Rescue Army for free all day long will make you feel a little uneasy.

Now the National Salvation Army allows everyone to exchange food for their efforts to support their families. The villagers are not only not dissatisfied, but are happy.

As soon as Captain Wang finished speaking, the young and strong in the village rushed to him.

According to the last statistics, 56 people signed up, accounting for 90% of all the young and strong people in the village.
Chapter completed!