"By the way, Future Commander," Wang Yuexi said, "the first step of clearing the silt for the irrigation works is almost complete. A preliminary canal has also been dug. However, we've yet to make any progress on our plan to procure the crop seeds."
Wang Yuexi and the others had planned the irrigation works with a three-step approach. The first step would be to clear the silt and dig up the sand to clear the old rivers that had dried up or diverted in the past. Then they would only proceed after a new river basin was formed in the vicinity of Stronghold 144.
At that point, they could start reclaiming the land. Although it would still be very difficult for them to fetch water for farming, they could at least start working.
The second step was to build a reservoir and sluices to drain the river. Now was the time to complete all the irrigation infrastructure in case another flood suddenly arrived during the coming year and ruined all their efforts.
