His Highness the Prince and General Murat made it in time for the sowing season when they arrived at Fort Mamruk. The farmers in the nearby regions were busy in the fields, and the vast Shouren1 Field was still the pale green of early spring. The people in the fields had their backs bent with aprons tied around them. Wrapped within the aprons were wheat seeds. The footprints left a long trail in the footpath between the paddy fields. Cattles were hauling plows to level the ground and the farmers followed close behind to scatter wheat seeds in the tender soil.
To drive away the greedy sparrows, many scarecrows were set up in the fields. The sun fell upon the scarecrow's comical, tattered hat. When His Imperial Highness the Prince passed under its shadow, the scarecrow drew back the corners of its enormous mouth and smiled at him.
