While the People had little idea what exactly they were doing, it seemed that they were enforcing organized irrigation and field surveys both as a way to improve yields and a way to improve the defensiveness of the terrain, even as they 'pacified' the population to ensure they would not cause trouble in the foothold the Highlanders had secured.
Now I'm imagining them scratching their heads in confusion upon receiving a Salt Gift labelled "We approve of your efforts to better the land"