Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
Under the scorching sun, with water vapor rising like steam, the laborers and craftsmen working on the embankment of the Fen River are pushing themselves to the limit. Since the shallow water in winter, the construction of the river embankment started. With the efforts of thirty thousand people over several months, only the finishing touches remain. Nevertheless, even in this state, the scene remains so grand that it leaves people in awe.
Riding on horseback, Prince Liang Rong furrows his brow slightly, “Without being at the embankment, one cannot understand the hardships of the laborers. Pei Ruo, can the embankment be completed within a month?”
“As long as there is no continuous rain, it should be completed on schedule,” Pei Ruo replies beside him.
Pei Ruo, who has lost the noble aura of the former Pei family in Hedong, now has a dark complexion, short beard, and simple clothing. If one didn’t know, they might mistake him for a low-born agricultural official. However, it is this man who, within five years, renovated the Fen River within the boundaries of the provinces of Pingyang and Hedong, diverting water, improving irrigation channels, and reinforcing the river embankment, turning the fertile soil near Jinyang into a thousand-mile granary in the northern region.
After pacifying Yong County last year, manpower was freed up, making the management of the southern section of the Fen River a top priority. Pei Ruo traveled throughout Pingyang and Hedong, finally formulating a plan for river management, which he reported to the court. Liang Rong has been paying close attention to the plan from the beginning and has arrived early in Pingyang County. However, he had not truly come to the riverbank to avoid interfering with the progress of the project.
Now that he’s on-site, he realizes that what he saw on paper was superficial.
“If only I had come to the riverbank earlier,” Liang Rong sighed after observing for a while. During the busy farming season, with so many laborers engaged in water management, the pressure is immense. Moreover, Yong County has just been pacified, the population is sparse, and the locust plague has not been resolved. If he could have stationed himself at the embankment earlier, would the officials below be more diligent, hastening the completion of the river works?
However, Pei Ruo says, “If Your Highness had come to the riverbank earlier, it might not have been so smooth. River management is, after all, a significant matter, and meddling in it may cause complications.”
These are Pei Ruo’s sincere words. The Prince’s inspection holds great significance. Keeping him in Linfen to supervise officials at all levels is far more effective than him coming to inspect the river embankment. The southern section of the Fen River can directly connect to the Yellow River, and once both rivers flood simultaneously, it would immediately pose a threat to the downstream capital city of Luoyang. Therefore, the emperor is more concerned about managing the Fen River.
Moreover, Pei Ruo himself is from Hedong. If the Fen River floods, it will be a fatal threat to Hedong. By managing this watercourse, he can benefit his hometown. The Pei family in Hedong suffered heavy losses during the chaos, pledged allegiance to the Han regime, fled to the southern regions, and made mistakes repeatedly, leading to the loss of their once glorious family business.
Now, as the commissioner of water management, Pei Ruo has become a trusted servant highly valued by the emperor. Whether for the country or for his family, he must shoulder this heavy responsibility.
Pei Ruo is one of the top experts in water management in this dynasty. Liang Rong has to listen to what he says. Nodding slightly, Liang Rong says, “Once the Fen River is unobstructed, the army can advance downstream from Bing County to Yong County. Such achievements are not inferior to those of Wang Jing in the Later Han era. Commissioner Pei’s contributions are truly remarkable!”
Back then, Wang Jing was appointed to manage the Yellow River, deploying hundreds of thousands of soldiers and constructing canals and embankments. From the east of Yingyang to the thousand-chariot estuary, there were no problems along more than a thousand miles. Now, three hundred years later, the Yellow River remains stable, truly an astonishing achievement.
Pei Ruo shook his head, saying, “How can managing the Fen River be compared to managing the Yellow River? The achievements of this humble minister are far inferior to those of Wang Zhongtong. However, in these years, the Yellow River has been flowing smoothly. Apart from the river channels, there may be other reasons…”
“Is it about the forests?” Liang Rong immediately remarked, “I have heard from Father Emperor that to manage water, one must first protect the forests.”
“Your Majesty is wise,” Pei Ruo nodded, “Back in the day, when the Former Han Dynasty established its capital in Chang’an, the population in the Guanzhong region was dense, and the Yellow River frequently caused floods. Later, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the capital was moved to Luoyang, and the population in Guanzhong became sparse, significantly reducing the occurrences of floods. In the preceding dynasty, the population was insufficient, and there were overgrown fields. As a result, the water of the Yellow River became much clearer. The river channels are most afraid of silting and sand accumulation, which can lead to disasters. If we can reduce deforestation, stabilize the soil, and control the sand, perhaps this great river can flow peacefully for a thousand years.”
Although these words sound good, both of them understand the difficulties of this matter. It is ideal not to cut down trees. However, people need to eat, need homes, and without farmland and wood, how can they thrive and multiply? Protecting the forests is like taking food from the mouth of a tiger. It is uncertain how much time and effort it will take to gradually change this mindset.
“As long as we can achieve lasting peace and clear rivers, no amount of time spent would be in vain.” This is a daunting task, but in Liang Rong’s voice, there is no discouragement; instead, it sounds like a determined pledge.
This youthful determination also stirred emotions in Pei Ruo. In the previous dynasty, which prince or royal descendant cared so much about water management? Most princes excessively deforested and extensively built palaces. On the contrary, after the founding of the Great Zhao, the imperial palace in Luoyang had not been renovated for six years. This alone showed the Emperor’s deep concern for the well-being of the people. It’s precisely because of this that his somewhat unconventional knowledge becomes valuable.
“Pei Ruo, let’s continue forward.” Not concerned about Pei Ruo’s thoughts, Liang Rong urged his horse to continue the journey.
Pei Ruo smiled and followed suit on horseback.
Accompanied by water officials, Liang Rong proceeded until he reached the confluence of the Fen River with the Yellow River. However, the inspection was not concluded when a sudden heavy rain poured down. The rain intensified and showed no signs of stopping. After several days, continuous heavy rain became a disaster. Reports of the disaster were quickly sent to Luoyang.
“Your Majesty, there is a risk of dike breaches in Hedong. Please issue an edict to summon the Crown Prince back to the capital immediately!” A court official stepped forward to make a plea.
Water disasters were no trivial matter. Once a breach occurred, it would lead to a thousand miles of flooded land! With the young age of the Crown Prince, how could the empire afford any mishap?
However, Liang Feng remained unmoved. “On the battlefield, how can a general be easily replaced? The Crown Prince, representing me, is overseeing the river affairs. He is also responsible for protecting the dike and responding to emergencies, providing relief to the affected people! Issue the order: mobilize troops from Pingyang and Hedong to guard the river dike!”
When the river bursts, even the best officials would only command the evacuation of the people along the route, and most would merely wait for the water to recede, providing relief afterward. Who would deploy soldiers to guard the dike? This statement caused a stir in the court, but before others could speak, Zhang Bin stepped forward and said, “In the years of water management in Bing County, there are also water gates in the upper reaches of the Fen River, which can block flood peaks and reduce pressure on Hedong. Now that more than half of the canal has been repaired, if we don’t stand firm, the previous efforts will be in vain. Moreover, if the waters of the Fen River surge, merging with the Yi and Luo rivers, the capital will be in danger!”
This statement silenced the court. Zhang Bin was a respected national minister, and his daughter was still in the palace, expecting a child. If he expressed such concerns, what more could others say? Moreover, the capital city was adjacent to the Yellow River, and the possibility of facing a flood was indeed significant. If chaos erupted in Luoyang at this time, and the Xiongnu or the Jin Dynasty launched another attack, it would truly shake the foundation of the state!
“I request to lead the troops for disaster relief!” General Yiyan stepped forward with large strides.
Liang Feng hesitated for a moment but shook his head, “Flood relief is different from facing the enemy on the battlefield. It’s not suitable for you to go. Xu Zao from the Water Department, lead a team to Hedong and coordinate with the Crown Prince to deploy troops for flood prevention. Ensure that funds, grain, and supplies are quickly delivered. There is no room for error!”
This involved the safety of the heir to the throne. Who would dare to take it lightly? The entire court began to mobilize, heading towards the overflowing Fen River.
In the Eastern Palace,
“The Crown Prince is still in Hedong; what should we do?! Your Highness, you must plead with His Majesty…” A palace maid, overwhelmed with panic, pleaded.
Zhang Wan spoke in a solemn tone, “Father has issued an order, and the Crown Prince must hold his ground in Hedong. Whoever dares to disturb the peace in the palace will be dragged out and beaten to death!”
Nine months pregnant and with a visibly swollen belly, Zhang Wan’s movements were restricted. However, her firm and decisive demeanor quelled any unrest within the palace, dispersing the whispers and rumors.
All forces were converging towards Hedong. Meanwhile, Liang Rong found himself trapped in Linfen City.
Originally the capital of the Han dynasty, Pingyang, it was renamed during the founding of the new dynasty. As a former capital, Linfen had high walls and extensive defenses. Even if a flood were to occur, it could be held at bay.
“The Emperor commanded me to manage the water. How can I shrink back into the city?” Liang Rong, ablaze with anger, shouted.
“Your Highness! Flood prevention is in the capable hands of Pei Dushui and Prefect Zheng. Both are well-versed in water management and military affairs. If Your Highness goes there, it will only cause confusion. It’s better to stay back, oversee the overall situation, and secure the rear!” Vice Minister of the Crown Prince’s Left Bureau, Fan Xuan, blocked Liang Rong’s way, not yielding an inch.
“You…” Liang Rong wanted to say more.
On the side, the military officer Tian Lin also said, “The Vice Minister of the Left makes a valid point. In times of war, how can the commander rush to the front lines? Your Highness’s duty is to stabilize the people’s hearts, not to lead the troops personally.”
Taking a deep breath, Liang Rong finally suppressed the rising anger and nodded, “Send more people to settle the disaster-stricken civilians and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.”
Only today did Liang Rong realize how naive he had been before. Even when he was trapped alone in Shangdang, he had Cui Ji and Yiyan by his side, secure behind high walls with guards. Safety was never a concern. But now, the enemy was not an army but the river itself. The surging waves seemed unstoppable! In its presence, both blades and manpower were rendered useless and insignificant.
However, the Emperor had not given up. In sacks woven from hemp, filled with river sand, they were transported to the embankment. Layer by layer, they built high walls. Breached openings were filled with carts loaded with stones and sealed by soldiers. Countless laborers and stationed troops, risking their lives, fought against the raging flood. Why? Because this was their homeland. From the Crown Prince to the county magistrate, not a single person fled. Instead, they exerted all their strength, standing together on this incomplete embankment!
He never imagined that these commoners could shoulder such a torrent with their hands and shoulders alone.
This was the people of Da Zhao! The subjects ruled by the Emperor!
As the Crown Prince, how could he remain calm? Unable to go to the river embankment, Liang Rong began to move around Linfen City. He personally visited refugee camps, inquired about their hardships, and provided medicine and financial assistance. He even welcomed soldiers returning to the city gate several times, arranging for warm meals and rest. Even the Eastern Palace sent a large number of clothes, all sewn by the Crown Princess and her palace maids.
For all officials involved in the flood control efforts, Liang Rong personally wrote commendations for their achievements. Although he hadn’t left the city, his words and actions spread along the riverbank, letting countless people know that they had such a Crown Prince!
The morale of the military and civilians was boosted, and they unexpectedly managed to seal several breaches, trapping the water dragon firmly in the river!
As the rain diminished, by the eighth month, the disaster was nearly gone. Those lost to the flood numbered less than a hundred.
A few days later, the Crown Princess gave birth to a baby girl. The Emperor was overjoyed, named her Zhi, and granted her the title of Pingyang.
The author has something to say:
In this flood disaster, the only record in the Jin Shu is: “The Fen River overflowed, engulfing more than a thousand households.”
