Han Jiang regretted it as soon as she said it, because the matter of water control is no longer under the control of the third department.
Since the Sansi River and Canal Department was abolished and the river affairs were managed by the Du Water Supervisor, the management of rivers and canals in and outside Bianjing now falls to the Du Water Supervisor and the Kaifeng Prefecture officials.
Zhang Yue said: "Reporting to the Lord of the Province, there was a great flood in the third year of Zhihe, and tens of thousands of officials and private farmhouses were damaged. And the rain now is probably even worse than that of the past!"
Several old officials in the hall said, "Yes, Mrs. Zhang's words are right. The rain has been very heavy this year, and the Bianhe River has swelled several feet."
Another person said: "Yes, I see that a few days ago, most of the wells in the city were muddy, and even the three wells in our third division were overflowing."
Han Jiang walked for a while and then sighed: "These days when the official ascends the throne, the ministers in the court don't know what they are doing?"
Zhang Yue also wanted to ask in his heart, what on earth are these officials doing?
Zhang Yue said: "Although Sansi Yamen is not a low-lying area, if there is a flood, Bianjing City will definitely be flooded. We must take precautions."
Some of the officials nodded, while others shook their heads.
Han Jiang looked at Zhang Yue again and said, "How do you plan to arrange it?"
Zhang Yue said: "We need to organize manpower. First, all the soldiers of our Yamen should be kept in the Yamen on standby in case of flooding. The rest of the places should be filled with sandbags. As for the officials, they only have to pay one-third of their daily salary." …”
The official on the side said: "This may not be waterlogged. Isn't it too... making a fuss out of a molehill?"
Wu Chong was speechless.
Han Jiang reached out and shook her hand, signaling Zhang Yue to continue speaking. Zhang Yue said: "There must be officials on duty to prepare for unexpected events..."
But seeing Zhang Yue making several suggestions to Han Jiang, he finally said: "Of course the most important thing is to open the south embankment of the Bianhe River in the south of Kaifeng City to release the flood!"
When Wu Chong heard this, his expression became tense, and Han Jiang also said seductively: "Zhang Taichang, do you know what you are talking about? There are tens of thousands of acres of fields and hundreds of households on the south embankment."
Zhang Yue said: "Tens of thousands of acres of farmland can be dispensed with, and the people can move to higher ground, but if the water invades Bianjing, countless people will be killed or injured!"
Han Jiang shook his head and said: "No, if the water in Kaifeng has not reached that point, but you open the south embankment, do you know how much responsibility you will bear?"
Zhang Yue said: "Xiaguan...xiaoguan..."
Zhang Yue wanted to say that he was willing to take on this responsibility, but he swallowed the words when he reached his lips.
Han Jiang said: "I can rely on you for everything else, but I can't rely on you for breaking up the South Embankment. Remember not to get into trouble."
After saying that, Han Jiang left.
Zhang Yue didn't say anything. Wu Chong said to Zhang Yue: "I and the provincial leader have the same view. It is not the last resort to open up the south embankment."
Seeing the objections of his father-in-law and Han Jiang, Zhang Yue said nothing and returned home from Sansi Yamen.
Zhang Yue saw along the way that although Bianjing City was hit by heavy rain, it was still bustling and lively above the Bian River.
There are many river markets on the Bianshui River, and there are performances by music, dance, and comedy artists in the river markets. In the past, when it was lively, they would stay up all night singing and dancing on the Bian River. Although it is raining now, the people living here do not take it seriously.
In many places beside the Bian River, sheds and floating houses were built in the river, and people watched the musicians perform under the eaves.
Even at this time, it did not delay the people of Bianjing City from living a happy life. However, due to the existence of the river market, the Bianhe River could not be dredged as scheduled, and many of the residences built by officials beside the Bianhe River diverted water into the park, thus encroaching on it. The river course.
In the past, when Bao Zheng was the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, he had severely punished them, but after Bao Zheng left, no one dared to offend these officials and Lehu.
A day of siltation in Bianshui is better than a day of siltation.
Zhang Yue used to think that there was so much trouble. Wouldn't it be nice to see this bustling scene of singing and dancing?
But now the floods are approaching and the Bianshui River is overflowing, making it impossible to drain water smoothly, which makes him very worried.
According to past experience, if the Bianhe River becomes silted up, it will be a major disaster.
The four canals of Bianjing, namely Wuzhang River, Bianhe River, Caihe River and Jinshui River, bear the function of drainage of Bianjing. In addition, there are moats and swamps in the inner city. There are drainage ditches on both sides of the street, which are open channels. In addition, there are Underdrain.
But when Zhang Yue came now, he saw that many ditches were full of water and the water could not be drained out. When he rode through many streets, he saw that the muddy water on the streets was almost up to the horses' legs.
It's better where I live in the southwest of the city, but the low-lying areas from Nanxun Gate to the southeast of the city are mostly flooded. I heard that people have drowned in some places.
When Zhang Yue returned home, he saw Qi Niang directing the servants in the house to repair the cracks in the wall and block the door with sandbags in the rain.
Food and clothing were placed high.
Zhang Yue's house is some distance away from the Bianhe River. It was originally invisible, but now from the top of the wall, you can see that the Bianhe River is almost in front of you.
Half of the houses of several houses on a lower ground than my own had been flooded.
Zhang Yue was shocked when he saw this. When he went to the office in the morning, the water was not so high yet?
Zhang Yue asked Qi Niang and found out that the water had risen really fast. She had sent her sons to the Wu Mansion to be cared for by their mother.
If the water rises again, then she will move to Wu Mansion. Zhang Yue thought about it and felt that he could not delay any longer and had to report the matter.
It rained again that night, and Zhang Yue rode into the palace the next morning.
At the morning court, the rain was still falling, and only two-thirds of the officials who were supposed to attend the morning court were there. After asking around, Zhang Yue learned that many officials were unable to attend the morning court because of the floods in the streets.
The officials were arranging their wet clothes in the palace and talking to each other. Zhang Yue had already found the censor Zhongcheng Jia who was in charge of the class and said, "Zhongcheng, did you know that a flood is going to overwhelm the city? Now you should report it to the officials immediately." ."
Jia An glanced at Zhang Yue. In the past few days, he had been busy fighting wits with the prime ministers of Zhongshu on the Pu discussion. He didn't pay attention to the flood. After hearing Zhang Yue say this, "You Shouldn’t we discuss it with Kaifeng Mansion?”
Zhang Yue said: "I know that Shen Fuyin of Kaifeng Mansion was transferred from Hangzhou and has not yet arrived in the capital. I have spoken to the official in charge of the rivers and canals in the government. He said that the four canals are now overflowing and there is fear of a flood. He himself He spoke softly and reported it to the Capital Water Supervisor, but the department ignored him."
Jia An lost his voice and said, "It's unexpected that something happened. You can follow me to see the officials later to report it."
Soon after, Jia An, the censor Zhongcheng, took Zhang Yue to the back hall to ask about his daily life.
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang did not attend the morning court and were already discussing matters with the officials in the palace. When they saw their enemy Jia An coming with Zhang Yue, they couldn't help but wonder what happened?
The official frowned when he saw Zhang Yue. He had not forgotten that the other party had contradicted him before.
After Jia An immediately explained the whole story to the officials and the two prime ministers, the officials asked Zhang Yue, "What does Zhang Qing have to say?"
Zhang Yue said: "For the current plan, we can only evacuate the people south of the South Embankment first. Once the rain becomes heavier, we will open the South Embankment to release the flood to ensure the safety of the people in Bianjing."
But after hearing this, the magistrate slapped the table and said angrily: "Zhang Yue, what are your intentions? Do you know that my aunt's tomb is on the south embankment?"
