"Lord County Magistrate, most of the surrounding villages have been evacuated, but the people in some villages ran this way regardless of hearing that you were here. There were also those from other migrating villages that were left behind. Those who heard the news came here. Gathered over.
"Everyone refused to leave no matter how hard I tried to persuade them, so we had no choice but to connect to the sluice gate. It's too dangerous to stay on the river beach below..."
Ouyang Rong looked startled.
Several officials responsible for evacuating the villagers buried their heads, took a step forward, and said bitterly:
“Sir, it’s been raining non-stop, and there have been many hillside mudslides along the middle section of Butterfly Creek. Debris and trees have blocked the river, and too many people have gathered to transport it out.
"Two of the ships you brought have overturned. The other ships sent to transport supplies downstream have also lost contact. I don't know if they can bring new supplies for support."
Ouyang Rong fell silent, and the fire that was originally burning in his heart was extinguished, and he swallowed back the words of blame.
He turned his head and looked silently at the crowd on the sluice dam.
Under a cloudy sky.
The sluice dam across the Yuenv Gorge is like a slender and stubborn straight line, connecting Longbei Mountain and Caifeng Mountain on both sides of the Yuenv Gorge.
In front is the unpredictable and moody Yunmengze, and behind is Butterfly Creek, which is prone to frequent mudslides and has blocked the way back.
Just such a wide and narrow dam was now crowded with hundreds of villagers, as well as their miscellaneous packages and luggage, all crowded together.
Surrounded by howling winds and falling raindrops.
Wet and cold.
Ouyang Rong raised his hand and wiped the wet face with stiff muscles under the bamboo hat.
Looking around, on this narrow dam, the villagers' heads were crowded, and pairs of clear or cloudy black eyes were frequently looking at him.
There were also a group of dejected officials standing around.
There is a group of brave young people who work hard and carry sandbags on their backs.
There were also men like Liu Ashan who followed him silently.
The chaotic information in the environment, the different expressions of everyone... all the feedback from the surroundings turned into a mountain-like wave, rushing towards Ouyang Rong's bloodshot eyes.
At this moment, he suddenly felt so tired, not only the tiredness of the beating heart in his chest, but also...the weakness in his heart.
Although he was at the front without thinking, in fact... he was just an ordinary person?
An ordinary person who just wants to accumulate merit and go home.
Just a college student who had just graduated from his previous life and was preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination for World War II?
Ouyang Rong did not waver.
He never wavered when he aimed at one thing.
Whether you decided to take the postgraduate entrance examination, climbed out of the underground palace to take a look, or decided to go home.
He just suddenly doubted whether he could do it and hold the only sluice in front of him.
He was just...a little tired.
"Excuse me...is this Ouyang Mingfu?"
An old man with a gray beard dressed as the village chief Xiangxian walked out of the silent villagers and asked cautiously.
Ouyang Rong was interrupted from his trance.
"It's me... I'm the officer."
Ouyang Rong nodded and replied. The official uniform he was wearing when he came had been thrown away. Now he was wearing a raincoat.
Ouyang Rong took off his bamboo hat and tried his best to smile at the trembling, gray-haired Hu Cun old man with a timid face.
The gray-bearded old man's face turned to one of surprise, and he turned around and said happily to the people staggering behind him:
"Your Excellency the County Magistrate! It's the Lord County Magistrate! The County Magistrate is here! Everyone, get up and take a look. Don't worry, we will definitely be saved!"
"Your Excellency the County Magistrate? You are really the Lord County Magistrate! I met the Lord County Magistrate at the disaster relief camp..."
"I just said that the water gate must be fine. The county magistrate is here and it was built by the adults. It can definitely be held. We don't need to run away..."
In the crowd of villagers who were originally silent, the name of a certain young county magistrate came alive as if it had been given a shot of blood.
The cordial shouts resounded through the originally solemn sluice dam, even drowning out the noisy rain.
Ouyang Rong was stunned.
In the crowd of women, children, old and young, there were faces with expressions of surprise blooming like flowers, and passionate voices that seemed to come from the bottom of their hearts, which made Ouyang Rong feel a little confused for a moment.
The old man with a gray beard, leaning on a cane, took a step forward and led the villagers behind him to salute.
Ouyang Rong hurriedly stepped forward to help.
"You're welcome, old man."
"Mingfu."
After being helped up, the old man with a gray beard showed hope on his old face and asked:
“It’s raining a lot this time, will Di Gongzha be okay?
"We heard a message from the officials in the village saying, Mingfu, you said there is no need to be afraid of rising water, and that the Duke Di Gate will not collapse as long as you are here. We all believe it, but everyone wants to come and bring you some food. I heard you were at the gate."
Ouyang Rong silently looked at the pickled radish, eggs, steamed buns and other local specialties that the villagers in front of him were handing over.
He opened his mouth, but when the words reached his throat, he swallowed them silently.
Facing the simple eyes of hope and hope from all directions.
Ouyang Rong put on his bamboo hat again and pressed the hat firmly on his head with his palms. He reached out with his other hand and directly grabbed the steamed buns that a little girl with horns put forward with both hands, and took a big bite.
The buns were cold and hard.
Ouyang Rong puffed up his cheeks and chewed with relish.
He lifted up the brim of his hat with his index finger, revealed a pair of bright, torch-like eyes to the crowd, and spoke in a hoarse but sonorous voice:
"Everything will be fine at Di Gongzha! As long as we are here, it doesn't matter, folks, don't be afraid!"
The villagers on the gate and dam burst into joy.
Liu Ashan and other men, as well as the surrounding officials, couldn't help but look at the young county magistrate who was soaked in the rain in the middle of the crowd.
Standing like a pine or cypress, you have been exposed to the wind and rain for a long time, but you have regained your energy.
The old man with a gray beard looked around and seemed to notice that the officials around him looked troubled. The old man sighed and said in an apologetic tone:
"Hey, Mingfu, everyone has gathered here, are they causing trouble for you?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head and smiled:
"What's causing trouble? The folks came at the right time. We all need you!"
The gray-bearded old man and the villagers looked at each other with stunned expressions on their faces.
Ouyang Rong stopped delaying and quickly made arrangements.
Of course, the women, children, and children among the hundreds of villagers are not suitable to continue to stay on the sluice dam.
Under Ouyang Rong's earnest temptation, all the women, children, old and young moved to the nearby Longbei Mountain and Caifeng Mountain.
At the same time, patient camps and rest camps were set up on these two mountains.
A few senior officials were left behind to work with women, children, old and young people to take care of the injured or sick people who had retreated from the gate, and were responsible for cooking and heating hot water.
The local specialties, bedding, pots, bowls, etc. brought by these villagers and their families were put to great use.
As for the middle-aged and young people among the villagers, if the conditions are suitable and they come forward, Ouyang Rong allows them to be included in the rescue team of Di Gong Gate.
Although there are not many people, in the current state of blocking communication between upstream and downstream, every additional person has more strength.
Therefore, the villagers and fellow villagers are not a burden, but a force that can be united.
Under Ouyang Rong's calm command, the officials and the people were united.
Everyone performed their duties, no one was idle, even the priests of the wild temple who were sent to labor reform began to work honestly.
Perhaps it was the hard-working back of a young county magistrate who was walking around giving orders and constantly in the public eye, standing like an unyielding flag at the top of the city to always boost morale.
Or maybe it's because everyone on the gate has been getting used to it for two days, and the entire system has gradually come to a tacit understanding.
For a time, the gate and dam actually glowed with a different kind of vitality.
Confidence naturally accumulates quietly in the hearts of some people.
Ouyang Rong, who was personally directing everywhere, naturally saw these subtle changes.
His face was calm, and he turned his head from time to time in the rain to look at Yunmengze, which was surrounded by endless smoke waves.
The string in his heart has never loosened, but the fatigue in his eyes has slightly diminished.
In this way, he also spent most of the rare peaceful time after arriving at Dee Gong Gate in a hurry.
The officials and people at Di Gongzha adhered to their posts and performed their duties without any incident.
When it was estimated to be noon, he lowered his head and finished eating two pieces of steamed buns, huddled in the haystack in the inner gate chamber, closed his eyes and rested for half an hour.
Until the dull sound of rain in his ears suddenly became louder and louder, Ouyang Rong woke up in a daze.
"Master, let's..."
Liu Ashan, who hurriedly pushed open the gate of the gate, immediately saw the young county magistrate's dozing figure with his head lowered. He quickly shut up, stepped back quietly, and prepared to close the door.
But it was too late. In the darkness, a pair of slightly bloodshot eyes had opened.
"What's the matter? Tell me."
Ouyang Rong stood up, patted the thatch on his buttocks, crossed Liu Ashan, pushed open the gate with his hands, put on his bamboo hat, and walked into the rain.
"Master, if you don't want to rest for a while, you didn't even close your eyes last night."
"It's okay, I'm already energetic. You're talking nonsense."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Liu Ashan kept up with the former who was taking the lead.
"Master, the sacks we brought have been used up. They have all been packed into sandbags and piled up at the gate...
"The brothers who were quarrying rocks and sand at Caifeng Mountain are all back. I sent them to Longbei Mountain to help carry bamboo and wood...
"In addition, according to your instructions, I found two fishermen among the villagers. They have some experience in weaving nets. They are teaching the women and children to use coarse cloth and linen to bundle rolls and weave fishing nets... These are almost ready."
Ouyang Rong listened as he walked through the gate and dam. The piles of sandbags he passed by made him feel quite at ease.
The water level continues to rise. If the Dickong Gate is in critical condition soon, these seemingly inconspicuous supplies prepared now are life-saving tools.
"Let's go and have a look at Longbei Mountain."
Ouyang Rong took Liu Ashan and others to Longbei Mountain, at a slightly higher location.
He paused for a moment, silently looking back, overlooking the sluice below and the surrounding tidal dams.
Di Gong Gate does not mean that the entire flood gate occupies the entire Yuenv Gorge.
Although Yuenv Gorge is located between Longbei Mountain and Caifeng Mountain on both sides of the bank, it is relatively narrow.
But where in the world can such a large sluice span both sides of the gorge?
Di Gong Gate is composed of a sluice and a tide-blocking dam.
Its main body is a tide-blocking dam, which is made of stones and wooden piles and spans the entire Yuenv Gorge. As the name suggests, it is used for flood control.
The sluice is located in the center of the tide-blocking dam.
Although it is small in scale, occupying less than one-tenth of the area of the tide-blocking dam, it is exquisitely designed and can block water in both directions, making it extremely useful.
It can block tides, release floods, drain waterlogging, etc.
To put it simply, when the tide in Yunmengze rises, the gate is closed to block the water; when the tide recedes, the gate is opened to release the water.
Currently, Yunmengze is experiencing continuous heavy rain and the water level is skyrocketing.
Naturally, the sluice gates can only be closed tightly. Together with the surrounding tide-blocking dams, they lie across the Yuenv Gorge to block the floods in Yunmengze, gain time for flood discharge, and protect Longcheng County downstream.
It is worth mentioning that the terrain of Yuenv Gorge is extremely interesting.
Longbei Mountain and Caifeng Mountain on both sides extend from the shore to the bottom of the river, with rocks protruding.
The rocks at the bottom of the river are like a tunnel, spanning dozens of feet.
Therefore, the terrain of Yuenv Gorge is extremely high.
It serves as the north gate water outlet of Jiubaili Yunmeng Daze.
Yun Mengze's relationship with it is like a teapot filled with water and its tilted teapot spout.
The water in the teapot is deep, but the water at the spout of the teapot is not deep.
Even if Ouyang Rong jumped directly from Di Gong Gate in the direction of Yun Mengze, he could easily dive to the bottom of the water.
Therefore, the Digong Gate across the Yuenv Gorge naturally has an excellent water-blocking effect.
However, no matter how good the water retaining fortifications are, there is a limit and cannot withstand the unlimited rise of water levels...
Rumble——!
In the sky in the direction of Yunmengze, silvery-white lightning had already filled the sky, and dull thunder came after a while.
The rain suddenly became heavier.
Ouyang Rong suddenly came back to his senses, spread his hands to catch the rain, as if anticipating the rain, his eyebrows gradually wrinkled.
"Let's go to the camp to get the fishing net. It's time to use it."
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and dropped a word resolutely.
After burning incense, a group of people covered in mud hurried to the temporary camp set up on Longbei Mountain.
Liu Ashan and other men went to collect the fishing nets, while Ouyang Rong lingered at the entrance of the camp.
From time to time, he glanced at the stormy Yun Mengze in the distance, his brows a little uneasy, and he hesitated for a moment, then turned around and prepared to walk to the edge of the cliff to observe.
But at this moment, a girl's shout of surprise suddenly came from a tent in the camp behind him, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"Tanlang, are you okay?"
"Weila?!"
Ouyang Rong looked back and immediately spotted the familiar little figure not far away.
The elegant and slim-fitting maid uniform on Ye Weila's body is no longer there, and she is wearing a pair of coarse cloth clothes suitable for work and travel like an ordinary civilian girl.
The girl seemed to have just walked out of the tent, holding a bowl of steaming ginger soup in her hands, looking at her with bright gray-blue eyes.
This scene was a bit familiar, giving Ouyang Rong a sense of déjà vu at home.
But this is not Meiluyuan.
The pounding rain all around brought him back to reality, and he shook his head vigorously. This was not an hallucination.
Ouyang Rong's face was stunned for a moment, and then his voice became louder without realizing it:
"Why are you here? Who brought you here!"
"Don't worry, Tanlang. My slave is fine... You drink a bowl of hot ginger soup first to warm yourself up. You're already soaked. Tanlang has a root cause of the disease. Be careful of getting cold again... The ginger soup has just been boiled and is ready to be delivered. , it’s Nuer and Xiu..."
Ye Weilai's face was full of concern, and she accidentally said the last name in her hurry, and her voice quietly became thinner.
Her small body moved secretly, covering the tent behind which the woman was hiding.
But Ouyang Rong had no intention of paying attention to this at the moment.
"It's just nonsense!"
His heroic brows furrowed and he quickly stepped forward, ready to catch this skinny girl.
Ouyang Rong's reaction made Ye Weilai, who was familiar with his temper, shrink her head. The girl raised the ginger soup bowl with both hands and presented it to her. She stood there with her silver-haired head buried in her chest, looking pitiful.
As Ouyang Rong approached, he didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
But at this moment, a thin-faced clerk suddenly ran up from the bottom of the mountain. He fell down at the entrance of the camp. He was panting and looked around.
When he saw Ouyang Rong's figure, the thin-faced scribe hurriedly jumped up and waved, shouting in panic:
"It's not good, Mingfu, something serious has happened. The wind was strong just now, and a big wave washed up trees and hard objects, hitting the sluice gate. The inspecting craftsman said that there may be a crack, and there is an undercurrent under the water. If we don't find a repair, , it may collapse at any time!”
Ouyang Rong turned around, his expression suddenly changed.
"Undercurrent? Oops!"
The uneasiness I felt not long ago really came true.
Having no time to care about the little girl's affairs, Ouyang Rong immediately left Ye Weilai behind, turned around and led Liu Ashan and his group to rush down the mountain.
Ahem, please give me some votes...whisper
(End of chapter)
