Hong Wanlin, the master of Shandong Chief Minister Huang Wenxi, walked out of the Jining Reservoir with a displeased expression.
He saw the magistrates of Jining Prefecture, headed by Hu Wensheng, the magistrate of Dingtao County, and Ji Bangning, the magistrate of Cao County.
The magistrates of Jining Prefecture are united together. They came so timely. There must be someone behind the overall action.
This can be seen from the fact that Shenyin, the prefect of Jining, did not interfere with this matter.
The meaning of Jining's prefect is very clear. He will not interfere with the fight between gods and immortals. This matter has nothing to do with him.
Mr. Huang Wenxi did not say it out loud, but Hong Wanlin knew that these county magistrates dared to form a group to force Mr. Huang Wenxi.
Behind these people, there is probably an opponent of the same level as Mr. Huang Wenxi. Without anyone to support him, Hu Wensheng and others will not be so confident. After all, the official level is overwhelming.
Hong Wanlin guessed in his mind that the mastermind behind this might be Shandong Governor Li Shengyun.
In order to balance the rights of the governor and the chief envoy, the imperial court.
These two official positions will not be given to people from the same faction.
Li Shengyun is from the Sichuan Party and belongs to the faction of former Prime Minister Wang Zhongce.
Now that the former Prime Minister is overseas, Governor Li Shengyun feels that his position is unstable.
He must use various means to consolidate his authority.
These magistrates are causing trouble, which may be a sign that Governor Li Shengyun is probing.
Hong Wanlin followed Mr. Huang Wenxi. He knew that these big shots would not directly quarrel with each other.
They all fight secretly, fighting through their own chess pieces.
Hu Wensheng, the magistrate of Dingtao County, was waiting anxiously. Their county guarded the Yellow River, a river with abundant water.
Watching a large amount of river water flowing by, next to it is a cornfield with some dry leaves.
Jining Reservoir will not be able to stop the angry farmers without an explanation.
It is very likely that some farmers will not listen to dissuasion and directly destroy the Yellow River embankment to draw water.
There are many officials in the county patrolling the Yellow River embankment, but they cannot control the large number of impulsive villagers.
When Magistrate Hu Wensheng saw Master Hong Wanlin, he had a bad look on them and looked arrogant.
In order not to offend the Chief Minister Huang Wenxi, he had to give Master Hong a little less favor.
Now that they have completely broken up with each other, after this incident, he will inevitably bear the pressure from the Chief Envoy's Yamen.
But he is not without people behind him, and he is not afraid of the ensuing suppression from Chief Huang Wenxi.
Magistrate Hu Wensheng snorted coldly and said: "Master Hong, do you agree to this or not?"
Jining Prefecture Reservoir, can the gate be opened to release water to save Jining Prefecture counties that are suffering from drought?
You must know that in our Dingtao County alone, there are many villages where it is very difficult for people and animals to drink water.
If there is no more news, I am afraid that angry farmers will dig up the Yellow River embankment.
When the water floods Dingtao County, I, the county magistrate, will be punished by the court, and Mr. Huang will be as safe as a mountain. "
When Hong Wanlin heard what Hu Wensheng said, his face turned cold.
Based on his knowledge of the integrity of these officials.
There is really no follow-up to this matter. These officials will definitely encourage local farmers to cause trouble behind their backs.
They have been using this method since ancient times and have become very skilled in it.
As Mr. Huang, there is no way he would trade with a small character like Hu Wensheng.
Ji Bangning, the magistrate of Cao County, spoke up and said, "Master Hong, if you don't know how to pass on the message, we can go in and interview Mr. Huang in person."
Master Hong Wanlin snorted coldly and said: "His Majesty the Emperor sent a telegram allowing various places to use Yellow River water to irrigate crops.
Mr. Huang has already ordered that Jining Reservoir is preheating the steam engine and will open the gate to release water soon. "
Master Hong Wanlin made it very clear that Huang Wenxi obeyed the emperor's order and ordered the gates to be opened to release water.
Mr. Huang was definitely not forced by his subordinates to order the gates to be opened and the water released.
Mr. Huang must not stay and have the reputation of being lax in his duties.
Once this bad reputation remains, it will affect Mr. Huang Wenxi's future promotion.
It was for this reason that Master Hong Wanlin believed that Governor Li Shengyun was behind this group of people.
Magistrate Hu Wensheng just wanted to say a few words.
He heard a huge sound coming from the Jining Reservoir ahead.
Jining Reservoir opened the side gates, and a large amount of river water flowed into Jining's main canal.
The imperial court has built water conservancy projects in recent years. The Yellow River water flows into the main canal of Jining and flows to every field through canals extending in all directions.
Magistrate Hu Wensheng and Magistrate Ji Bangning looked at each other.
Magistrate Ji Bangning shook his head and said that the matter was impossible.
They have achieved their basic goals, so don't push them too hard and it will be self-defeating.
The two people leading the team have their own purposes.
But the main purpose of the other magistrates they brought with them through coercion and inducement was to request the Jining Reservoir to release water.
From their telegram, they learned that the Yellow River was about to change its course, and they were in series with these officials.
Unable to exert collective pressure, the two of them were alone.
Now that this goal has been achieved, most magistrates want to return to their respective yamen.
Magistrate Hu Wensheng said loudly: "I have led you to achieve your goal, let us not put any more pressure on Mr. Huang Wenxi.
Let's go back to the county magistrate's office and take charge of the people's drought relief and rational distribution of water sources in various places to prevent anything from happening. "
People like Hu Wensheng came and left quickly.
When Hong Wanlin saw this situation, he immediately returned to the reservoir and reported what happened outside to Chief Huang Wenxi.
Chief Envoy Huang Wenxi nodded and said nonchalantly: "Some people like to make small moves. His Majesty the Emperor's concern has always been loyalty and political performance.
I know all these things, Master Hong, please stop making small moves in private.
Whatever you do from now on, you must have my order.
During this period of time, we must not give others any leverage. "
Huang Wenxi combed through this matter, and it seemed full of doubts.
A lot of evidence points to Governor Li Shengyun, but with his ability, there is no need to do such a thing that can be discovered at a glance.
Could it be that he predicted my prediction and did the opposite?
No matter what the truth is, the truth will be revealed sooner or later.
Huang Wenxi's first priority now is to ensure that nothing happens to the Yellow River embankment and to allow Shandong to survive this drought.
…………………………
Linhe Village, Dingtao County.
Village head Zhang Erwa accompanied township primary school teacher Zhang Qiyang as they walked on the field ridge in the village.
Zhang Erwa bent down and grabbed a handful of soil from the corn field next to her.
The gray-white soil fell from his fingers with a gentle squeeze.
"Uncle Qiyang, look at how the corn fields are doing.
There is no moisture in the soil.
Even if corn is a drought-resistant crop, it will be difficult to grow well under such conditions.
Before our village, we could still fetch water from the ditch ten miles away.
Now there is only some wet mud left in the river.
If it hadn't rained a few times in the first half of the year, the winter wheat would have grown ears, and our whole village would have had to endure the northwest wind.
The yield of winter wheat per acre is reduced by at least 100 kilograms. This is enough food for one person for half a year, which is really heartbreaking.
Our village is a Linhe village, guarding this big river.
There was no water in the river before, so there was nothing we could do.
Since the government informed some time ago, the river was officially filled with water yesterday.
We guard a big river and must not let it go to waste.
Uncle Qiyang is a man of culture. He must think of a way for us to take out some of the fast-flowing water in the river. "
Zhang Qiyang walked from the field ridge to the Yellow River embankment more than ten meters high in front of him.
During the construction of this very high Yellow River embankment, a large number of young people from the village were employed.
In the past two years, many people in the village have been lifted out of poverty by relying on this Yellow River embankment.
He stood under the embankment of the Yellow River and could hear the sound of water in the embankment.
The Yellow River embankment is so high that it is very difficult for people to climb up.
Not to mention fetching water from fast-flowing rivers and transporting it down to irrigate farmland.
The villagers were very excited when they heard the sound of the river yesterday.
Tie a rope to the bucket and prepare to scoop water from the Yellow River.
The current of the Yellow River was so fast that the bucket was swept away and the person was almost dragged into the river.
But seeing that these rivers can save farmland, and the rivers are so close, everyone wants to get some water.
No matter how difficult it is, it cannot stop the villagers' determination to collect water.
Village chief Zhang Erwa saw that Zhang Qiyang didn't speak for a long time.
He gritted his teeth, chopped off his feet, and said fiercely: "Uncle Qiyang, if it doesn't work, we will dig a hole in the Yellow River embankment.
When the time comes and we want to get more water, we will get more water. "
Zhang Qiyang slapped Zhang Erwa on the head.
"Your father died early, so Uncle Qiyang will educate you on your father's behalf.
Can the Yellow River embankment be dug without thinking?
Once the Yellow River embankment is dug, the entire Dingtao County, not to mention our village, will be flooded.
Don’t say that all these fields will be destroyed by then, we may not be able to survive. "
Zhang Qiyang knew that Zhang Erwa said this because he was very anxious.
In the cornfield in the village, the corn seedlings are growing very slowly, and the corn leaves have turned yellow and curled.
The reason for this situation is the lack of water in the corn fields.
If there is no watering within ten days, all these corn seedlings will die of drought, and the autumn crop will be completely destroyed.
On average, this corn can bring an income of at least five taels of silver coins to each household.
For these five taels of silver coins, many people will take desperate risks.
Zhang Qiyang knew that he could no longer think of a way. Some people were forced to dig up the river embankment.
“Village Chief, there is no water in the well, so we hired a well-drilling team at a high price to dig a deep well in the village.
A pressure well was built in the village. The water for watering the seedlings was not enough, but at least it allowed people and cattle to drink. "
When Zhang Qiyang heard about the pressure well, he had an idea and said happily: "The pressure well in the village is not deep enough and can no longer press out water.
But we can put it on the dam and let the pressure well extend into the river channel.
In this way, the rushing river water can be directly pressed through the pressure well onto the dam and flow down the water pipe. "
Zhang Erwa gave a thumbs up and praised: "Uncle Qiyang is indeed a scholar, and he thinks more comprehensively than us."
Village chief Zhang Erwa thinks Zhang Qiyang's method is very clever.
He immediately organized villagers to take action and fixed pressure wells on the Yellow River embankments.
It is planned to draw water through more than a dozen pressure wells and divert the water from the Yellow River to the village.
Zhang Qiyang looked at the busy villagers and reminded: "Now there is a kind of machinery called a steam engine and water pump.
This method of mine is just a temporary measure, I want to pump out a lot of water in the future.
I suggest that the village purchase a steam engine pump.
Don't rush to buy it now. It's possible that the canals built by the imperial court will be filled with water soon.
The imperial court cannot let the river water flow into the sea in vain but not allow the people to irrigate it. "
Zhang Erwa nodded seemingly understandingly.
The villagers worked very hard and moved more than a dozen self-pressure wells to the Yellow River embankment and fixed them.
The villagers found an iron canvas water pipe, one end of which was in the Yellow River, and tied a few small stones to let it sink in the river water.
This water pipe connects to the root of the self-pressure well.
Another water pipe is tied to the outlet of the pressure well and goes down the Yellow River embankment.
Two people held the pressure well to prevent it from shaking violently.
A sturdy Shandong man began to press the pressure well hard.
Some villagers said in surprise: "Press hard, the water will come up."
After hearing the news, they worked harder and were so tired that they were sweating profusely.
A clear stream of water appeared in the pressure well.
Then it flows along the outlet of the pressure well and into the water pipe.
When the villagers saw that this method was successful, they pressed the pressure well hard.
There are more than a dozen water pipes, and a large amount of river water flows down.
The villagers were so surprised that men, women and children came together to catch the flowing water with buckets.
They carried buckets and walked to their fields to water the yellowing corn seedlings.
After the corn field is watered, the corn with yellow leaves will soon recover.
When Zhang Qiming saw this scene, he stroked his beard and said: "Long-lasting drought is greeted by gentle rain, and the drought in various parts of Shandong can be saved."
…………………………
Magistrate Hu Wensheng separated from other magistrates. He took a carriage and rushed back to Dingtao County along the road along the Yellow River Embankment.
When he went to Jining Reservoir, in addition to getting someone's instructions, he also really wanted to fight for water for the people.
With meritorious service in fighting drought, Hu Wensheng was promoted to prefect based on his previous accumulated achievements.
The county magistrate is just a doormat. He is under pressure from his superiors. If he wants to achieve some political achievements, there is no better way.
The prefect is completely different. Except for the prefect who works together with the governor's office, the other prefects have great power.
A governor within a province is also subject to constraints from the chief envoy, political advisors and others.
If the prefect is in a region, he has the right to speak his mind and implement his will thoroughly in the local area.
Hu Wensheng fell asleep in the carriage while he was thinking about it.
He heard a noise outside the carriage and was awakened from his sleep.
Hu Wensheng opened the curtain of the carriage and asked his subordinates: "What's going on in front."
"Master Hu, the villagers are blocking the road.
The villain went to inquire about the news and already knew what happened.
In Linhe Village, some people use self-pressure wells to pump up water from the Yellow River and use it to irrigate the land.
The news spread quickly, and the villagers followed suit.
They used this method to irrigate their own land.
There are also small mine owners who brought in mining pumps to pump water for the entire village’s fields. "
Magistrate Hu Wensheng was deeply moved when he heard the news.
Even if the court doesn't take action, these villagers will find ways to save themselves.
He immediately asked his subordinates to inform him that the Jining Reservoir has been opened to release water, and soon a large amount of river water will flow along the canals to thousands of households.
The villagers were dubious about the magistrate's voice.
After receiving the news, many villagers stood by the canal and waited.
If the government opens the floodgates and releases water, it will definitely get a larger amount of water than pumping water by ourselves.
The water canals built by the imperial court were used for watering, and the whole process was very simple.
The villagers have been waiting for a long time, and some have already complained.
Hu Wensheng was the magistrate of the county and called all the officials in the county to the fields.
Let them organize villagers everywhere to prepare for the coming river water.
The sound of rushing water attracted everyone's attention.
They saw that the drains, which had been dry, were filled with murky water.
The water followed the ditch and began to spread to the small ditches next to the fields.
Many people immediately knelt down and thanked the government.
If you have not experienced the despair of drought, you will not be able to appreciate the joy of rain after a long drought.
(End of chapter)
