The drought situation in Jurong is beginning to show signs.
No one knows when it will rain heavily, and no one can be relied upon at this time. It is probably unreliable to bring Liu Ji over to forecast the weather.
Luo Shao, Zhou Mao, Yang Liang and others were anxious. If it didn't rain in March, it would affect the rice seeds, and then affect the people's harvests and the court's taxes.
Gu Zhengchen unfolded the map and examined the distribution map of Jurong's rivers and lakes.
To be honest, Jurong is not short of water resources as a whole, with more than 50 large and small rivers and more than 80 large and small lakes.
Jurong's rivers belong to the Qinhuai River system, the Taihu River system and the Yangtze River system. As long as these three water systems do not have problems at the same time, Jurong's drought will not develop to the point where people will die of thirst.
But the problem is that most of the formation of Jurong's rivers and lakes are the result of natural selection. Only three waterways were artificially dug, straightened, and diverted. Most of the cultivated farmland is concentrated on both sides of natural rivers. Nowadays, the water flow in these rivers has decreased, and a large amount of farmland along both sides of the river cannot be irrigated.
How can we harvest rice without water?
"Your Majesty, let's pray for rain at the altar."
Zhou Mao suggested.
Gu Zhengchen frowned and looked at Luo Shao and Yang Liang. Neither of them objected.
If it doesn’t rain, it’s God’s problem. Asking for rain means asking God to give you face. But the problem is that Gu Zhengchen has nothing to do with God. It is Lao Zhu who asks for rain. What does it matter if he asks for rain himself?
Gu Zhengchen didn't look at Zhou Mao and others, and gestured on the map with his fingers: "It's not raining, so there's something wrong with the climate. The delay in last year's autumn harvest foreshadowed a disaster this year."
The four seasons are like rotating gears. If there is a problem with the meshing here, then it will be necessary to repair and adjust the problem of a meshing point.
Without a few clicks, the toothed belt cannot be completely stuck in the gear.
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the map and ordered: "Send government officials to check Chishan Lake, Gexian Lake, Lunshan Lake, Maoshan Lake, and Beishan Lake, and also explore the depth and width of the rivers connected to these lakes. Jurong rarely experiences severe droughts. , as long as we survive March and April, the drought situation will definitely improve."
Luo Shao thought about the locations of several lakes, squinted his eyes and asked, "Is the county magistrate trying to divert water?"
"That's right!"
Gu Zhengchen snapped his fingers and said firmly: "The people are short of water, so bring water."
Zhou Mao shook his head bitterly: "This is unlikely. Water diversion is not feasible. Take Chishan Lake, which is located thirty miles southwest of Jurong County. The long distance is not a problem. The problem is Chishan Lake belongs to the Qinhuai River system, and its water flows to the west, towards Jinling, while Jurong is northeast of Chishan Lake, and the terrain is relatively high, so the water cannot flow through it at all."
Gu Zhengchen waved his hand: "As people go to higher places, water can also go to higher places. People especially know how to carry water with water trucks. Why don't you, the chief clerk, not know?"
"Waterwheel?"
Zhou Mao said helplessly: "A few waterwheels may not be able to solve the drought in Jurong's farmland."
Gu Zhengchen pointed at the map and said seriously: "So, look at a few more lakes. If ten waterwheels are not enough, then build twenty waterwheels. If twenty is not enough, then fifty. I am only responsible for transferring water. Don't delay the people from planting rice. As for the rest, you need to be responsible for it. As for the waterwheel, leave it to the craftsmen of the Craftsman's Courtyard. They are very familiar with it."
Seeing this, Luo Shao, Zhou Mao and others had no choice but to nod in agreement.
It has to be said that such a ridiculous accumulation of solutions can indeed solve the problem, but the cost is not a small amount. It takes money and food to build a water tanker, money and food to dig a pit suitable for the installation of the water tanker, and money and food to take care of the water tanker. …
Gu Zhengchen didn't mind. The money and food spent were from the county government, but the money and food that could be saved belonged to the people of Jurong. Besides, Jurong No. 3 Hospital has made some money, and if it is used to do something, it will not result in much loss.
Imperial Palace, Donghua Gate.
Zhou Zong, the man with the knife, looked around with vigilance. The eunuch stepped forward, put down the sedan chair and opened the curtain.
Prince Zhu Biao and Crown Princess Chang got off the carriage one after another.
The Crown Princess looked at the palace in front of her and turned sideways to Zhu Biao and smiled: "I am very happy about this long trip. I am afraid that I will not be able to leave the palace for how many years after returning to the palace."
Although his words sounded a little lonely, his mood was not depressed.
Zhu Biao looked at the Crown Princess with a smile and felt comfortable: "It's easy to leave the palace again."
"Oh, is there a plan?"
The princess looked at Zhu Biao longingly.
Zhu Biao said with a smile: "Our trip this time depends on Mr. Gu's invitation. Next time he performs a meritorious service, just ask him to invite us to travel again."
When the princess saw Zhu Biao like this, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile: "Then Mr. Gu invited us to go to Jurong, and Your Majesty agreed. It would be better for you to take my concubine to Fengyang. This time you broke the promise, it's not because of you. Will you fulfill your contract next time?"
Zhu Biao laughed heartily and stepped into the palace with great enthusiasm: "He said that Jurong Maoshan has a beautiful scenery. We have not been there yet, so naturally we have to invite you a second time. When you are bored, I will take you there."
The Crown Princess followed beside him and couldn't help laughing: "You are bullying him."
Zhu Biao disagreed: "If you don't bully now, I'm afraid it won't be easy to bully in the future. You also know that Mr. Gu has been promoted to the commanding officer of the Jurong Guards. My father thinks highly of him. He even sympathizes with the fallen soldiers very generously." They have all been suppressed. I am afraid that in a few years, he will become an important minister in the court, and by then, it will be difficult for him to attack..."
The Crown Princess was still frightened: "I think Your Majesty is right to ask Mu Ying to go to Jurong to punish him. He is a civil servant after all. According to Mu Ying, he can't even learn the second set of sword moves, and none of the five soldiers are willing to teach him." When practicing martial arts, if something unexpected happens during a fight, wouldn’t it be a loss for Ming Dynasty?”
Zhu Biao was really scared when he thought about his mood when he received the document.
Gu Zhengchen is talented, capable, and understands himself. He is no longer a pure subordinate or minister, but more like a confidant friend.
Zhu Biao looked back twenty years, and there was no one around him who was as neither humble nor arrogant as Gu Zhengchen, who talked and laughed sincerely, who didn't care about his identity, and who knew he was the prince and still dared to call him "big man".
This feeling is very strange, as if I am always leaning down to look at people. When I am lonely or sad, those people are below me, far away from me, and I can't even reach out.
Suddenly, Gu Zhengchen appeared, standing next to her. It seemed that the two of them had no status, no boundaries between royal family and courtiers, and were like friends, accompanying them by their side.
Zhu Biao liked this feeling very much, so when the military report reached him and he saw that Gu Zhengchen was almost killed by the pirates, he almost stopped his spring outing and returned to Jinling.
"Your Highness, Crown Princess, Your Majesty has an invitation at Kunning Palace."
Nan Shiqing came over to report.
Zhu Biao nodded slightly and said to the Crown Princess: "That's right. We haven't said hello for a while. Let's go together."
Kunning Palace.
Queen Ma looked at the pacing Zhu Yuanzhang and poured a cup of tea: "They have arrived at Jinling. I think they will be here soon. I have never seen you like this in the past. What happened today?"
Zhu Yuanzhang stopped and was quite dissatisfied: "Humph, this stinky boy has been out for twenty days, and he is not diligent enough to write a greeting document. Does he still care about me, his father?"
Empress Ma held the tea bowl and walked towards Zhu Yuanzhang: "This is an injustice to the prince. He sent a letter of greeting earlier and a letter of peace later. Isn't he diligent enough? You, a father, are the same. Since they have been allowed to travel, why bother? I worry about you every day, and with the guards of the East Palace protecting you, nothing will happen."
Just when Zhu Yuanzhang was about to speak, he heard movement outside the door. Not long after, Zhu Biao and Chang came in and saluted and said hello.
"Get up."
When Empress Ma saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was silent, she helped the two of them up, took the Crown Princess's hand, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao: "You father and son should have a good time catching up on old times. I will take the Crown Princess for a walk."
Seeing Empress Ma wink, Zhu Biao stepped forward and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, our sons and ministers are traveling abroad, and they are always concerned about their father, queen, and brothers and sisters. Because they are away to inspect the people's sentiments, they cannot kowtow to the saints every day. An, please forgive me, father."
Zhu Yuanzhang sat and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Zhu Biao came back well: "Inspecting the public sentiment? So it's not a tour?"
Zhu Biao said seriously: "I am worried about the people, how can I care about the mountains and rivers. Father, I have my own book!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with Zhu Biao's attitude and asked, "Tell me."
Zhu Biao took out a document from his sleeve and handed it over solemnly: "I would like to ask my father to postpone the construction of Zhongdu!"
"What?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned cold.
Making Zhongdu the capital of the country was something Zhu Yuanzhang personally finalized. Liu Ji opposed it, and there were many opponents among the ministers. However, Zhu Yuanzhang used his power to overwhelm the opposition and made the final decision to build Zhongdu!
Nowadays, the construction of Zhongdu is coming to an end. In fact, the construction of the inner palace of Zhongdu has been completed, leaving only the exquisite carvings and internal layout. Although the outer city has not yet been built, it is progressing in an orderly manner.
In order to ensure that Zhongdu could become the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang not only moved a large number of people from the south of the Yangtze River to Fengyang, but also transferred a group of people from Shanxi and other places to move to Fengyang. In the name of guarding Zhongdu, he transferred sergeants from the guard station to Jurong , and these sergeants all went there with their families, and they usually needed to cultivate wasteland.
The recent transfer of sergeants from the guard station to Jurong was only last month.
Zhu Yuanzhang was already arranging how to move the capital, so he ordered Qin Tian to pick a good day to move.
But now, my son took a trip to Fengyang, and when he came back, he told himself that he would postpone the construction of Zhongdu?
Hold on!
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao, took the document, and said with a cold face: "You should know that if you postpone it for one day, the pressure on the court will increase. In order to complete the construction of Zhongdu as soon as possible, I will mobilize the whole country and do my best! Ten thousand craftsmen, 70,000 soldiers, and more than 300,000 civilians, how can you give me a reprieve?"
Zhu Biao lowered his head, took a deep breath, and cast his fearless eyes on Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, I think we might as well transfer these craftsmen to Jinling to expand Jinling City, and as for the sergeants and civilians there, let them go - —Stay alive.”
