In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 747 A Peaceful Era Amidst Chaos
A day passed in the blink of an eye, and suddenly a gasp of surprise came from the riverbank of Chenqiao Town, filled with unimaginable joy.

"The water is slowing down! The water is slowing down!"

Following this exclamation, many people turned their attention to it.

That was an official who was surveying at the very top of the river.
He was half-squatting, holding a piece of cloth about ten feet long in his hand.

Hold one end in your hand and place the other end in the water, letting the river wash over you.

From initially being completely invisible, it gradually floated up.

Finally, to everyone's astonishment,

The end of the cloth was initially invisible, then gradually became visible, and finally floated up completely!
These scenarios all illustrate that

The Yellow River in front of us is changing from a rapid current to a calm one, and its flow is slowing down...

Everyone knows that the slowing of the current is the beginning of the river calming down.
As long as it doesn't rain again, the water level will gradually decrease...

Upon receiving the news and hearing the exclamations, Li Zhigang rushed up the embankment, holding a wind-flying bird in his hand.

This is a commonly used observation device in rainy areas.
A bronze bird-shaped wind vane, placed on a tall pole, with the bird's head pointing in the wind direction.

By observing changes in wind direction and combining this with cloud movement, we can predict the likelihood of rainfall.

Li Zhigang placed the Xiangfeng bird on the ground.
He rushed to the very front of the dike.

He grabbed the measuring rod from a clerk, lay down on the ground, and slammed the rod into the water...

His eyes widened little by little, and a hint of joy appeared in his pupils.

Compared to the previous two days, the water flow at the breach seems to have decreased today.

However, we are far from being able to repair the dam.

However, this is still some encouraging good news.
This suggests that the rain has stopped upstream, and we can begin filling the dam once we receive confirmation.

The only concern is the slightly overcast, dome-shaped clouds overhead.

The clouds are moving rapidly and are dark in color; this is a sign that wind and rain are coming…

"Three days. As long as it doesn't rain for three days, the dam can be blocked."

Li Zhigang silently hoped that not only could the dam be sealed, but the concrete and cement could also begin to harden.

At least it can plug the cracks in the dam, further reducing the risk of collapse...

Thinking of this, a resolute look flashed in Li Zhigang's eyes. He suddenly turned around, looked at the many officials of the Grand Canal Transport Office, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Now, go to Zhuxian Town and call all the people from Chenqiao Town back to the dike so they can all come up and prepare for repairs and reinforcement!"

"Yes!"

The officials and laborers all breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Chenqiao Town has a small population, only a few thousand people,

However, when repairing and reinforcing the dikes,
The local people have always been the most dedicated.

These few thousand people, when they actually get to work, are worth more than ten thousand people who just dawdle.

At this moment, Shen Zao arrived hurriedly on horseback.

He was in a much worse state, probably having tripped and fallen on the road, his whole body soaked in mud, covered in filth.

"Sir, there's news from upstream!"

Shen Zao hurriedly took out the letter from her bosom and handed it over.

Li Zhigang hurriedly took it, tore off the outer oil paper seal, took out the letter, and read it carefully…

"Your Majesty, sincerely:

The continuous rain has stopped, the Sishui River is gradually receding, the flow rate at the breach of the Yellow River has slowed down, and the water level has dropped by more than three feet.

A thousand laborers have been gathered to cut down trees, quarry stones, and build fortifications, working day and night without rest.

If the clouds disperse and there is no rain for three days, then the breach can be closed and the dikes can be reinforced.

Downstream towns such as Chenqiao and Zhuxian should quickly mobilize able-bodied men, carrying baskets, shovels, and sacks, to reinforce the dikes without any delay.

With concerted efforts from upstream and downstream, the floods can be contained, and fields and houses can be safe.

This letter is sent urgently; please act without delay.

Upon seeing the letter, Li Zhigang breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a smile that he hadn't shown in the past few days.

"Okay...okay...okay!"

He looked at Shen Zao, scrutinizing him from head to toe, and found that his once fair and handsome face was now extremely disheveled, with bloodshot eyes adding to his disheveled appearance.

Li Zhigang stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay, you've worked hard these past few days, running around doing all this."

Go back and tidy up, get some rest, and you won't have to be so worried anymore.

As soon as she finished speaking, a string that had been taut in Shen Zao's heart seemed to relax.

He let out a long sigh, and the exhaustion that had been hidden for so long surged up, causing him to close his eyes halfway in an instant.

"Yes, my lord!"

"My lord, you should also get some rest. You haven't had a full night's sleep for several days."

"Do not worry."

Li Zhigang smiled faintly, his eyes deep-set.

The tension in his heart had not yet eased.

After Shen Zao left, before Li Zhigang could arrange any follow-up actions, another official rushed over.

He was dressed in the official robes of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, and apart from his boots being a little muddy, he was clean all over, which seemed out of place in the disheveled state of the place.

"May I ask if you are Lord Li from the Grand Canal Transport Office?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Zhigang's eyes, and he nodded slightly.

"It's me, what's the matter?"

"I've met my lord."

The official was very respectful, but lowered his voice slightly.

"Please come to Qiuye Village, Lord Li. Commander Liu and Provincial Governor Wei are waiting for you there."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhigang was taken aback.
His eyes instantly deepened, and his expression changed repeatedly, with a complex mix of emotions flashing across his face, including shock, speechlessness, helplessness, and relief, before finally settling into calm.

"I understand. I will leave in a quarter of an hour after I finish my makeup."

The clerk glanced at Li Zhigang discreetly and spoke in a low voice.

"Lord Li, this outfit really shows how hard you've worked."

Li Zhigang raised an eyebrow and gave the official in front of him a meaningful look.

"What do you wish to say to me?"

The clerk pursed his lips, leaned closer, and spoke softly.

"This humble official is from Chenqiao Town. Qiuye Village not only has officials from the Three Departments..."

There were also some gentlemen in Kaifeng.

Li Zhigang suddenly looked up, his expression gradually becoming complicated. After a long while, he nodded gently.

"Thank you, let's go now."

The official's expression returned to its usual calm and indifferent state.

"Please come in, sir. The carriage is ready."

"Um……"

Li Zhigang looked down at the mud covering his body.
The scarlet official robe embroidered with wild geese and clouds had turned dark, covered in mud, and the gold and colorful silk threads on it had turned completely black.

Seeing the brand-new official robes in such a state
Li Zhigang didn't feel ashamed at all. Instead, he smiled calmly, held his head high, and strode forward.

……

Qiuye Village is a village not far from Chenqiao Town and Zhuxian Town.
Built on high ground, it is not affected by ordinary floods.

In previous years, during major floods, the canal transport office would send someone to guard this area.
If the floodwaters become uncontrollable, this place will serve as a temporary base for disaster relief.

However, in previous years, only about a hundred people were stationed here.
This year, contrary to the norm, hundreds of horse-drawn carriages of various shapes and sizes gathered.

It completely filled up the open space at the western end of the village.
You can also see some horses with different expressions, including more than a dozen pure white horses.

The guards stationed here were exceptionally elite, their waists bulging with purses.
Holding a long sword, he was only missing a suit of armor compared to a soldier.

Li Zhigang arrived in a carriage. After lifting the curtain, he paused slightly, but his expression quickly returned to calm.

However, he had already set the tone for this meeting in his mind: a trap.

Li Zhigang stepped down from the carriage and gazed into the distance.

Although the sky here was overcast, with thick cumulus clouds overhead,
The scenery was beautiful, with neatly arranged village houses and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys. Even the village roads seemed to have been repaved, creating a clean and tidy environment.

It had been less than half an hour since he left the Chenqiao Town dike.
Such a disparity left Li Zhigang somewhat bewildered, even as he forced himself to maintain his composure.

Floods, breached dikes, chaos
Everything seemed to be nonexistent.
His dark, disheveled official robes were like a blot of ink on this beautiful pastoral scene.

He glanced at the clerk's boots, which were also covered in mud, and Li Zhigang reminded him.

"You'd better change your boots and trousers. I can be disheveled, but if you are... well, someone might not like it."

The clerk was taken aback, but said nothing and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, sir. Please wait a moment."

Li Zhigang and the others remained where they were, their emotions a complex mix.

Since Marquis Zhou Wu of Xiongwu passed away in his hometown in Henan in March,
The entire Henan province breathed a sigh of relief, as if freed from its constraints, and all sorts of monsters and demons began to emerge.

He had already heard about it in the capital.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent him, a mere official in the Ministry of Works, to manage the floods.

But when he actually got there, Li Zhigang realized that he was still too naive.

With the riverbank on the verge of collapse, the two chief officials of the canal transport office are now locked in a fierce battle.
Soldiers were also involved.
The three departments remained unmoved.

It's a mess... a complete mess.

Today, I see this peaceful and prosperous world before my eyes.
It made him feel as if the Yellow River had not flooded, it had not rained, and the riverbank had not breached.

Li Zhigang's figure was somewhat hunched over, and he looked exhausted and extremely old.

At this moment, the clerk borrowed a new set of official robes and put them on.

Walking is quite awkward, but at least it's somewhat dignified.

"My lord please."

The official looked respectful.

Li Zhigang sensed a profound sadness emanating from this person.
He pursed his lips and strode towards Qiuye Village.

Along the way, the trees on both sides were lush and green.

All the roads in the village were covered up.
In the sweltering summer, this would be a great place to escape the heat.

As they went deeper, the mud-brick houses outside disappeared.

Instead, there were houses with blue bricks and green tiles, built in a very orderly manner.
He even saw expensive white marble floor tiles.
But it wasn't laid on the ground.

Instead, it was laid on the outer perimeter wall.

Even from a distance, you can feel its wealth and power.

Li Zhigang did the math.

His entire year's salary probably wouldn't be enough to buy that piece...

The further you go in, the more beautiful the scenery becomes.
He became increasingly out of place.

Upon reaching the center of Qiuye Village, Li Zhigang stopped and looked ahead in disbelief.

There stood a courtyard house, perhaps five, six, or even seven courtyards in total, and it was probably several tens of feet wide.

Upon seeing this, Li Zhigang felt as if he were seeing the princely mansions in the capital.

The Zhongshan Prince's Mansion and the Kaiping Prince's Mansion looked much like this.

Li Zhigang's lips were a little dry, and an absurdity flashed in his eyes.

He considered himself to be from a prominent family in Songjiang, with immense wealth.
But they couldn't afford to build such a luxurious mansion.

Especially the white marble floor tiles paving the perimeter; if these tiles were removed...

That would be enough to exchange for his family's century-old savings.

Seeing Li Zhigang frozen in place, a struggle flashing in his eyes, the clerk slowly backed away and whispered.

"Lord Li, this residence was built by the head manager of Shengfeng Trading Company in Kaifeng City."
The officials of the Three Departments often came here to escape the heat during the sweltering summer.

When was it repaired?
Such a wonder is hidden in this ordinary village.

Li Zhigang smiled.

"Reporting to your lord, I repaired it last year."

"Oh?"

Li Zhigang raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.

"After the Zhou king moved the vassal states?"

"Exactly."

"Ah…"

Li Zhigang chuckled, stepped forward, and said calmly.

"If the officials in this world are left unsupervised, who knows what kind of trouble they will cause."

The official remained silent, watching as Li Zhigang walked into the courtyard before turning and leaving.

……

Li Zhigang stepped into the luxurious courtyard, his feet resting on delicate, soft, and warm-lustered white marble tiles.

Every step felt like walking on clouds, yet it also felt somewhat unreal.
But those obvious mud stains were so glaring.

In the courtyard, the rockery is rugged, the stream flows gently, and exotic flowers and plants compete for beauty. The air is filled with an intoxicating fragrance, as if the gloom in the sky has dissipated a little.

Passing through the winding corridors, we arrived at the main hall.
This place is even more ancient and elegant, with carved beams and painted rafters, and valuable calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls. The tables and chairs are all made of top-quality mahogany.

A dozen or so people had already gathered in the main hall.

Commander Liu, dressed in a bright red robe and wearing a black gauze hat, sat upright in the main seat, his eyes exuding a sense of authority, and was quietly sipping his tea.

The Provincial Governor, Lord Wei, was also dressed in a scarlet official robe and wearing a turban with his legs spread out. He was talking with a thin, wealthy-looking merchant beside him.

The merchant was dressed in silk robes and wore several large gemstone rings on his fingers.
This outfit was very unconventional, but no one cared.

The rest of the group, some dressed in official robes and others in brocade and jade belts, were all dressed in fine clothes and had arrogant expressions.

The moment Li Zhigang appeared, the extravagant and harmonious atmosphere in the room was shattered.

His mud-stained official robes made him stand out from the others in the hall, isolating him from everyone else.

All eyes turned to him, filled with scrutiny, disdain, and a hint of hostility.

"Lord Li, we've been waiting for you!"

Commander Liu Feng spoke first, his voice loud but with a hint of sarcasm.

Li Zhigang cupped his hands slightly, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Greetings, Lord Liu and Lord Wei. May I ask why you have summoned me here?"

Right Provincial Governor Wei Baiyi, without any formalities, smiled slightly and said.

"Lord Li, the floods are severe now, and it's probably beyond your capabilities to manage them all by yourself."

In my opinion, it would be better if you returned to the capital and requested assistance from the court, requesting more manpower and supplies to be sent over. Only in this way can the flood problem be completely resolved.

As soon as he finished speaking, a man who looked like a merchant immediately chimed in.

“Lord Wei is absolutely right. Lord Li, this flood is no small matter. How much can you accomplish by yourself here alone?”

Let's go back to the capital and let the court decide.
Starting today, we will begin procuring supplies to repair the dikes and embankments.

"Once Lord Li returns, we'll begin work immediately, without delaying either task."

Another person chimed in.

"Yes, Lord Li, if you stay in Chenqiao Town, the flood control efforts will progress slowly, wasting time and making the floods even more severe."

"You won't be able to handle the consequences then."

The crowd chimed in with their opinions, all hoping that Li Zhigang would leave Chenqiao Town and return to the capital to seek help.

Li Zhigang sneered inwardly; he knew exactly what these people were thinking. They were simply afraid that his construction of the river embankment would cut off their source of income.

When he arrived, the imperial court, along with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, had already made a decision.
Using materials and supplies provided by the newly established Yingtian Construction Firm,
To complete the construction and repair of 34 dikes and reservoirs of various sizes in Henan Dusi.

If these 34 dams and reservoirs are secure and impregnable by next year, further repairs can be carried out.

But... the Yellow River floods are a natural disaster.

But behind it all lies a complex web of vested interests.

Powerful officials, merchants, and officials of the Three Departments colluded with each other.

He amassed wealth through rampant corruption during the water management campaign, using inferior materials to line his own pockets.

Everyone knows perfectly well which areas should be saved and which shouldn't.
We won't cut corners where it's not necessary.
The province should save as much as possible in its local areas so that its culture can last for generations.

However, if it is built with concrete and cement,
Not only is the construction period shortened, but a lot of building materials can also be saved.
Even the number of civilian laborers and soldiers used has decreased.

These people's basic needs—food, drink, and sanitation—incur enormous sums of money; countless people depend on them for their livelihood…

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhigang stood tall and straightened his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice calm.

"My lords, I have come here to manage the floods on the orders of the imperial court. It is my duty, and I cannot leave so easily."

The riverbank has now breached, and the flooding problem remains.
The people are suffering terribly.
If I were to return to the capital now to seek help, disregarding the people, how could I live up to the trust placed in me by the court?
How can we face the millions of people in Kaifeng?

Liu Feng's face darkened, and he said:

"Lord Li, what do you mean by this?"

Do you think we're trying to harm you?
We are also considering the overall situation of flood control. If you don't return to the capital for help, when will this flood be quelled?

"Lord Liu, I am new here, but I am aware that the work of flood control in Henan has always been ongoing."
With the government fulfilling its responsibilities and the people doing their utmost, the floods will surely be quelled.

Li Zhigang raised his head, his gaze sharp.

"Lord Liu, there are many shady dealings behind the flood. Please do not listen to slander."

Some people want me to leave Henan as soon as possible because they fear I will ruin their plans.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

One of the richly dressed merchants shouted angrily.

"Lord Li, don't make false accusations! We are only focused on controlling the floods, what good could we possibly want?"

Li Zhigang was fearless and stared straight at the merchants' road.

"I did not say who it was, but you are all wealthy and powerful people who have lived in Kaifeng for a long time, so you should know who I am talking about."

The river embankment was repaired and then damaged again, and repaired again, costing the imperial court a great deal of money.
Yet the floods continue to rage year after year, and the people continue to suffer unspeakably.

Do you all truly believe that I am unaware of the reasons behind this?

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Wei Baiyi quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Lord Li, please don't be impulsive. We are also concerned about the flood control. If you have any thoughts, please speak frankly."

Li Zhigang took a deep breath and said.

"My idea is very simple: repair the river embankment as soon as possible, quell the flood, and let the people live a peaceful life."

As for what happened behind the scenes, I have neither the desire nor the ability to do so.

"If you gentlemen truly care about flood control, then please have the two officials of the Grand Canal Administration cease their infighting and work together with me to accomplish this important task, instead of obstructing us in every way."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment and remained silent for a moment.

The atmosphere in the main hall was extremely oppressive.

(End of this chapter)