Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 532 Six Years of Yongping
In the sixth year of Yongping of the Han Dynasty,
The emperor, who had just been criticized by Wang Yanshi for "still consolidating his power," issued an edict at the beginning of the year, calling on his officials and the people to build water conservancy facilities in various places.

This delighted Wang Yanshi. While helping Wang Jing deliver messages and acting as a traveling frog, he even made a special trip to the Luoyang Imperial Palace to observe the court meeting that the emperor had convened specifically for the purpose of flood control.

just,

Managing the Yellow River was no easy task, even for the Han Dynasty, which had been recuperating for decades.

The torrents unleashed during Wang Mang's era, carrying with them silt and gravel accumulated over two centuries since the Former Han Dynasty, flooded most of the lower reaches of the Yellow River, starting from Yuancheng.

Today,

The problem has only grown bigger and bigger over time, just like the initial slit that lets in light, which gradually widens and expands as light continues to pass through.

Land that has been flooded for a long time is not easy to cultivate.

The water, flowing freely, cannot be easily restrained and returned to its course.

This means that repairing the Yellow River will require a great deal of time, effort, and resources.

Can the national treasury of the Han Dynasty bear such a heavy responsibility?
For that so-called future,

Is it really necessary to expend such enormous effort from our predecessors to fill the dam that has collapsed for many years?

"The problem is right in front of us, how can we not solve it?"

Facing the concerns of his ministers, the young and valiant emperor replied calmly and firmly:
"In prosperous times, the population grows."

"Even if the land can still be cultivated today, where will the people who rely on farming plant their seedlings generations from now?"

His gaze swept over the many officials in the hall, his mind filled with thoughts of the amount of land owned by powerful families and clans that had been counted when the fields of the empire were surveyed.

The late emperor was the founder of the nation.
These people still have the habit of enclosing land and engaging in horse racing.
What about under his rule?
What about under the rule of his descendants?

The emperor was a man of long-term vision and ambition.
His innate talent and the education he received did not allow him to be like some of the ministers before him, complacent and enjoying a peaceful life without caring about the raging flood after his death.

For the royal family, this rare warmth of family also softened the emperor's heart.

of course,

This is for the benefit of all people.

Before his ministers, local powerful figures, and even his own descendants who would one day inherit the Han dynasty,

The emperor will only become the most severe ruler and father.

therefore,

Despite the advice of his ministers, the emperor resolutely implemented his decrees.

He demanded that the Grand Minister of Works, whose power had been weakened but who was still in charge of national construction, first select talented individuals to dredge and clear the waterways east of Luoyang.

Once enough experience has been accumulated,

When we look back at Wang Mang, we find the Jing River that was blocked.

Ultimately, we will use our richest experience, our fullest energy, and our most outstanding talents to face the overflowing Yellow River.

He wanted to create a vast, peaceful, and fertile land, just as the Qin state built the Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Shu during the Warring States period, using the hard work and sweat of a generation.

As for descendants?

He didn't believe in the diligence and wisdom of his descendants!

Therefore, they would never leave existing problems to their descendants to solve!
Wang Yanshi watched with great excitement.

Recalling his experiences before his death, he said with emotion:
"If I had met such a wise ruler, the dikes wouldn't have been breached by the flood that year, would they?"

He Bo said, "What's the point of patching up old buildings?"

"Steel will decay, and even stubborn rocks will be eroded by time... No matter how tall and sturdy something is, it will eventually collapse."

"It would be better to completely demolish the old one and build a new one!"

Wang Yanshi said, "But radical destruction and reconstruction always bring great harm."

Houses will collapse, farmland will be flooded, and people will die.

He Bo did not respond to this.

Shang Yang, who was standing beside him, snorted, "If you can't bear to part with the bottles and jars at home and worry about the hardships ahead, how can you possibly embark on a bright future?"

"The truth has always been clear, and the right path is presented before us without any obstacles. If we are unwilling to endure hardship and suffering, and unwilling to let go of our burdens, we will never reach the destination!"

Wang Yanshi didn't know why God had brought Shang Yang with him this time, but he wisely shrank back and dared not argue with him.

Besides the sages such as Meng, Zhuang, and Xun,
Who can outdo Shang Yang, who divided the land into five equal parts?

He simply told He Bo, "Be vigilant at all times and make repairs every month; you can always prevent cracks from appearing."

"People on both sides of the strait can provide assistance. Once a problem is discovered, just report it to the imperial court!"

This time,

He Bo finally laughed out loud.

The Book of Documents says, "Heaven sees as my people see, Heaven hears as my people hear." But over a thousand years later, how many people can still do this?

"You've been to the Yan Kingdom in the north, haven't you? Can't you distinguish between ideals and reality?"

but,

He Bo still prefers these stubborn guys with ideals and aspirations.

Even if human nature dictates that the brilliance of dreams is fleeting,
But that brief, dazzling brilliance still caught God's attention.

"You should continue to serve as emergency food with Wang Jing!"

"I'm going to take Shang Yang to Xinxia to meet the Legalist descendants who have appeared there!"

God patted Wang Yanshi on the shoulder, then turned and left with Shang Jun.

Wang Yanshi remained where he was, lost in thought.
God previously called him a "frog," so how did he become "food"?

This……

Eating frogs can easily make you sick!
Was he implying that Wang Jing would soon suffer from an epidemic?

……

Regarding Wang Yanshi's thoughts,

He Bo didn't care.

He simply remarked to Shang Yang, "I never imagined that your whip technique would be revived in the Sui Dynasty after so many years."

After the crown prince was sent to a remote area for training by his father against the wishes of others...
Besides understanding the people's conditions and honing their own abilities, they also inevitably had to gather talents from all over the world to help them.

But there are too many people who stand idly by and engage in idle talk.

Morality alone is insufficient to achieve his goal of resisting the State of Qi and revitalizing the nation.

At last,
Disheartened, Sui Jian climbed a green mountain and relaxed in a Taoist temple there.

Because of his father's Taoist practice and reclusive lifestyle, Sui Jian had little interest in the Taoist concept of carefree living.
As the crown prince, he was even more unwilling to accept the Taiping Jing, the foundational text of the Taiping Dao.

But I have to admit,

The places where the Taoist priests chose to cultivate themselves were quite scenic.

Occasionally going there for a visit can be very effective in relieving one's inner turmoil.

During Sui Jian's unintentional relaxation, a Taoist priest who claimed to have profound knowledge and could help His Highness the Crown Prince realize his dream came to him.

Sui Jian was initially somewhat annoyed by this.

After all, during this period of time,

Having heard the news that the Crown Prince was seeking talented individuals, far too many people who volunteered themselves came, yet none of them seemed to have any real ability.

Sui Jian felt that talking to them was a waste of his time.

After further investigation, he learned that some of the visitors were from powerful and influential families, which made Sui Jian even more ashamed and angry.

The powerful families who were already content with the status quo
They do not want a monarch who can cause trouble. Therefore,
They chose to intervene and stop the hot-blooded young prince, wanting to make him realize through various means that the wickedness of people's hearts cannot be swept away by momentary youthful stubbornness.

The Sui Dynasty's empire,
Without the assistance of these diligent and conscientious ministers, such stability would not have been possible!

The young Sui Jian was indeed disgusted by such methods.

He was one of the emperor's rare, robust sons, and no one dared to fundamentally solve the problems brought about by the crown prince.

But youth will eventually fade.
There will always come a time when the youthful vigor in one's heart is replaced by melancholy.
All they need to do is help young people smooth out their rough edges and come to a clearer understanding of reality.

Fortunately,

He persevered.

He still received the Taoist priest, who was very likely instructed by others to come and harass him.

"sit!"

Upon meeting, Sui Jian, seated in a high position, casually spoke to the equally young Taoist.

Then he said to his servant, "Tea."

His words were concise, his expression calm, showing no sign of eagerness to recruit talent.

But the Taoist priest didn't take it to heart. He simply sat down, drank tea, and began to share his knowledge and ideas with the prince.

After listening to a passage, Sui Jian's expression changed slightly. He realized that the other party was indeed very talented, so he stood up and bowed to him to make up for his previous disrespect.

"Please take a seat!"

Then he said to his servant, "Serve tea!"

As the sun set, Sui Jian felt even more relaxed and refreshed, as if he had drunk fine wine and was floating on air.

So he took the Taoist's hand and said very warmly, "Please take a seat!"

He instructed the servant, "Bring the best tea!"

The Taoist priest was also amused by the Sui Dynasty Crown Prince's phased feedback and burst into laughter.

Sui Jian first apologized, feeling embarrassed, and then laughed along.

He said to the Taoist priest, “I have heard that when Duke Xiao of Qin met Lord Shang, he lay down first and then got up, which is why he was able to meet him amidst the green mountains and pine trees.”

“Now that you are instructing me with Legalist teachings, and I am reacting in the same way, isn’t this just a reenactment of the stories of the ancient sages?”

"Please come down the mountain with me and help me achieve my great cause!"

Although the person in front of me was wearing a Taoist robe, he was not a true Taoist in essence.

According to his own account, he developed the habit of wearing Taoist robes simply because he was raised by a Taoist priest.

In any case, the summer heat is intense, and everyone is used to wearing loose and light clothing. The Taoist priests' flowing and simple robes are exactly what people want.

"Although I have been studying Taoism since childhood, my teachers believed that I lacked the wisdom to cultivate myself, so they sent me to a school at the foot of the mountain to study the classics of Confucianism and Mohism and learn the principles of benevolence, righteousness and universal love."

After studying for several years, he still did not understand the true meaning of the ancient sages, so he went out to study, intending to enlighten his dull mind through practical investigation.

Having witnessed the Sui people's complacency and heard much news from the Qi state, and having learned about many things outside of the Xinxia state through the maritime trade routes with the Qi state, he developed a deep dissatisfaction with the current state of the Sui state.
The descendants of the Dragon-Hunting Clan still rule over the giant dragons of the Central Plains, standing proudly between heaven and earth;
Although the warhorses raised by Ying Qin had lost their reins, they still trampled the lands of Taixi and Zhongnan.

The robes and etiquette of the Chinese people, even in the distant Yinzhou, were like the warm sunshine of spring, attracting barbarians to submit.

Jiang Taigong's descendants were no longer content with fishing by the river; they traveled day and night to the sea, chasing the endless waves...

How could the descendants of Zao Fu, who once drove the chariot for the emperor, let go of the long whip in their hands and allow the steeds pulling the chariot to stop moving forward?
The legacy established by our ancestors has been handed over to our generation. Are we just to let them lie on the ground and squander it all?
This is unacceptable!

then,

This young man named Daoyan then turned to studying the art of governing a powerful nation. He believed that, given the local conditions of the new Xia, only by driving horses like a groom could the lazy people be forced to pull the chariot called "the nation" forward, so as not to be left behind by their fellow countrymen.

The Wu Kingdom in the South Seas, relying on its isolation by the sea, was unlikely to face external threats no matter how peacefully it remained.

But to the west of Xinxia, ​​the State of Qi is eyeing the land with predatory intent;

To the east of Xinxia lies the powerful state of Yingyue.

If they relax their guard, they will face the danger of national subjugation!

Dao Yan truly couldn't understand why the officials in the court could remain so calm even though the flames had already spread to their buttocks, as if their heads and lower bodies were separated.

Fortunately,

The Crown Prince was not a lazy person.

Daoyan believed that with his assistance, the crown prince, after ascending the throne, would surely be able to guide the Sui dynasty's chariot toward a new journey!
The supernatural beings of Xinxia, ​​who were just watching the spectacle, learned of this chance encounter and pondered, fiddling with the coconut-filled bun in their hands:
"Ok?"

"Didn't the original body mention that Duke Xiao of Qin and Shang Yang were reincarnated?"

This ambition to whip all the beasts of the world is exactly the same as Shang Yang's when he was young!
He Bo was also very surprised when he heard about this.

He reached out and grabbed Shang Yang, inviting him to Xinxia to see his school of thought, which was many generations removed from his own.

Although it's unclear how someone raised in a Taoist temple and educated in a Confucian academy could have become a Legalist,

However, if the other party can truly achieve what they want to do, it would be very good for the Sui Kingdom.

Because of the heat, I dislike exercising outdoors.
This is understandable.

Laziness can be addictive, and once you get used to it, it's very difficult to change.

How can you say that it's wrong to occasionally give a little encouragement and help lazy pigs lose weight?
Roll,

It's better to roll more!
……

"From this perspective, the history of the Sui Dynasty will add even more color to the reign of this monarch."

When Crown Prince Sui Jian gained Dao Yan's assistance and resolved to truly establish himself as a legitimate ruler, free from the constraints of others, and to navigate this path smoothly...
News came that his father was ill.

No matter how much an aging emperor practices health preservation, he cannot stop the passage of time.

But this monarch, who was living in seclusion, did not grieve because of his old age.

Looking back on his life, his only regret was that he was "forced to become the ruler of a country due to the cruel twist of fate."

"I don't think I did a good job."

The elderly emperor said to the crown prince, who had rushed back:
“I am truly not suited to be a monarch, and I am often filled with fear of the heavy responsibility of bearing the burden of all people.”

Since we can't afford it,

They should not enjoy the offerings of the people.

Therefore,
Throughout his long reign, he refused to build himself a mausoleum, only hoping that after his death he could be reburied in his original fiefdom and enjoy a corner of yellow earth.

"Fortunately, you can make up for my incompetence, allowing me to meet my ancestors instead of covering my face and prostrating myself on the ground, too ashamed to acknowledge them."

"I had the Ministry of Finance allocate the funds for the construction of the mausoleum to the Imperial Treasury a long time ago, intending to hand them over to you for reform and use."

No matter how much the emperor sought spiritual cultivation, he still understood the principle that "doing things requires both people and money."

During his years in office,
The salaries and rewards that should be given to the officials are never in arrears.
They were also willing to save some money to prepare for future generations.

"This is the only thing I can do for you."

The prince sadly grasped his father's hand, feeling it gradually grow cold.

that's it,
After a long period of internal strife and laissez-faire governance, the Sui Dynasty welcomed a new, energetic monarch.

same year,

The mother of the Great Teacher of the West also ended her long life, following in the footsteps of her husband who had passed away many years earlier.

Her son received God's blessing and quickly returned to his hometown by land and water. After seeing her one last time, he tidied her appearance and held a funeral for her.

When the Great Teacher passed through Rome...
On the Roman peninsula,
The bustling city of Niapolis was hit by a powerful earthquake.

Having been influenced by the Chinese culture and having some understanding of the concept of "interaction between heaven and man," the reigning Augustus, upon hearing of this event, invited the Great Teacher to the capital to explain to him the omens implied by the earthquake.

(End of this chapter)