Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Just as the pressure on the clinic was easing, Han Lie came knocking again, this time for water.

"Your Highness, the wheat is growing well this spring, but the snowmelt is late this year and the water level of the Baishui River is low. I'm afraid the thousands of acres of newly reclaimed fields south of the city will not be able to be irrigated."

Han Lie unfolded a simple map of the irrigation canals, pointing to the few dry lines on it, "Relying on manpower to carry water is just a drop in the ocean. If we don't find a solution, the harvest will be reduced by 30% when the spring drought comes."

Xiao Chen looked at the map, his gaze falling on the winding Baishui River.

Rivers are lifelines, but how to get water to higher ground for farmland has always been a problem.

Human and animal power are both limited, resulting in low efficiency.

He remembered the ancient tools he had seen in a museum in his previous life.

"Old Han, have you ever seen a waterwheel?" Xiao Chen asked.

"A waterwheel?"

Han Lie was taken aback, then shook his head. "I've only ever heard of those large wheels in the great rivers of the south, propelled by the current, used for pounding rice and grinding flour. Our northern border has swift currents and shallow banks, I'm afraid... we can't use them, can we?"

"Not that kind."

Xiao Chen walked to the table, picked up a charcoal pencil, and quickly sketched on the paper. "I'm talking about 'overturning cart,' also called 'dragon bone waterwheel.'"

The wooden planks are made into grooves, connected into a chain, and then fitted onto the gears.

One end is placed in the river, and the other end is placed on a high point on the bank. By using human or animal power to pedal, the chain is turned, which lifts the water from the lower to the higher point.

He explained as he drew.

Han Lie was initially bewildered, but his eyes gradually lit up. He leaned closer to the blueprints, his fingers trembling as he pointed at the lines: "Brilliant! Your Highness! This...this ingenious mechanism! If it were made, it could be used not only for irrigating fields, but also for building irrigation canals, and even for drainage in mines!"

"That's the principle. As for the specific dimensions, materials, and how to make it labor-saving and durable, that's up to your manufacturing department to test."

Xiao Chen put down his charcoal pencil. "Let's make a small one first, right by the Baishui River, in a place with a gentle slope and a steady current. Use hardwood as the material, and wrap the crucial hinge with iron. Find a few clever craftsmen, and I'll explain the key points to them."

"Yes! I'll take care of it right away!" Han Lie was overjoyed and ran off with the blueprints in his arms.

The manufacturing company quickly sprang into action.

The blacksmith Ou selected several skilled and quick-thinking old carpenters, who studied Xiao Chen's sketches for three days and then spent half a day by the river to compare them in person. Finally, they finalized the size and structure of the first prototype.

Ten days later, a somewhat crude but structurally complete dragon-bone waterwheel stood on a gentle bank of the Baishui River.

A long wooden trough extends diagonally from the river surface to a three-zhang-high earthen slope on the bank, with wooden chain plates linked together and fitted onto a huge wooden gear.

Long pedals extend from both sides of the gear, resembling two giant ears.

The news spread like wildfire, and many civilians and soldiers on leave came to watch, pointing and gossiping about the strange, large creature.

"Can this thing really bring water up?"

"I doubt it. It's made of wood; wouldn't it fall apart after a couple of stomps?"

"Anything the prince produces is bound to be excellent! Just wait and see."

Xiao Chen also arrived at the scene. He inspected the key mortise and tenon joints and the iron-clad pivots, then nodded: "Let's begin."

Two burly soldiers took off their shirts, stood bare-chested on the pedals, took a deep breath, and began to pedal.

"Crunch—crunch—"

At first, it was a little stiff, but as the gears turned, the chain plate began to move slowly.

River water was continuously scooped into the bucket at the bottom of the wooden trough. As the chain plate lifted, it poured into the diversion channel above and flowed along the newly dug earthen canal to the experimental field that had been specially reserved next to it.

"Water is coming out! Water is really coming out!" the onlookers exclaimed in surprise.

Although the water flow was not large, it was continuous and quickly moistened a small patch of parched land.

"We succeeded!" The blacksmith and several carpenters were so excited that their faces turned red.

Xiao Chen smiled, but he observed more closely: "The pedals are still too heavy; it's difficult for two people to pedal them. The gear ratio could be adjusted to make it easier. The joints between the wooden planks of the chain plate need to be tighter; there's too much leakage. The slope of the drainage channel needs to be adjusted to reduce water loss. Also, this wood is prone to rot if soaked in water for too long; we need to find a way to treat it with preservatives..."

He pointed out improvements one by one, and the blacksmith quickly took notes with his charcoal pencil and notebook.

For the next two weeks, the engineer practically lived by the river.

The second and third waterwheels were built one after another, each one lighter, less labor-intensive, and more durable than the previous one.

The gears were made smaller, the pedals were lengthened, and hemp rope and tung oil were added to seal the joints of the chain plates. The key wooden parts were charred to prevent corrosion, and they even tried using livestock to pull the turntable instead of human power.

The final waterwheel design required only a strong ox or two adults to easily lift the river water three to five zhang (approximately 10-15 meters) high, running day and night, enough to irrigate hundreds of acres of fertile land.

"Your Highness, it's done! It's really done!"

Han Lie looked at the five waterwheels running side by side in front of him, and tears streamed down his face.

The pristine river water is continuously pumped ashore, flowing along the newly dug main canal and the spiderweb-like branch canals to vast fields of farmland awaiting irrigation.

"With this, our fields in Hanyuan will no longer have to rely on the heavens for sustenance!"

"It's not just about irrigating fields."

Xiao Chen pointed towards the distant direction of the mines, where the clanging sounds could be faintly heard. "That area is low-lying and prone to flooding, which hinders mining. Building a few large waterwheels can drain the water from the mine pits. Also, in the city, although wells have been dug, water can be drawn from the White Water River when there is a shortage."

"Your Highness has considered everything carefully!"

Han Lie nodded repeatedly, "I'll arrange it right away. First, set up twenty of them along these several thousand acres of new fields south of the city! No, thirty! That will ensure there's not a single drop of water needed for spring irrigation!"

The success of the waterwheel swept across the icy abyss like a whirlwind.

The people were initially curious, then pleasantly surprised, and finally developed genuine support.

If there is water in the fields, the crops can be saved, and there is hope for the future.

The craftsmen from the Bureau of Works became highly sought after, and wherever they went, they were respectfully addressed as "Master," with people asking them to help them see if they could also erect a waterwheel by their fields.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Xiao Chen issued a new decree: the government would provide materials and craftsmen to guide villages and wards in building public waterwheels; farmers with surplus capacity were encouraged to build their own small waterwheels according to the blueprints published by the government, and the government would provide certain subsidies after the waterwheels passed inspection.

For a time, the shouts of craftsmen and the roar of waterwheels could be heard everywhere, inside and outside Hanyuan City and along the banks of the Baishui River.

That day, Xiao Chen stood on the city wall, gazing at the dozens of waterwheels on the distant riverbank that turned slowly like the arms of giants, sending shimmering waves onto the shore, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart.

Water conservancy is the lifeblood of agriculture. With stable irrigation, Hanyuan's grain production will reach a new level.

These roaring waterwheels are not only tools for carrying water, but also symbols of the vitality of the cold abyss.

"Your Highness." Zhao Tie's voice sounded from behind, carrying a hint of urgency that was barely perceptible.

Xiao Chen withdrew his gaze: "Speak."

"Night Owl reports urgently. The Northern Yan envoy has arrived fifty li away and will be able to enter the city tomorrow. The one coming... is none other than the Left Wise King Murong Han himself."

Murong Han came in person?

A glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.

This Left Wise King of Northern Yan was not someone who would easily move away.

His humble arrival must indicate that his intentions are far from insignificant.

"Furthermore," Zhao Tie lowered his voice, "a secret report from Jiangnan states that Yu Qian... has been defeated. Huai'an has fallen, and Yu Qian has led his remaining troops to retreat to Yangzhou. General Cao Bin, the Prince of Yong, is advancing rapidly, his forces aimed directly at Yangzhou. Yu Qian... I'm afraid he won't be able to hold out for much longer."

The roar of the waterwheel still echoed in his ears, but Xiao Chen's heart had already flown to the southern land that was about to be completely swallowed by the flames of war, and to the uninvited warlord in the north.

"understood."

His voice was calm. "Prepare to welcome the Left Wise King of Northern Yan with the highest honors. Also, have Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng come to see me."

"yes!"

The waterwheel brought up life-saving rain, and also the capital for vying for supremacy.

But the wind and rain have intensified.