He changed Tiwat

Han Fulai was inexplicably thinking that if he weren't indispensable on the levee, he should really go and help Ke Qing... cool down? That's a medical procedure, right?

Just then, another person came running over from afar, shouting, "Commander-in-Chief Han, something's happened!"

Jing Cheng was also startled when he heard the voice. "Is that Jing Yuan?"

Jing Yuan is Jing Cheng's younger brother. They both serve in the military and he is a messenger in another squad.

Messengers were supposed to be on horseback, but Liyue had recently experienced torrential rains, making the riverbanks incredibly muddy. Horses would get stuck in the mud and their hooves would sink in. Some horses broke their legs, and even worse were the messengers on horseback; many had their hands or legs broken by being crushed. Eventually, the army was required to march on foot.

The soldiers of the Qianyan Army wore the same boots. Including Han Fulai, everyone was barefoot on the dike. At least they wouldn't be in danger because their shoes would get stuck in the mud, and they could run faster... As for foot injuries, nobody cared about that now.

In fact, even in modern societies where mechanization has long been achieved, soldiers still march on foot, carrying loads by hand, up the dikes during flood prevention and control, simply because of the inconvenience of transportation. The muddy ground after a heavy rain is truly impassable for vehicles.

Jing Yuan ran up to the two of them and shouted, "A 'bubbling spring' has appeared behind the No. 2 dike!"

Upon hearing this, Han Fulai's earlier embarrassment vanished completely. His expression turned serious, and he gave the order: "Jingyuan, come with me first. Jingcheng, go and tell the reserve team below to carry the soybean sacks and follow! Quickly!"

"Yes, sir!" The two Jing brothers quickly saluted.

For ease of management, all the dikes at Guiliyuan were numbered. The No. 2 dike that Jingyuan mentioned is located on the northwest side of Guiliyuan and is a crucial dike directly facing the impact of floods.

Precisely because of its importance, Han Fulai worked tirelessly yesterday to reinforce this section of the embankment into a concrete structure.

Although the dam is stronger than before, it does not mean that other problems will not arise.

For example, "piping".

The "bubbling spring" that Jingyuan just mentioned is the common name for this phenomenon in Liyue. There is also a name for it called "sand-blowing and water-drumming," which refers to the same thing.

According to the theoretical explanation from the Fontainebleau Academy of Sciences, the cause of this phenomenon is called "osmosis".

Simply put, even the strongest dam is built on land, and land is not dense concrete; it is permeable to water.

Floods not only impact the dikes, but also soak the soil beneath them. Even stones can be worn away by water dripping, let alone soil, which is inherently porous. Therefore, water will seep into the soil layer beneath the dikes.

Generally, the top layer of soil, or foundation, of a dam is compacted to prevent water seepage and collapse. The dams built by Han Fulai and his team have foundations backfilled with relatively sturdy materials, and so far there haven't been any problems.

However, due to the tight construction schedule, they were unable to dig the foundation deeper, and the soil beneath the foundation was still the original soil, which had not been modified. The soil is layered, with a layer of silt and clay beneath the foundation, followed by a layer of fine sand and gravel, etc.

"Piping" occurs when floodwaters seep into the underlying layers of fine sand and gravel. The water flows through these pores, then seeks out weak points and emerges behind a dam. During this process, the water's velocity increases within the soil pores, eroding and carrying away many tiny soil particles, further weakening the soil layer. The outlet where the water emerges from the surface then bubbles out like a hot spring, hence the name "bubbling spring."

The gushing water outlet that Han Fulai is looking at now is three or four meters wide, and it is gushing out water bubbles carrying a lot of mud and sand. Large sand dunes have formed around the gushing water outlet.

This is a very serious case of piping.

If not addressed and filled in time, the breach will gradually enlarge as the floodwaters rise and erode the dam. The more silt carried out by the breach, the more vulnerable the base of the dam will become, greatly increasing the risk of breach and collapse.

To put it more vividly, "piping" is like a treasure-hunting weasel digging a hole; it looks like a hole on the surface, but underground it's riddled with holes.

Fortunately, the people of Liyue have accumulated experience in dealing with floods over the past three thousand years, and they have a mature plan for how to contain "piping".

Before Han Fulai arrived, the soldiers stationed at the No. 2 dike had already built a high ring of sandbags around the seepage point, making it look like a well.

This essentially turns the piping outlet into a "reservoir," allowing floodwaters seeping from the ground to remain in this reservoir.

The principle is actually very simple: "reduce the water level difference".

—Because water flows downhill.

Whether it's floodwater or water seeping from underground, it all flows from high to low.

The Biyue River cannot flood Wangshu Inn because Wangshu Inn is built high up, and the water will not climb up the tree trunks.

The Bishui River will submerge Guili Plain because the terrain of Guili Plain is lower than the current water level of the Bishui River.

The purpose of the "reservoir" is to raise the water level in the gushing area to reduce the water level difference between the inside and outside of the dike, thereby reducing seepage pressure and preventing the foundation from being hollowed out. If the water level is even, it will naturally stop flowing, and the danger will not continue to expand.

The key is that the walls made of sandbags must not continue to leak, otherwise all the previous efforts will be in vain.

Without saying a word, Han Fulai stepped forward and touched the sandbags used to surround the piping opening. The sandbags quickly changed shape, turning into a concrete wall—thus, the "reservoir" was completely completed.

He bent down, pretending to observe the seepage point, and secretly caught his breath against the concrete wall, making sure the soldiers didn't notice. He was already exhausted; if he could, he wanted to go back to the camp and lie down, promising he wouldn't get up until he slept for a full day and night.

Unfortunately, anyone can fall now, but he cannot.

At this moment, Jing Cheng arrived at the scene with his reserve team, carrying sacks of soybeans.

Han Fulai straightened up, still with that composed and commanding demeanor: "Start pouring in soybeans to block the gushing water."

Following instructions, Jing Cheng and the others began to systematically pour soybeans into the "reservoir".

These soybeans were urgently requisitioned from the Liyue Harbor market a couple of days ago, and now there are already over ten tons piled up at the Guiliyuan construction site. Compared to free sand, soybeans seem less economical—after all, they are agricultural products grown by farmers with great effort. However, when it comes to dealing with water seepage, soybeans have a wonderful use that sand cannot.

Compared to sandbags, these soybeans, which expand when wet, are more effective at dealing with piping.

The expanded soybeans not only compress and compact the soil, blocking leaks, but also help raise the water level in the "reservoir," reducing the seepage pressure inside and outside the dam and significantly reducing the likelihood of dam breaches.

While Jing Cheng and the others were working, Han Fulai was not idle either. He led Jing Yuan and a group of Qianyan Army soldiers stationed on the embankment onto the embankment.

“The appearance of such a large piping opening indicates that there is also a huge seepage point on the outside of the dike. We must plug that gap,” Han Fulai said to Jing Yuan.

You can't find the seepage point on the outside of the dam by standing on the dry bank; you have to go into the water.

Jing Yuan nodded silently and handed him a piece of rope.

This young man, who had only been in the army for a year, had already gone into the water to plug the breach before. In just three days, he had already developed the bearing of a veteran. The trials of life and death had allowed the young soldier to grow up rapidly.

This wasn't Han Fulai's first time in the water either.

He tied the rope around his waist and fastened it tightly.

The dozen or so Thousand Rock Army soldiers around him did the same thing.

More than a dozen people were linked together by a safety rope.

Then they bent down at the same time, picked up the sandbags piled on the embankment, and hugged them tightly.

Han Fulai looked around. The soldiers' eyes were equally resolute. Facing the raging flood, they showed no fear.

"Attention, squad! Jump!"

Upon receiving the order, he was the first to leap into the river.

Chapter 369 Help Me, Master Divine Lord [4k]

As the saying goes, "What you learn from books is never enough; you must put it into practice to truly understand." Han Fulai only realized how terrifying floods were after participating in the flood control work in Guiliyuan.

He had never been deeply moved by the reports on television and in newspapers of soldiers jumping into the water to fight the floods, but only after experiencing it firsthand did he realize what kind of warriors those soldiers were.

The Bishui River during the flood season can only be described with one word: "fierce".

Whether it's a sandbag or a rock, it will be washed away in just a few seconds after being thrown into the water.

Throwing sandbags into the river from the bank is pointless. Not only is it difficult to find the right spot, but even if you do, the sandbags won't fill the intended place. The only way to seal the underwater breach is by human intervention.

But people can also be swept away by the river.

So, the dozen or so of them tied themselves together with ropes, which were then secured to the riverbank. This allowed them to barely move in the swift current, and even if someone was swept away, they could be pulled back with the ropes. Even so, it was still very dangerous. No one knew if the ropes would suddenly break, and if they did, those who had gone into the water would surely perish.

Being in the river, one can only feel truly adrift, one's fate almost entirely tied to a thin rope. People talk about "floods and ferocious beasts," but how can ferocious beasts compare to floods?

Faced with the immense power of nature, humans always seem so powerless and insignificant.

However, human history is essentially a history of struggle against nature, and united humanity has always possessed the heroic spirit to fight against the heavens and the earth.

At least the battle against the first two flood peaks was a victory for humanity.

Including the previous two days, this should be the fourth time Han Fulai has led a team into the water, and his experience in rescue operations can be described as rich.

In fact, his swimming skills are really just average. He learned some swimming techniques from playing in the river on the outskirts of the county when he was a child. He can swim a couple of laps in a swimming pool without any problem, but if he were put in a fast-flowing current, he would barely be able to protect himself.

Moreover, the inheritances he possesses, whether from the rock god or the salt god, have nothing to do with swimming.

If I had to describe it, his approach to flood control would be like Zhongli's "Heavenly Movement" technique, smashing a petrified dam into the Biyue River... Unfortunately, he can't do that now.

With that debuff that keeps draining his mana, not to mention the Heavenly Manifestation, even the Jade Shield's durability has dropped to its lowest point. In terms of pure combat power, he has probably returned to the level before he inherited the remnants of the Salt God.

However, even though he wasn't a good swimmer, Han Fulai's role in the water was irreplaceable, which was why he wanted to lead the team into the water.

He activated the Jade Shield the moment he entered the water.

The Jade Shield is formed from celestial power; it is essentially a pure energy spell, not a creation and lacking physical mass, so it cannot be used to block water flow. In the Jade Shield's mechanics, water flow not formed by elemental attacks seems to be considered an attack—just like in the game. Swimming with the Jade Shield active will still result in drowning, and you will still be "wet."

But having a shield up can at least protect you from stones or broken branches hitting your head in the water. Getting knocked unconscious in the water could be fatal.

On the other hand, the gleaming golden shield was quite conspicuous underwater, serving as a large beacon. The river water was filled with silt, making underwater visibility impossible, but the Thousand Rock Army soldiers who followed him underwater swam towards the Jade Shield to avoid getting lost.

Yes, they're going diving.

The piping breach is located below the foundation of the dam, so naturally, one has to look underwater to find it.

The section of the No. 2 dike they were on had water depths of over three meters. Although not as deep as the middle of the river, it was still deep enough to drown a person.

The sandbags they carried, weighing dozens of kilograms, served not only to plug the gaps but also to add weight, much like the weight belts worn by divers. Without these, it would be impossible to dive to the bottom, as one would easily become disoriented by the current.

Under normal circumstances, diving wouldn't be too difficult. Most of the soldiers who went into the water, including Jing Yuan, were excellent swimmers, many from fishing families, and were considered "swimming prodigies." But in this raging flood, no matter how skilled a swimmer you were, it was useless.

Since Liyue lacks Fontaine's diving equipment, the Thousand Rock soldiers are all diving on their own, holding their breath. A few days ago, a Thousand Rock soldier who was originally a fisherman volunteered to dive alone to find a piping opening, relying on his good swimming skills, but he almost never came back.

Not only is visibility poor in the murky river, but there are also dangerous undercurrents. If a person dives down from the west and is swept away by the current, they may not resurface until they are far to the east. If they are swept away by the current and cannot catch their breath, they may never be able to surface again.

In this situation, the effectiveness of Han Fulai's jade shield became apparent.

It was as if he carried a high-powered searchlight with him, providing illumination even in murky water. Although visibility was low, it was still much better than being completely in the dark. With Han Fulai, this large searchlight, locating the seepage point became much easier.

During the rainy season, it's rare to see the sun. Even when the rain stops, the sky is often dark, which is reflected underwater as complete darkness.

In fact, even if there were sunlight, it probably wouldn't be able to reach the bottom of the water.

Without a light source, they had to slowly grope their way to the crack in the riverbed in complete darkness—the chances of finding the crack blindfolded and groping around with their hands and feet under a dam hundreds of meters long were about the same as winning the lottery.

Moreover, blindly searching in the water can easily lead to going astray, and if it takes too long, the oxygen will be depleted, forcing the dam to surface. Such search operations often take a long time, and there is no guarantee of finding the location. The longer the search goes on, the greater the risk of the dam collapsing.

Fortunately, the light from the jade shield allowed Han Fulai to see things within a few meters in front of him, so he didn't have to blindly grope around underwater.

After diving to the bottom, Han Fulai opened his eyes a crack and began to search for the location of the piping outlet.

Opening your eyes in the water is actually very uncomfortable, and the mud and sand mixed in the river water make your eyes hurt even more, but being able to see is better than not being able to see.

The soldiers, who were tied to him with ropes, lined up underwater, using the location of the light from his jade shield as the starting point to delineate an area for orderly inspection. This greatly shortened the inspection time and prevented much wasted effort.

Han Fulai was very lucky this time. The damn crack was only about twenty meters away from where he entered the water. He found the spot after searching along the bottom of the embankment for only half a minute.

The crack is nearly a meter long and appears to be expanding. Approaching it, you can feel the powerful suction of the water. If this crack continues to expand, it will likely form a whirlpool, like a drain in a swimming pool. At that point, anyone who gets close could easily be sucked in by the water pressure and suffocate underwater.

Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and the crack was not too serious.

Han Fulai grabbed the rope around his waist and tugged it three times, a sign that he had discovered a tear.

In a world without underwater radios, divers usually communicate using hand gestures. But with such low visibility underwater, hand gestures are no longer effective, so this most primitive method of communication is the only option.

Jingyuan, who was tied to him with a rope, received the signal and pulled the rope three times. The next soldier did the same, and so on, until everyone gathered around him.

Soon, more than a dozen Thousand Rock Army soldiers surrounded the crack and put down the sandbags they were carrying.

While battling the undercurrents, the soldiers hurriedly piled sandbags across the crack, forming a sandbag wall. Then, one by one, those who had put down the sandbags would surface for air—multiple people went into the water mainly to check the crack and pass the sandbags; the crack wasn't very large, and too many people wouldn't be able to stand in it.

Soon, only Han Fulai and Jing Yuan, who were closest to the crack, remained at the bottom of the water. They were responsible for sealing the crack tightly.

Of all those who went into the water, Jing Cheng was naturally the most nervous. He stood on the embankment, anxiously watching, because his own brother was underwater.

Seeing the soldiers popping their heads up one by one, but not seeing Jing Yuan and Han Fulai, Jing Cheng quickly inquired about the situation underwater.

The first soldier to emerge recognized Jing Cheng and knew he was worried about his younger brother's condition. He wiped his face and smiled at him, "Don't worry, Jing, we've found the breach. Your little Jing is finishing up with Commander Han and will be out soon."

Hearing him say that, Jing Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his eyes remained fixed on the water, as if he wanted to see through it.

Beneath the water's surface, which Jing Cheng couldn't see clearly, Han Fulai and Jing Yuan were diligently repairing the sandbag wall.

Although Han Fulai wasn't a great swimmer, he was, after all, a person possessing immortal power and remnants of a demon god, making his physique quite outstanding, with a lung capacity significantly greater than the average person. While he hadn't reached the level of the "turtle breathing technique" described in martial arts novels, he could still hold his breath and move around underwater for several minutes without any problem.

Although Jing Yuan's physique is not as good as that of a player with cheat codes like Han Fulai, he is still a strong young man from a fishing family and moves quite freely in the water.

With their combined efforts, the two finally managed to completely seal the sandbag wall at the crack.

Just when everything was about to be completed, an unexpected incident occurred.

It's unclear whether the crack had been soaked in water for too long and its structure was already very fragile, or whether the sudden construction of the sandbag wall changed the pressure inside and outside the crack—with a muffled "crack," the piping suddenly expanded by more than half a meter, and the soil layer above the crack collapsed at the same time!

Piping point collapses!

This is one of the worst situations you can encounter underwater.

Jingyuan, who was closest to the crack, suddenly saw the sandbag wall he had built collapsing into the crack, as if it had been pushed in by something. Jingyuan didn't realize what was happening. He even reached out to hold onto the sandbag wall when a stream of water rushed up his back, pushing him into the widening crack.

This is a vortex caused by the sudden expansion of the piping outlet.

In an instant, Jingyuan's left hand and shoulder were sucked into the rift.