Tai'an 10th summer solstice, Yingzhou.

In the middle of the night, there was a flash of thunder and lightning in the sky, and the raindrops of beans hit the eaves and the panes, and then flowed down from the eaves, and merged into streams in the streets. It's the flood season again, and there have been dark clouds covering the sun for many days in Henan, and heavy rain is endless.

Feng Che looked at the heavy rain outside the window, frowning, and worried every day. He had just received an order from the ministry and came to Yingzhou from Liuzhou to be the governor, but he encountered such a heavy rainstorm. Yingzhou is located north of Huaishui, and if Huaishui floods, it will be implicated.

Feng Che was worried in his heart, so he put on his cloak early in the morning and took a servant to the embankment. Seeing the heavy rain pouring down and the river rolling, Feng Che's face darkened, and he heard his subordinates report that the river had risen by more than a foot, so his face became even darker.

"How was the flood drained in previous years?" Feng Che had just arrived, and suddenly encountered such a tricky matter, so he had to ask for the previous solution.

"This ......" The official was so anxious that he touched the drops of water on his face, and said embarrassedly, "Although Huaishui has been flooded for ten years and nine times, the lower officials have never seen such ferocity as this year." The last time the levee burst was more than 10 years ago. ”

"That is, you can't do anything about it?" Feng Che asked sharply.

The official hurriedly lowered his head, eager to bury his head in the soil to avoid Lord Feng's aggressive eyes.

Feng Che took a deep breath and said slowly: "Then according to you, how sure are you that you can keep the embankment?" ”

"This, this...... It's hard to say. The man was weeping and mournful, and he didn't know what to ask.

"If this official is not mistaken, this embankment of the East River was only repaired the year before last." Feng Che asked.

The subordinate was speechless, so he could only bow his head and acquiesce. Although it was built the year before last, the officials of the Ministry of Industry cut corners and said that it was solid, in fact, everyone knew in their hearts that once there was a big flood, I am afraid that nine times out of ten, it would be broken.

Feng Che saw the embarrassed and frightened expressions on his subordinates' faces, and knew that it was over. He sighed and said, "It seems that the embankment can't be saved, so let's release the flood." ”

"Leak, leak, flood?" The subordinate officer looked at Feng Che in disbelief with a shocked face, as if he had misheard. Shouldn't it be that the heart is raining too much and his brain is in water, right?

However, Feng Che said with certainty: "Inform everyone to go to the yamen to discuss the flood discharge matter." ”

At the same time, Shao'an, who is far away in the capital, is also paying close attention to the weather in Henan.

The Qintian Prison was looking up at the night sky, and said to Shao An with a heavy expression: "The river, the river, the Huai, and the Ji are the four desecrations. The four blasphemers, the origins of the sea. (1) When the four rivers are cut off by the Jianghuai River, the two rivers occupy the Huyue Zhiji. (2) Since the beginning of summer this year, there has been a lot of rain, four displacements, and major disasters. Shao Xiang was very worried. ”

Shao An's mood became heavier after hearing this, and he said to Qin Tianjian Supervisor: "The matter of the celestial phenomena is still too ethereal, so don't spread this news, so as not to cause unnecessary panic." ”

"Xia Guan knows." The supervisor arched his hand, and then hesitated for a moment, and cautiously asked the prime minister, "But if the saint asks, ......."

Shao An smiled incomprehensibly and said, "When the saint asked, he naturally wanted to say it. What to say, the supervisor should know. ”

"Xia Guan understands." The supervisor said respectfully, got up and sent Shao An out.

The Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, and Jishui, Shao An rubbed his brows, and he had to hurry up and let the local officials prepare in case of accidents.

※※※※※

In the official office of Yingzhou, a group of large and small officials gathered. When they heard that Feng Che actually offered to release the flood, everyone was shocked. Their faces were gloomy, almost like the weather outside, gloomy and about to rain.

Feng Che looked at everyone coldly, and said solemnly: "Breaking the embankment, overflowing the embankment, and discharging the flood, naturally the flood discharge is the best policy. You must all know the actual situation of Dongdi in your heart, and Feng hereby advises you to put the lives of the people first, and don't take chances anymore. ”

Everyone had never seen a straightforward and merciless chief like Feng Che. Everyone was so frightened that they didn't dare to answer, only a young county man muttered weakly: "Perhaps...... The rain stopped in a few days. ”

"What if the rain doesn't stop?" Feng Che's eyes were like torches, staring at the little official who was lucky, and asked sharply, "There have been many pipe surges on the east embankment. If the flood is not discharged, won't the levee be broken? ”

Everyone really panicked, it turned out that the east embankment was already fragile to this kind of field. Once the pipe gushing occurs, as the upstream water level continues to rise, a large amount of water inflows and sand turns over, so that the embankment foundation soil is hollowed out, which will cause the building to collapse, resulting in immeasurable accidents such as embankment bursting and dam collapse.

"Lord Feng, the flood discharge is not a trivial matter, you must ask the emperor's holy decree and get the consent of the above." Another man stood up and said.

Feng Che shook his head, "The matter is urgent, the flood can't wait for people." In the future, if someone is questioned for this, it will be borne by the official alone. ”

At this time, the general judge also raised objections, and he said: "If you want to discharge the flood, dare to ask Lord Feng, where and how?" The owners of the fields on both sides of the Huaishui River are all squires of the country, and they have an inextricable relationship with the people in the officialdom. Can they agree to let us flood out? ”

"yes, yes." As soon as everyone heard the analysis of the judgment, they nodded one after another, and suddenly there was a voice of seconding.

Feng Che slapped the table, stood up and said, "Could it be that in order to protect the fertile land of those high-ranking officials and nobles, you abandoned tens of millions of people?" You should know what happens when the levee bursts. Not only Yingzhou will suffer, but several counties downstream will not be able to escape. ”

Everyone bowed their heads and acquiesced. Feng Che continued: "Now that time is pressing, all the magistrates will go back immediately and inform the people on the edge of Huaishui to withdraw quickly, and it is best to evacuate all within three days." Regardless of the methods you use, the magistrate must persuade the gentry to agree to the flooding. ”

The general judge, the same knowledge and the magistrates are all pale, this task is said to be light, but how can it be done? They had the heart to resist, but when they looked at Lord Feng's face, which was darker than the dark clouds outside, they didn't dare to squeak.

Feng Che finally said: "Since there is no objection, let's disperse." Tomorrow at this time, I will be here waiting for your good news. ”

Everyone: "......"

A few days later, it was still raining, and things were just as Qin Tianjian had predicted, with rain all over the country, and even torrential rain in the south. Disasters from all over the country have spread to the capital, and they are all asking for money and food, and they all want disaster relief. Although Shao An had already asked the household department to prepare money and food, he did not expect that this rainstorm would implicate so many places.

At this time, Zhongshu Province was also in turmoil. Liu Ruqing sorted out the folds from various places and took them to Shao Xiang in the political hall. Today, Liu Ruqing is a celebrity around Shao An, serving Shao An every day, responsible for sorting out the folding documents for Shao Xiang, and can freely enter and leave the political hall.

Shao An picked up a letter and quickly flipped through it, while asking Liu Ruqing, "Where is the disaster concentrated?" ”

"The middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River." Liu Ruqing had already seen all the twists and turns, and reported after analyzing them.

"What is the situation in the Huaishui Basin? Has Henan Province reported the disaster? Shao An wondered. In fact, he is most worried about the flooding.

Liu Ruqing looked at the pile of folds again, and made sure that there was no excerpt from Henan Mansion before replying: "Henan Mansion did not send excerpts." Could it be that Henan Prefecture has already done a good job of prevention, so there is no disaster? ”

"It seems to be Zhao Fuyin over there, he doesn't seem to be a visionary." Shao Anxia also felt a little strange, and instructed Liu Ruqing, "You continue to stare at the house, if there is a twist and turn in Henan Mansion, report it to me immediately." ”

"Xia Guan knows." Liu Ruqing nodded, seeing that Shao An was still worried, he persuaded, "Although there are disasters all over the country, fortunately, the adults have reminded the localities to take precautions in time, and the disaster should not be too serious." Adult peace of mind. ”

"This official is not particularly worried, but there is still a war at the border pass, and I am afraid that the grain and grass in the household department are not enough." Shao An said. In fact, he was most worried about his elder brother Li Hongyi, who said that a few days ago, when the forbidden army was halfway through the march, it suddenly encountered heavy rain for several days, and because of the heavy rain, the road was muddy and difficult to walk, so the speed of the march was suddenly reduced. In addition, there are floods in various places, and the transportation of grain and grass is also a problem. Shao An always felt in his heart that it was unfavorable for our army to go out this time, and Li Hongyi was afraid that he would have to fight a tough battle.

However, the premonition of this kind of thing is always a good spirit, a bad spirit. Li Hongyi's army finally reached Jincheng, but found that the Yellow River was surging, and the small boats that had been prepared before could not cross the turbulent river at all. Although it is the upper reaches of the Yellow River, it is still affected by the rain.

Li Hongyi looked at the river and was depressed, so he could only cut down trees and build boats to cross the river. However, after the ship was built, Xiou didn't know where to go. The forbidden army has been delayed as reinforcements, and I don't know if the local soldiers in the border counties can hold on.

And Xi'ou happened to take advantage of the favorable time and place, and did not go to Yongjing County, but changed the route to Guangwu County halfway, and faced Li Hongyi's army across the river. Ouyang Zhenyu, the king of Xiou, took a good time and waited for the enemy soldiers. However, Li Hongyi was so anxious by the Yellow River that he could not cross the river. On this expedition, the emperor not only asked him to repel the enemy army, but also assigned a special "secret mission" to Li Hongyi.

However, the ideal is very beautiful, but unfortunately in reality, God is not beautiful. Li Hongyi looked at the turbulent river and thought about the "secret mission" given to him by the emperor, and his head hurt even more.

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(1) From: "Erya Shishui". Four profanities, the name of the star official, belong to the well, a total of four stars. The ancients believed that they corresponded to the four great rivers of our country, hence the name. "The river, the river, the Huai, and the economy are the four desecrations. The four blasphemers, the origins of the sea. It explains that the reason why the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, and the Jishui River are the four desecrations is that all four of them flow into the sea.

(2) From: "Astronomical Elephant Fu"