Jin Fuyin, the governor of Anhui, has several extremely capable staff members and has always been quick to do things. After receiving the holy decree, within two months, he cleared the backlog of cases in his hands. He also ordered the two masters to go to Qingjiang to check on Huang first. Huai. At the intersection of the three rivers, it was ready to move the river governor's office from Jining to Qingjiang. When everything was ready, he called his most powerful guest, Feng Zhiren, to come over and play chess. In fact, where did he come from, he was worried about his imminent appointment as governor of the river!

Speaking of which, Jin Fu has loved water conservancy since he was a child. In the tenth year of Kangxi, he was appointed governor of Anhui, which coincided with the diversion of the Yellow River and passed through the border. He tried the way to control water for the first time, and it was quite effective. But if he took over as the governor of the river, Jin Fu was a little uneasy in his heart. The Yellow River goes east from Sanmenxia, the water potential is gentle, to the Huining area because the terrain is more flat, the sediment is deposited, the riverbed is silted higher and higher, looking from afar, like a soil dragon that does not care about the earth and the earth, so it is called "hanging river". Because it is not an easy task to control the river, especially in ancient times, science was not developed, and it was not easy to cure the Yellow River, so no local official wanted to be this unlucky governor of the river. Now that the holy decree has not been issued, Mingzhu's letter has revealed the letter of serving as the governor of the river, so that although Jin Fu has been promoted from the second rank to the first rank and the official position has been promoted, he seems to be a little uncertain.

Feng Zhiren, who was sitting opposite, saw him wandering and knew that he had something on his mind, so he knocked on the chess pieces he ate with both hands without saying a word, rolling his eyes and looking at Jin Fu from time to time. He knew Jin Fu's temperament, so if he didn't ask, this Dong Weng would say it himself sooner or later.

Sure enough, after a while, Jin Fu stretched his brows and said to himself, "What kind of system is it now?" This foreign official is getting more and more difficult to do - the hands are longer and ask for money, and the people scold you for being a thief; If you don't want money, you can't send your boss, and someone in the court will falsely accuse you of being a national thief...... Anyway, it's a thief's name! Alas......"

Feng Zhiren nodded, walked a "high hanging horse", and asked: "My Dong Weng, how much money will I bring to Beijing this time?" ”

Jin Fu didn't understand what he meant, and glanced at him, "Hmm? ”

"I mean, it doesn't help to bring less."

"Bring fifteen thousand." Jin Fu smiled and said, "This time I will also be a corrupt official." When the river workers come down with money, this account will be spent. The river governor is no better than the governor, and I can't afford to fill this hole. Feng Zhiren blinked slyly, "Fifteen thousand!" Jin Fu glanced at him and asked in surprise, "What, isn't it enough?" ”

Feng Zhiren rubbed his hands, smiled casually, and said: "If it's enough, it's not enough, where can I say it clearly!" As long as Zhongcheng has popularity to talk about, there is no need for one. I really don't know what the market of the feudal officials is. My fellow villager Liu Blind donated a fellow acquaintance, donated 30,000 taels of silver, and invested in the door of Mingzhu, with a door bag of 1,700. There were 5,000 hall officials, but it was actually 8,000 in the hands of the Ming minister, and only then did he release a real lack of prefect. Jiangxi Liu Ruben, with 1,500 taels of gold to play a Buddha to send Suo Zhongtang as a birthday gift, the ticket is intended to be awarded Huaixi Salt Road. There is also a cousin of mine, Xu Qiuren, who went to Beijing to seek official status in the moon, and I heard that he brought 50,000 ...... This is actually the same as doing business, the buyer is willing, the seller is willing, the price is the penny, the price is the same, and the child is not deceived! ”

Feng Zhiren said like a river, Jin Fu's face had changed color, he leaned back, and said with a stalk around his neck: "If this is the case, I don't have any son!" I'm such a big official, I can't do that. This ten thousand five is just to buy peace, if it doesn't work, you have to let him be! ”

As he said this, the chief of the door walked in and said, "Zhongcheng, there is a young woman with two children outside, who wants to see Zhongcheng—they are the family members of Lord Li Guangdi—" With that, his lips moved, and he stopped talking. Jin Fu was stunned when he heard this: Li Guangdi and I usually only meet each other, but now that he is an important minister of the state, how can he entrust his wife and children to him, and how can he not even have a letter, and the mother and son will come to the door? He pondered and said, "What are you standing in a daze, please come in!" The chief bowed and agreed: "Yes...... But the three of them...... The slave really doesn't look like a palace member. The garment was torn like a flower, and the shoes were blooming......"

"Huh? Is it? Jin Fu looked at Feng Zhiren a little at a loss. Feng Zhiren glanced at Chang Sui, "You didn't tell her that Master Jin didn't bring his family and was inconvenient to receive, and he was going to leave his post and enter Beijing on the same day?" The chief hurriedly said: "Back to the words of the master, the slave said." She said that it was when she heard that Zhongcheng had entered Beijing, and asked Zhongcheng to read the same dynasty as an official favor, take her mother and son with her, and defect to Master Li, she was entangled in a penny...... "Jin Fu hesitated slightly, sighed and said: "In this case, please come in and meet and talk about it." ”

After a short time, Chang Sui walked in with a young woman dressed in rags. Jin Fu looked at her, she was only twenty-seven or eighteen years old, she was carefully picked, and there were two thin eight-figure eyebrows on her face, although her face was melancholy, but her two eyes flickered and looked very energetic. She held a child in one hand, and without waiting for Jin Fu to speak, she squatted for two thousands of blessings first, then knelt down, and said softly: "Concubine Li Xiuzhi knocked to see Master Jin......"

Jin Fu helped him with his hand and said: "I don't dare to do this, Mrs. Zun, please get up, take a seat, Lord Naked is the son of today's fortunate minister, Jin Fu relies on Zhengduo, how can this be made?" ”

Li Xiuzhi sat down, took the tea handed by the next person, and said with a red face: "If you go back to the adult, this is a matter of course, and the concubine is not a ......good match for the naked land" As he spoke, he handed the tea to the child in his left hand, and said in a trembling voice: "Xingbang, you drink some, and then give it to my younger brother......" The child took the tea and only drank half a sip before handing it to the child in his right hand, and said: "Xingguo, you drink ......" Xingguo was probably very thirsty, and he took it and drank it to the bottom.

Feng Zhiren took a closer look, these two brothers were the same size, the same costume, the same appearance, about seven or eight years old, they looked like twin brothers, and asked, "Under Feng Zhiren." Forgive me for being rude, and I dare not ask Mrs. Li why she has fallen to this point? ”

Xiuzhi's eyes turned red, and she leaned over and said: "Our mother and son sold their property, from Hangzhou to Anxi, Fujian, and traveled thousands of miles to here. I heard that Mr. Jin is about to enter Beijing, and I would like to ask you to take us to Beijing to meet the light...... I can barely hold on, the two children really can't walk......" said him, tears already falling.

"What, is there no one in the Li family in Anxi?" Jin Fu was very surprised.

Xiuzhi sobbed, her sleeves were already wet with tears, and she only kept her voice reserved, "Yes...... They...... They won't confess ......"

"What?" Jin Fu and Feng Zhiren quickly exchanged glances, Li Guangdi's family is a famous family in Fujian, how can it be so unreasonable? Jin Fu pondered for a while, and finally asked, "How old are the two young sons this year, how could they be born in Hangzhou?" ”

"My lord, don't ask. If you suspect that I am pretending to be an official, please punish me; If you believe me, I'll take me to Beijing! If you don't want to bring it, that's it. I owe you this glass of water, and I will pay you back in the future. As he spoke, he got up.

The young woman spoke softly and gently, and said a few words lightly, which stunned Jin Fu for a moment, and quickly explained: "No, no, no, please don't misunderstand." We don't doubt your intentions, if you really pretend to be an official, how dare you go with me to see the light? Feng Zhiren had already called someone to come and ordered to clean up the house, arrange tea and dinner, and ask someone to go to the street to buy clothes for his wife.

"It's another embarrassing thing." When Xiuzhi and the others went out, Jin Fuchang took a breath and smiled at Feng Zhiren: "The Li family in Fujian doesn't recognize her, and Li Guangdi doesn't recognize her, it's still between the two." I'm afraid there is something inconvenient to talk about here! ”

Feng Zhiren tapped the back of his hand with a fan and muttered: "This matter will be seen a long time ago. Since this Li Xiuzhi is not Li Guangdi's original wife, she must be a Qinglou woman. Li Guangdi actually had an affair with her during the period of mourning, and gave birth to a son, and the disguise of this 'Taoist' was self-defeating. It's just that this Mrs. Li still has to protect him and refuses to say it explicitly, alas! ”

Jin Fu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly an ominous premonition hit his heart, and said: "In fact, the sin of mourning is secondary, abandoning flesh and blood, and being unkind to the father is even more scandalous." If Zhang Yang goes out, once the emperor knows about it, he will definitely be dismissed and questioned. But Li Guangdi is hot now, waiting to enter the study, how can he admit that the mother and son are guilty of these two major crimes? ”

Feng Zhiren suddenly smiled and said, "Dong Weng is too worried, I think this is a strange commodity to live in." If you quietly cover up the past for Master Li in Beijing, I am afraid that this favor will be worth more than 10,000 silver. Dong Weng, Li Guangdi is the most proud tall foot in Suo Etu Zhongtang! ”

Jin Fu nodded, "Well, Lao Feng, your words make sense." In that case, let's take them with us. ”

The next day, Jin Fu took Feng Zhiren and Xiuzhi's mother and son to set off. Because the silt of the Yellow River has long been cut off from the waterway, it is impossible to take a boat, so he goes against the north bank of the Yellow River to the west, and checks the river conditions along the way. After Kaifeng, it folds to the north and enters the territory of Zhili. Jin Fu couldn't wait to enter Handan City, and went straight to the post station in the north of Huangliang Dream Town.

After dinner, it was already dark, Jin Fu wore a red robe and did not put on a gown, and came to the patio with Feng Zhiren. Seeing the brilliant lights in the area of Huangliang Meng, half of the sky was bright red, so he asked: "Zhiren, you have passed by many times in the exam, and the front is bright, what is the place?" ”

Feng Zhiren didn't have time to answer, and the door of the post station guard smiled and said: "Lord Futai, if you want to leave tomorrow, the little one will persuade the master to take a look." That excitement is rare in the world! On April 4 of Ming'er, Huangliang Dream Race God, six seats were set up on the stage alone. ”

Jin Fu nodded with a smile and said to Feng Zhiren: "Walk with me, just eat and drink!" ”

The two chatted and walked, and after a while, the scene arrived at Huangliang Dream, which was really lively. There are thousands of fire candles in the temple and outside the temple, and hundreds of jars of sea lanterns are lit with egg-thick twists, which illuminate the surroundings. A team of stilts has people who play the eight immortals, some who play Guanyin, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and some who sing stories such as the West Chamber and the Peony Pavilion. Six big operas, three each in the east and west, singing together, the gongs and drums beat like a torrential rain. There were explosions of war, artillery and ping-pong, and it was impossible to hear what was being sung on the stage. The crowd poured around under the stage. What sells melon seeds, sells sesame sugar, butter tea, sells wine, food and snacks, stalls, clusters, everything. Divination. The gentleman who measured the word and fortune told kept his voice open, but he shouted loudly...... Feng Zhiren said with emotion: "Zhongcheng, it seems that Confucius can't compare with Taishang Laojun and Buddha!" I have also seen Qufu Festival Kong, where is there such pomp and circumstance, such a lively! ”

"The battle is not over, and the peaceful prosperity has been revealed." Jin Fu's mood was a little happier, "As long as you don't fight, the revival will be very fast!" Zhiren, have you seen it? There is also a foreign goods store here, and such a big chiming clock is on the counter - Wei Dongting is really a person with a way! ”

"That's," Feng Zhiren said with a smile, "I've seen with my own eyes that what was shipped out of the customs was silk, tea, and porcelain, and the silver piled up on the returning ship, the sea!" ”

With that, the two stinged into the back temple, and looked at the inscriptions of their predecessors along the wall by candlelight in the Shinto tablet corridor. There are those who praise Shinto, there are those who pray for blessings, and there are those who express their aspirations. Grumbling. Jin Fu looked at it and said, "Oh, this Chen Huang's poem is interesting, and the words are quite elegant - Chen Huang, this name is so familiar, I can't remember who it is anymore!" ”

Feng Zhiren shook his fan and muttered for a long time, and said: "Dong Weng, Chen Huang is Chen Tianyi!" The younger brother of Chen Shouzhong in Qiantang. Due to the lack of water, he couldn't help but play with water and tide in his family since he was a child, and he became a material! Zhongcheng must have forgotten that you have read his "Yangshui Edition", isn't it a reward? ”

Jin Fu sighed: "Oh, it turned out to be him! I can't wait to see it. ”

Before the words fell, someone suddenly said behind him: "No, I'm here, what do the two gentlemen have to say?" ”

Jin Fu and Feng Zhiren were taken aback, and when they looked back, they saw a black and thin man standing there with a smile on his face in the shadow of the lights and candles. Jin Fu hurriedly smiled and said, "Okay, there is nowhere to find it when you step on the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it." It turned out that the famous Mr. Chen was at his feet. To tell the truth, Jin Fu is below, and now he is ordered to enter Beijing and will be appointed as the governor of the river. I have heard for a long time that Mr. Chen has the skill to govern the river, and he is eager to see it, and he meets and knows each other today, and he is fortunate to have three lives, so dare to move, and go to the post station to talk about it? ”

It has been three days since Chen Huang returned to Huangliangmeng from Kaifeng, but he did not dare to go to Congzuka Han's house. He knew that Ah Xiu lived in Han's house. The princess's desperate infatuation, he really can't deal with it, but he can't go away. Why, I was in a hurry to say goodbye last time, and I forgot my manuscript of "The Essentials of River Defense" at Han's house. It embodies his hard work for more than ten years of investigating the river situation! When he was hesitating, he accidentally met Jin Fu, and Chen Huang had already heard the news that Jin Fu was going to be promoted to river governor. At this time, seeing Jin Fu so humble, he felt even more happy, how could he be unwilling. happily returned to the post station with Jin Fu and Feng Zhiren.

A cup of tea, a plate of vegetarian snacks on the table, Jin Fu and Chen Huang sat on both sides of the table, Jin Fu opened his mouth and asked: "Mr. Chen, when today's son Shengming, he regards river governance as the first priority, Mr. Jiuwen has studied through the past and the present, I don't know how to teach me?" ”

Chen Huang looked at Jin Fu very excitedly and said, "Lord Zhongcheng, I heard that you are going to move the River Governor's Mansion from Jining to Qingjiang, and I foolishly think that with this alone, you have much higher knowledge than the previous River Governors. Since the first year of Kangxi, the Yellow River almost bursts every year, the river governor has always known only the old method of using Dayu to control the water, as a result, the riverbed silts every year, the more and more it gathers, it is even to the height of the four collapses, the situation of not returning to the river, raging between the Huai River and the canal, blocking the submarine transport. Successive river governors have the heart to govern the river but have no skill to govern the river, only know that sand removal and dredging cost tens of millions of manpower and millions of gold every year, but as soon as the flood season comes, it will immediately come to naught. It shows that they are not academically proficient, they are not thoughtful, and they are unable to gain insight into the root cause of the Yellow River floods. ”

Hearing this high argument, Jin Fu and Feng Zhiren kept nodding, what Chen Huang said, it was indeed refreshing, Jin Fu, as a member of the imperial court, was planning further, "Well, Mr. Chen's intention is indeed reasonable, but the river governors also have his difficulties." Historically, the government and the opposition have been anxious for quick success and quick profit in governing the river, and it is difficult to conform to the holy will of the people. Because the food supply of Jingshi depends on trough transportation, and the canal is not passable! ”

"Hey, what's so difficult about this, while curing Huang, while curing Cao! If we follow the old method of the past and blindly open the river channel, the sediment of the Yellow River will be cleared and silted, and it will not be cleared in 10,000 years! ”

"Ahh So, in the opinion of the gentleman, what should it be? ”

Chen Huang waved his hand: "Four words, bundle the embankment and rush the sand!" ”

Bundle the embankment and rush the sand! Jin Fu's eyes lit up, he stood up, rubbed his braids with his backhand, paced two steps, and suddenly turned around and said, "Please speak, speak well!" ”

"Build embankments to contain water, and wash away sand with water." Chen Huang leaned back and said: "This is not my own creation, the former Ming Pan Ji has written a treatise, the river embankment is strengthened and heightened, the river channel is narrow, the water potential must be enhanced, and the flow rate is accelerated, not only the new sand will not settle, but the old sand can also be rolled into the sea." The riverbed must be deeper and deeper, and the river must be lower and lower, so that there will be no danger of bursting the embankment...... If you don't use such a clever river management technique, you can learn from King Dayu four thousand years ago, isn't it a fish for a tree? ”

Feng Zhiren was thrilled when he heard this, leaned over and said, "Brother Tianyi, your high remarks really have the effect of enlightenment. But Lord Jin is an envoy, and the difficulties in it are also difficult to describe......"

Jin Fu patted his head and said to himself sentimentally: "Why not...... At present, the river is in deep trouble, the yellow water is pouring back, the Huanghuai confluence is going eastward, and Huaiyang has become an ocean......" said and sat down dejectedly, no longer speaking.

Feng Zhiren smiled bitterly: "Lianghe River is pragmatic and difficult. The river governor has changed one term after another, whether it is a clean official or a corrupt official, the boat capsized here, those who heard it were shocked, and those who saw it were terrified! ”

Chen Huang smiled when he heard this, sat back on the chair and crossed his legs to take a sip of tea, pressed the cup and said, "Originally, we met and chatted. Chen Moujie is a little small, and he talks about it on paper. Jin Zhong Chengquan didn't hear anything. It's late at night, Chen Huang says goodbye! ”