In the Wenhua Hall of the Forbidden City, on the imperial eucalyptus in front of Zhu Qizhen of Ming Yingzong, there is a "Two Rivers Slightly Sparse" that Shen Yichen quickly submitted.

Below the Imperial Eucalyptus stood the ministers of the Cabinet and the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Industry, and other relevant yamen, ready to discuss the strategy of water control and the cost of water control in the upper dredging area.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think of Shen Xiangbei's "Two Rivers Slightly Sparsely"?"

Almost as soon as Zhu Qizhen's words fell, Wang You, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, went out to report to him: "Your Majesty, Shen Youxian visited and wrote the water control strategy on the spot, and he must bow down to the water control himself, and this spiritual minister admires and agrees with it. ”

"But now that the treasury is empty, 800,000 taels of ICBC can't be taken out anyway, and the emperors of all dynasties have never spent such a huge amount of money on water control, and the minister disagrees!"

Wang You's words are both positive and negative, and the core idea is that Shen Yichen has a huge cost to control the water, and the court can't come up with so much money, and at the same time alludes to the suspicion of enriching his own pockets.

Now that Shen Yichen and the eunuch Wang Zhen are torn apart, the eunuchs naturally regard him as an enemy, and use all means to suppress and destroy, even the great cause of water control is no exception.

"800,000 taels does cost a lot."

Zhu Qizhen nodded in agreement, and most of the expenses spent by the previous emperors to control the water were about one hundred or two hundred thousand taels. Shen Yichen's "lion opened his mouth", and it more than quadrupled at the beginning, and he didn't know whether to add it in the follow-up, which is really an exaggeration.

Seeing that the emperor agreed with his point of view, Wang You immediately hit the snake and continued: "And Your Majesty, Shen Youxian's "Two Rivers Jing Slightly Sparse" describes that he plans to borrow the water of the Qing River to attack the sand of the Yellow River, and the minister thinks it is inappropriate! ”

"What's wrong?"

"In all dynasties, the Yellow River burst its banks, and the dams could not withstand the impact of the current. Even if Shen Yichen uses four different sets of dikes to hold back the water, how can he guarantee that nothing goes wrong? ”

"The water of the Yellow River will not flow backwards, and once the accumulation and cleaning of the Yellow River is started, it means that there is no way back. If the embankment built cannot withstand the water potential and bursts for thousands of miles, who will bear it? ”

Wang You's words not only made sense to Zhu Qizhen, but even the other courtiers who participated in the discussion couldn't help but nod secretly.

Since the Song Dynasty, the golden mean has prevailed, and Shen Yichen's "radical" water control method has become a merit in the present and a benefit in the future.

Defeated?

The consequences may be even more serious than the bursting of the Yellow River's embankment, and a complete breach of the embankment will directly cut off the grain transportation route and trigger a national movement.

What will you do to bear the consequences?

This kind of thinking of the courtiers is the same as Shen Yichen's idea of hearing the eight big characters of harnessing water and attacking sand and storing and clearing yellow from Chen Tao's mouth at that time. The risk is too serious, and if you don't succeed, you will become a sinner for the ages!

"Yang Aiqing, what do you think about sinking to the north to control the water?"

In the face of the opposition of His Royal Highness's ministers, Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen finally looked at Yang Pu.

After entering the cold winter, Yang Pu's body is not as good as day by day, and in the past two months, several beggars have been sparsely sparsely written. As the fifth minister of the first emperor and the last leader of the Sanyang era of the cabinet, Zhu Qizhen's feelings for him are complicated.

There is gratitude, respect, and also disgust and disgust after being disciplined.

But when it really came time for Yang Pu to be a minister, Zhu Qizhen felt more of an empty feeling, and he felt very relieved to have such an old minister sitting in the government and the opposition.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem......"

Facing the emperor's roll call, Yang Pu coughed heavily, and his face was sickly pale.

"The matter of water control is in the present and in the future. If you want to enjoy the benefits of a thousand years, you have to pay the work of the present. ”

"Shen Yanxian's "Two Rivers Jing Slightly Sparse" has clear ideas and clear structure, which is a once and for all method, and the minister thinks it is feasible!"

As soon as Yang Pu said this, all the courtiers in the audience looked at him in surprise.

You must know that Yang Pu has been in the cabinet in recent years, and his policy policy has implemented the thinking of protecting one's self in a clear manner, not seeking merit but seeking no fault.

Even in the face of Wang Zhen's dictatorship, Yang Pu also chose to appease and retreat, unwilling to confront him head-on.

It stands to reason that Yang Pu is now begging for bones to return to his hometown, and he should uphold the mentality that more is better than less, and follow the trend to oppose Shen Yichen's radical water control strategy. Why did he stand up and choose to support him at this time?

"But Yang Aiqing, sinking to the north to dredge the water, the risk of the embankment failure is too great, how can we ensure that it can be done once and for all?"

Zhu Qizhen asked rhetorically, after all, this matter is about luck, and as an emperor, he doesn't dare to take risks.

"No guarantees."

Yang Pu replied vigorously, then ignored everyone's surprised expressions, and continued: "In the same way, if you don't control the water according to Shen Qixian's method, your colleagues feel that the river hanging on the ground is increasing day by day, when will the next embankment burst?" ”

"Next year, the year after next, or the year after next?"

Yang Pu's remarks hit the key point, that is, the current situation of the Yellow River's water control, and it is impossible to solve the problem with modest-minded thinking.

In the decades since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the boundary embankment in Shandong has been repaired countless times, but the number of embankment failures has increased, and the flooding water has become more and more serious, constantly threatening the safety of water transportation.

Even if we adopt a conservative approach to repairing the embankment, it is inevitable that the embankment will burst after the flood season next year.

At that time, will another minister be sent to control the water?

If it had been a few months ago, Yang Pu would not have stood on Shen Yichen's side and agreed to such a radical water control strategy.

It is precisely because he chose to beg for the bones, wanting to uphold the simple public heart and righteousness before he left office, and promote the great cause of water control for the country and the people.

Maybe in the future, I can add such a small stroke to the history books.

"The minister thinks that Yang Ge's old words are reasonable, Shandong has now reached the stage of not breaking or standing, and it is necessary to take medicine!"

Wang Wei, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, stood up and seconded the proposal, and the floods of the Yellow River in Henan and Shandong in recent years have simply made him numb. There is no point in simply repairing the breach, and the entire embankment must be strengthened and desilted.

In fact, Wang Yi has had this idea for a long time, but he doesn't have the courage and ability to implement it, and now Shen Yichen has stood up to be the "wronged boss" who is behind the blame.

If you don't agree now, when?

"The minister seconded Yang Zhongtang."

The cabinet then went out to agree.

He always lingered in his mind, the back of Shen Yichen when he left the East Pavilion that day was so free and easy without a trace of nostalgia.

Gao Gu couldn't guess whether the end of his career would be for the benefit of all the people or for the country.

But in the matter of water control in Shandong, Gao Gu believes that Shen Yichen has not forgotten his original intention, otherwise there is no need to go to such a radical "Two Rivers Slightly Sparse".

"The minister seconded Yang Ge Lao."

The head of the household also chose to support Wang Zuo.

He doesn't have so many public and righteous ideas, purely from the perspective of the national finance of the Ministry of Households, 800,000 taels seems to be a lot, but in fact, if he can solve the Shandong flood once and for all, he will be able to return to his capital in a few years.

On the contrary, the embankment bursts every year, disaster relief and water control are equivalent to a bottomless pit, it is better to bet that Shen Yichen can successfully control the water.

Yang Pu's support made the courtiers change in an instant, and I saw Wang Zhen, who was standing next to the throne, with a gloomy face and a look at Wang Wen.

The latter immediately came out of the class with a sense of understanding: "Your Majesty, the minister has something to tell. ”

"Wang Qing's family, please speak."

"Shandong Yanzhou Mansion is on the table, Shen Yichen has not been tried by the three divisions, and Meng Anwei is killed by the cane of Yanggu County, and the power covers the sky with one hand!"

What?

When Wang Wen's words came out, the important ministers of the government and the opposition present were shocked, although the rank of the county order was small, but he was also a registered seven-rank civil official. Since ancient times, he couldn't punish the doctor, and even the emperor had to go through the three-division process to convict him, where did Shen Yichen have the courage to die with a cane at will?

"Wang Aiqing, is this serious?"

Zhu Qizhen was also full of surprise, Shen Yichen had the impression that he was old and seeking the country, how could he act so recklessly as soon as he arrived in the place.

"How dare the minister deceive the king, the Shandong Provincial Inspector has also neglected this matter according to the imperial history, which can be used as evidence."

The local government and the patrol of the imperial history at the same time on the matter, basically it can be determined to be true, which is also the Ming Dynasty in order to prevent the local bullying and concealment of the double mechanism.

"Your Majesty, this matter is not trivial, and the minister suggests that Shen Yanxian be recalled immediately to return to the court for questioning!"

Naiheng, the head of the household, seized the opportunity and immediately made a speech to the emperor.

You must know that the Three Law Divisions are the core territory of the eunuch party, and the political enemies who enter are more auspicious and less auspicious, even if they are super royal relatives like Captain Ma.

If Shen Yichen can be brought in, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, can't be saved!

"The precedent of killing Wenchen without permission cannot be opened, and the minister also thinks that Shen Yixian should be recalled!"

Wang You, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, also agreed, he knew very well that Du Yushi chose to expose it at such a time, and it must have been the instruction of Weng's father, Wang Zhen.

The suggestions of several ministers made Zhu Qizhen a little shaken, and Shen Yichen's move was really outrageous.

In the past, when the imperial history went out of the town, at most it was dismissed and investigated, how could there be a direct cane without the trial of the three legal divisions?

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that there is no hurry to recall Shen Yanxian, and the Yellow River will reach the spring flood season in a few months. If it is recalled at this time, who can take over the matter of water control? ”

This time, Wang Wei, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, was the first to stand up against it.

The matter of controlling the water is already on the line, how can we change the generals?

"Your Majesty, you can let Shen Xian defend himself and then be held accountable, Caoyun is related to the national line, and there can be no mistakes!"

Wang Zhi, the official of the Ministry of Officials, also thinks that when state affairs are the priority, there is no way to recall Shen Yichen at this time.

"Yang Aiqing, what do you think?"

Whenever he encountered such a dispute between the two factions, Zhu Qizhen habitually asked Yang Pu for his opinion.

"There is no suspicion in employing people, and there is no need for suspicious people, Your Majesty decides for yourself."

As if waking up a person in a dream with a word, Shen Yichen in Zhu Qizhen's impression is definitely not the kind of person who acts recklessly, and there must be a hidden secret behind it.

"I see."

Zhu Qizhen nodded, then looked at the head of the household department and asked, "Wang Aiqing, how much can the household department take out?" ”

"Up to 200,000 taels."

"What about the Ministry of Works?"

"One hundred thousand taels."

Is it only 300,000 taels?

Hearing this amount, Zhu Qizhen frowned, it seems that the Luchuan War in the past few years cost too much military salaries, and now the treasury is indeed tight.

"Then allocate 200,000 taels from the inner treasury, gather 500,000 taels and deliver them to Shen Xiangbei, I want to see a century-old project!"

Zhu Qizhen really gritted his teeth now, and took out 200,000 taels of "private money" from his inner treasury to support Shen Yichen's water control.

This honor, there is no second person inside and outside the government.

Watching all these changes, Wang Zhen, who was standing next to the throne, had a gloomy face.

It can be said that Wang Zhen never expected that at the critical moment, Wenchen led by Yang Pu defected, and he thought that Wang Wen's exposure of the incident of killing Zhixian with a cane would trigger a group of attacks.

What he didn't expect was that Shen Yichen unconsciously had such weight in the emperor's heart. Even in a sense, Shen Yichen brushed his favor in front of the emperor, and he still made the bridge by himself.

Now it seems that it is simply lifting a stone to shoot yourself in the foot!

At the same time, the suppression of Shen Yichen failed several times in succession, which made Wang Zhen gradually realize that this kid is no longer the unknown little shrimp, and he will have to treat him with the attitude of treating a political enemy like Yang Pu in the future.

Shen Yichen, who was in Zhang Qiuzhen, naturally didn't know about the fierce controversy about himself in the court, but he had already expected this kind of picture.

After all, the matter of killing the chief official of a county with a cane, seriously, is indeed a bit excessive, and it is easy to set himself on fire.

But if Shen Yichen was allowed to choose again, he would still order Meng Anwei to be killed with a cane, this person would not die sorry for the people of Yanggu County!

"The proprietor, the river work went very smoothly, and the rudiments of the drainage channel were dug up in just three days. According to Master Chen's estimate, Zhang Qiuzhen's breach can be blocked within a month! ”

Bian He excitedly reported the news to Shen Yichen, but there was a tired look on his face that could not be concealed.

After the start of the sacrificial river, Bian He has been busy in the past few days, on the one hand, he has to supervise the progress of the project, and on the other hand, he has to coordinate the materials, and he can't wait for one person to be used by two people.

At the same time, this also exposes Shen Yichen's current shortcomings, that is, there is no shortage of martial artists around him, when can he call Canghuotou and Wang Neng to do things, and no matter how bad it is, he can still order Dongchangwei, Tai'anwei and other military households.

As for the staff literati, there is only Bian He alone, the county Cheng Jiang Pei is half of the chief bookkeeper Chen Tao, and Shen Yichen, the other county officials, are not at ease.

"Mr. Bian, it's hard work."

Shen Yichen said politely, in fact, in the past few days, he has been rebuilding towns, relocating displaced people, and negotiating with officials from the Shandong Political Division, and he is also very busy.

"The proprietor is polite, and being able to use what he has learned to make a living for the people is what his subordinates want all their lives!"

The four sentences of establishing a heart for heaven and earth, establishing a life for the people, continuing to learn for the saints, and opening peace for all generations are the highest pursuit of literati. And disaster relief and flood control can also be called an immortal achievement.

For a traditional scholar like Bian He, everything he is doing now has the opportunity to leave a name in history, and he does not feel tired at all under the excitement.

The only thing that makes him uneasy is that the follow-up people's power and silver money and rice grain have not yet arrived.

"Proprietor, in the past few days, thousands of homeless people have come over, and the subordinates feel that there is something wrong with the number of people, is there a problem with the destruction of the checkpoint by the army?"

"There's nothing wrong with the level, it's the people who have the problem."

Shen Yichen replied expressionlessly, he didn't go to the river embankment in the past few days, he just stayed in the town to deal with the problem of displaced people.

Because as early as three days ago, he received an urgent notice from Han Yong, saying that someone was spreading rumors to prevent the displaced people from going to Zhangqiu Town.

Shen Yichen was disdainful of this method, and immediately ordered the Tai'an Wei sergeants who purchased rice and grain on the canal not to transport the rice and grain to Zhangqiu Town for the time being, but to use the Yellow River to distribute it to the three provinces and eight capitals.

tomato

The reason why the homeless people will believe the rumors is that people have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and there is food in the porridge shed in front of them, and no one dares to take risks but Zhang Qiuzhen makes a living.

If you want to convince the displaced people, it is useless to just talk about it, just like Shen Yichen finally brought out a few large boxes of silver on the river embankment, which ignited the enthusiasm of the migrant workers.

In order to dispel the concerns of the displaced people, Shen Yichen instructed the Tai'anwei sergeant to directly distribute the rations on the way to the victims of the disaster to Zhangqiu Town, and even subsidize the travel expenses. It is believed that in a few days, a large number of displaced people will rush to Zhangqiu Town.

Shen Yichen knew a sentence in later generations, called a problem that can be solved with money, but it is not a problem.

So now there is only one problem in front of him, and that is how to make money!