The herald galloped all the way, flew over countless lofty mountains, waded through countless vicious waters and dangerous shoals, and transferred a number of horses at the post station along the way.

The herald hurried to the Bailongtan Water Mansion. It is said that it is the water official mansion, but it is actually a simple thatched cottage house. Since it is an office, there are still "yamen" guards.

The doorman usually sees a lot of people, but when he sees this person today, the official is dressed in a very grand manner, and he is not the same as the local officials' dress, that temperament, and that style are much higher than the local southwest barbarian officials. Thinking about the fact that it is not trivial, I am afraid that eighty percent of them are big people from the capital, so he hurriedly threw his hand to greet him and said: "Dare to ask this official, what do you have to do?

The herald's eyes were disdainful to look at the little person in front of him, and he said as if there was no one else: "The official is the herald sent by the palace to summon Li Bing, the water official of Bailongyan. ”

When the doorman heard that it was a messenger sent by the palace, he immediately solemnly said, "Official, please wait a moment, let me go in and tell you." The doorman hurried in to report.

The herald stood outside the door, looking proudly ahead, this water official mansion was almost a firewood thatched hut, and it was cold, compared with any of the yamen in the capital, one was in the sky and the other was underground.

The doorman hurriedly entered the mansion and reported to Li Bing's son Li Erlang: "Li Gongzi, a herald has come to the capital, saying that the King of Qin has sent to summon Li Bing, the water official of Bailongyan, Lord Li. The little one didn't dare to say much, so he hurriedly told Li Gongzi, what should I do? Master Li Bing is not at home" The doorman looked very nervous.

"I'll just deal with it. Li Erlang said frankly.

Li Erlang, the son of Li Bing, the water official of Bailongtan, greeted him and said, "Your Excellency the herald." It's been a hard work. ”

When the herald saw such a tall young man, he couldn't figure it out, and he was a little confused. I couldn't help asking, "Childe, are you .......?"

Li Erlang replied respectfully: "Xiao Ke Li Bing's son, Li Erlang is also." ”

The herald said: "Ah, it turned out to be the eldest son of Li, disrespectful and disrespectful." At the behest of the king, this official passed on Li Bing, the water official of Bailongtan, to enter Beijing quickly. ”

Li Erlang arched his hand and said: "Your Excellency the Herald of Qiqi, my father has not been home for more than 20 days. ”

The herald was astonished. Suspicious, he asked, "Where has Lord Lingzun gone?" Thinking that his son is so old, he may not go out to look for flowers and ask willows. Of course, this kind of situation happens from time to time in officialdom, and it is not news. But after all, it's a bit of that.

The herald is in a reverie. Li Erlang's proclamation pulled his thoughts back from the complex and chaotic space.

Li Erlang said: "Tell the herald, my father is squatting at the scene of the rectification of Bailongyan. Xiao Ke also rushed back from Bailongyan yesterday, anxious to visit his sick mother. ”

The herald was puzzled, and immediately turned very moved, and felt guilty for the cranky thinking just now, which was really a gentleman's act with the heart of a villain. He said meaningfully: "I see." "Quan should be an apology for Li Bing's conjecture.

Li Erlang said: "Your Excellency Herald, I will go and tell my father." ”

The herald behaved very humanely, and said, "Childe doesn't have to go, just stay at home to serve your sick mother." I'll just go. Please ask Lord Hou Lingtang. ”

Li Erlang thanked him and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency, for your attention. ”

"Li Gongzi doesn't have to be polite. After the herald finished speaking, he stepped on his horse and galloped towards Bailongyan. A puff of yellow dust rose behind him.

The herald galloped for a while, and finally rode on the horse, and it was faintly visible in the distance that the Bailongyan project that appeared in front of him had begun to take shape.

The herald galloped close to the construction site, turned over and dismounted, and walked all the way.

When a military official at the construction site saw an official riding on a mission, he greeted him and said, "May I ask the official, what is your business?"

The herald's attitude was a little large, and his tone was quite disdainful, and he asked rhetorically, "Who are you?"

Seeing that the morale of the man was not small, the military officer suddenly felt that everyone was a little shorter, and whispered: "Little military officer." ”

The herald said: "This official has come to announce the decree of King Qin to Li Bing, the water official of Bailongyan. ”

When the military officer heard this, he was shocked, and hurriedly said: "It turned out to be the official of Jingshi, who was a little neglectful and apologized for his duties." ”

The herald looked very anxious: "Excuse me, where is Li Shuiguan?"

The military official responded: "Lord Li is inspecting the quality of the project at the head of the weir, and I will report to Lord Li if I am humble." ”

The herald asked, "When will Master Li come over?"

The military official said: "This is not possible, Master Li is a workaholic, very motivated, doing things, day and night, continuous rotation, day and night." ”

The herald couldn't, so he said, "Okay, you can take me to find it." ”

The two of them didn't go far, but they happened to meet a man who looked like an official was talking to the overseer while walking, and the person who looked like an official was a little emotional, and asked the overseer: "Tell me about your inspection of the quality of the project." ”

The overseer reported: "My lord, I have inspected all those embankments, and the quality and quantity are guaranteed. ”

The official-looking man asked, "Have you checked it all?" Checked it. The overseer replied with crispness and confidence.

The pretending official asked again, "How many times have you checked?" My lord, I checked it twice. "The overseer is not ambiguous at all

The official-looking man asked, "What is the quality?"

The overseer patted his chest and said, "My lord, I just reported to the adult, and the quality and quantity are guaranteed, and there is no problem 100%. "Why don't you check it a third time? 'Drawing inferences from one another' means that one thing should be said three times and used three times. 'Drawing inferences from one another' is also a general rule for us to check the quality of work. The official-looking man looked straight at the overseer.

The overseer was still confident: "I didn't think there was any need to check it a third time. "Here's the problem, why do you say that there's no need to check it three times? The official-looking man said sternly. "Yes, my lord, I've been working as an overseer for three years, and I have a little bit of experience." The overseer admired his experience, but the official-looking man asked an interesting question: "Do you know why the bronze tripod has three legs instead of two legs?" It's a simple truth, two legs are not as strong as three legs, and children know it." The overseer said. Yes, it's the same thing, you can figure it out for yourself." The official-looking person played deeply, "My lord sees the problem?" The overseer asked tentatively. "Not only is there a problem, but there is a big problem. "The official-like man has a cold attitude. "I don't see anything wrong, uh. "Have you checked the piles for piling?" The official's tone was calm. There is rigidity in peace. "This, I, I haven't checked. "The overseer's confidence has been greatly reduced.

"That. How do you check?" The overseer-looking man asked. "I focused on the thickness and size of the piles. The overseer replied truthfully.

"Have you checked the stake for the type of timber?" The official-looking man asked in detail.

"Nope. The overseer replied in a whisper

"The pile should be all green bar trees, not alder trees or fir trees, green bar trees are hard and durable, better than other tree species. The man who looked like an official said. "I didn't think about that. "The inspection from above is so meticulous, it is something he did not expect. "Have you carefully inspected the rammed earth embankment?" Double-checked. The overseer replied with confidence.

"How did you check?" Check whether the rammed embankment is smooth and solid. "This is not enough, but also to focus on the part of the embankment that connects with the section of the embankment, where the joint is most likely to have loose dead corners. Did you focus on it?" I remember that the adults emphasized this point repeatedly. ”

The official-looking man said, "Very well, although you have focused on checking the joints of the rammers. It's not much to check again. ”

The overseer replied, "Your Excellency is right, I'll check it later." ”

The official-looking man said solemnly: "I checked the bamboos prepared for weaving one by one, and many of them were unqualified and too tender. Did you check?''

"I haven't had time to check it yet. My lord is really resolute. "The overseer had to admire this man. "It's quick, we have to get it done before the rainy season. The official-looking man spoke in a stern tone.

The overseer replied, "Yes, sir. ”

Seeing this, the herald expressed his feelings to the military officer who led the way, and said: "Your officer Li Bingshui is so strict and meticulous in his work, which is great. ”

Unexpectedly, the military official who led the way said: "Official, that's not our Li Bingshui official, he is just Li Bingshui's assistant Wang Deputy Water Officer." ”

The herald couldn't help but exclaim, "Ahhh That's not it. Even the migrant workers who built the embankment here were all doing their best. The leading officer said. "Then where can I find Officer Li Bingshui?"

"Just ask Deputy Water Officer Wang to find out. The leading officer said.

The herald said, "All right, go and ask." ”

The military officer who led the way stepped forward and asked, "May I ask Wang Shuiguan." Where is Lord Li Bing?"

Deputy Water Officer Wang replied: "Master Li is still inspecting the quality of the project at the head of the weir. ”

The military officer who led the way said, "Official, let's go to the weir." ”

The herald said, "Okay, go up to the weir and look for it." ”

So the two walked to the depths of the Bailongtan construction site. From afar, they saw a man climbing on the embankment and digging something out of the embankment with his hands, and the herald was very curious, so he asked, "What is that man doing on the dam? Is he digging a crab hole to catch crabs, or is he catching eels?"

The soldier who led the way narrowed his eyes and looked at it carefully, and said with a smile: "Haha, what kind of crab are you digging out! Then it must be Li Shuiguan checking something again." ”

The herald smiled, "I'm really eye-opening, I'm convinced." ”

With that, the two walked towards Li Bing, who was digging the crab hole. After walking about a stone's throw away, the leading military officer had already seen clearly what Li Bing was doing, so he said to the herald: "Official, do you know what Li Shuiguan is doing?"

Out of curiosity, the herald put his hand on the canopy, squinting his eyes to see what Li Bing in front of him was doing. He even stopped to see it for real. I looked at it for a while, but I didn't see a Shiming Hall. So he shook his head and said, "I don't see what he's doing." But that's for sure, as you say, this person isn't digging a crab hole. ”

The military officer who led the way then explained in detail: "To build the White Dragon Weir, we must first dig deep into the beachhead. It is necessary to separate the water before it can be dug into the beach. "That's a certainty, how can there be water to dig a beach? But how can this water be separated by miles?" The herald asked.

The officer who led the way said: "This is the crux of the matter. We must first have an unbreakable waterproof embankment that cannot be washed away, so that the water can go to the outer river, and the beach excavation project can proceed smoothly. ”

The herald also asked with interest, "Will the water of the outer river break your waterproof embankment?" The official asked very well. As Xiao Fang just said, the water of the outer river cannot break our wall across the river, because we have a pestle town that can withstand the impact of the water flow of the outer river. ”

But the military master was a little skeptical of the statement of the military officer who led the way: "Do you believe in the power of the pestle so much?"

The leading officer confidently said, "Of course. ”

The herald is a very serious person who loves to break the casserole and ask the truth. He asked, "What is the pestle?"

The military officer who led the way took the trouble to explain: "The pestle is made of three wooden poles with a diameter of more than one foot and a thickness of more than two zhang and a length of more than two zhang tied to form a tripod with bamboo ropes, which are supported and erected on the beach, and then three zhang long. A wooden pole of the same diameter is firmly tied to the supporting tripod in the lower part of the supporting tripod, and a long bamboo cage filled with pebbles is placed on top of the triangular hoop. In this way, the seat of the triangular support frame is as stable as a rock. This kind of waterproof facility consisting of two triangular wooden hoops together and filled with pebbles and long bamboo cages in the town is the pestle, which is advocated by our Li Shuiguan with the wisdom of all people. Twenty or thirty such pestles are connected and lined up to form a joint force. Unbreakable. And that's not all. Along the foot of the pestle and the foot of the pestle is planted a row of bowl-thick green bar wooden stakes, and then the wooden stakes are erected and the bamboo fence mat can be poured and rammed the embankment. On the side facing the embankment, a thick layer of sticky yellow mud is also piled up, and the embankment is completed, which is extremely useful for guarding the embankment. ”

The herald was still a little skeptical, and then asked, "Is this one and so effective?"

The military officer who led the way patiently explained: "This pestle is very effective, and it is very effective in repairing the weir at the end of the dry season and diverting the water flow. Behind the weir embankment, a pestle is like the gate bar of the ancient city gate. Resist the gates, and no one will try to open them. These twenty-three pestles are united in one. Like the Great Wall, the water of the outer river only knows that it is difficult and retreats, how can it destroy my Great Wall?"

The herald was fascinated by this, and asked, "It's simple, it sounds like a lot of trouble, are you also a water expert?" No, in the next little soldier. But our subordinates of Li Shuiguan have heard and seen it, and it can be said that all of them know a little bit about water conservancy. "You can call it water conservancy for all. The herald admired the "sailors" led by Li Shuiguan in his heart. "The official just said that Li Shuiguan was digging a crab hole, and I saw it clearly, in fact, he was climbing on the embankment to check whether the base of the pestle was firm, whether the pebbles filled with the bamboo cage were full, or whether there were any loopholes in the yellow mud fence. In short, it is conscientious and hard-working. ”

The herald was deeply touched, and couldn't help but say: "You Li Shuiguan have a divine heritage. ”

The leading officer praised: "People think so. So he led the herald to Li Bing's side, and also witnessed the magical pestles one by one.

Li Bing saw someone walking towards him, so he got up and shook his clothes, rubbed his hands, and smiled embarrassedly like a child.

The military officer hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Lord Li Bing, this is a herald from the capital. He was also interested in the pestle. ”

The herald strode forward and said sincerely: "Li Shuiguan, your method of dividing water is based on local materials, economical and practical, and it is a great innovation. I should do it according to the truth. ”

Li Bingyan said: "Thank you for the award." ”

With deep respect, the herald arched his hand and said, "Lord Li, the king has announced my decree and ordered you to enter Beijing as soon as possible. ”

Li Bing knelt down and said, "Thank you, King Longen." Herald, the main project of Bailongyan has been basically completed, and I will make some finishing arrangements for my subordinates. ”

The herald said, "That's for the best." ”

At this time, Deputy Water Officer Wang also rushed here.

Li Bing said solemnly: "You came just in time, Deputy Water Officer Wang, you are responsible for carefully inspecting the quality of the weir head again, and you must not be negligent, you can have a military order." ”

Deputy Water Officer Wang said: "I will do it according to the layout of the adults, and if there is a dereliction of duty, military law will be involved." ”

Li Bing said again: "With your words, I am relieved." Water conservancy projects, a great cause for thousands of years, should not be underestimated. ”

Deputy Water Officer Wang promised: "Lord Li's teachings are remembered by the little ones. ”

Li Bing patted Deputy Water Officer Wang on the shoulder and said, "You are a very responsible person, I can trust you to hand over the Bailongyan to you." ”

Deputy Water Officer Wang assured: "The small ones will definitely live up to the expectations of the adults." ”

Li Bing said with a smile: "I believe this, I know that engaging in water conservancy is your public duty and your hobby." ”

Deputy Water Officer Wang said frankly: "Really, I like water conservancy in my heart. ”

The herald asked curiously: "Water conservancy is dealing with water and soil, it is dirty and tiring, you actually like it, it is very different." Deputy Water Officer Wang said: "It was a sentence by Li Shuiguan that deeply influenced me and led me to my love for water conservancy."

The herald was a little confused and couldn't help asking; Li Shuiguan's words are so charming?"

Deputy Water Officer Wang said frankly; Yes, Li Shuiguan said that water conservancy is the blood of the country."

The herald praised from the bottom of his heart: "Ambitious, you can see that what you say is from your heart." ”

Li Bingyan said: "Your Excellency Herald, you have good eyesight. ”

The herald was a little embarrassed and said, "I can't say that he has good eyesight, because he is indeed a trustworthy and good water officer." "It's not good eyesight, it's poisonous eyesight." Li Bing joked.

The herald tried to deny that he had a good eye, but said: "As I have heard his conversation with the overseer along the way, he has asked of the overseer! ”

Only then did Li Bing understand the reason: "It turns out that there is a reason for the incident. “

The herald asked, "Yes." Excuse me. When will Master Li enter Beijing?"

Li Bing thought for a moment and said, "Lord Herald, I must go back and give some work to my son Li Erlang, and then I will enter Beijing immediately." ”

The herald said, "Lord Li, this official will take the first step and return to Beijing to face the king." ”

Li Bing arched his hand and said, "Thank you, herald." ”

The herald replied, "Lord Li is polite, I should do it." (To be continued......)