July 20.

It has been five days since the last time the issue of locusts was discussed.

However, the sky is still clear, and no rain falls.

The problem of locusts has been temporarily solved.

But the drought has always haunted us like a nightmare.

"If it doesn't rain for a long time, there will be no locusts, and the grain will be lost." Li Shimin pursed his dry lips, looked at the sky and said worriedly.

In this regard, Qin Fan had nothing to do.

Of course, where it is close to the water source, water conservancy facilities can be built to divert water for irrigation.

Qin Fan had already provided Li Shimin with drawings of several irrigation devices for drawing water.

These drawings were sent to various places by Li Shimin on cavalry and fast horses.

But in this case, the drought continued.

Sooner or later, those remaining sources of water will dry up.

There will be no water to draw at all.

When even drinking water is a problem, how can you take care of your crops?

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Qin Fan again: "Brother Qin, are you really helpless?" ”

That's right, in Li Shimin's eyes, Qin Fan seems to have a strategy and a solution to everything.

But now, he's going to be disappointed.

Qin Fan shook his head and said:

"The best way to deal with this situation is to dig a lake wetland in advance to store water."

"At the same time, dams are being built to lock in the water."

"In this way, even if there is a drought, the water from the wetlands can be diverted through the dam to replenish the flow of the river."

"As long as enough dams are built, no matter how bad they are, they can still provide drinking water for the people."

"As for crop irrigation, it can only depend on whether God gives face."

Hearing this, Li Shimin was silent for a while.

If this drought does not come this year, but next year.

He was able to allocate silver taels to build the dam ahead of schedule.

But nowadays, on the one hand, there is simply not enough time.

Even now that the dam is being built.

It doesn't rain, and the dam reservoir is always dry, so it doesn't work at all.

On the other hand, Datang silver has always been in short supply.

Before, money had to be allocated for military expenses.

Finally, the journey is coming to an end.

and the silver to prevent floods and to build merchant ships.

If it weren't for the issuance of treasury bonds, Li Shimin's treasury would have been empty.

Moreover, recruiting Danshi to refine gunpowder also requires a lot of silver taels.

Even if you want to build a dam now, you can only wait for the merchant ships to take the first cargo away and sell it.

"Hey! I can only ask God to give me some face, and it will rain early. Li Shimin looked depressed.

Qin Fan shook his head and said, "It's not like we're completely helpless. At least the people's drinking water problem must be solved! ”

"After all, there is no food, and you can still survive a hungry meal by tightening your belt, but if you run out of water, you can't survive for three days!"

Li Shimin nodded approvingly: "Brother Qin, what do you think?" ”

"Dig a well!"

"Digging a well?" Li Shimin, who thought that he could hear some advanced skills, was stunned.

"Yes, digging a well!" Qin Fan nodded.

"Most of the area is rich in groundwater reserves. If the well is dug deep enough, it will be able to draw water. ”

"But digging this well is not an easy task!" Li Shimin sighed.

"In fact, it is not necessary to have a well in every household in a short period of time, just dig one in each village first, and survive the drought in an emergency."

"In this way, it will not be a problem to build dams or continue to dig wells in the future."

"Moreover, the quality of the well water is generally good, and it is also suitable for people to drink."

Qin Fan said to himself.

Li Shimin thought for a while, and then said: "If there is still no rain in five days, then you can only order to dig a well." ”

In fact, the most important thing in digging a well is not the process of digging, but the exploration of water.

Where it is suitable for digging wells, and where there is the least amount of work, it is all passable (this chapter is not finished!). )

Chapter 171: Digging a Well

observed.

But Datang rarely has such professionals.

So, the well is not easy to dig!

Suddenly, Li Shimin seemed to think of something and asked:

"Brother Qin, do you think our gunpowder can be used to dig wells?"

When Qin Fan heard this, he could only shake his head: "When the situation of this groundwater is unknown, rashly using gunpowder to explode may cause water to flow out of other explosions, and the gains outweigh the losses!" ”

"Besides, if you dig in some places with thin rock formations, once gunpowder is used, I am afraid that it will directly lead to subsidence!"

"When the well is not dug out, people will be trapped!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin hurriedly shook his head and said, "It's better not to be good!" Don't be sorry! ”

The group walked and stopped all the way, and they were constantly observing the people's livelihood around them.

But the situation is not encouraging.

The persistent high temperatures have dried up a lot of grain.

Even when the carriage passed by, the group saw the old man who was working because he couldn't stand the heat and suffered from heat stroke!

In this regard, although Li Shimin immediately sent someone to help, there was no way to dissuade him.

After all, if the grain dies, the people will starve to death.

In order to protect the food, they had to endure the high temperatures and carry water one by one by the river far away.

And the price is heat stroke, just like the old man Qin Fan saw on the road.

Li Shimin sighed.

It's useless to save one or two people like this.

Such a drought is not a loss of virtue on the part of the king!

It would be foolish to listen to the mediocre officials in the court, fast, bathe, pray, and ask God for help.

Instead of praying to the heavens: all sides are guilty, and sin is bowing.

It's better to find a way to dig a well and save the people!

The withered yellow crops, fainting farmers, and the number of displaced people gradually began to increase, making Li Shimin realize that a crisis was gradually approaching the Tang Dynasty.

Yes, in some areas, the failure of the harvest is a foregone conclusion.

However, this year's autumn tax has not yet been collected.

If the people continue to stay where they are, they will not reap anything.

There will be no food to pay taxes at all!

And leaving the place of residence and becoming a homeless person has no obligation to pay grain tax.

At the same time, maybe you can eat the relief food from the government!

If you want to say that this is what the people are willing to do, even the eldest grandson Wuji does not believe it.

If it weren't for the last resort, who would want to abandon their hard-earned land.

What about leaving home with a family and going to be a helpless homeless person?

You must know that once you become a homeless person, many rights are not guaranteed.

There is no land to plant and no house to live in.

It's eating, it's all a problem!

Luckily, I found a job in a foreign country that could support my family.

And if you are unlucky, you can only become a beggar!

Rely on the immediate help of well-wishers and the relief of the government.

But in such a year, it is the landlord's house, and there is not much surplus grain!

It is very difficult to get help.

Li Shimin let out a long sigh: "Hey! It's hard! ”

Chapter 171: Digging a Well