Chapter Seventy-Three: Fighting the Flood

Hongze Lake was already in the ocean at this time, and the turbulent water of the lake was about to overflow the lake embankment. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Liu Jingxuan came to the temporary barracks of Zhang Pengxi, the governor of Zhihe, and hurriedly turned over and dismounted.

After learning of Liu Jingxuan's identity, the guards of the barracks hurriedly reported to the interior.

After a while, Zhang Pengxi took Chen Pengnian and others out to greet him in person.

Liu Jingxuan handed over the horse to the military service, and then bowed down and saluted: "The lower officials see Lord Zhang and Lord Chen." ”

Zhang Pengxi pulled Liu Jingxuan up and said, "Lord Liu, don't be polite. This is not a place to speak, please inside. ”

Everyone came to the tent, and Zhang Pengxi pointed out the tent. At this time, the sky was raining heavily, and the clouds swept the sky and the earth, and the rumbling thunder and the lightning whistling across the sky made people shudder.

Zhang Pengxi looked sad and said: "Recently, the autumn rain has continued, the water of the Yellow River has skyrocketed, and Hongze Lake is about to overflow. The Holy Lord allocated four million taels of silver and asked us to block the Yellow River and not cause floods. Therefore this official has summoned you here to discuss the matter. I wonder if there is any good way for Lord Liu?"

Liu Jingxuan pondered for a long time and said: "Xiaguan has seen just now that the water situation is already critical at this moment, and it is impossible to block the lake embankment!"

Zhang Pengxi frowned and was silent. He doesn't know the current situation, but the king's fate is difficult, how can he not block it.

Chen Pengnian opened his mouth and said, "Lord Liu, in your opinion, what should we do?"

Liu Jingxuan said four words with a cold face: "Dig a ditch and discharge the flood." Although these four words are not loud, they are loud and sonorous. The people in the tent couldn't help but look up at Liu Jingxuan in surprise.

Liu Jingxuan walked to the table, pointed to the map on the table, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please take a look." The water in Hongze Lake will overflow as soon as tomorrow, and a canal leading to Gaoyou Lake must be dug quickly. The canal between Gaoyou Lake and Shao Bo Lake can be dug later, but not too long. I have been digging the riverbed of the Jiajiang River for two months, and although the river is still a little narrow, as long as it is connected to the Yangtze River, the flood can be alleviated. ”

Zhang Pengxi's face sank like water, shook his head and said: "I'm afraid it's too late to excavate Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake at this moment." And once the flood is discharged, more than a dozen towns under the jurisdiction of Jinhu County may become an ocean!"

Liu Jingxuan's face showed an anxious look and said, "It's still too late to transfer the people away. If Jinhu County is not sacrificed, I am afraid that the embankment of the Yellow River will collapse, and the areas of Wuhe, Xuyi, Mingguang, Lai'an, Baoying, and Tianchang will become an ocean. If the flood does not flow into the Yangtze River, Yangzhou and Nanjing will also be unprotected. Don't hesitate again!"

Zhang Pengxi looked at Chen Pengnian and the surrounding county officials.

Chen Pengnian looked at Zhang Pengxi and nodded, agreeing.

Zhang Pengxi clenched his hands into fists, his brows were tightly locked, and he worked hard for a long time, but in the end he couldn't make up his mind.

Zhang Pengxi saw Liu Jingxuan's eager eyes, and muttered: "This matter is important, let the old man think twice." ”

"Think twice, Lord Zhang, how can you hesitate here now. Yoo-sama has a point. In my opinion, let's do it. As he spoke, two people walked in outside the tent, both dressed in robes and hats.

When Zhang Pengxi saw the two of them, he hurriedly knelt down and saluted: "Knock on the fourth master and the thirteenth master." ”

The rest of the people immediately fell to their knees.

The people who came were the fourth prince Yinzhen and the thirteenth prince Yinxiang.

Yinzhen walked in front of Zhang Pengxi, put his hands around Zhang Pengxi, and said, "Lord Zhang, I can't afford your gift as a governor." ”

Zhang Pengxi said respectfully: "A petty official who is only a lowly official from a grade, even if he is a good grade, he is also a minister of the fourth master and the thirteenth master, where can he dare to be a little disrespectful in front of the master." ”

Yin Zhen glanced at the kneeling people around him: "Get up." ”

Only then did everyone thank them and stand up one after another.

Yin Zhen walked in front of Liu Jingxuan and looked Liu Jingxuan up and down.

Although Liu Jingxuan stood up, his forehead was slightly lowered, and his eyes looked at Yinzhen's feet.

"Lord Liu is really dignified, and as soon as he speaks, he has far-reaching insights. ”

Liu Jingxuan said softly: "Xiaguan's words made the fourth master, the thirteenth master and all the adults laugh. ”

Yin Zhen shook his head: "Why should Lord Liu be too modest. Mr. Zhang, as I said just now, let's do it according to Mr. Liu's opinion. ”

Zhang Pengxi still hesitated a little and said: "This consequence is real... , I'm afraid the lower officials can't afford this responsibility. ”

Yin Zhen's face sank: "Hey, why did Lord Zhang say this? Today, the saint is so important to you, so he ordered you to be the governor of the river, don't you have these responsibilities? Today's things, you can let go and do it, I will take care of it." ”

Zhang Pengxi's face was as pale as a red cloth, he was silent for a moment, and bowed to Yinzhen: "Obey orders." ”

Zhang Pengxi turned to Chen Pengnian and said, "Lord Chen." ”

Chen Pengnian hurriedly stepped forward: "Xia Guan is here." ”

Zhang Pengxi's face turned straight and said, "I order you to lead 100,000 people to dig three ditches to Gaoyou Lake." If it's too late, sectional excavation is also OK. ”

Chen Pengnian bowed down and replied, "The subordinate officer receives the order." After that, he walked out of the big tent.

Zhang Pengxi said to Liu Jingxuan: "Lord Liu, I order you to lead 100,000 people to dig Gaoyou Lake to the Yangtze River. ”

Liu Jingxuan received the order and was just about to turn around.

Zhang Pengxi hurriedly said, "Lord Liu, stay and stay." ”

Liu Jingxuan was stunned for a moment, and turned to look at Zhang Pengxi.

Zhang Pengxi walked in front of Liu Jingxuan in two steps, patted Liu Jingxuan's shoulder, and said solemnly: "Lord Liu, be careful." The burden of thousands of catties falls on your shoulders, don't let down the fourth master's trust in you. ”

Liu Jingxuan gave a deep salute, and then hurriedly walked out of the tent.

Zhang Pengxi ordered all prefecture and county officials to quickly evacuate the people to high places to take refuge. He also sent people to Anhui to inquire about the situation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. In the end, Zhang Pengxi personally commanded 3,000 officers and soldiers, responsible for the transportation of stones, equipment, grain, ships and other materials.

The rain was still falling, Chen Pengnian stood on a hill, looking at the direction of Hongze Lake from afar, his eyebrows twisted into a pimple.

100,000 people fought day and night, and at the same time dug three ditches to lead to Gaoyou Lake. But time is still too tight. Before the ditch was dug, the rumbling roar was already heard from afar, and the embankment to the south of Hongze Lake had been washed away. The flood roared along the half-dug ditch and rushed towards Jinhu County.

The men who were digging ditches dropped their shovels and pickaxes and ran to the heights with their lives.

I saw the turbid waves in the distance, rushing to Jinhu County along the diversion canal. Where no ditches were dug, the flood water roared across the levees and raged in all directions. More than a dozen villages and towns around Jinhu County instantly became a vast ocean.

Chen Pengnian looked at the rushing flood and the flooded houses, as well as the shouts of a large number of villagers in the distance, and his heart was like cooking oil.