Chapter 167 The Storm is Coming

Zhao Sicheng found Ouyang Ye and told him his idea. After all, such a big thing as using explosives still needed Ouyang Ye's approval.

Ouyang Ye called Zhou Da again and repeatedly confirmed each step. After making sure that the safety of everyone could be guaranteed, he nodded cautiously.

The group took their gunpowder and traveled through mountains and rivers for four hours before arriving at the mountain road.

On one side of the mountain road was the floodwaters from the bursting of the Luojiang River, and on the other side was a steep slope with surging river water below.

Only by blasting the mountain road and allowing the flood water to flow into the river below can the next step of post-disaster reconstruction in Long'an County be carried out.

Zhou Da made a long fuse and buried the gunpowder in the correct position according to Zhao Sicheng's instructions. Then everyone stood in an absolutely safe place a hundred steps away.

Zhou Da was about to go forward with a fire starter to light the fuse, but was stopped by Ouyang Ye.

"You step back." Ouyang Ye took the fire starter in his own hand, stepped forward to light the fuse, and then quickly returned to a safe area.

Sparks quickly leaped from under the crowd's feet toward the mountain road ahead. There was a loud "boom", and dust flew everywhere in an instant. Everyone squatted down with their heads in their hands.

The pungent smell of gunpowder filled the air, along with thick smoke.

After everything dissipated, they could see clearly - the mountain road in the distance began to collapse, and rolling sand and rocks rolled down the slope. Then the accumulated water on the other side began to flow down the collapsed area like a waterfall.

Song Mian was stunned and couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.

"Was that... thunder?"

Zhou Da smiled modestly, "It's just a big firecracker."

Ouyang Ye's beard trembled and his face turned a little pale.

Recalling the last time Zhou Da tried this thing called "firecrackers" in the academy, it turned out to be just a trial run.

Zhao Sicheng bowed to Song Mian and said, "After the flood is over, the dam can be reinforced again. The students thought that wooden or stone piles could be embedded in the foundation to increase stability.

In addition, the dam was destroyed, in addition to the high water level, there is also the problem that the dam material is poor and easily penetrated by water. Therefore, a layer of stone slabs needs to be laid on the surface of the dam to enhance anti-seepage. "

Song Mian nodded in approval. Zhao Sicheng sounded quite professional, just as good as himself as a naval doctor. He couldn't help but admire his talent.

Song Mian said to Ouyang Ye: "Mr. Ouyang, I see that this kid has some knowledge of water conservancy. Can he follow me for a few days and share some of the work?"

Ouyang Ye naturally agreed.

"Okay. I received news last night that the supplies that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince raised for three thousand taels of silver would originally take seven or eight days to be transported to Long'an County. But now that the flood has been drained, the road will be much easier to travel, and it should be transported within five days.

While it hasn't rained in the past few days, once the supplies arrive, you can work harder and follow me to supervise the construction of the dam. Speaking of which, the gentleman who transported the supplies seemed to have been a student of your academy before. "

"Oh?" The other three couldn't help but wonder.

Song Mian thought for a moment, "Oh, the last name is Xu, I think his name is...Xu Shiming."

…

September 9th is the Double Ninth Festival.

On the official road leading to Long'an County, a convoy was driving hard on the bumpy road.

The car was loaded with materials such as wood, stone, bamboo and grass, as well as digging tools, daily necessities and so on.

A large "Eastern Palace" flag was hoisted on the carriage, and guard captain Li Yan was riding on the horse, his face as if his father had died.

I'm really unlucky to have picked up this tough job. I don't want to stay in the capital city, but to come to this godforsaken place to transport supplies.

A man rode his horse towards the team from the front, saluted Li Yan, stopped in front of a carriage at the front of the team, and shouted:

"Reporting to Lord Xu and Eunuch Zhao, the accumulated water in Long'an County has been drained, so we don't need to use small boats to transport supplies. It's just that the land is muddy, so it will be difficult for carriages and horses to travel."

The curtain of the carriage was gently lifted by a few slender fingers, revealing the young and handsome face of the man.

Xu Shiming was wearing a light blue robe, which was very simple in style, without any complicated decorations, and looked natural.

He wore a vegetarian hat and had long hair half loose, which gave him a sense of otherworldliness.

"If we don't need to change boats, how many days will it take to arrive?" Xu Shiming's clear voice came from the carriage.

"If we hurry, we can arrive early tomorrow morning."

Xu Shiming nodded and then lowered the curtains.

In the carriage, Eunuch Zhao was wearing a black robe and a tall crown. He smiled at Xu Shiming and said, "Mr. Xu knows how to interpret the will of heaven. If everything goes well in this disaster relief mission, I think he will be close to being the Prince's groom."

"If that's true, the first person Shiming wants to thank is you, Eunuch Zhao." Xu Shiming smiled humbly.

Eunuch Zhao looked at the sky outside and saw that it was almost time for lunch, so he ordered the convoy to rest on the spot.

There are many muddy roads ahead, so we will set off again after everyone has rested for a while.

Xu Shiming also got off the carriage, holding a disc-like object in his arms, covered with a black cloth. He walked to an open space, untied the black cloth, and revealed the weather observation instrument inside.

Eunuch Zhao came over and asked curiously what it was.

"Magic weapon." Xu Shiming said as a matter of course.

He laid the observation instrument flat on the ground, and the feathers on the weather vane fluttered gently.

It's a southeast wind.

The balance used to record air humidity is no longer usable. Longan has been experiencing heavy rain for several days and the humidity of the air can no longer be measured using this simple instrument.

Xu Shiming looked at the barometer again and his expression suddenly became serious.

In the Jiangzhou area, it is easy to rain whenever there is an east wind. At this time, the southeast wind started to blow and the air pressure began to drop.

It is a sign of heavy rain.

Xu Shiming's face was solemn and he said in a firm tone, "Eunuch Zhao, please pass the order immediately. The convoy should stop resting and set off now. We must arrive in Long'an County tonight!"

"Why?" Eunuch Zhao was puzzled.

According to the current road conditions, it would be considered fast if we could arrive early tomorrow morning. If we want to reach Long'an tonight, we must travel without stopping from now on.

"It is very likely that there will be heavy rain tonight. If the roads are flooded again, I don't know how long it will take."

"Just a possibility?" Eunuch Zhao looked in Li Yan's direction, somewhat hesitant.

Xu Shiming said solemnly: "If it really rains and the river water rises, what should we do if something happens in Long'an County again? If the best time for disaster relief is delayed, and more people are killed or injured, you and I will be sinners."

Eunuch Zhao knew that Xu Shiming was right. He hesitated for a long time and said in embarrassment: "This... I'm afraid the captain of the guard will not agree."

Then he lowered his voice and said that the captain of the guard, Li Yan, was the nephew of the commander of the Five Cities Army and his cousin also worked as a staff member in the East Palace. Li Yan had a bad temper and it might be difficult to convince him.

Moreover, the post of the Crown Prince's Groom was vacant, and among the staff of the Eastern Palace, the most likely candidates were Xu Shiming and Li Yan's younger brother. If Xu Shiming really made a contribution in this disaster relief effort, then Li Yan's cousin would have no hope.

From a standpoint, it's good enough that Li Yan doesn't make trouble in secret. How could he possibly obey orders?

Xu Shiming frowned, but still insisted that they must set off immediately and rush to Long'an County at full speed.

Eunuch Zhao was helpless, but thought what Xu Shiming said made sense, so he had to go find Li Yan.

Although he was a close confidant of the prince, he was only a eunuch in the palace after all, so he had to be polite in front of Li Yan.

Li Yan was already furious about this mission, and when he heard that Eunuch Zhao had conveyed Xu Shiming's intention, that everyone should go without food, water or rest and rush to Long'an County at full speed, he immediately sneered.

"Why, Mr. Xu, just for the sake of his career, doesn't allow others to eat, drink, defecate, urinate, or sleep?

The lives of Long An and his men are important, but the lives of my brothers are not important?"

After saying that, he raised his hand and ordered, "Set up camp here, make a fire and cook!"