Chapter 94 The Young Master Returns

Qin Zhaoqiong and his party stayed in Xiagao County for only two hours. After checking the embankment and water level, they went upstream and arrived at Jinti County upstream today.

This place is the top priority for water management in the entire Hanoi Prefecture. It is located in the middle reaches of the Yuchuan River, and the river channel is mostly flat and wide.

There are twelve dams in the main river channel to control the water level layer by layer.

The river channels in Jinti County are extremely complex and crisscrossed, and have always been the focus of water control. The imperial court has invested a lot of money in it every year.

The effects of dams are also different:

Some are used to dredge and divert river water, divert water for irrigation during droughts, and discharge floodwaters and sediment during floods;

Some are used to change water courses to prevent dangerous river bends and excessive impact.

Qin Zhaoqiong did not dare to delay for a moment and inspected the condition of the dam and water level along the way.

Even the officials of the Tiangong Division could not endure the heavy workload, and finally they were all mounted in pairs, led by the imperial guards on horseback to reduce physical exertion.

There is no other way. The water situation in Jinti County is too complicated, and I have to accompany him and explain the water control strategy at any time.

Qin Zhaoqiong still has enough physical strength. Although the secret palace technique she practices is only at the sixth level, her foundation is as solid as a rock.

Just seeing the precarious water level, there was an indelible worry between his brows.

"Your Highness, we must stop and rest! If we continue like this, neither humans nor horses can bear it!" Meng Jian rode forward and advised.

Qin Zhaoqiong originally wanted to survey the water conditions in this section and then go straight to Longmen County upstream.

But Meng Jian came to persuade her personally. She looked back and found that most of the imperial guards were exhausted, and some horses were even foaming at the mouth.

Not to mention the officials of the Tiangong Division and Jinti County, who fell limply into the arms of the imperial guards like a rag bag.

If you let go, you will probably fall off the horse.

Pursing her lips, Qin Zhaoqiong ordered a rest.

In order to grasp the water conditions in the three states and establish intelligence stations along the way, many imperial guards have been dispatched, and now there are only 3,000 soldiers left.

The team changed their route and headed to the nearest village. Soon, wisps of smoke rose from the entire village.

All the big pots and small stoves were used, and they worked hard to boil water and make ginger soup.

Many horses were almost exhausted, and the imperial guards were heartbroken, but they had no time to care about that at the moment and could only feed them with bean cakes.

I had just finished serving and entered the house. I forced myself to drink a bowl of hot ginger soup and fell asleep.

In the village chief's house, Jinti County Magistrate had just drunk some ginger soup, but his body was still shaking uncontrollably.

After being shaken on the horse for half a day, I almost fell apart.

At this moment, he didn't care about etiquette and sat in the hall, breathing heavily.

Two oil lamps were lit on the table. Qin Zhaoqiong was checking the waterway map of Jinti County. His brows were covered with frost and he was silent.

"Your Highness, please take a rest."

"No problem."

I've even gone three days and three nights without sleep while leading troops in battle, so this little bit of fatigue is nothing.

However, when the guards brought him hot soup and rice, he did not refuse. He ate and drank enough to feel strong.

After Lord Wang, the chief engineer of the Tiangong Division, recovered, he was immediately invited back into the house to discuss flood control.

Just as I started talking, there was a sudden noise outside.

After a dozen breaths, the room suddenly became bright.

Qin Zhaoqiong raised her head, her eyes a little confused. After a while, she reacted, jumped up from her seat and ran straight to the door, almost bumping into Meng Jian who was entering the room.

"Your Highness," Meng Jian clasped his fists, his face filled with uncontrollable joy, "The rain has stopped!"

Qin Zhaoqiong's breathing suddenly stopped, but she still insisted on walking out.

The afternoon sun shone down, bathing his handsome face. At this moment, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally... the rain stopped...

The dark clouds dispersed, just like the shadow that shrouded everyone's heart.

The imperial guards on duty couldn't help but cheer. This horrible weather was really exhausting.

"Leave a hundred men to take turns patrolling and guarding, continue to send out scouts to monitor the water level along the way, and the rest of you to rest."

"yes!"

God bless the great drought, giving the three states a chance to breathe, but we cannot be careless, as the flood season cannot last only a few days.

The soldiers can rest, but the general cannot. Qin Zhaoqiong grabs General Wang and the Jinti County Magistrate to continue discussing water control matters.

She considered the worst-case scenario and, based on the water level, predicted which villages should be abandoned and where to release the floodwaters.

After half an hour, as the current water level information was sent back one after another, a rough strategy was worked out.

Although the Jinti County Magistrate was not as decisive and resourceful as the Chiyan County Magistrate, he dealt with water all day long and had made a lot of preparations in advance.

There are sandbags to strengthen the dike and block the water, and thousands of laborers are ready to rescue and provide disaster relief at any time.

Moreover, the relief food from the imperial court had arrived, and he had enough confidence to use work in lieu of relief.

After deciding on a strategy, Qin Zhaoqiong went to rest without being reminded.

——————

In Longmen County, after the weather cleared up, people took to the streets again after a long absence.

The imperial court mixed a large amount of bran into the disaster relief grain. The news spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and soon the streets and alleys were filled with complaints.

Under the excitement of the crowd, even the neighborhood head and village head could no longer suppress it, and a large number of people flocked to the county government office.

The city gate was deserted at this time, with a carriage parked guarding the gate.

The soldiers guarding the gate were all polite because this was the carriage of the drug dealer Li family, and it was the old manager himself who came.

Because of the previous food shortage, the Li family also took out their own reserves and provided porridge for seven or eight days in a row.

They are all made from fine grains, and are so thick that you can stick chopsticks in them!

Not only that, they also provide free medical consultations to patients, and only charge a small fee for the medicinal materials. They are a very good and conscientious merchant.

After waiting for about an incense stick of time, two carriages appeared in the distance, and the driver in the front was Lou Wu.

When we got closer, the old shopkeeper had already come to greet us.

Before the carriage came to a complete stop, the curtain opened and the young man jumped out.

"My young master!" the old shopkeeper yelled, his body shaking with excitement.

Li Xuan showed a big smile on his face, took two quick steps and held his arm.

"Old thing, hard and tough?"

Feeling the steady strength on his arm, the old shopkeeper smiled, "Not bad, I can accompany the young master for a few more years."

"You'll have to endure for a few more years, but you can't wait until I get married and have children. Or wait until you teach my son how to use an abacus before you close your eyes?"

"Young Master, you're joking. The Master must let me study. Using an abacus is not an option."

Li Xuan curled his lips and said nothing.

"Hurry up and get in the car and go home. We've prepared a welcoming banquet and are waiting for you."

"Okay."

The soldiers guarding the gate also joined in the fun, "Young Master Li is back."

The old shopkeeper quickly bowed and said, "Yes, I finally returned safely."

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you so much..."

The three carriages drove into the city and soon encountered angry people. Li Xuan also learned about the disaster relief food.

However, everyone recognized the emblem on the carriage and showed respect to the Li family for providing free porridge and medical treatment, so no one offended them.

Soon, they drove smoothly into Li's house.

As soon as the door was closed, Li Xuan's face darkened, "Where's my dad?"