Xuanyuan Zhan waved to Ye Feng, signaling him to get to work.
Knowing he couldn't persuade Xuan Yuanzhan, Ye Feng gave the officials meaningful glances.
The officials, receiving a signal from Ye Feng, all looked at Xuan Yuanzhan.
"Your Highness, please leave the drawing of the blueprints to me. You may go and rest."
"Yes, leave this to us. You haven't slept for days, you should go and get some rest."
"Ignore me, you may continue."
Xuanyuan Zhan said something, then glared at Ye Feng.
Ye Feng didn't dare to say anything more and turned to get to work.
That night, Xuanyuan Zhan was indeed forced to sleep for a while, but he only slept lightly for two hours.
It was only four in the morning when Xuanyuan Zhan woke up.
When he came back, the officials had almost finished drawing the blueprints.
"Your Highness, do you think this will work?"
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at the drawings they had made and was very satisfied: "According to our plan, how long will it take to dig through the Baichuan River and the Beiliang River?"
The officials thought for a moment and said, "It depends on manpower. More manpower will make it faster, and fewer manpower will make it slower. But at the latest, it should take at least half a year to divert the water from Baichuan River to Beiliang River."
Because of the long-term drought, the Beiliang River has long since dried up.
If they could really get the water from the Baichuan River into the Beiliang River, then their entire northern region would be saved.
Xuanyuan Zhan pondered that he should find more people to go with him this time to dig the river channel, and use all the people who could be used.
The sooner the water is brought into the Beiliang River, the sooner he can return to the capital, and the sooner the people of the north can get rid of the water shortage.
With the irrigation from the Beiliang River, the crops that everyone grows will have a chance to survive, and the people of Beiliang will have a chance to live!
At dawn, people were already lining up outside to receive their grain.
The soldiers also started cooking porridge and steaming buns.
Xuanyuan Zhan ate a simple meal with several officials, and then asked Ye Yun to gather the people who had registered the day before.
Xuanyuan Zhan himself went to count the 60,000 soldiers, preparing to take them along to dig the river.
He brought 100,000 soldiers with him this time, but not all of them could be taken to dig the river. He also had to take care of the refugees in the five northern cities and watch over the bandits in the prison. So he selected 60,000 soldiers, which was enough for the initial digging.
Before long, Ye Yun brought over the people from the five northern cities who had registered the day before.
"Your Highness, the people have been brought."
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at them and saw that they were all in good health. These farmers seemed to have some strength, so he felt relieved.
Xuanyuan Zhan led his men in a grand procession towards the Beiliang River.
The Beiliang River is located just outside Bei'an City. The Beiliang River is actually quite large, running through the five cities of the entire northern region.
Unfortunately, the northern region has suffered from severe drought in recent years, and the once abundant Beiliang River has gradually dried up.
If the water from all the rivers could be diverted to the Beiliang River, then all five cities in the north would have water, which is why they chose to divert water from the Beiliang River.
However, if the water of Baichuan River is diverted to Beiliang River, the water level of Baichuan River will definitely decrease significantly, and Baichuan City may also experience water shortages.
After all, Baichuan City, which is very close to the North, is also suffering from drought, just not as severely as the North.
With the water from the Baichuan River diverted, Baichuan City will likely face a drought soon.
Moreover, the current method of diverting water from hundreds of rivers to the north can only alleviate the northern region's difficulties temporarily. To completely solve the drought problem in the north, the south-to-north water diversion project is the ultimate solution.
Fortunately, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is nearing completion. If digging is carried out on both sides simultaneously, the time required will be greatly reduced, and it may be completed in a year or two.
Xuanyuan Zhan left half of the soldiers and two water conservancy officials at the Beiliang River, instructing them to dig a channel from the Beiliang River toward the Baichuan River according to the drawings made by the water conservancy officials the night before.
The other half of the soldiers and the other two water conservancy officials were taken to the Baichuan River by Xuanyuan Zhan.
Baichuan City is quite a distance from the northern lands.
They walked for a day and a night before reaching the Baichuan River.
The people of the north were all thrilled when they saw the river.
The people all lay down on the riverbank and drank the river water voraciously; they hadn't drunk such clean and clear water in far too long.
The soldiers, having spent several days in the north, were also parched and followed suit, lying down by the river to drink.
After they had all drunk their fill, Xuan Yuanzhan told them to rest for a while, since they had been traveling for a day and a night.
But the people were not having it.
"Your Highness, we don't need to rest; we have plenty of energy!"
"Yes, just tell us how you want us to dig, and we'll do whatever you say."
"Your Highness, please let us start digging. The sooner we can dig the river, the sooner our northern lands will no longer be short of water."
The people of the north will also have water to drink.
They hope their family can drink this clear, sweet river water soon.
Seeing how excited and energetic they were, Xuanyuan Zhan stopped being coy and instructed the water conservancy officials to direct everyone to start digging the river channel.
The soldiers and civilians immediately began digging with great effort.
Unlike the dried-up Beiliang River, digging into the Baichuan River, which still has water, is somewhat dangerous. Therefore, Xuanyuan Zhan told them to be careful.
Since two meals were provided, Xuanyuan Zhan brought a considerable amount of food with him this time.
Xuanyuan Zhan first sent some soldiers to build earthen stoves on the open plain next to him and start cooking porridge and steaming buns.
In addition, some soldiers were dispatched to set up some simple tents on both sides of the river.
Baichuan City is quite far from the northern lands. It would take two days and two nights to travel there and back on foot, so it's impossible to go back every day.
Given the tight schedule for dredging the river, it would be better to have them all live next to the river.
It's April now, the cold weather is over, and it won't be cold even if you stay in a tent.
While everyone was busy at work, Fang Su, the prefect of Baichuan City, heard that Xuan Yuanzhan was leading people to dig their Baichuan River, so he immediately led a group of people to rush over.
Fang Su saw Xuan Yuanzhan riding a horse from afar. When he got closer, he saw his majestic and awe-inspiring demeanor and instantly knew that he was the Holy King.
Fang Su hurriedly ran over and bowed: "Your humble servant, Fang Su, the prefect of Baichuan City, pays his respects to Your Highness."
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at him, then looked at the group of people he had brought, and frowned, saying, "You've come for the Hundred Rivers River."
Upon hearing Xuan Yuanzhan's words, the people and soldiers who were digging the riverbed instinctively stopped what they were doing and all looked towards the riverbank.
Prefect Baichuan must be here to stop them from digging the canal!
I heard that the people of Baichuan City value their Baichuan River very much. Previously, when the people of the North wanted to borrow water from Baichuan, they refused.
Now, I'm afraid they won't be allowed to draw water from all the rivers!
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