Under the early summer sun, the Peizhou Dam gleams with a bluish-gray luster, resembling a giant dragon lying between two mountains.
Standing at the bottom of the dam and looking up, Wang Xiuxiu saw that the dam was towering into the clouds, and every stone was perfectly fitted together.
"This is... Peizhou Dam?" Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but reach out and touch the cool dam body, feeling the unique smoothness of the stone through her fingertips.
Lu Jingze brushed the dust off her shoulders. "Yes."
He changed out of his princely attire and into a plain indigo suit, looking like an ordinary overseer.
"During the most difficult winter, the laborers carried stones one by one from a quarry twenty miles away using baskets on their backs."
Wang Xiuxiu's gaze softened.
Three years ago, when she handed over the 800,000 taels of silver earned from the first caravan to the national treasury, she never imagined that these cold silver ingots would be transformed into such a magnificent project.
At that time, the court officials were still debating the use of the money. It was the emperor and Lu Jingze who overruled the objections and insisted on eradicating the thousand-year-old flood problem in Peizhou.
"With the concerted efforts of the entire nation and the arduous labor of the 300,000 people of Peizhou, this magnificent masterpiece was built. So, Mr. Wang, are you satisfied?"
Wang Xiuxiu turned around, a glint of light in her eyes: "Don't make fun of me."
She pointed to the exquisite stone carvings on the dam, "These are... Liu's 'Double Dragons Dividing the Water' design?"
A look of surprise flashed in Lu Jingze's eyes: "You actually recognized me?"
He led Wang Xiuxiu to the center of the dam, saying, "Mr. Mingyuan has indeed inherited his ancestors' water management philosophy, but he is not bound by ancient methods. Look here—"
He crouched down, his fingers tracing a nearly invisible seam. "Traditional weirs are fixed, but Mr. Liu designed an adjustable gate here."
"That's not all." Lu Jingze's eyes gleamed with pride. "Mr. Liu also designed a sand-drainage channel at the bottom of the dam."
"The Pei River is full of silt, and the dams built in the past would silt up within three years. Now, the silt will drain out automatically from here," he said, pointing to several arched openings below the dam. "This will prevent siltation for at least fifty years."
Wang Xiuxiu bent down for a closer look and indeed saw that turbid mud and sand were being discharged from the cave entrance with the water flow, while the clear water continued to rush forward.
"I won't presume to go into the specific details; a more professional person will explain it to you in a moment."
Before he finished speaking, a middle-aged man dressed in an indigo short jacket and straw sandals strode quickly from the gate.
His skin was dark, and his hands were covered in calluses. At first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary craftsman, except for his bright, piercing eyes that revealed his extraordinary wisdom.
"This humble official, Liu Mingyuan, pays respects to His Highness Prince Jing and His Highness Consort Jing." As he bowed, a roll of blueprints tucked into his waistband rustled.
Lu Jingze quickly helped him up: "Mr. Liu, there's no need for such formality. Today we are merely students visiting; you are the teacher."
Liu Mingyuan smiled shyly, then turned and pointed to the giant sluice gate in the center of the dam: "Please allow me to begin with the 'Double Dragons Dividing the Water' concept. This was an idea conceived by my ancestor Liu Ze in his later years, but unfortunately, it could not be realized due to the limitations of financial resources and technology at the time."
He led the two to the top of the dam.
Wang Xiuxiu was surprised to find that there were two parallel waterways on the top of the dam, resembling two dragons swimming side by side.
"Ordinary dams only have one floodgate; when a flood comes, the gate is opened to release water, but the downstream areas still suffer."
"This 'double-dragon water diversion' system involves one channel flowing through the main riverbed and the other diverting to an abandoned old riverbed. When the water comes, we use precise calculations to ensure that the two streams collide at a calmer point ten miles away, thus dissipating the impact."
At his signal, several craftsmen turned the winch.
As the winch turned, the water flow split into two streams, rushing off to the left and right.
The most amazing thing is that the two streams of water have completely different speeds and flow rates, yet they form a dynamic balance.
The once flooded river is now as gentle as a ribbon, with rice paddies stretching like the sea on both banks, and villages dotting the landscape with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.
"Brilliant!" Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but clap her hands. "This way, floodwaters can be diverted during the flood season and water can be stored during the dry season!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Liu Mingyuan took out a bronze instrument from his robes. "This is a 'hydrological instrument' that I have improved. It can measure the water flow velocity and riverbed pressure in real time. Combined with the 'sound stones' located throughout the dam, it can determine the water situation even at night by sound."
Lu Jingze took the exquisite instrument, admiring it greatly: "Back then, I searched through the archives of the previous dynasty and found Mr. Liu Ze's 'Commentary on the Waterways Classic.' I knew that only his descendants could have accomplished such a feat. It took a tremendous amount of effort to find Mr. Liu deep in the mountains of Sichuan!"
Upon hearing this, a complex look flashed in Liu Mingyuan's eyes: "My ancestor offended powerful figures because of his efforts in flood control, and our family fell into decline. If it weren't for Your Highness's insistence, this 'Double Dragons Dividing the Water' design would probably be buried with me."
Before we knew it, the sun was setting, and the dam was bathed in a golden glow.
Liu Mingyuan stepped down, and Lu Jingze naturally took her hand and led her eastward along the top of the dam.
"Go take a look at the part you're most interested in."
Wang Xiuxiu noticed that Lu Jingze's palms had thick calluses.
According to my sister, the princess, during the years she traveled north and south to do business, he spent most of his time in Peizhou, except for occasionally returning to the capital to handle political affairs. He must have personally participated in many projects.
Upon reaching the east side of the dam, the view suddenly opens up.
The water flow here is cleverly divided into two channels: one continues eastward to irrigate farmland, while the other turns north and flows into the "Benefit the People Canal" that Wang Xiuxiu specifically proposed back then.
"Do you remember the first time we came to Peizhou?" Lu Jingze said softly, "You were handing out porridge to the disaster victims, wading through the mud, and the hem of your skirt was stained brown."
Wang Xiuxiu gazed at the newly built village in the distance: "How could I forget? The woman who knelt to thank us while holding her baby lived in what is now Daoxiang Village."
She turned to look at Lu Jingze, "You said back then that one day you would make sure the people of Peizhou were free from floods forever, and now... you've done it."
Lu Jingze shook his head: "We did it. Without your caravan, where would the national treasury have gotten the money to build the dam? Without your deep penetration into the northern and southern regions, what evidence would my brother and I have to debate with the scholars in the court?"
Lu Jingze pointed to the waterway to the north, "You said that the people north of Peizhou City would rather live in low-lying, flood-prone areas than relocate because their ancestral homes are there."
His eyes held a gentle smile. "Now, the 'Benefit-the-People Canal' not only solves the flood problem, but also irrigates their newly reclaimed hillside land."
Looking at the scattered villages in the distance, Wang Xiuxiu suddenly felt a tightness in her throat.
She witnessed firsthand the scene of people kneeling in the mud and crying after the flood.
Now, neat houses have been built on those ruins, and rice seedlings are green in the fields. Where can you see any trace of the flood?
"Lu Jingze..." She had just started to speak when she was interrupted by a burst of cheers.
It turned out that a group of people had spontaneously come to the foot of the dam and were kneeling and bowing to them.
There were elderly people with white hair, women holding babies, and even a few young children awkwardly bowing to Lu Jingze, imitating the adults.
Lu Jingze quickly waved for them to stand up, but when he turned around, he saw tears welling up in Wang Xiuxiu's eyes.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly, his fingertips brushing against the corner of her eye.
Wang Xiuxiu shook her head, tears streaming down her face: "I feel happy... all the hardships and struggles have been worth it at this moment."
Lu Jingze pulled the person into his arms and comforted him for a long time.
"Xiuxiu, are you still unwilling to reveal your identity? You made a great contribution to the construction of Peizhou Dam. If you make it public, you will be worshipped by thousands of people."
Wang Xiuxiu shook her head. "No, I didn't decide to do this for the sake of the people's praise. Besides, there are more important things for me to do, and my identity should not be revealed at this moment."
Lu Jingze felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was about to say something when he was interrupted by Liu Mingyuan, who had rushed over.
Liu Mingyuan, sweating profusely, said urgently, "Your Highness! An anomaly was discovered during the downstream patrol. I dare not make a decision on my own and have come to consult you!"
Lu Jingze's expression hardened, and he turned to Wang Xiuxiu, whispering, "I'll send someone to escort you back to the residence first. I'll be right back."
"good."
Watching Lu Jingze and Liu Mingyuan's figures gradually disappear into the distance, Wang Xiuxiu frowned slightly.
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