The two people who announced the decree originally came from the capital, and they only needed to find County Magistrate Zhang in Xiping County to complete the handover.
But I heard that the county magistrate went to Qianniu Village early in the morning, specifically to see the water coming out of the "secret canal".
And their destination this time was Qianniu Village.
In the capital, news about the drought in the north and the complete loss of grain was everywhere, but the court had no food. His Royal Highness Prince Rui became ill due to anxiety and had not attended court for several days.
The new emperor wanted to release grain, but that was military grain, and he had no power, so he naturally had no say in the matter.
Bailiff Li Xiang and his apprentice walked along the way and felt that the wind here was very hot and they could hardly breathe.
If there was a river in front of them, they would want to jump into the river like a cow to cool off.
But along the way, we only saw a shallow stream on the huge riverbed, struggling to crawl forward.
In the north, even rivers are rare.
Even so, there were still villagers gathering in groups of three or four to fetch the muddy water from the river that was about to dry up.
As the two entered the city and arrived at the Xiping County Government Office, they heard the people talking about it.
"I heard that the county magistrate went to Qianniu Village to see the water coming out of the "underground canal"!
"Oh my goodness! That's Qianniu Mountain, and along with the adjacent Tiger Mountain, it stretches for thousands of miles. How could they possibly dig through it? I don't know what the county magistrate is thinking. Why is he still digging instead of asking the court for help?"
"We've been digging for so long, whether we can dig it through or not, there should be some news!"
"For hundreds of years in our northern land, there has been a severe drought every fifty years. The rivers have dried up, and the wells are barely enough to sustain life.
If the county magistrate can really lead the men to dig the culvert this time, I will erect a "longevity monument" for the county magistrate and kowtow to the ancestors of the Shen family."
"Even if we dig out water, can we use it for our crops? I think it's useless!"
"If only we could divert the water, we'd be saved."
Most people in Xiping County did not take the digging of the underground canal seriously.
They are not like farmers who make a living by working in the fields. They have family assets and businesses, and they just need to keep their businesses going.
At worst, I can just move to another place and I have the money.
Those without family backgrounds also adapted to life in the city. Even if they became peddlers, brokers, grooms, accountants, clerks, midwives, laundrymen, etc., they all found their own way.
However, it is very dry now and life is more difficult than in previous years.
Recently, farmers who came to the county town to attend the market brought news that the "underground canal" in Qianniu Village was almost dug through, and other villages had also started excavation work.
The curiosity of the people in the county town gradually spread.
But no one has seen it with their own eyes. They say they can't believe it, but they are secretly looking forward to it in their hearts.
Therefore, Zhang Jinnian went to Qianniu Village in person to witness the arrival of the miracle.
The people in the county town were waiting for news.
In the Xiping County Yamen, Li Xiang and his apprentice had just taken a sip of water when they heard several yamen runners whispering nearby.
A tall, thin yamen runner said firmly, "We can definitely dig out water. I went with you to see that day, and there was water at the bottom of the mother well."
"Really?" The young yamen runner, who was wearing ill-fitting clothes, straightened his body and asked after being touched on the shoulder by the tall yamen runner.
The taller yamen runner covered the other's ears with his hands and whispered, "Master Li, even Master Li said that the water can be brought down.
Seeing the dazed look on the young yamen runner's face, the voice paused for a moment and then said with a smug smile: "Master Li is from the capital."
"Brother Yue, is this true? Then my mother won't have to worry about our family not having enough water to eat."
The young yamen runner looked very excited.
"Master, why don't we go and take a look? We can go and announce the imperial decree while we're at it!"
Kuai Wei was another bailiff who was forced in by someone.
Li Xiang quietly finished a cup of tea and looked at the yamen runners. "You two, take us to Qianniu Village."
Although the two men were exhausted from the journey, there was still a sense of authority in their words, and Pang Yue and the yamen runner named Sanniu immediately felt the pressure.
“Yes, yes!”
Two yamen runners led the officials towards Qianniu Village.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the village, I heard the cheers of the villagers.
I saw water flowing out of the canal not far away. The temperature of the whole village was lower than that outside. Kuai Wei couldn't help but widen his eyes.
Li Xiang, who was ten years older than him, was so frightened that his eyelids almost fell off.
It seems that this trip to the North has really yielded some results. We must send the news back quickly and get hold of the person who came up with the secret channel method. That would be a great achievement.
Li Xiang thought secretly.
County Magistrate Zhang was surprised when he saw the yamen runners bringing in two officials.
But he also quickly stepped forward and greeted, "I am Zhang Jinnian, the magistrate of Xiping County. May I ask what my address should be to you two gentlemen? What is the important matter?"
The older man bowed and said, "I am Li Xiang, the bailiff, and this is my apprentice, Kuai Wei. We have been ordered to come and find a member of the Shen clan to deliver the decree."
County Magistrate Zhang was surprised. He had not reported the matter of the "secret channel" to the court yet, so how could the court know about it so quickly?
Could it be...? No! This person is a bailiff!
County Magistrate Zhang's expression changed slightly.
The official named Li Xiang looked at the people of Qianniu Village and said loudly, "Are there any relatives of the former Minister of Revenue Shen Congzheng and the former Right Secretary of the Ministry of Rites Shen Qizhu here?"
The faces of the Shen Fugui brothers turned pale instantly.
Because their father's name was Shen Qi'an, and the male members of the Shen family's generation were named after him, then Shen Qizhu was their cousin.
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