Chapter 48: Expanding the River (Part 2)
"We just need to widen the river channel and dig more small rivers to divert water so that it doesn't gather in one place. As for the villages near the county town, we can build ponds and raise fish there. The county town can also build a moat.
This will not only alleviate the flooding in the city, but also increase the county's defense capabilities!"
There are not many such opportunities. If he doesn't seize it, Lin Hongyuan is not sure whether there will be such an opportunity again after the county magistrate promotes another group of people.
Zhu Dayong's eyes lit up. He didn't care how to deal with the river or whether the villages and towns outside the city would be flooded, but it was definitely a big deal if the environment of the county could be changed.
He couldn't help but take it seriously. If he could get this done himself, then how long would it take for him to get promoted?
"Tell me specifically, how do we dig this moat?"
Zhu Dayong waved away the people who had gathered together, speaking in a low and anxious voice.
"Sir, I wonder if this river still needs a dam?"
Lin Hongyuan didn't want to be involved in the struggle for power, but he also didn't want to miss this rare opportunity in vain, so he wanted a promise.
"No more casting. You can do whatever you want. I don't care. Now, how do you build this moat?"
Zhu Dayong readily agreed to this matter, because if they really wanted to dig a moat for the county town, it would be estimated that the attention would be on the county town for a long time, and it would be easier to assign it here.
"500 meters away from each of the four gates of the county town, dig a channel three meters deep and five meters wide. It would be best if all four channels were connected together. Then, this moat could be dug outward to connect with the existing rivers in Lingnan.
As long as the moat is located lower than the county seat, the water accumulated in the city will naturally flow downhill. Fish and aquatic flowers can be cultivated in the river, making it possible to hold fishing competitions and enjoy the flowers.
In fact, digging a moat is very simple, it just requires a lot of manpower. Only Kyoto dug a moat in the entire city, and what Lingnan lacks the least is free labor.
"So simple?"
Zhu Dayong didn't believe that it was so simple to solve the problem that had been bothering everyone for decades?
If it was really that simple, why hadn't anyone thought of it before? Could it be that this person just made up a lie to try to get his request granted?
Thinking of this, he stared at Lin Hongyuan with sharp eyes, as if he wanted to see through him to see if he was lying.
"Imagine that the moat and the county town form a slope, and the moat is on the lower side. Wouldn't the water flow into it?
The channel dug outwards is only about half a meter below the ground, so that the water can flow down and will not be flooded even in heavy rains!"
Zhu Dayong thought about it carefully and it seemed to be the case.
"I'm very busy these days. Please clean up the river problem as soon as possible. These brothers will stay to look after you. They represent me, and I hope you won't overstep your bounds."
Zhu Dayong was afraid that these fugitives would not take the people he brought with him seriously. If a conflict occurred, it would be hard to say whether there would be casualties.
He called a few strong men aside and gave them some instructions.
"Before we came here, I also told you that you must strictly control the time and number of people. As for what they do, as long as they don't leave this area and don't slack off or do anything cunning, you don't have to worry about them.
Try not to get into conflict with these fugitives. There are so many of them that you will only suffer losses even if you unite!
You may be together for a long time. You can accept the money, but it must be given voluntarily. In the end, I will recommend you to the county magistrate."
"Brother, don't worry. I promise to keep a close eye on them. No one will dare to slack off."
"Brother Yong, I've remembered your instructions. Hehe, I'll have to trouble Brother Yong to take us to show our faces in front of the county magistrate!"
"Thank you, brother, for giving me this opportunity to save our family from this dire situation. Otherwise, we would have been unable to make ends meet."
The others also responded and nodded, indicating that they remembered it.
When Zhu Dayong was leaving, Lin Hongyuan stuffed a thousand taels of silver into his pocket.
Lin Hongyuan breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Zhu Dayong walk further and further away.
He also gave each of the people watching the scene a silver ingot and asked them to rest aside.
"I say, why did you drag me here? Didn't you handle it all by yourself?"
The old man's tone was subtle, with a hint of jealousy in his eyes.
"These people still need you. I'm new here and don't know anyone. If we want to solve the problem of the river flooding, we still need everyone to work together to solve the next problem.
Although this doesn't exempt us from military service, at least we won't have to spend the next few years soaking in water during heavy rain, putting our lives in danger at any moment!"
"Humph, since you're so sincere, I'll reluctantly help you with this!"
The old man agreed arrogantly and awkwardly.
The old man waved his hand, and a dozen skinny men with pale faces quickly approached here.
"What is it, Mr. Qu?"
"Mr. Qu, what happened? Why are all these officials nowhere to be seen today? One just showed up and ran away."
"Who is this?"
"This guy was just saying something to the officers. No matter how much silver you give them, it's useless. Flattery is useless."
"Ahem, everyone, listen to me. This young man has received a promise from the officials that he can solve the problem of the river flooding here.
I also provided him with a solution to the flooding in the county town. That is, the surrounding rivers will be repaired, and after this, we probably won't be submerged in water for several months."
After the old man finished speaking, everyone's expression was one of disbelief.
"Mr. Qu, is this true?"
"Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, I've been in the water three times, my body has already broken down. Telling me good news at this time, isn't this just piercing my heart?"
"Hahaha, my daughter is saved, hahaha!"
"What do you need us to do, Mr. Qu? Just give us your orders, and the people of our village will fully cooperate with your orders."
"Me too!"
"We too, take your orders!"
Lin Hongyuan didn't care about being ignored. His original intention was to make his family feel more relaxed and escape from such a horrible punishment as soon as possible.
Each of them got his own task and led his village away with a smile.
The few people who came to help and were sitting in the shade of a tree to avoid the rain were a little puzzled when they saw the smiling prisoners.
A: Do you think they are stupid?
B: You are stupid. You didn't hear them because they were allowed to solve the problem of river spreading as well.
C: I don’t understand. Please explain it more clearly.
Ding: So where are they going? Should we follow them?
Shu: Big brother told us before that as long as they don’t leave here, we shouldn’t care what they do.
Self: Stop making noise. I was woken up very early today. I want to take a nap.
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