Chapter 81 Heavy Rain, Potential for Flooding
It rained on the way back.
Just yesterday, when she went up the mountain, she looked at the sky and feared that there would be heavy rain.
It is currently the transition between spring and summer, a time of frequent rain.
Back at the restaurant, everyone asked how the tool matter was going.
Su Jingge was utterly exhausted: "I agree."
Everyone started cheering.
Su Jingge looked at them and smiled, then yawned:
"I need to go to sleep for a while."
"I'll leave it to you now."
-
The mine had only been operating for three days when someone in the restaurant said that it had been raining heavily for the past few days because Su Jingge had disturbed the mine, which was said to have angered the gods underground, causing the continuous rain.
Su Jingge laughed and said, "That's utter nonsense!"
She didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, but she still held them in awe.
While mining in the afternoon, the rain that had been falling since morning continued and even intensified.
Su Jingge looked at the sky; thunder rumbled, rain poured down, and the wind swayed the branches.
Raindrops trailed along the eaves, forming a beaded curtain.
The people inside were filled with unease.
She noticed that the city was also showing signs of flooding.
Flooding is likely!
Having said that, she picked up her straw hat and went to check on the land and give instructions to the people at the mine.
She prayed in her heart that there would be no collapse!
The people behind her were very worried about Su Jingge, but she still insisted on going!
The ground is fine; it's already covered with straw mats.
She was still worried, so she went to the mine herself.
Just then, Xie Mo's men and Xu Yuan's men were arguing with a group of villagers.
A man took the lead, and his words were inspiring; they had a deep belief in ghosts and gods.
He insisted that the heavy rain was because Su Jingge disturbed the mine, which he claimed had alarmed the dragon vein and caused divine retribution, resulting in such a heavy rain!
Stop them from mining!
The heavy rain blurred Su Jinge's vision, and she almost shouted as she reassured everyone:
"Now that the rainy season has arrived, it's normal for there to be heavy rainfall. Don't believe in ghosts and gods."
Zhao Zhou had already disturbed the mine before, so how could he have disturbed the dragon vein?
But she couldn't say that.
The villagers wouldn't listen; they blocked the entrance to the mine, clenching their fists and gritting their teeth.
"If you want to disturb the mine, step over my dead body!"
The rain was so heavy that Su Jingge was afraid of a landslide.
Xu Yuan pulled her along: "Assistant Su, let's go back first and discuss this matter again!"
Both sides have reached a point where they cannot retreat, so only one side can take a step back.
She calmed everyone down temporarily: "Okay, I can leave the mine, but please don't get so agitated. The rain is too heavy and it's dangerous, so please go back."
As she spoke, Su Jingge also turned to walk back.
Meanwhile, Zhao Zhou overheard this and said that Fan Tong had handled the matter well.
He was very happy.
He even forgot about the concept of dragon veins!
And now this idiot has remembered it!
The villagers are currently blocking the entrance to the mine, so it's unlikely that mining will be possible for a while. In any case, we'll try to delay it as long as possible and wait until the governor takes office.
Just as Su Jingge and Xu Yuan were on their way back to the city, she saw someone rushing towards them.
His face was pale, and he looked terrified. He ran while shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"
"The city wall at Xiaodongmen has collapsed!"
Su Jingge's brow furrowed: "Who was it? How are the elderly or children? Are there any other casualties?"
The man said, "He's a merchant, a peddler who came to Yuxiang County. He seems to have other wounds on his body, as if... he was scratched by some wild animal?"
Su Jingge snatched the man's horse, mounted it, and sped away.
She arrived at Xiaodongmen first, by which time she was completely soaked.
She didn't care about anything else.
Seeing many villagers gathered there, no one dared to move.
"Make way, everyone!" She ran up to check on the man's injuries.
His body was covered in deep, bloody wounds, as if he had been scratched by some wild animal, like a bear or tiger.
"Quickly, everyone lend a hand."
They quickly carried the person to the doctor.
She saw that the city wall had collapsed and that it needed to be repaired immediately.
Otherwise, people at Xiaodongmen wouldn't be able to get out, and people outside wouldn't be able to get in.
That would be a huge problem.
"It's truly one problem after another!"
Just then, Xu Yuan and his group arrived.
She gave instructions to everyone in the rain, and they all stood ready for battle.
Everyone pricked up their ears to listen to orders.
"Start immediately, repair the city wall and prepare some sand and burlap sacks for protection against aging."
"Get ready immediately!"
At this moment, Fei Jian and Lu Er also arrived and saw that Su Jingge was completely soaked.
"Su—"
The woman raised her hand to indicate that they were alright.
She gave the orders: "You've come at the right time. Flying Sword, go and help immediately. Lu Er, prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone right now. I need to draft a document."
Lu Er did as instructed.
Su Jingge wrote that she used her body to shield herself from the rain.
After reviewing it, there were no problems.
Tell him to send it to Xiao Yinhe's residence immediately.
Lu Er mounted his horse, raised his whip, and the water splashed up by the horse's hooves was more than a meter high.
The sky and earth were a hazy gray, as if the sky had leaked, and the heavy rain continued to fall.
After arriving at the Xiao residence.
The servant heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.
The two were still thinking that despite the torrential rain, someone would still come to visit them.
Open the door quickly.
They discovered it was a young man, soaked to the bone, his face obscured by the rain and mist.
He said excitedly, "Where is Prefect Xiao? Take me to see him quickly."
The two men, seeing that the person was indeed extremely anxious, told him that the person was in the study.
Without saying a word, Lu Er pushed the two aside and ran towards the study.
The two men chased after him, shouting, "You mustn't trespass into the Xiao residence!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Xiao Yinhe opened the door.
Lu Er, breathless, grabbed Xiao Yinhe's hand: "Sir, I am one of Assistant Manager Su's men. The Assistant Manager ordered me to personally deliver this letter to you."
Xiao Yinhe raised his hand, signaling the two servants to leave.
Quickly, invite him into the study.
My clothes are completely soaked, but the letter is dry.
Upon opening it, he frowned.
Su Jingge wrote in the letter:
"The continuous heavy rains may cause flooding. I request that Lord Xiao quickly draft a document and deliver it to the inspector. The city is mostly inhabited by people, and some victims have already been found dead at Xiaodongmen. I fear that the disaster may not be able to be contained. I urge the court to prepare for disaster warnings immediately!"
After reading the letter, Xiao Yinhe sat down in a chair. In previous years, there had been heavy rains, but there had never been floods. If this letter was submitted and a disaster occurred, then he would not have been speaking recklessly, but rather giving a premonition. If anyone was injured or killed by the disaster, he would not be guilty of dereliction of duty and would be fine.
If he doesn't report it, and if there really is a flood disaster and people die from it, and he doesn't intervene and handle it in time, then something terrible is bound to happen!
Since ancient times, such disaster warnings have been the responsibility of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. If it only rains for a few days without causing floods, then the Bureau is considered to be overstepping its authority.
If this causes widespread panic, something terrible might happen!
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