Chapter 210 Help! Something's happened!
The series of explosions lasted for a full hour, from near to far.
An hour later, the rain subsided and the wind died down. Just when everyone thought the rain would stop soon and they followed Zhao Yunjing to check the situation at the canal, a figure staggered over.
He was a local official in Nanjiang City, and I think his surname was Wu.
Seeing him stumble and fall several times, Zhao Yunjing had a bad feeling and quickly ran over to help him up: "Lord Wu? Lord Wu!"
"Help! Help!" Lord Wu gasped for breath. "Lord Liang is in trouble! He's in trouble, waaaaah..."
Zhao Yunjing's heart pounded, and he couldn't care less about Lord Wu anymore. He took off running towards the scene of the accident.
During this hour, Lord Liang and his men continued blasting as they advanced. The canal was blasted for a full five or six miles. Zhao Yunjing ran all the way and finally met Lord Liang at the very end.
Lord Liang lay in the makeshift tent, covered in blood. Two young doctors were treating his wounds, but because there were so many wounds, the bleeding had not stopped. The two doctors were also covered in blood, the blood and mud mixed together, a shocking sight.
The other person was already somewhat dazed, and Zhao Yunjing had to call out to them several times before they responded.
"Yes, it's Lord Zhao..." Lord Liang said, then breathed heavily, feeling his strength waning. "Lord Zhao, I, I have not failed in my mission, the canal is cleared!"
The canal was blasted open from the Donglan River and branched off, returning to the Donglan River five miles away. Although the floodwaters eventually flowed back into the Donglan River, the canal provided a buffer zone, slowing the flow of the water. Zhao Yunjing had noticed along the way that the canal was wider than originally planned. At the point where it finally merged back into the Donglan River, a large pit was blasted open, capable of holding a considerable amount of water, essentially creating a reservoir. Before the pit filled with water, Lord Liang instructed his men to hold back the water.
The upstream diversion and downstream damming have effectively mitigated the flow of the Donglan River. In particular, this reservoir, which resembles a large pit, can be repaired after the flood recedes, and the dam can be doubled in height. This will bring many benefits, as it can hold back floodwaters, giving downstream residents time to evacuate. It can also store water during normal times, ensuring that farmland is not without water during droughts. It is a win-win situation.
Zhao Yunjing originally had a plan for this reservoir, but due to time constraints, he didn't mark it. Unexpectedly, Lord Liang completed it ahead of schedule.
Zhao Yunjing grasped his hand, his throat tightening slightly. He said in a deep voice, "Lord Liang, you have exceeded expectations and bravely stepped forward in this flood relief effort. When I report to the Emperor, I must tell him about Lord Liang's excellence!"
Lord Liang coughed, and a slurred spittle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He swallowed it, and when he opened his mouth again, even more blood came out. He coughed a few more times with difficulty, and the feeling of exhaustion and weakness in his body became even more pronounced.
Lord Liang smiled at Zhao Yunjing, gripped his hand tightly, and finally gathered his strength before speaking again: "I have a son and a daughter. My son is good-for-nothing, only knowing how to eat, drink, and have fun all day long. But my daughter, like her mother, is well-educated, polite, and sensible. If I were to die, I beg Lord Zhao to take good care of my daughter! I will be eternally grateful!"
After saying this, he coughed violently again. His coughing was so vigorous that the two doctors were unable to stitch up his wounds. He bled even more, blood kept flowing from the corners of his mouth, and his face became even paler.
One doctor vigorously wiped his face and went to take Lord Liang's pulse. As soon as he placed his hand on him, Lord Liang's face darkened. Seeing this, another doctor immediately went over to take his pulse, and his face also darkened.
Lord Liang's condition is not optimistic!
Zhao Yunjing told the two to treat her without worry and to use the medicine freely. Lord Liang, however, already knew his own situation, smiled again, and continued, "Lord Zhao, my daughter is not only well-educated and polite, but also quite beautiful. Perhaps, perhaps she's not suited to traveling with you, but a woman from Jiangnan will bring you a gentleness that Lady Zhao lacks. I, I dare to—"
“Lord Liang, I am already married and my heart belongs only to my wife. I swore long ago that I would only love her for the rest of my life. If I break this vow, may my whole family be struck by lightning and have no descendants.”
"That's right. Even if I can't marry her and keep her by my side to keep me company, it doesn't count as breaking my vow."
Zhao Yunjing said steadily, "Miss Liang is a girl you and your wife have carefully raised. She deserves a man's wholehearted love and care. If I agree, not only will I be unable to take care of Miss Liang, but I will also cause her to suffer infamy. I think no parent would want their child to suffer such a thing."
"Then my son—"
“Lord Liang, I am but a passerby, and I will have to leave at most in winter. The future of Miss Liang and Young Master Liang is still up to you to take care of.”
Lord Liang coughed again, and more blood gushed from the corner of his mouth. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but because he couldn't think clearly, he only felt cold all over. He could only hold Zhao Yunjing's hand tightly, tightening his grip inch by inch, and then loosening it little by little.
After a cup of tea, the hand holding Zhao Yunjing slipped away. Zhao Yunjing caught it and gripped it again, only to find that Lord Liang's hand was limp and had no strength left.
The doctor, who had never given up on treatment, burst into tears: "My lord, Lord Liang... he's gone..."
What is the most helpless thing for a doctor?
They tried every possible method, but could only watch helplessly as a life slipped away from their hands, eventually disappearing.
For Zhao Yunjing, the impact was also positive and intense. The feeling of desperately hoping that the other person could live, only to watch him become a corpse in the end, is something that no one can describe in words.
A low sob came from inside the tent. It was Lord Wu, who had run to inform Zhao Yunjing earlier. He had served Lord Liang for ten years. Although their relationship was that of superior and subordinate, they were like teacher and friend, almost like family.
Lord Wu wept bitterly, and Zhao Yunjing felt even worse. He strode out of the tent and asked the local officials, "What exactly happened? How did Lord Liang get into this trouble?"
"Finally, when the last one failed to detonate, Lord Liang went to check it out. But just as he got halfway there, the explosives went off."
If there hadn't been some distance between them, Lord Liang would probably have been blown to pieces on the spot.
Zhao Yunjing's eyes welled up with tears. He said in a deep voice, "Lord Liang sacrificed himself for the people. I will definitely report the truth to the court. The court will certainly not abandon Lord Liang's children and widow. The rain is still falling, the disaster is still spreading, and the battle cry has only just sounded. Please follow me. If we cannot control this flood, I will give up my life!"
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