But he didn't realize that floods aren't something you can control.
Although the rain has decreased in the past few days and the water is slowly becoming clearer, it is definitely not safe yet, especially for large rivers.
The Crown Prince and Yan Shiren were currently supervising the construction of a dike by soldiers and civilians downstream, which was nearing completion.
Suddenly, a series of loud crashes and surging sounds erupted. Yan Shiren and the Crown Prince, being experienced, immediately realized that the dam had collapsed.
The two looked upstream at the same time. The water hadn't come yet. They exchanged a glance, and the prince said, "Everyone, leave quickly and go to higher ground! Hurry!"
The officials around him were also experienced; they knew things were going badly, so they grabbed him and dragged him up to a higher place.
Soldiers and officials practically dragged Yan Shiren and the crown prince along. They finally managed to get them to higher ground, but before they could catch their breath, they saw a water dragon, more than ten meters higher than the water level upstream, rushing towards them.
Hundreds of civilians and soldiers are still below, and they haven't had time to evacuate.
The prince shouted one last time, "Run!" but before he could finish the last word, the water had already submerged him.
He stared blankly at the surging water, then collapsed to his knees. When the other officials saw him kneel, they followed suit, filling the hillside with their knees.
"Ah!" he cried out in anguish, clutching his head. So many lives, so many living people, all gone, all gone!
Yan Shiren stared blankly at the floodwaters before him. They had clearly brought the flood under control, and the task was clearly accomplished. With proper maintenance, the dam could have protected this land for several more years.
Once the last dike is built, all that's left is for the imperial court to send rice seedlings and disaster relief funds to help the victims rebuild their homes, and that will be the end of it.
Why? Where did things go wrong? He was a wise and intelligent man, but he never imagined that Zhao Bi would seek his own death!
Even the kings, even those remnants lurking in the shadows waiting for their chance, would not be foolish enough to plot anything at the cost of the people's lives.
Yan Shiren sighed deeply. At this moment, he felt pity for the Crown Prince and for himself. Several years ago, the Jiang family mismanaged the floods and used the blood of their entire clan to appease public anger. This time, it was his turn.
I recall my youthful exuberance, when I was determined to change the world and establish the order I desired.
Now, I've finally improved myself.
"Your Highness, this old minister is old and useless. You are still young. This old minister will take all the blame. I beg Your Highness to preserve the Yan family bloodline. My daughter is young and ignorant. I beg Your Highness to take care of her." He said calmly, as if he were entrusting someone else's affairs, but tears still fell, not for himself, but for the soldiers and civilians who gave their lives.
For the sake of the family, they did nothing, yet they were expected to follow in the footsteps of the Jiang family.
Men don't easily shed tears, but the Crown Prince was already in tears, just like Yan Shiren, not for himself, but for the tens of thousands of precious lives.
Ever since he was made crown prince, he had fantasized countless times about what kind of emperor he would become.
He was not tall, his vision was limited, and his hearing was average, but he could sense that the land beneath his feet would be the foundation of his entire life.
He did not seek to be as great as the wise rulers of the past, nor did he seek to be remembered in history, nor did he even seek a good posthumous title. He only wished that this land, under his rule, would be free from war and fragmentation.
I only pray that under the sky, children will not lose their fathers, the elderly will not lose their children, and wives will not lose their husbands.
In life, everyone has some principles, some beliefs, and some goals. He knows he can't give his beloved a lifetime of love and companionship, so he just wants to see her happy.
A ruler cannot be a father, therefore he has no father.
He couldn't commit to a lifelong, monogamous relationship, so he didn't have a lover.
His brothers, all his brothers, wished he were dead, so he had no brothers.
Does he have any friends?
He didn't know, but he knew that he had a heart that wanted to govern this land well, and now it had been shattered into pieces.
"No, I am not capable enough to support this magnificent country. The nation still needs you. I beg Elder Yan to select a good crown prince for Dayong."
"Your Highness..." Yan Shiren hadn't expected the Crown Prince to be so devastated. "Your Highness, between beauty and the throne, which do you prefer?"
Beauty and power? The surging flood in the Crown Prince's eyes slowly dissipated, and the image of Sun Yun playing the zither appeared before his eyes. Putting aside her beauty and musical skills, to him, she was the best woman.
But he always knew that this woman was vulnerable inside, that she needed a stable life, and that he couldn't give her that.
"Of course, I love the country." There was a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. Country and beauty, when has beauty ever won over the country? Perhaps sometimes, but never for him. How long can one love someone?
Ten years? Twenty years? Or thirty years? There are many beauties, but beauties age and change, and so do we. If we can't be faithful for life, why bind ourselves and the other person with the word "love"?
But my heart aches so much.
Suddenly, I remembered that day when I was still in the capital, having tea with Huo Baichuan. He said, "Your Highness, do you know that there are three things in the world that you should never betray? First, you should never betray your parents; second, you should never betray yourself; and third, you should never betray your friendship."
Huo Baichuan, this playboy, knows what kind of affection is not to be betrayed. "I wonder what kind of affection this is?"
"A sentiment that humbles oneself." His attitude remained unrestrained and casual, as if he didn't belong to this world.
Later, he added, "There is a kind of love that can make you humble to the dust, but when you are in the dust, you have lost the right to be loved by her."
"Therefore, the steamed fish at Yipinju is quite good, Your Highness should not disappoint it."
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