A man wearing a red hat and holding a red flag with the words "XXX Travel Agency" written on it was walking in front.
He was followed by a dozen or so young men, all wearing hats.
"Everyone, follow me closely. Don't fall behind. Up ahead is the famous Li Zhongyan from Lin City."
As he walked, the man introduced, "It had many names in ancient times. During the Yu Dynasty, it was called Hongcheng."
Several people stopped not far from a rather spectacular dam.
Seeing this landscape from thousands of years ago, everyone could hardly hide their shock.
"This is the famous Lizhong Weir in Lin City. There is a stone tablet next to it. It was carved by local people in memory of Gao Lizhong."
As the tour guide continued his introduction, everyone's eyes fell on the stone tablet next to it, which had become blurred due to wind and rain.
"Although many of the characters are no longer legible, the local county annals record the contents of the stone tablet."
"More than a thousand years ago, before the Yu Dynasty achieved great unification, Gao Lizhong personally requested to go to Hongcheng to solve the flood problem that had plagued the local people for a hundred years."
"After the Lizhong Weir was built, Hongcheng was no longer affected by floods, and every household in the local area built a shrine for Gao Lizhong."
"I can take you to see his ancestral hall later. It's not far away, and there are people worshipping there now."
"They were able to build such a tall Lizhong Weir more than a thousand years ago," one tourist said with emotion. "The wisdom of the ancients really cannot be underestimated."
"Look at this Lizhong Weir. It's not only very useful, but also beautiful. From a distance it looks very majestic, and up close it makes you feel the insignificance of humans and the greatness of nature."
"Back then, they didn't have all the convenient tools we have today. It's incredible that they were able to build the Lizhong Weir in just ten years."
The tour guide smiled and said, "Indeed, the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated. The reason some of us think we are smarter than the ancients is simply because we have gained more knowledge by standing on the shoulders of giants."
"According to historical records, Gao Lizhong's family was small, but they devoted almost all their manpower and resources to the construction of the Zhizhong Weir."
A tourist asked: "Although I also think that the Lizhong Weir built by Gao Lizhong is very great and worthy of our admiration."
"But the turbulent times hadn't ended yet, and Gao Lizhong himself was from the north. Why would he think of going south to solve the flood problem in Hongcheng?"
The tour guide had done his homework. Almost every tourist he brought had the same question. He answered calmly:
"Ancient people were also human beings. The history books of the Yu Dynasty recorded a conversation between the emperor and his ministers."
"Earlier, Emperor Yu had Gao Lizhong oversee the construction of Linxiantai. He met Emperor Yu's requirements in the shortest possible time, resolving the crisis in Lucheng recorded in history books."
"Taizu believed Gao Lizhong had talent in architecture and promised him that if he could solve the flood problem in Hongcheng, Wei Wenhua, the first prime minister of the Yu Dynasty, would help him become famous and leave his name in history."
"So Gao Lizhong came to Hongcheng and used all his family's resources to build the Lizhong Weir that we see today."
"The name Lizhong Weir was given by Emperor Yu himself in recognition of his contributions."
"So that's how it is. Although Gao Lizhong's original intention in building the Zhongyan Weir was to seek fame, he also did things that benefited the people, and the Lizhong Weir has been in use for a thousand years."
"Yu Taizu truly lived up to his word and made Gao Lizhong's name immortalized in history. Gao Lizhong is still worshipped today, and almost everyone who received nine years of compulsory education knows him."
"In fact, Gao Lizhong's reputation in the historical community is very controversial. Some say he was a loyal minister who served his country and his people, while others say he was a servile and treacherous minister."
"But this kind of thing should just be discussed among us outsiders. Never say bad things about Gao Lizhong in front of other people, otherwise they will kick you out on the spot," said the tour guide.
The tourists burst into laughter.
"Although Gao Lizhong came here for fame, he can't be called a treacherous minister, right?" asked a tourist.
Tour guide: "Do you remember what I said earlier about the construction of Linxiantai?"
"Historical records show that during the construction of Linxiantai, Gao Lizhong treated the laborers harshly and enriched himself. Later, after Emperor Yu Taizu repeatedly urged him to treat the laborers well."
"There are also unofficial historical records that the money he embezzled was eventually calculated by our Yu Taizu, who made him invest all the money in the construction of Lizhong Weir."
"Gao Lizhong was indeed despised by court officials before he went to build the Lizhong Weir. After the construction of the Lizhong Weir, he was praised by Emperor Taizu of Yu, An Jingzhi, and only then did he enter the circle of scholars."
"Is it such a coincidence?" someone wondered, "How could the emperor know how much money he had embezzled?"
"So this is just an unofficial historical record. We don't know the truth of the matter."
"However, our Yu Taizu is indeed ranked among the top three in terms of achievements among all the emperors."
"When I was in junior high, I learned about Lizhong Weir in my textbook. When I learned that Gao Lizhong had devoted all his family's resources to building it, I wondered if there really was such a selfless person. It turns out that the world is bustling with people seeking profit, and the world is bustling with people seeking profit."
"I think Yu Taizu should be the well-deserved number one, right?"
Someone was dissatisfied when they heard the tour guide say that Emperor Taizu of Yu, An Jingzhi, could only be in the top three.
The tour guide immediately said, "This friend is right."
Another person immediately refuted, "I admit that he did achieve great things, but there are kings in history who are greater than him. Why is he number one?"
"He ended the chaos in the Central Plains and reunited the country! He figured out the reason for artificial rainfall over a thousand years ago!"
"During his reign, he repeatedly promoted the development of industry, agriculture, and commerce."
"He was ruthless to his son and the brothers who had helped him conquer the country, but he was extremely kind to the people."
"No matter who it is, he will not hesitate to raise his butcher knife to punish anyone who violates his laws, as long as it touches the interests of the people."
"He could even personally order the beheading of his own son."
"That was a feudal dynasty, a dynasty ruled by hereditary rulers. "The emperor is subject to the same punishment as the common people when breaking the law" was just a slogan, but he actually did it."
"Throughout the dynasties, how many founding generals have had a good ending? The Yu Dynasty did."
"He also established a military academy to continuously supply fresh blood to the Yu Dynasty's army."
"There have been many rebellions in the history of the Yu Dynasty. In which of those times did the emperor not rely on the military academy to launch a counterattack?"
"If I hadn't come later, I'm afraid that with the change of dynasties, the emperors would no longer attach importance to the study of things, and the Nobel Prize would have been established in our country."
"He works diligently, cares for the people, amends laws, encourages scientific research, and supports innovation. Why can't he be number one?"
The man looked at the man who seemed to be a fanatical fan of Emperor Yu Taizu. He became more and more excited as he spoke, and was a little afraid that the other party would hit him.
The tour guide stepped in in time to stop the two people arguing. He was already very adept at handling this kind of thing, as there were always people who wanted to argue.
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