Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty: In the beginning, Li Qingzhao and Li Qingzhao made a private decis

Chapter 380: The Evil Way to Fight Floods
Fan Fuzhong,
Fan Zheng and Li Qingzhao sat opposite each other and said worriedly: "The Yellow River is the mother river of China, but this river that gave birth to Chinese civilization is also a disaster for China."

"In the eighth year of Qingli, the Yellow River broke its banks in Puyang. The Yellow River was divided into two parts, with one part flowing north and the other east. The Yellow River broke its banks countless times in the past dynasties, and its courses were changed even more frequently." Li Qingzhao was also a daughter who had read history books, so she naturally had a deep understanding of the Yellow River. The situation is extremely familiar.

Fan Zheng frowned and said: "The Yellow River diversion in the eighth year of Qingli divided the river into two. Is this not a good thing for the Yellow River? The water of the Yellow River was divided into two. It seemed to share the peak of the Yellow River, but it slowed down the flow of the river. The speed of sedimentation has greatly increased. In only 50 years from the eighth year of Qingli to now, the Yellow River, which has just been diverted, has become an above-ground river, requiring the addition of dams every year, which wastes a lot of manpower and material resources."

"A river above ground?"

Li Qingzhao couldn't help but pause. He had to say that Fan Zheng's metaphor was extremely vivid. The Yellow River today was indeed an above-ground river, even flowing above their heads.

"News has come from various places that this heavy rain did not mean that there was a lot of precipitation in the entire upper reaches of the Yellow River in Kaifeng. If the Yellow River cannot withstand the flood, there is a possibility of bursting its banks or even changing its course." Fan Zheng said worriedly.

"Young Master, the official family has sent an order for the Young Master to come to the palace to discuss important matters." Suddenly, the concierge heard the order from the palace.

Fan Zheng was stunned and suddenly understood that the Yellow River was in danger.

When Fan Zheng hurried to the palace, he saw that all the officials from the court were already in place.

"To inform the officials, the heavy rain here is not just in Kaifeng. There is abundant rainfall in the entire upper reaches of the Yellow River. The Yellow River will usher in an unprecedented flood peak and may be in danger of bursting its banks." Su Song said with a solemn expression.

"Dike breach risk!"

The faces of the officials changed. Every time the Yellow River burst its banks, it was a disaster for the Song Dynasty. Especially Kaifeng, the capital of the Song Dynasty, was originally a yellow flood area. Once the bank broke its banks on the south bank, threatening the capital of Kaifeng, the damage caused would be incalculable. estimate.

"The Yellow River is overhauled every year, and countless silver is spent every year, but it still cannot stop the Yellow River from flooding!" Zhao Xu said angrily.

The Yellow River was the most troublesome and chronic disease of the Song Dynasty, and it was also an extremely huge expense of the Song Dynasty. However, a lot of money was spent every year, but it still could not prevent the Yellow River from bursting its banks, causing huge losses to the Song Dynasty.

If the flooding of the Yellow River could be controlled, the Song Dynasty's national power would surely take a further step.

Fan Chunli said helplessly: "I have ordered the counties along the river to step up patrols and organize young people to report any danger immediately. The young people in the surrounding counties must provide support and avoid danger as much as possible. Although it is impossible to completely avoid danger, then We can only do our best and obey fate.”

"Do your best to obey fate?"

Zhao Xu frowned. He was just about to show off his grand plans. Once the Yellow River bursts its banks, his plans would be disrupted.

"Is there no way to regulate the Yellow River?" Zhao Xu asked irritably.

All the officials sighed helplessly, managing the Yellow River was a thousand-year problem. If the Yellow River could be managed easily, how could it be left to the Song Dynasty?

Suddenly Zhang Dun looked at Fan Zhengdao: "Fan Taicheng wonders if you have a way to cure the Yellow River, even if it is an evil prescription!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Fan Zheng. Nowadays, the management of the Yellow River has left all dynasties at a loss. At present, they can only treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor. Even if Fan Zheng's prescription is evil, as long as the Yellow River can be controlled , they will also call it a good recipe.

Fan Chunli frowned. How could Fan Zheng be able to solve this problem that had not been solved in the past dynasties? He immediately came to Fan Zheng's rescue and said: "Master Zhang is so proud of his dog. How can a single doctor be able to cure the disease of the Yellow River?"

All the officials couldn't help but sigh, and the newly raised hopes were suddenly dashed. Although Fan Zheng had always had evil ideas, in the eyes of everyone, he was just a bit quick-witted and could hardly hold a big responsibility, let alone a thousand-year plan such as regulating the Yellow River.

Even Zhang Dun couldn't help but sigh and didn't say much.

"Fan really has a way to control the Yellow River?" Suddenly Fan Zheng's voice sounded in the court like thunder.

"really?"

Zhao Xu was suddenly surprised and said that although he summoned Fan Zheng to the court in the hope that Fan Zheng could create another miracle, he was still overjoyed when he heard Fan Zheng personally admit that there was a way to regulate the Yellow River.

Fan Zheng nodded solemnly and said: "Any stubborn disease in the world, as long as the source of the disease is found, it is possible to find a cure. So where do you adults think the source of the Yellow River flooding is?"

"Sand!"

Zhao Xu solemnly said, and the other officials nodded. It was precisely because of the large amount of sediment in the Yellow River that the sediment accumulated in the Yellow River and formed an above-ground river.

"Before the Tang Dynasty, although the Yellow River flooded, it was not an above-ground river. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, the sediment in the Yellow River has increased significantly. The sediment in the Yellow River has silted up and gradually formed an above-ground river. Therefore, the methods of regulating the Yellow River in the past dynasties were wrong. Yes, the management of the Yellow River is not at the lower reaches, but in the middle reaches."

"The methods used to regulate the Yellow River in the past dynasties were wrong!" All the officials were in an uproar. The previous dynasties spent a lot of money to regulate the Yellow River, but in the end it turned out to be wrong, which made them feel embarrassed.

"I wonder if you have ever heard of the words Jingwei Mingjing." Fan Zheng asked again.

"The differences are clear!"

The officials nodded slightly. They are people who have read poetry and books. How could they not know the clear and distinct words?At the intersection of Jingshui River and Weishui River, there will be a natural wonder, half of which is clear water and half of which is turbid yellow water.

This allusion comes from Li Deyu's "Liu Gong Shen Dao Inscription": "When encountering something, you will separate yourself, and you will be sincere, but the wind and rain will be like darkness."

Fan Zheng asked again: "Has the water in the Jing River been turbid since ancient times? No, that's not the case. During the pre-Qin period, the water in the Jing River was equally clear. After the Tang Dynasty, the amount of silt gradually increased. Where did the silt come from?"

"Northwest Road [-]!"

Baiguan couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart. The Jinghe River basin was almost covered with loess on the northwest five roads.

Fan Zheng continued: "Not only the Jing River, but also almost all the tributaries of the Yellow River in the middle reaches are the source of Yellow River sediment. The common feature of these places is that they are covered with soft loess plateaus! As long as the sediment in these places is controlled well, the Yellow River can be managed It’s possible to succeed.”

Cai Jing's heart was moved and he said first: "I have informed the officials that I know how to regulate the Yellow River. Only the bare soil will be washed away by the rain, and there are vegetation and trees in the forests and grasslands to solidify the soil, and the water that flows out will definitely be clean water. As long as trees and grass are widely planted in the loess plateau, it will be enough to make the water of the Yellow River clear and free of sediment."

"Master Cai's words are very kind!" A group of people from the New Party complimented him one after another.

Cai Jing couldn't help but look proud, having finally snatched the great contribution of regulating the Yellow River from Fan Zheng.

The Medical Party and the Old Party despised Cai Jing's villainous behavior, but they were also jealous.

Fan Zheng smiled coldly and said, "Although what Mr. Cai said is a good recipe, it can never be realized." "Ah!"

Cai Jing's proud expression suddenly solidified on his face, and he looked at Fan Zheng with a frown and said, "Why did Fan Taicheng say this!"

Fan Zheng sneered: "During the pre-Qin period, the Loess Plateau was the territory of the Quanrong tribe, with large forests and grasslands. Therefore, the Yellow River at that time was not very yellow and was also an underground river. With the prosperity of Qin, the population skyrocketed, and more and more people Many people cut down forests and cultivated grasslands, which formed the fertile land of Guanzhong, and was the foundation for the unification of the world by the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties."

"There are nearly tens of millions of people living in the Loess Plateau today. If you return the Loess Plateau to the pre-Qin era and restore forests and grasslands, how will you let these tens of millions of people live?"

Cai Jing's face suddenly stiffened and he stood there in a daze.

Fan Zheng continued: "Not only that, Fan can also predict that the situation in the Loess Plateau will continue to deteriorate. The amount of sediment in the Yellow River will continue to increase in the future. A large amount of sediment will accumulate, causing the bed of the Yellow River to continue to rise. Sooner or later, One day, the Yellow River will rush over our heads, and its harm will be even greater."

"Ah! Why is this?"

Zhao Xu couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't expect that Fan Zheng had discovered the biggest drawback of the Yellow River, and he still couldn't control the Yellow River well.

Fan Zheng smiled bitterly and said: "Now that doctors have developed the obstetrics and gynecology department, a female doctor can save a six-month-old premature baby. It is conceivable that the Song Dynasty is about to see a substantial increase in population. Now the population of the Song Dynasty has exceeded Ten million, it is not impossible that there will be [-] million or [-] million people in the future. However, the population of the Song Dynasty continued to increase, but the land remained unchanged. The same was true for the Loess Plateau. The reclamation of its wasteland not only did not stop, but intensified, and the Yellow River's The harm will be even greater."

After Fan Zheng finished speaking, all the officials in the court felt a chill in their hearts.

There is no other reason, just because what Fan Zheng said is true. With the rapid increase in population, a large number of people are crying for food. Can they prohibit the people from reclaiming wasteland? I am afraid they will force the people to rebel.

"Can it be that the Yellow River cannot be controlled?" Fan Chunli murmured.

Fan Zheng shook his head and said: "Of course not. Since it is impossible to restore vegetation in the Loess Plateau, can we find another place?"

Zhao Xu's eyes suddenly lit up and he looked at Fan Zheng expectantly. Now they could only rely on Fan Zheng's evil plan.

Fan Zheng continued: "Since the soil in the Loess Plateau is destined to continue to be lost and expand, the only hope of regulating the Yellow River is to intercept the sediment before it enters the Yellow River."

Zhao Xu said helplessly: "In the loess plateau, the sediment and river water are mixed together, and they are rushing into the Yellow River. How can we intercept it?"

The faces of all the officials in the court also darkened.

Fan Zheng shook his head and said: "If you want to separate the sediment, there is only one way, and that is to slow down the river water. In this way, just like the sediment in the Yellow River, the sediment will accumulate. The imperial court needs tributaries in the Loess Plateau, Even the tributaries of the tributaries can build a storage dam at intervals to slow down the flow of the river, allow the soil to settle, and clear water to flow into the Yellow River. In this way, only local organizations need to organize manpower to regularly clear the sediment, which is enough to intercept a large amount of sediment. .”

"This method is feasible!" Fan Chunli said with eyes shining.

This method is simple and easy to implement, and as the tributaries are dispersed in various places, there is no need to invest a lot of manpower and material resources. Although the investment is small, it can achieve miraculous results.

The other officials also nodded.

"This method can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause! It cannot solve the problem of the Yellow River at all." Cai Jing snorted and said sourly.

Fan Zheng said proudly: "This method can also cure the root cause. If we follow this analogy, build a Yellow River dam on the Yellow River west of Luoyang! Store floods and discharge sand during the wet season, and continue to release water during the dry season to ensure the water level of the Yellow River. Not only can it regulate The sediment can make the Yellow River flood-free, but it is a pity that it is impossible to do it with the current technology of the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xu's breath froze when he heard Fan Zheng's grand vision. Once this project is successful, it will definitely become a project comparable to Dujiangyan.

Then his eyes dimmed again. Just as Fan Zheng said, it was simply impossible to do it with the current technology of the Song Dynasty.

"How it can be intercepted by such a large flow of water in the Yellow River is simply a fantasy. Once a barrier lake forms, the entire lower reaches will be a disaster." Cai Jing scoffed.

Fan Zheng sneered and said: "Man can conquer nature. Build dams on tributaries, then build dams on tributaries, and then build dams on the Jing River. In the future, we may not be able to build dams on the Yellow River and other major rivers. And this is the only way to control the Yellow River, even for a hundred years or even a thousand years." , I, the Song Dynasty, will definitely accomplish this great feat."

"That's right! We didn't know how to control the Yellow River before, but now we know how to control the Yellow River. No matter how difficult it is, we must do it." Zhao Xu said excitedly.

Cai Jing suddenly looked embarrassed when he saw Zhao Xu personally rectifying Fan Zheng's name.

"The officials are ambitious and I admire them, but the most important thing now is to protect the Yellow River embankment. Once the Yellow River bursts its embankments, the Song Dynasty will suffer heavy losses." Zhang Dun spoke up to Cai Jing's rescue.

The hearts of all the ministers sank, and they no longer thought of reading Cai Jing's joke. After all, the water in the Yellow River was too strong, and a slight mistake would cause the flood to burst its banks, and the Song Dynasty would be devastated.

"Does Fan Taicheng have a good way to prevent floods?"

Zhao Xu asked with hope.

Fan Zheng said helplessly: "To prevent floods, the most common way is to build dykes to strictly prevent piping. Now everyone in the Song Dynasty has been doing this. I wonder if the officials have ever thought of digging up dykes to release floods!"

“Take the initiative to dig up the dikes and release the floods!”

All the officials in the court were in an uproar, and they all looked at Fan Zheng in horror.

"Fan Taicheng, we are all thinking about how to protect the Yellow River embankment, but you are taking the initiative to dig up the Yellow River embankment. What are your intentions?" Cai Jing seized the opportunity and rebuked angrily.

All the officials in the court also looked at Fan Zheng suspiciously. If Fan Zheng hadn't come up with two good remedies and found the source of the disease in the Yellow River, they would have doubted Fan Zheng's purpose and intentions.

Fan Zheng spread his hands and said: "That depends on your consideration, sir. There are countless breaches in the Yellow River. There are even rumors that it breaches once every three years and changes its course every ten years. The main harm of the Yellow River breach is that the people are caught off guard and cause a lot of losses. Since The Yellow River is destined to burst, so why not let us decide where to burst, choose a relatively low-lying place, notify the people in these places in advance to avoid, and minimize the losses. This is a last resort, and it is also the best way. "

"Is this an evil recipe?" Censor Yang Wei murmured.

All the officials in the court couldn't help but sigh, this was indeed an evil method, but now they had no choice but to use Fan Zheng's evil method.

"Just follow Fan Taicheng's instructions to release the flood!" Zhao Xu gritted his teeth and said.

The two powers harm each other, whichever is the lesser, and this is the only way the matter has come to this point.

(End of this chapter)