In early autumn, torrential rain fell over Yeyu for several days. The river overflowed, flooding dozens of homes.
Lord Ye, Shen Zhu, climbed to higher ground through the rain with his attendants to inspect the floodwaters. His brows were tightly furrowed, his heart heavy. The newly built waterworks had held back the flooding, but they too faced the danger of collapse. If the dikes gave way, Yeyu City would be impossible to save.
The pale-faced County Magistrate Shen Zhu was supported by his attendants back to the County Yamen.
In the study, rain streamed from the eaves outside the window in thin lines.
Distraught, he muttered to himself.
"Yeyu, twenty-third year, late summer, sixth month. Fierce rain fell for days. The Li River overflowed and drowned Maple Town. More than a hundred people died; seven entire households were swallowed by the waters..."
"Twenty-sixth year, early autumn, eighth month. The Kun River overflowed, and the residents were left without grain or fodder..."
"Thirty-first year, midsummer, fifth month. Hail as large as bird eggs struck Yeyu. The violent rain did not cease, the two rivers rose and overflowed, and the entire city was submerged. Government offices and civilian homes collapsed, leaving nowhere to take shelter..."
"..."
Floodwaters ruined the harvests, while the grain stored from previous years grew moldy. With nothing to eat, life became miserable.
After every flood disaster, fertile fields turned into barren shoals. After laboring for half a year, they could only watch helplessly as their green crops drowned. With not a single grain harvested, they had no choice but to fill their bellies with wild vegetables. The days were hard.
They had finally rebuilt the dikes and constructed waterworks, only to encounter the fiercest rainstorm on record.
Dejected and despairing, Shen Zhu slumped in his chair, utterly drained