Dock
In this dynasty, the High Emperor Taizu had placed special importance on water transport, issuing the directive: "Within, there is the Grand Canal; without, there is sea transport. These are the lifeblood of the state and cannot be taken lightly."
Thus, once the state was founded, the canals were repaired. They underwent several rounds of restoration, with buried and silted sections dredged out, the waterways widened, and the water deepened to over a zhang. The regions along the rivers and coasts immediately flourished.
A sailing ship docked at the wharf. Dark clouds hung low at the time, and a Ninth Rank official hurried out of the cabin. A gust of wind struck him head-on, flipping up his lapels. Seeing him emerge, a yamen runner carrying a saber bowed. "Master Clerk, the wind is strong outside, and it is about to rain. Should we slow down for a few moments?"
"Mm, no. Duty comes first." The clerk looked up at the blackened sky. Within minutes, a golden snake of lightning flashed across it, followed by thunder that shook heaven and earth. Amid the ear-splitting roar, torrential rain came crashing down like ten thousand galloping horses.
The clerk no longer hesitated and sharply ordered, "Put on oilskins. Have the relay station prepare an ox cart. We will immediately head to Commissioner Zhang's Office."
"Yes!"
Several yamen runners braved the rain to a nearby relay station. Before long, they had secured a cart and helped the clerk aboard. The group then headed for the Imperial Commissioner's Office.
Fortunately, it was midsummer. The heat had been so stifling that people could hardly breathe, so getting drenched by a little rain was no great concern. The route from the wharf to Zhang Dai's temporary residence was not far, merely a few li, and they