The surging Datong River's main basin stretched across several provinces, while its tributaries reached countless other places. Since ancient times, it had irrigated the vast lands of Lingdong.
Over countless years, the Datong River had shown signs of running dry only during the great drought of the Chengxing era.
Now another drought had come. Though less extreme than the one in the Chengxing era, it had lasted longer. Over the past two or three years, the water level had fallen dangerously low. In some stretches, the water was only a few feet deep, and even slightly larger boats needed the help of trackers.
But now, fierce currents surged through the Datong River, and its water level kept rising.
"The Datong River's rising-"
"It really is rising!" "The water's rising-"
"Get out of the way-"
As the water level had fallen, many places that should have been underwater had become dry land, and quite a few people along the river had been standing there. Now, with the water rising rapidly, they hurried toward the true banks.
River water battered the banks, sending spray flying. In a short time, the area covered by water nearly doubled, and it continued to expand.
News of the Datong River's rising waters spread as though it had sprouted wings. Carried by the cries of those on the banks, it reached farther afield, and many people rushed out of Dengzhou City to see the river for themselves.
Before long, the banks of the Datong River outside the city were crowded with residents of Deng Province.
Aboard the tower ship on the river, the eunuch carrying the imperial decree clung tightly to one side of the cabin. The entire ship rocked constantly, and screams could be heard from inside.
Yet the eunuch kept staring through the ship's window