Yuan Shanjian wanted to return home, but Cui Xiang detained his horses... Cui Xiang claimed that the flood discharge was of great importance and he dared not take responsibility alone, so he insisted that the two of them stay and accompany him.
Yuan Shanjian that Cui Xiang was timid and hesitant, so he agreed. He only sent a yamen runner back to Jianghe County and instructed Xiong Wanli to keep an eye on the water level. He did not notify the magistrate of the downstream county to organize the people to evacuate.
Having received confirmation, Xiong Wanli patrolled the dikes day and night, constantly reporting the water situation downstream.
Unlike Zhao Zhiyuan, Meng Anci had worked his way up from a young age and wouldn't easily trust anyone.
He found Jin Shanyao and said in a deep voice, "Aunt, Xiong Wanli said that Lord Yuan had repeatedly tried to negotiate with Yuhe County, but was always refused. However, this time it went unusually smoothly, and I am really worried... I have to make preparations in advance."
Meng Anci pointed to the river map, " Zhao Household Gully is a low-lying area. If something happens to Zhao Zhiyuan, this is the only way to drain the floodwaters. However, the people here have not yet been relocated."
Jin Shanyao glanced at the blueprints. "You want me to go?"
Meng Anci. "I don't trust anyone else, especially Xiong Wanli. He's only focused on diverting floodwaters to Yuhe County and won't evacuate the people of Zhao Household Gully at all. I'm from the Censorate and have no right to interfere in this matter."
Jin Shanyao out her hand in front of him, "For fortune-telling, one coin."
Meng Anci looked bewildered. "Huh? Auntie, it's me, Anci. Are you going to charge me money?" In his opinion, his aunt charging him money was harder to accept than a flood bursting its banks.
Jin Shanyao didn't seem to care. "Of course I'll accept it. Raising you and helping you with your work are two different things. Not a penny less."
Meng Anci reluctantly pulled out a coin and asked, "If my sister begs you, will you still ask for money?"
"Yes, but it'll cost two coins. She's richer than you." Jin Shanyao pocketed the coins and turned to leave.
Meng Anci shouted urgently, "Auntie, I haven't told you the solution yet!"
Jin Shanyao secretly grumbled to herself... What can be done? Can they leave faster on their own?
As the rain gradually stopped, Meng Anci took the opportunity to try to reinforce the dike and clear the silt. He approached Xiong Wanli to explain his idea, but Xiong Wanli gently refused.
" Lord Meng, you are in charge of auditing the accounts. You should leave the river management to Lord Zhao and Lord Yuan." The implication was that Meng Anci overstepping his authority.
Meng Anci was rendered speechless by the rebuttal and could only repeatedly send messages downstream, inquiring about the progress of the people's relocation and the time for opening the sluice gates.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and the water became increasingly turbulent, with the water level reaching its peak.
Yuan Shanjian wrote that the floodgates will be opened precisely at 9 PM tonight.
Three-quarters of the hour of You (5:45 PM)
In Dingchuan Prefecture, Yuhe County Prefecture, all the people who had been relocated actually returned.
Zhao Zhiyuan found Cui Xiang and urgently questioned, " Lord Cui, how come all the people have returned? Weren't they already evacuated?"
Cui Xiang looked troubled and stammered, " Lord Zhao, after much consideration, I still believe the floodwaters cannot be released into Yuhe County."
Zhao Zhiyuan's mind went blank for a long time before he finally reacted. He then sternly rebuked, " Cui Xiang, you're foolish! The dam in Jianghe County is about to be opened. You've called the people back. If the dam can't be breached, there will be endless suffering downstream. Can you bear that responsibility?"
Cui Xiang retorted defiantly, "The disaster downstream has nothing to do with me. My only responsibility is to ensure the safety of the people in my county. Besides, our dikes have been properly reinforced and are not afraid of erosion. Even if the imperial court holds us accountable, it won't be my fault! Blame your Ministry of Works for their incompetence in river management. Don't forget, you signed a responsibility agreement."
"You..."
"Report..."
Zhao Zhiyuan had barely finished speaking when he was interrupted by a yamen runner's announcement. A yamen runner, soaking wet, ran in and handed him a bamboo tube.
"Sir, a report has arrived from Jianghe County."
Zhao Zhiyuan hurriedly opened the letter and saw that it said the water level was stable and the sluice gate would be opened on time. He was immediately filled with anxiety and swayed, and quickly helped the yamen runner to his feet.
"Quickly, go and summon Lord Yuan!"
Yuan Shanjian stayed up all night and had just closed his eyes when he was woken up. Startled, he sat up abruptly. "What happened? Jianghe County has released floodwaters?"
"No, Lord Zhao requests your presence."
Yuan Shanjian rubbed his face vigorously, hurriedly put on his shoes, and rushed to the second hall. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Zhiyuan and Cui Xiang arguing heatedly.
"I order you to evacuate the people immediately!" Zhao Zhiyuan roared.
Yuan Shanjian taken aback. "What do you mean? Weren't all the people evacuated?"
" Cui Xiang has called all the people back again!" Zhao Zhiyuan was furious, his eyes bulging with rage.
Yuan Shanjian's vision went black, and his anger surged instantly. He grabbed Cui Xiang by the collar and threw a punch, yelling, "Damn it, you dare to mess with me?"
After a few punches, Cui Xiang's lips bled, but he still said defiantly, "I am the magistrate of Yuhe County. Why should I make the people of my county homeless to benefit you?"
"I said all compensation will be paid by Pingcheng Prefecture!" Yuan Shanjian roared. "Are you only satisfied when you see all the people downstream die?"
Cui Xiang a fit of desperation, declared, "Even if you kill me, you are not allowed to release floodwaters in Yuhe County! The imperial court appointed me to govern Yuhe County, and I will live and die with it!"
"You should have said you disagreed earlier!" Yuan Shanjian so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged. "Now the upstream sluice gates are about to be opened, but the people downstream haven't been evacuated yet. Are you trying to kill them? I don't care if you agree or not, this water must be released here!" With that, he grabbed Cui Xiang and strode out of the county government office.
Zhao Zhiyuan hurriedly instructed the yamen runners, "Return to Jianghe County immediately and inform Xiong Wanli to continue reinforcing the dikes. Make sure to buy as much time as possible!" The yamen runners dared not delay and rode off at full speed.
Outside the county government office, Yuan Shanjian pushed Cui Xiang into the street and roared, "Order the people to evacuate immediately!"
Cui Xiang gritted his teeth and remained silent, so Yuan Shanjian had to shout it out himself, "Listen up, everyone! The upstream sluice gates will open tonight, and this place will become a vast expanse of water. Evacuate immediately!"
The people looked at each other, bewildered, and then turned to Cui Xiang... Hadn't they said before that they wouldn't release the floodwaters?
Cui Xiang sneered, strode up the high platform, and shouted, "People of Yuhe County! Listen to me! Yuhe County is our ancestral home. Why should they release floodwaters in our county, destroying our farmland, houses, and ancestral graves? We reinforce the riverbed and clear silt every year to protect our home, not to become someone else's flood discharge area!"
The people immediately erupted in anger, shouting, "Yes! Why should we be sacrificed? Our homes are homes too!"
Zhao Zhiyuan rushed out of the county government office and hurriedly explained, "The compensation from the imperial court is enough for everyone to rebuild their houses, have money to get through the winter, and even be exempt from taxes this year! So, all in all... you don't have to work this year, and you'll even have money to buy seeds next year."
"Why buy a seed? My ancestral graves have been washed away. How can I face living in this world? I'd rather be drowned by the flood."
No sooner had the man finished speaking than someone else shouted in protest, "This Harmful River has never flooded us. It's because our dikes are so strong. Why should we bear the blame for their misfortunes? We disagree!"
Zhao Zhiyuan at Cui Xiang, " Lord Cui, you cannot disregard the lives of the people. In the current situation, the only safe course of action is to evacuate quickly."
Cui Xiang snorted coldly, closed his eyes, and completely ignored Zhao Zhiyuan.
At this moment, the people had joined hands and stood in front of the dike, determined not to let anyone blow it up.
On his first independent mission, Zhao Zhiyuan encountered officials who went back on their word and unreasonable people.
His upbringing as a gentleman had left him completely unprepared for such a situation... No amount of reasoning or strategy seemed to work!
Meanwhile, in Jianghe County, the river water was only an inch away from the top of the dam, and Xiong Wanli was already prepared to open the sluice gates.