The first priority was to clear the siltation, and only then could they discuss other methods of governance. However…
Looking at the serious Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Chang said, “Actually, Wang Jing’s method is excellent. We can build another dike along this section, creating a double dike system, which would solve most of the sediment problems.”
He continued, “Since Wang Jing’s time, for over two hundred years now, the Yellow River has had no major floods.”
Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “Such dikes are too costly and generate no returns.”
“Returns?” Fu Chang furrowed his brow. “Being able to hold back sediment and prevent Yellow River floods—isn’t that the return?”
“But the return doesn’t match the investment,” Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at Fu Tinghan. “What do you think?”
Fu Tinghan knew what she was thinking and said, “You want to build a structure that can store water, separate sediment, and also utilize water power?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Exactly. Here, at the last section of the Yellow River’s middle reaches canyon, the water flow has a large drop, which means there are many potential uses for water power.”
Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes. “That’s too difficult, not something that can be accomplished in a day.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “We’ll take it slowly.”
“Then what about the urgent priority?” Fu Tinghan asked. “Is clearing silt and dredging the only option?”
“The Yellow River’s problem, at its core, is the issue of sediment entering the river.” Anyone who had studied middle and high school geography knew this was the fundamental problem, right?
And when Zhao Hanzhang was at the library, she had also read books on this subject. She pointed at the blueprint and said, “To govern it fundamentally, we must start with the Yellow River’s banks.”
“It’s very convenient for us to start now, because due to years of warfare and natural disasters, most villages near the riverbanks on both sides of the Yellow River are empty. We can begin planning now.” Zhao Hanzhang continued, “Calculate the safest distance that’s also most suitable for work, and restrict villages and farmland from being too close to the Yellow River’s banks. Conscript labor to plant trees, and besides that, the court will allocate an additional sum of money as special funds to plant grass and trees along the Yellow River’s banks that can stabilize soil and prevent flooding.”
Fu Chang frowned, about to tactfully remind her of something, when he heard his elder brother say slowly, “Sanniang, didn’t you say the national treasury is empty? How will there be money to plant trees? Not to mention whether these trees and grass can actually consolidate the soil and prevent sediment from entering the river—even if they can, how can you ensure the money will be used properly?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Prince Consort, I have censors, I have commandery governors, I have county magistrates, and I have two complaint boxes set up. Can the presence or absence of grass and trees along the riverbanks be hidden from so many people? Besides, I have eyes too—I will inspect.”
“As for the money,” she blinked and smiled, “the special funds don’t necessarily have to come from the national treasury—they can also be money that hasn’t entered the treasury yet.”
Everyone was stunned and confused. “Money that hasn’t entered the treasury?”
“Yes, the taxes, donations, or labor service they should provide can all be exchanged for planting trees and grass.”
Zhao Hanzhang decided to go back and discuss the specific methods with Ji Yuan and the others—for instance, how many trees each household must successfully plant, or how much grassland could offset how much in taxes and donations.
Besides this, the equal-field system had been smoothly implemented. After this year’s transition period, the common people should all be settled on their lands, so the new tax law should also be promulgated. Starting next year, they would replace Dajin’s field tax system with the rent-yong-diao system.
The veteran and disabled soldiers in the armies stationed in various regions should also be gradually discharged.
Many thoughts flashed through Zhao Hanzhang’s mind in an instant, but she quickly pulled herself out of her contemplation and continued discussing water control. “Grass and trees can stabilize soil and prevent flooding—this is true. If you don’t believe me, ask Tinghan.”
Fu Tinghan nodded. “Indeed, we need to plant more grass and trees.”
“But the sediment along the Yellow River’s banks is loose and barren, so planted trees may not survive.” Fu Chang had previously been the magistrate of Heyin County and understood this well. The soil along the Yellow River’s banks was very loose—whenever it rained, it would quickly gather into streams and directly wash sediment into the Yellow River.
This was how the Yellow River accumulated so much sediment. Such soil made it very difficult for grass and trees to survive—perhaps after they planted them, a single rain would wash all the vegetation away.
Fu Tinghan said, “There will always be a way. And besides planting grass and trees, we can also try the束water-flushing-sediment method.”
This was a water control method proposed by Pan Jixun, Minister of Works during the Ming Dynasty, and later improved upon by Chen Huang during the Qing Dynasty. The specific methods of the “water-constriction sediment-flushing method” constantly changed, but its general principles remained the same and continued to be used into modern times, which showed its effectiveness.
Different methods could be used for different sections, adapting to local conditions. This would not only control river sediment but also save manpower and resources.
Fu Chang heard of this method for the first time. “Water-constriction sediment-flushing method?”
“Yes.” Fu Tinghan took the brush from his hand and drew on the paper. “This method mainly targets the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The Yellow River has accumulated sediment for years—who knows how much sediment is deposited on the riverbed? We can’t excavate it all, nor can we send laborers down to dig it out.”
This wasn’t modern times with various machinery—everything relied on manpower. Even during the dry season, the Yellow River still had considerable water flow, and it would be very dangerous for workers to go down to clear silt and dredge.
So they could use other methods to flush the sediment from the riverbed, reducing manpower losses.
Fu Tinghan continued, “Narrow the river channel and use the tremendous impact force of the water flow to flush out the sediment deposited on the riverbed.”
Fu Chang listened with growing interest and leaned closer, asking, “Flush it to where?”
“Here.” Fu Tinghan drew the near-dike for water-constriction sediment-flushing on the map. After thinking for a moment, he simply went ahead and drew the far-dike for preventing flood overflow and the grid-dike for blocking water and attacking sediment as well.
Looking at this diagram, there was no need for Fu Tinghan to explain—Fu Chang understood at a glance. He stood up happily and spun in circles. “What a good method! I never thought of this approach. The Yellow River floods—to the north it affects Jizhou, Qingzhou, and southern Youzhou, and to the south it affects Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Xuzhou—but their terrains are all different, so the methods used should also vary accordingly.”
“Like in the Yuzhou area, it’s all plains, so we should build the several dikes you mentioned. But when we get to the Xuzhou area, the terrain is different there. We don’t necessarily need to build dikes to constrict water and flush sediment—it would save much more effort than building dikes.” Fu Chang happily spun around and excitedly said to Fu Tinghan, “Tinghan, you’re like your grandfather—you’re the one most like Father! Hahaha…”
After laughing, Fu Chang looked at the calm-faced Fu Xuan and became unhappy. “Elder brother, Tinghan is so accomplished—aren’t you happy?”
“I’m happy,” Fu Xuan said. “I knew early on that he was accomplished. After all, he argued Father and the Princess into speechlessness, while I could not.”
Fu Chang fell silent.
He ignored him and turned with a beaming smile to look at Fu Tinghan, saying, “Tinghan, with your abilities, you should go manage water control.”
But Fu Tinghan said, “Second Uncle, this is just armchair strategizing—I can’t really claim to know water control.”
This was only because after the water control task fell on his shoulders, he tried hard to recall relevant knowledge points during the quiet of the night. But it truly was armchair strategizing.
However, Fu Chang didn’t think so. With a serious expression, he said, “Tinghan, don’t sell yourself short. Everyone in our Fu family knows water control. Your third and fourth uncles didn’t study much with your grandfather, but they’re still better than the officials in the Ministry of Works. Look at water control diagrams a few more times and you’ll understand. Even your father, who lacks ambition in this regard, can understand it at a glance. And you’re smarter than all of us and more like your grandfather—how could you not know?”
Fu Tinghan’s mouth fell open.
Fu Yong and Fu Hong beside them also gaped—they rarely saw their strict father praise someone like this.
Fu Chang said gently, “You just haven’t actually managed water control, so you think you’re only strategizing on paper. But when you actually stand beside the Yellow River, you’ll understand that you can manage it—you definitely can.”
Even Zhao Hanzhang was convinced by him. She turned to look at Fu Tinghan with bright, shining eyes and said, “Go try it. I think Second Uncle makes a lot of sense—you might really have a natural talent!”
Fu Tinghan opened his mouth but couldn’t voice any objections for a long time. What should he do? It seemed his confidence was also inflating, and he’d been persuaded too.
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