Zhao Hanzhang said, “Then have them study well. They can also learn some skills in weaving, medicine, or crafts. With one skill in hand, they won’t go hungry no matter what happens in the future.”

Sister Feng nodded repeatedly and asked, “Does the Nulang need more spinners, weavers, or medical workers?”

“All are needed,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “We also need excellent mathematicians, astronomers, and various kinds of craftspeople.”

She pointed to the excavation cart placed not far away. “Don’t underestimate craftspeople. Craftspeople once belonged to the Mohist school. Mohist craftsmanship is unmatched in the world. One good tool can save the labor of more than ten people.”

Sister Feng’s eyes widened, “Does that mean one tool is equivalent to more than ten people?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

The surrounding crowd buzzed with talk, “The things the Minister makes don’t quite reach that level…”

Fu Tinghan beside them said, “Compared to excellent Mohists, I still fall far short.”

After seeing the laborers in this camp, Zhao Hanzhang went with Fu Tinghan to visit and console the other camps.

Only then could Fu Chang and the others squeeze to Zhao Hanzhang’s side.

Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Chang, “I heard from Tinghan that the riverbed in the section you’re responsible for has risen considerably and requires raising the embankment, making it difficult to build?”

Fu Chang nodded, “It is difficult to build, but now we have gunpowder for blasting stone and large quantities of lime. Whether in terms of cost or construction speed, everything is much faster.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Previously someone suggested using cement to build the river embankment. Why wasn’t it used?”

Fu Chang glanced at Fu Tinghan, “This…”

Fu Tinghan explained, “Crushing cement requires great force. Building a suitable water-powered grinding mill at this time while rushing the project would be costly and time-consuming.”

“I asked craftspeople who’ve built embankments here over the years. They all use local yellow clay mixed with straw and ore to build, with a layer of gray soil applied on the outside. That gray soil layer is a type of clay-rich soil, also obtained locally, mixed with lime, glutinous rice juice, and the sap of a local vine tree. It has very good waterproofing effects.”

“I calculated that if you want to finish before February and have compressed costs, this is the best method.”

If Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t compressed the schedule so much, even if she gave less money, he could do better.

But she said there might be torrential rain in March, so they had to finish the embankment a month early. This was the solution with the highest cost-performance ratio and efficiency.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and turned to look at the currently calm and peaceful Yellow River. “This is such good water. In the future, I must put it to use.”

Fu Chang sighed, “Indeed. The Yellow River harms people, but it also sustains countless lives. If we can properly manage the Yellow River and make full use of it to irrigate the farmland on both banks, who knows how much good farmland could be created and how many people could be fed.”

However, Fu Tinghan knew Zhao Hanzhang spoke not only of irrigation. The applications of water power were extremely broad. The prerequisite was that their technology had to be adequate.

The technology required was so extensive that Fu Tinghan alone was clearly insufficient. Therefore, they not only needed to cultivate technical talent from childhood but also absorb existing talent.

He just didn’t know how many more Mohist descendants could still be found in the world.

Fu Tinghan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and took his horse’s reins. “Let’s go. The second camp is already waiting.”

Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse and went with Fu Tinghan and the others to visit each camp, bringing one hundred cavalry.

From high-ranking officials and generals to laborers and soldiers, all were jubilant.

Most camps were built on the south bank, but there were also three camps on the north bank, because that section of the Yellow River was most treacherous. The north bank, like the south bank, was somewhat lower than the riverbed. Whenever flooding occurred, not only did the south bank suffer severe damage, but the north bank as well.

In recent years the Jin court hadn’t conducted large-scale Yellow River management, leaving it entirely to the consciences of county magistrates and commandery governors. Those with bigger consciences organized civilian labor to repair embankments and clear silt; those with smaller consciences, constrained by circumstances, just let things be.

So the riverbed was considerably higher than before.

Fortunately this was winter with little river water. She looked at the watermarks—by the rainy season, this water would likely overflow the riverbed.

The damaged embankments simply couldn’t hold it back.

Gradual overflow would be one thing—at most the land on both river banks would be washed away. But if floodwaters surged over, the farmland and villages on both banks would be finished.

Because the riverbed was actually higher than the villages on both banks, if the embankments collapsed, it would be like a waterfall pouring down from the sky, directly flooding the farmland and villages.

After Zhao Hanzhang inspected the camps on this side, she also crossed the river to look at the other side, checking on the people and examining the embankments they were building.

The section they were responsible for was already two-thirds complete. The remaining third also had a basic form. Stones were piled layer upon layer, and unstable parts were plastered with the mixed yellow mud, then filled in.

Embankments built this way were less likely to collapse.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped on the piled stones and walked forward, asking, “Where were these stones transported from?”

Fu Tinghan pointed into the distance for her to see. “There are a thousand people stationed over there. Their task is to blast and break stones, and people from here go to transport them. On the other side of the river, another five thousand people are responsible for this work.”

Stones weren’t ready to use just because they’d been blasted with explosives. Some stones were very large when blasted out and had to be broken down for easier transport and construction.

And some places required especially large stones with specific size and shape requirements. These couldn’t rely entirely on explosives but required manual quarrying.

Building the Yellow River embankments was already very hard work, but quarrying stone from mountains and transporting stones was even harder.

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at the wheelbarrows they used to transport silt and stones. She clenched her fists—productivity was still too low, too labor-intensive, and too hard on people.

It was getting dark, and their group didn’t cross the river back to the first camp but stayed on this side.

Colonel Chen happily offered the main tent to Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, then wanted to guard their tent entrance.

Zhao Hanzhang refused, “We have personal guards. Aren’t you resuming work tomorrow? If you guard my tent tonight, won’t that delay work time tomorrow?”

She said, “Don’t delay because of us. Finish early so the soldiers can return to camp early too.”

In the firelight, Colonel Chen appeared somewhat nervous, opening his mouth several times wanting to ask but not daring.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said, “What’s with all this hesitation? If you have something to say, say it openly.”

Only then did Colonel Chen stammer quietly, “Grand General, after we finish repairing the Yellow River, do we still have to return to camp for military training and battle?”

Zhao Hanzhang asked in return, “Do you want to fight?”

Colonel Chen immediately declared loudly, “Yes! As long as the Grand General gives the order, this subordinate will never shrink from battle!”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t speak but turned to look at the countless bonfires behind her and the soldiers celebrating jubilantly around them.

Because of her arrival, they were still celebrating tonight. Today they had slaughtered another fifteen pigs, and together with yesterday’s pig trotters and offal, they made a delicious evening meal. Having eaten and drunk their fill, everyone was now singing and dancing around the bonfires.

Occasionally two teams would even spar with each other.

This was a military camp. They had fought side by side and knew each other fairly well, so the atmosphere was even more intimate and relaxed than the laborers’ camp across the river.

Compared to ordinary civilians, they understood better how to enjoy the moment.

Everyone was merrily making noise.

Zhao Hanzhang stood up and gestured for Colonel Chen to follow, randomly choosing a bonfire to sit beside.