After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1178 - 1160: It’s Me

So Zhao Changyu is a dashing and charismatic individual, someone who follows the rules yet acts whimsically. Fu Zhi is his close friend, similar in temperament.

Fu Xuan inherited her father’s essence well and advised her brother, "You are too harsh on Second Son and Third Son. They have suffered over the years and their health is damaged. Now that they are home, they should be properly nurtured. Da Lang wants to make eggs for them; you shouldn’t refuse."

Fu Chang’s face froze slightly and he changed the topic, asking, "What position does Big Brother hold in the court after relinquishing mourning?"

Fu Xuan replied, "I won’t relinquish mourning, I shall properly observe the mourning period."

Noticing Zhao Hanzhang looking at him, he added with an unperturbed expression, "I was considering resigning from office to live in seclusion, unrelated to mourning."

Fu Chang understood his elder brother better than Zhao Hanzhang and asked, "Did the Princess agree?"

One sentence turned the tables.

Fu Xuan lowered his head and continued eating yam.

Fu Chang finally won a round, feeling a bit better, and then asked Zhao Hanzhang, "Who is the current Minister of Supervision in the court?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Me."

Fu Chang paused, having heard much about Zhao Hanzhang from Shen Ruhui after emerging from seclusion, knowing that most of the military power resides in her hands. The court authority also rests in her hands, but Shen Ruhui always addressed her as Great General and Grand Commandant, making him assume those were her only positions. Now...

Fu Chang humbly asked, "And Sima?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "That’s also me."

Alright, he finally understood why Zhao Hanzhang told him directly about relinquishing mourning, so he also asked directly, "Which places does the Minister of Supervision plan to govern and how?"

The Water Department’s responsibilities include managing water overflow, clearing canals, repairing barriers, ensuring water levels so that timely waters do no harm to crops. In case of dire drought, they can compensate partially. The Water Department’s head is a doctor, but above the doctor is the Ministry of Industry, and above that is the Chief of Staff, followed by the Minister of Supervision.

Decisions like these regarding nationwide water management fall under the Minister of Supervision’s duties.

Fu Chang then asked her, "What’s the situation with the water systems, canals, and dikes everywhere? Merely for irrigation purposes, how many labor can be mobilized, and what’s the budget? What effect does the Minister of Supervision wish to achieve?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I have already asked each county to conduct self-inspections and report. Only this year have the people stabilized and agriculture flourished. Thus, although I wish to clear water systems, canals, and repair dikes across the lands within one winter, I cannot excessively use the populace’s efforts. Therefore, priorities must be set, focusing first on urgent and unavoidable places; others should be postponed for now."

Fu Chang was surprised, "Now?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "In a few days, I will have someone send the documents."

She mainly looked at Fu Tinghan; as Chief of Staff, this is his duty, though he is currently on mourning leave.

Fu Tinghan nodded and agreed.

Fu Chang: "But..."

Fu Tinghan suddenly spoke, "I might not know other places, but the Yellow River is definitely the top priority. Shen Ruhui should have returned with plans; where are those plans?"

Zhao Hanzhang immediately reached out to Ting He.

Ting He promptly removed the drawing cylinder from his back and presented its contents to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang unrolled the plans for Fu Tinghan to see.

Seeing this familiar plan, Fu Chang was speechless.

Fu Tinghan quickly recognized that the strokes on the plan were not all Shen Ruhui’s, and they were even better drawn than Shen Ruhui’s. He couldn’t help but look at Fu Chang, "Uncle, they say the rumored water manager near the Fen River is you?"

Fu Chang admitted directly, "The plan was drawn by Doctor Shen and me together."

He moved a bit closer to offer explanations, stating the plan’s details were insufficiently detailed; some elements cannot be depicted.

This time, he and Shen Ruhui went from the Fen River towards the Yellow River, following it downstream a bit, encountering the well-known hanging river.

"Along the way, the vegetation is sparse. The river washes silt into the river, causing riverbanks on both sides to collapse significantly. This section even shows signs of rerouting, and the river has opened this side up. If unmanaged, the Yellow River reroutes, downstream people would suffer floods." Fu Chang lowered his finger, pointed at a section on the plan, and remarked, "This section is the hanging river, where the silt is at least one hand higher than when I saw it three years ago, indicating negligence in managing the Yellow River over the past three years."

This section has dikes, but Fu Chang inspected it, the dikes have long been in disrepair and fear failing when faced with flooding. Fortunately, upstream still has the dual dikes built during Emperor Ming of Han’s time; with repairs this winter, it should withstand another year.

"But managing the Yellow River is not a short-term job; it requires lengthy time. Father spent considerable time building Shenlai Dam and managing river paths along it," In Fu Chang’s view, managing the Yellow River is a prolonged task demanding yearly efforts and constant reflection on better methods, "Simply relying on blocking and clearing methods is clearly inadequate. I even think building dikes won’t suffice."

"I heard upon emergence last year, the northern three states experienced severe drought, and this year rain was scarce, barely producing a good harvest. Supposedly, world rainwaters should be evenly distributed, yet You and Ji along the three states faced minor droughts two years, and one year severe drought. Where accumulated rainwater traveled?" Fu Chang analyzed, "With inadequate rain this year, prudence is necessary next year or the following one."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but praise, "Indeed, I also suspect heavy rains will occur next year."

Isn’t it bound to happen?

According to historical processes, Shi Le should march his army south next year to extinguish Sima Rui, but he was halted by heavy rains in Shouchun, drowning countless soldiers, forcing retreat.

Now, Shi Le has pledged allegiance to her, he won’t head to Shouchun, but changing individuals doesn’t mean altering natural events, does it?

Therefore, the heavy rains in Shouchun next year will surely occur, history records only this rain due to its impact on two major forces’ survival. Does the unrecorded place doubt having no rain?

The Yellow River, she must repair!

So, how to repair it?

Fu Chang mastered water management from learning with his father Fu Zhi.

Fu Zhi’s greatest life achievement wasn’t continuously guarding the former emperor, supporting him, but constructing Shenlai Dam, resolving years of water issues in Yu State and Yan State.

For such accomplishments, many Yu State and Yan State commoners set up perpetual blessing tablets for Fu Zhi, whose prestige exceeds Zhao Changyu’s as a landlord in Yu State.

Fu Chang inherited true knowledge from him, possessing expertise in constructing dikes and river management. He now took a pen and, by firelight, advised Zhao Hanzhang on how to repair the Yellow River’s dikes.

"Wang Jing established the dual dikes into inner and outer dike structures. Yellow River waters are released from upstream floodgates of inner dikes, blocked by outer dikes, then flow back into the Yellow River from downstream floodgates. Silt settled by outer dikes, cleaned regularly suffices."

The problem now lies in the inner chaos and external wars within Great Jin causing outer dikes neglect in cleaning, severely blocking river paths.