The matter of borrowing grain finally settled with Cao Ang's decision, and no one could persuade him to do anything.

During this process, Cao Ang endured tremendous pressure, and so did Yuan Ying. The pressure on Cao Ang was tangible, but the pressure on Yuan Ying was intangible.

But for the two, this is just the beginning.

The Yuan and Cao families are destined to have a battle, and no one can predict the final result.

Cao Ang stayed in Huaiyin for two days and continued southward. After turning from the Huai River into Hangou, the waterway became difficult to navigate.

Hangou, also known as Zhongdu Water, was later called the Huaiyang Canal. It was first dug by the State of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period to compete for hegemony in the north. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, it had become an important thoroughfare connecting the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River.

However, artificial rivers are inferior to natural rivers, especially in the southern part of Hangou, where flat water does not flow, so there are many siltations.

Cao Ang saw that the ship was inconvenient on the big ship, so he asked people to change to a smaller ship to prepare for on-site investigation.

From Huaiyin to Guangling, it was nearly four hundred miles. The group walked for several days at a very slow pace. In some places, the water was shallow and the boat was heavy, so people had to pull it on the shore.

Along the way, Cao Ang's face became more and more serious. When he arrived at Gaoyou, which was still dozens of miles away from Guangling, Cao Ang couldn't hold himself back.

Hangou must be rebuilt.

So Cao Ang stopped for a day in Gaoyou and summoned the people accompanying him to discuss rebuilding Hangou.

Everyone was shocked by Cao Ang's idea of ​​flying horses.

But Cao Ang didn't care about everyone's thoughts. He went south this time, firstly to appease the people of Xiapi and Guangling, secondly to arrange for the conquest of Huainan, and the third point was to solve the problem.

The land of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, with its suitable climate and fertile land, will inevitably become the country's breadbasket.

All development matters must be based on this.

Regarding Cao Ang's idea, Liu Fu, who was accompanying him, was very supportive.

In the face of people's doubts, Liu Fu said: "Today, the four fields of the Jianghuai River are countless and fertile. Their fields are fertile, their people are trained, their wealth is abundant, and their weapons are sharp. It is the heart of the world."

By rebuilding the Hangou ditch, the rivers can be connected, so that all the rich things from the south of the Yangtze River can flow into the north, thus relieving the food shortage in the north. In addition, food will be stored and there will be no water damage. This is an advantage;

The Hangou Channel is connected, from Luoyang to the east, you can go boating, and control the Huaihe River, the lake, and the sea. Since the Han Dynasty, the people in the southeast have been difficult to follow for a long time, and there are often troubles. The soldiers of the Central Plains have direct access to the rivers, seas, and rivers from the north.

In the south, if you destroy the enemy, you can be invincible. This has two benefits.

Once the Hangou is connected, it can connect the north and the south. There are countless cities and villages along the way. Taking advantage of the benefits of the Hangou, the fields can be irrigated, and the roads can also be opened up and completely blocked. The number of business travelers has increased, and the number of tourists has increased.

The government's treasures are abundant, and the public and private affairs are abundantly supported. These are the three benefits.

Such three benefits can be the foundation of peace for all ages, and there will be no more achievements than Xia and Yu."

After hearing this, Cao Ang touched his palms and was greatly relieved. Building a ditch in Liu Fu's mouth was as good as Dayu's flood control. It must be said that Liu Fu was really good at flattering.

"Yuan Ying (characterized by Liu Fu)'s words really touched my heart."

As soon as Liu Fu made these remarks, no one could stop him. After all, if you object to so many benefits, wouldn't you be going against Cao Ang?

"This river cannot be controlled except by you, Liu Yuanying."

If you choose a water conservancy family in the Three Kingdoms, it must be the Liu Fu family.

Liu Fu "promoted and governed Shapi, Qimen, and Wutang to irrigate the rice fields." Zhang Wenyuan defeated Sun Quan, and half of the credit should be attributed to Liu Fu. His son Liu Jing and his grandson Liu Hong twice

The earliest large-scale water diversion projects, the Fuling Weir and the Chexi Canal, were built on the Yongding River in Beijing.

Leave this matter to Liu Fu, Cao Ang can rest assured.

Liu Fu didn't expect that he just made a suggestion, but the life fell on him. However, he did not shirk, but accepted the order generously.

Cao Ang smiled and said: "There was Ximen Bao before, and now there is Liu Yuanying. However, Ximen Bao can only govern one city of Ye, but Liu Yuanying is a great talent who can govern a country."

The matter was decided in this way, but who would have thought that Yan Zhen, the Fangfang of Lucaohe Road, would suddenly object.

Of course, Yan Zhen was not against rebuilding Hangou, but against Liu Fu being in charge.

Lu Cao should have been responsible for the construction of water conservancy projects, and Liu Fu worked in the Land Department. Once the matter was handed over to Liu Fu, Liu Fu could leave Lu Cao alone and do it alone.

Because the Land Department is responsible for managing land and taking into account household registration, agriculture, water conservancy and other matters, it has intertwined rights with the mincao and road cao, so the relationship is naturally not good.

When Cao Ang saw Yan Zhen's objection, he smiled and asked, "Who do you think Mancai (named Yan Zhen) should be responsible for?"

Yan Zhen wanted to recommend himself, but he also understood that his status was too low to coordinate the local affairs, so he said: "Rebuilding Hangou is a river matter. Naturally, Lu Cao will take the lead and the river department will be responsible."

Cao Ang looked at Yan Zhen and asked, "Can Mancai do it?"

"I am willing to accept my order."

At this time, it has to be okay even if it doesn’t work.

"If Mancai is responsible for rebuilding Hangou, how should he start?"

“I think there are two core points in rebuilding Hangou. One is to dredge the entire Hangou so that large ships can pass through it and traffic can flow smoothly.

The second is to build weirs and dams to control the water potential. The riverbed in the northern part of Hangou has a steeper slope and a higher flow rate. When the water is heavy in summer, it is difficult for boats against the current to go upstream. In the south of Hangou, flat water flows and is easily silted up. Only by building

Weirs and dams regulate the water volume with weir gates so that the Hangou can flow unimpeded."

Cao Ang nodded after hearing this.

Later generations often attribute the credit for opening the Grand Canal to Yang Guang. In fact, digging the river was the easiest thing. The core problem of the Grand Canal's transportation function is to solve the water problem. After all, the terrain in the north and the south is different, and water flows to lower places.

Changes in water potential sometimes make the canal full of water, and sometimes make the canal bottom upturned.

The development of water transportation in the Ming and Qing Dynasties was the accumulation of hundreds of years of experience in the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Yan Zhen's ability to think of this was beyond Cao Ang's expectations.

Cao Ang turned to look at Liu Fu and said, "What do Yuan Ying think of Mancai's words?"

"The strict policy is much more rigorous than I thought. I can't do it any better."

That's good.

Cao Ang then said: "In that case, Yuan Ying will be in charge, Yan Jin will be in charge, and the two of you will be responsible for the reconstruction of Hangou."

Yan Zhen was stunned. Liu Fu admitted that he was not as good as him, so why did he still hand over the matter to the Land Department?

Cao Ang looked at Yan Zhen's expression and guessed what Yan Zhen was thinking.

So Cao Ang laughed and said: "Mancai thinks, if we need to rebuild Hangou, how much time and manpower will it take?"

"Fifty thousand slaves, one year."

Cao Ang said nothing more, but the meaning in his eyes was very clear. Yan Zhen also immediately understood Cao Ang's thoughts, his face was full of helplessness, as if he was sighing silently.

Although Lu Cao is responsible for transportation, water conservancy, transshipment, and post office affairs, they will definitely not be able to provide 50,000 servants.

In fact, except for the Land Department, an organization with a large number of slaves and civilian laborers, no unit could mobilize 50,000 slave laborers. This meant that the reconstruction of Hangou could only be led by the Land Department.
Chapter completed!