The imperial chariot's eastward patrol always maintained a steady rhythm without any urgency. It started at dawn and camped at dusk. There were few changes. Even if you wanted to go faster, you couldn't move faster. Although there were many horses and horses in the chariot, there were also a lot of burdens.
Emperor Liu was familiar with the Kinki area and did not stop for inspections on the way. The distance between the two capitals is not too far, especially when there is a direct connection, which is more convenient. However, for the nobles accompanying him,
Generally speaking, the experience of rushing in such a serious atmosphere is quite depressing and painful.
After a full journey, he was busy on his way until he arrived in Zhengzhou. Emperor Liu just stopped his eastward patrol for the first time. He walked for five days for a mere two hundred miles.
The floods in the Central Plains that have passed seem to be divided by Zhengzhou. In winter in Zhengzhou, there are constant rains, and the situation becomes more serious as you go eastward. To the west of Zhengzhou, it is not sunny and windy, but it has not been damaged by rain.
As an important town on the south bank of the Yellow River and one of the most important transportation hubs in the Central Plains, it is also a place where yellow disasters occur frequently, especially Heyin and Yuanwu counties along the river. In the past, they were the hardest hit areas by burst floods.
Of course, thanks to the powerful efforts of the imperial court, the Zhengzhou front line has been peaceful for nearly ten years. Although there have been recurrences in the past, they have always been within controllable limits and have not caused major damage.
There has been no breach between Heyin and Yuanwu for more than ten years. This fact has made local people talk about it and fully affirmed the imperial court's achievements in river control and flood control.
However, the floods this summer still shocked the people of Zhengzhou three times a day. The raging river and its majestic momentum made some older people recall the precarious days twenty or thirty years ago.
, days of danger.
Emperor Liu was somewhat familiar with Zhengzhou, such as Yuanwu County, Yuanwu in the early years of Qianyou's reign, and the White Horse Battle, which are still fresh in his memory. It was an impression that was burned into the depths of his mind.
The Zhengzhou magistrate's name was Dong Chun. He was the number one scholar in the fifth year of Qianyou's reign and was in the same class as Lu Duoxun. However, compared to Xiao Lu Tanhua, Dong Chun's official career was much duller. There were no ups and downs, no leaps forward, just slow steps.
Climb slowly.
Unlike Lu Duoxun, who is smart, capable and proactive, Dong Chun is obviously more "traditional", rigid and adheres to the golden mean.
Because of this, in the era of great enterprising led by Emperor Liu, although his official career was smooth, it was really lackluster. In terms of knowledge, Dong Chun could be called erudite, with a good pen, and in terms of qualifications, he was also profound. After all, he was Qianyu's early admirer.
Bachelor of Political Science.
He has been an official for twenty years, ten of which were spent in the inner court, compiling and revising books in the three offices. After that, he began to truly apply what he learned and serve as an official in other places.
It took another ten years to gradually be promoted to the level of prefect. From today's perspective, it is not easy to become the chief official of a prefecture in twenty years or more than forty years old.
But when it comes to Dong Chun, it seems mediocre, and his political performance does seem mediocre, stable, and will not make mistakes. But if he has any outstanding achievements, there is really nothing to list. As for radical, even more
Insulate it.
This is why, when Lu Duoxun, who is in the same department, has made such great achievements in the northwest and has become a frontier official like the Chief Envoy of Zhejiang and Zhejiang, Dong Chun, who is the head of the top three, is still just a person who knows Zhengzhou. s reason.
However, in any case, in the Han bureaucracy, Dong Chun also belonged to the upper echelon of the elite. His power and position may only be in the middle, but his qualifications and reputation are extraordinary.
At least, this is the person who hangs out with Emperor Liu. Twenty years have passed, and the handsome number one scholar at that time has also degenerated into an old master with a waving beard who is always busy.
When Emperor Liu saw him, he couldn't help feeling that time had passed by and things had changed. Emperor Liu had always felt that he was a kind-hearted monarch. Although he laughed at himself from time to time for being cold and cold, he only said it with his words. Naturally, he didn't feel the same way in his heart. Think so.
Emperor Liu's attitude towards his old ministers had always been cordial, and he was willing to be more patient, within a reasonable range. Therefore, when he saw Dong Chun who was greeting him, he still had a warm smile on his face, and he received him alone. We ate together, inquired about civil affairs, and consulted on people's sentiments. Everything seemed very harmonious.
Being close to the river, Emperor Liu personally took his people to Yuanwu to inspect the river defense, and Dong Chun was naturally able to accompany him.
On the Yanglin Embankment, Emperor Liu stood facing the wind, with the Taotao River at his feet, rolling eastward, and he could clearly feel the desolation and loneliness that permeated the world.
The sound of wind and water filled his ears, and Emperor Liu's eyes fell calmly on the east-flowing river at his feet. The water level of the river in this season is already very low, and the rapidity is still its true nature, but it is more restrained, and can be seen in the river. There are many boats going east along the river.
Shipping on the Hebian River has actually been restored a long time ago. After stagnation during the water regime, it has regained its vitality, and the transportation demand and transportation market have also ushered in a major explosion.
Originally, Emperor Liu's first choice for his eastward tour was taking a boat. It was not only comfortable, fast, and could reach Kaifeng directly. However, Emperor Liu still chose the more secure land route. This was his nature. He was a little adventurous, and maybe it was just It's just a show, how could Emperor Liu not care about his own safety?
The river under his feet was like a tamed beast, flowing eastward along the river. After stopping for a long time, Emperor Liu sighed with emotion: "Two months ago, did I think that the water of this river would be so docile! The river has nourished this land and given birth to our civilization, but it is also merciless when it gets angry!"
"Water and fire are merciless!" Zhao Pu listened and responded: "The troubles of this river have become more and more serious. If His Majesty had not decided to rectify it, I am afraid that the outbreaks of river troubles would have become more frequent, and the people along the coast would have suffered greatly. !”
Zhao Pu's understatement was still full of compliments to Emperor Liu. After all, Emperor Liu tried his best to support Wang Pu in the management of river canals when the country was in such difficult circumstances. Although the management of the Yellow River was only incidental, and the main purpose was still Preparations were made to open up transportation for the Southern Expedition, but river control was indeed done, so grit your teeth and do it.
However, Emperor Liu obviously did not indulge in his past achievements. He frowned and thought for a while, then stepped on the embankment under his feet and said: "It is not enough to just build the embankment and block it! Our ancestors have pointed out the way long ago. , we have to rely on diversion, pursuit and interception to control floods. In the end, we only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. We should think of more solutions to the problem of flood control and discharge!"
Emperor Liu's words are also a bit false. He is not the only smart person in the world, and there are also many people who see the problem. However, due to factors such as actual conditions, technical level, etc., it is difficult to meet the goal of being too perfect.
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Zhao Pu winked at Dong Chun, indicating that he should behave. Seeing this, Dong Chun slowly raised his hands and responded: "Your Majesty, from the beginning of the founding of the country, the imperial court has begun to govern
He has accumulated a lot of experience over more than 20 years.
Zhengzhou's river management is also carried out in accordance with the plan stipulated by the Ministry of Industry. It not only involves the long embankment, but also regular dredging, planting of elms and willows, building reservoirs, and digging ditches. In the former, the river water surged, and all these projects were carried out.
Once the good effect is achieved, the whole territory will be at peace..."
Hearing what he said, Emperor Liu finally put a smile on his face, turned around and asked: "How many trees have been planted along the river in Zhengzhou?"
Dong Chun remembered these things clearly and answered without thinking: "Your Majesty, in the past twenty years, more than three million plants were planted, but less than half of them survived and grew."
"It doesn't seem like a lot!" Emperor Liu frowned slightly.
In fact, it is only in the past ten years that the government has guided and encouraged people to plant trees and spread them on a large scale. Many officials regard this as a political achievement, even if it is somewhat thankless.
"I know something about this!" Zhao Pu said: "It is probably limited by the number of seedlings needed for tree planting. Therefore, even if the government is active and the people spare no effort, it is difficult to make a big breakthrough. The situation here in Zhengzhou,
It’s already pretty good!”
"Remember this matter, the court should find a way to solve it!" Emperor Liu instructed.