The embankment was full of people, with exhaustion and despair written on everyone's faces. They seemed to realize what County Magistrate Li was going to say. Magistrate Li was definitely going to say that the fight against the flood had failed, so everyone hurried back to pack their things and take their families with them.
Ready to flee.
When they think that all their efforts will be in vain, all their hopes will be destroyed, and they will have to flee for food and become refugees, they will feel extremely uncomfortable and miserable.
In fact, they did not blame County Magistrate Li, who also tried his best. But at this moment, their moods were extremely impetuous. Once they realized that their efforts were ineffective, everyone could no longer feel at ease.
They sat on the embankment looking anxious, sighing, and their minds were far away from here, thinking about how to go back and take their families to escape, and where they would live in the future.
The setting sun shines on the lake full of Jiao Lake, and there are only a few tree tops left in the willow forest on the inside of the dam. The turbid water of Jiao Lake is rippling, reflecting the dazzling sunset, making people unable to open their eyes.
Li Hui stood at the height of the embankment. There was no clean spot on his body, his face was covered with mud, his feet were bare, his cheeks were thin, and his eyes were red.
"Fellow folks and brothers, I have summoned you here today because I have something in my heart that I want to talk to you about. We know that you are feeling depressed, physically exhausted, and even a little scared at the moment. Some of you are eager to ask for help.
I go back to take care of my family and worry about their safety. Because we have encountered huge problems and it seems that there is nothing we can do about it. However, I still hope that you can calm down at this moment and listen to what I say. I will not delay you.
It will take a long time." Li Hui said in a hoarse voice.
Everyone looked at Li Hui, buzzing and talking, still restless.
One person stood up and shouted to everyone: "Everyone, can you calm down and listen to County Magistrate Li? After County Magistrate Li came to Juchao County, he worried about us, regardless of his life. He did his best for us, and we all
See it in your eyes. Don’t we even have time to listen to what he said? Who among us has not been favored by County Magistrate Li? Isn’t your attitude so chilling? "
The man's words made all the people feel ashamed and fell silent. Li Hui glanced at the man and recognized him. That was Zheng Along, the son of Zheng Laozhang, the owner of Zhengji Tea Shop. He should have participated in the Juchao County
The joint defense team participated in the embankment and flood control affairs.
"Dear fellow villagers, I first want to thank you. Since I took office, with your support, I have done some things. Without your support, Juchao County will not be better. These past two
For more than ten days, you are not afraid of hardships and have been on this river embankment day and night. When you are hungry, you eat dry food and when you are thirsty, you drink boiled water. You are all extremely hard and exhausted. I have not heard a single complaint.
, I didn’t hear anyone complaining about being tired. This really moved me.”
"Why do we have to suffer like this? Why do we have to bleed, sweat, and stay here covered in mud and water? To prevent floods and protect farmland. If we protect the farmland, we will protect our lives. We people are exhausted from hard work.
For what? It is to live and work in peace and contentment, so that we do not go hungry, begging and wandering around, so that our children and parents can have enough food and clothing, and the family can live a stable life. What we do is not for others, but for us.
Ourselves. Because of this, we can persevere and have no regrets. This is the responsibility of each of us as parents and children."
"Remember what the scene was like when I first came to Juchao County? I believe you all remember it fresh. The lake bandits were ferocious and the bandits were entrenched. I lived in Juchao County, where thousands of households were desolate, everyone was hungry and cold, and there was no hope. Many of them
People starved to death, froze to death, were killed and raped by lake bandits, and many people jumped into the lake and hanged themselves. At that time, Juchao County was like a hell on earth. Even people from other places could only become other people because they could not be naturalized.
They were slaves, begging for a living, or even selling their sons and daughters. What a miserable situation it was back then? Now, look at the tens of thousands of acres of farmland under the embankment, the green seedlings growing, the mountains of fruits and vegetables, and the
There are shops one after another in Juchao County. Fishing boats go out of the lake and return with warehouses full of fish and shrimp. At night, thousands of houses are lit up, and families reunite and laugh. This is what we want to pursue, this is everything we strive for. We
It took a lot of effort to achieve the situation before us and to have hope. Can we give up? Can we let it all be ruined in one day? Ah?"
Li Hui's hoarse voice echoed in everyone's ears. The people were in pain and anxiety. They had witnessed all the changes with their own eyes and had made great efforts. How could they be willing to let it all disappear?
"No, of course not."
"Of course we can't give up, but what can we do?"
"My family has finally settled down. We don't want to be refugees, but God forbids it. Who can save us?"
The people shouted, and some people burst into tears.
Li Huidao said: "Fellow folks, listen to me. The problem we are encountering now is indeed a big trouble. There are cracks in the dam, and it is very likely that the dam will collapse. This is a disaster. We have worked hard for so many days, and the lake water
Not only has it not declined, but it has risen again, which is of course disappointing. However, in my opinion, this is the last test God gives us. It is to see whether the people of Juchao County are qualified to live a good life. This is a test.
This kind of trial is the darkness before dawn. The more times like this, the less we can be discouraged."
Everyone looked at Li Hui blankly, thinking: What's the use of saying this? The floods are rising, cracks appear in the dam, and it will collapse in a matter of seconds. What you say is of no use.
Li Hui continued: "Why did the lake water suddenly rise? Have you ever thought about it? It has been sunny here for many days. The lake water has already fallen back, and now it suddenly rises. What is the reason? Have you ever thought about it? I have thought about it.
The reason is that the flood peak in the upper reaches has come. It didn't rain here, but it was raining in the upper reaches. The sharply rising river water surged down and poured back into Jiao Lake. That's why it suddenly rose in a short period of time.
And now it is almost mid-June, and the rainy season has passed. This is the peak of the flood caused by the last tail of the rainy season. This must be the case, otherwise it cannot explain all this."
The people started talking about it, and judging from all the circumstances, it seemed that Magistrate Li was right. This was a huge flood peak passing through, and the river water poured violently back, causing the lake water level to suddenly increase. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain all this.
"Everyone, the peak of the flood actually passes very quickly. After the peak of the flood, the water level will drop immediately. By then, all crises will be relieved. In two or three days, the water level will definitely drop, and the flood will recede soon. Therefore, we only need to
If we hold on and keep the levee at this moment, we will overcome this difficulty. We will no longer have to worry about this year's floods. After a day or two, everything will be easy to say. That's why I have summoned you here.
Because I hope you can hold on and keep the levee. Hold on at this last moment. Don't let up. This is a battle, and the flood is the enemy. We must defeat them and cannot retreat." Li Hui waved his fist and shouted loudly
roared.
The eyes of the people were shining, their emotions were aroused, their hearts beat faster, their blood flow accelerated, and the hormones in their bodies surged.
"How to protect the embankment? This is what we should be thinking about now. I just discussed it with the local father-in-law who has participated in many embankment protection and flood fighting. The embankment under our feet is very dangerous now. The main reason is that the lake water level
It was too high and the pressure was too great, and the embankment could not bear it, so the soil cracked. Coupled with the strong wind and waves, the force of the waves hitting the embankment would also cause the cracks in the embankment to get bigger and bigger. So, what we have to do now is
Two things: strengthening embankments and preventing waves."
"The county has now decided to immediately launch an action to consolidate the embankment. It will reinforce the inside and outside of the embankment by driving piles on the inside and adding diagonal braces on the outside. In addition, fishing boats will be mobilized to load soil and sink it on the inside of the embankment to form fixed anchor points, and pull up wave-proof rope nets.
, to stop the big waves from hitting the shore. This section of the dike must be preserved. This is our goal. Everyone, I don’t know what the final result of this will be, but this county believes that we don’t need to think too much about the results, but rather
Take action. We can't save the dam even if we cry here all day and night. Only by taking action can it be possible. Before I came, some people said that Juchao County was hopeless, saying that Juchao County was a place abandoned due to its poor mountains and harsh rivers.
Everyone, we must let those people know what kind of people our people in Juchao County are, we are heroes fighting against heaven and earth, and we will definitely be able to protect the levee."
Li Hui's hoarse voice echoed in the sunset, reaching everyone's ears like thunder. Everyone looked at Li Hui, looking at him covered in dirt, with a dark and thin face and red eyes. Even so.
, the setting sun shone on him, covering him from head to toe with a layer of golden light, as if he were a god standing in front of him, awe-inspiring and exciting, making the blood boil all over his body and giving rise to strong confidence.
"Get up and listen to Magistrate Li's orders and protect the embankment to the death." Zheng Along roared loudly.
"Protect the embankment to the death!" the people stood up and shouted, shaking their fists.
Their voices covered up the roaring water, the rushing wind and waves, and all other noises, resounding throughout the world.