The forty-third chapter: Riding the Dragon Boat as a River Worker
In the 23rd year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Jin Fu had been serving as the governor of the river for six years. The water reduction dam at Gaojiayan burst its banks. I don't know whether it was because he was ashamed of his inability to regulate the river, or because he was promoted one after another and had too much civil and political affairs to take care of. Cheng Long did not care about the river engineering affairs.
After intervening again, Jin Fu and Chen Huang suddenly felt that everything was going smoothly. Not only were the breaches along the Huanghuai and Huai canals gradually blocked, but the west of Gaojiayan and the canal and Qingshuitan were also deeply dug. The embankments from Qingjiangpu to Yuntiguan to Haikou were all blocked.
All were completed on schedule. So far, from Zhengzhou east to Haikou, Jiangsu, the endless flow of yellow water is tightly trapped in the strong embankments. The marshes on both sides of the strait have been flooded for decades, and more than three million hectares of farmland have dried up.
Most of the cultivated land had become wasteland. Although the imperial court did not collect taxes for the time being, it did not need to provide relief anymore. The stretched situation suddenly changed. In the winter of the 22nd year, in addition to having money to update all the equipment for the garrison north of the Great Wall, the Ministry of Revenue actually allocated funds
A large sum of money was used to renovate the Forbidden City, Changchun Garden, Niutoushan and other places that were not urgent tasks. The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Examinations reported Jin Fu's achievements in detail as per the regulations, and Kangxi, who was full of ambitions, immediately approved: Jin Fu was given a double salary and was given the title of Minister.
Still in charge of river governor affairs.
After receiving the joint memorial from Wei Dongting and Mu Zixu, Kangxi was so happy that Jiangnan had eliminated a major hidden danger that he could not sleep well at night. While he ordered Yang Qilong to be executed on the spot, he nervously summoned Fei Yanggu, the general stationed in the north of the Great Wall.
Waiting for arrangements, he ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Household Affairs to meet to arrange the southern tour, how to inspect the river, how to pay homage to the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, when to visit Qufu Confucius Temple and officials to greet and see off, and stationed at the pass, etc., everything was prepared in detail, and it was not possible to detail it one by one.
Narrative - Forty years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, this was the first time in the history of two emperors that an emperor visited the famous golden city in the south of the Yangtze River. Not to mention Kangxi, people in the government and the public, as well as in teahouses and restaurants, were also talking about it. From then on, wars were eliminated, and the atmosphere was peaceful and prosperous.
The clues had already emerged. According to the initial proposal of the Ministry of Rites, Kangxi drove by land from the southeast of Shandong Province, climbed Mount Tai to worship Zen, worshiped at the Confucius Temple, and then went to Nanjing. However, when the memorial was submitted, Kangxi did not approve it according to the proposal, and instead visited Mount Wutai in the west first.
Go straight south, board the boat from Fenglingdu to the east, follow the river to inspect the river work, return from Nanjing to take the canal to inspect the water transportation, visit the Confucius Temple, and skip the ceremony of climbing Mount Tai to enshrine the Zen. Kings in the past dynasties have always climbed Mount Tai to enshrine the Zen as long as they have achieved a small amount of achievements, which shows their holiness.
The literary, spiritual and military skills were unprecedented and unprecedented. Kangxi attacked the powerful and traitors at a young age, suppressed civil strife, cultivated political science, and neglected corvée and taxes. In more than 20 years, the world was in great power. He was far better than the previous Zen monarchs, yet he was so humble.
, Xiong Cilu, Li Guangdi and other famous Neo-Confucian officials were so impressed that they all praised him and said several good words. Kangxi ignored him, and on the second day of April, he started to drive out of Beijing with great force, leaving only Xiong Cilu.
Accompany the prince in Beijing.
After the dragon boat passed Zhengzhou, the spectacular scene of the river immediately appeared. Depending on the width and flow of the river, the embankments with a height of more than four feet and fragrant grass tightly tied up the yellow water. The beach was almost invisible, only because of the river embankments.
Immediately afterwards, the water speed accelerated and washed away the river sand. It was obvious from the water marks on the river embankment that the river bed had dropped by more than two feet on average. In order to prevent the flood from breaking out, a remote embankment was built two miles away from the main embankment.
On the remote embankment, willow silk blows in the wind, and light locust trees are planted densely, like two green dragons, stretching for thousands of miles. Although Kangxi did not show it on his face, he secretly said it in his heart. After Kaifeng, Kangxi finally came to the city founded by Jin Fu
Engineering water reduction dam. However, one large gate is opened on the north and south banks, and there are two large channels outside the solid embankment lying on the top of the stone. The yellow water is divided into three tributaries, which stretch eastward like a dragon's claws, and meet the main stream ten miles away.
There are more than a dozen large canals connected to the water reduction dam, all of which have gates. They are closed during floods and diverted water to irrigate the fields during droughts. Several ministers in the study have never seen this. Following Kangxi, they sometimes used poles to measure the water depth, and sometimes
Abandoning the boat and landing to take a closer look. Gao Shiqi was happy to see Kangxi and sighed: "My students have read a lot, but their knowledge is so shallow! This water reduction dam is really a wonderful creation through the ages. It has the ability to divert water and prevent floods; it also has the function of preventing floods.
It has the effect of driving away sand and has the benefit of irrigation. What a wonderful idea!"
"This is still a small water reduction dam!" Kangxi knew it very well because he reviewed the memorial. Hearing Gao Shiqi's praise, he was so happy that he opened his mouth from ear to ear and said, "I will see you in a few days when I see the Xiaojiadu Water Reduction Dam. I will call you this
The slave is surprised!"
By the end of April, Kangxi's royal warship had arrived at the shore of Luoma Lake. The Yellow River was 180 miles away from where it met the canal. Jin Fu gathered 50,000 migrant workers using donkeys to transport earth and rocks, and was excavating the middle river to complete the project.
The last major and arduous project to control the Yellow River was. Because the river was narrow, most merchant ships did not dare to risk going south when they heard that the cauliflower flood was coming. The bay of Beijing cargo ships transporting south was filled with piers. The minister on duty that day was Gao Shi
Qi. Seeing that the dragon boat was too big to pass easily, Gao Shiqi took advantage of it and said: "Your Majesty, I inspected the river work all the way without taking a break for half a day. Just now Li Dequan said that Suo'etu was so tired that he was about to fall ill, and Mingzhu was also seasick. He was just a slave.
I can't stand it anymore. I beg you, master, for mercy. There are so many merchant ships here, and it's not easy to avoid them. They are not willing to take the risk of the storm, let alone the master who has the dignity of ten thousand chariots. According to the slave, the master is stationed at the Luoma Lake Station, slave.
I have ordered Jin Fu to come here to pick him up. It won’t be too late to wait until the cauliflower flood situation is over.” Kangxi tangled his beard and smiled and said, “I’ll just follow you and see the customs of this place. If we can’t go by water, I will go by land.
The official ship is not afraid of floods and must leave first tomorrow at the latest. I originally wanted to see Jin Fu as soon as possible, but since he is here, there is no rush."
Just as he was talking, the curtain of the back cabin rang. When Kangxi looked, it was Han Liu who came out, because he smiled and said: "You are always in trouble, you can take advantage of your wish this time, don't you want to come to Luoma Lake to see your son?"
! Ke Keer won’t be leaving today. I didn’t even bring the queen with me on this southern tour. If Si Gege hadn’t interceded for you, I wouldn’t have paid your bills!” Mrs. Han Liu hurriedly knelt down at Wanfu and said with a smile:
"Master, this is called caring for the servants, pity the old and the poor. The old servant is listening behind, Master Gao is right! When a small family goes out to read the imperial calendar, they still pay attention to 'no leaving for seven, and no returning for eight', not to mention that the old man is
Your Majesty, the current emperor! My son wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that the people in this place are complicated and there are water thieves. The emperor would rather be more careful!" Kangxi said with a smile: "But you, a shrewd mother, have such a big trick, what are you doing?
You won’t come home until you leave?” Mrs. Han Liu laughed and said, “Today is not April 27th, so it’s not a good time to travel!”
"It's still early, where can I go for a walk?" Kangxi stretched out and said, "Ask the people below to spread the word and find some local gentry. I've seen something - this peaceful world, the bright world, can be found everywhere.
Water thieves?" Gao Shiqi smiled and changed the topic: "The Zhonghe River is opening here, and the censors say it is a waste of national money. Since the emperor is out, you might as well take a look. It really doesn't need to dig the Zhonghe River, and it can save a lot of money.
There are millions of silver coins!"
With a word of reminder, Kangxi really wanted to stay here for two days. He then said: "Let's get off the boat. Only Gao Shiqi and Han Liu will follow, and the others don't need to wait. Call us, and we will rest for a while. I see the gentleman."
, they have to accompany him." Several eunuchs listened and passed the order, and the rest rushed over to change Kangxi into plain clothes. Han Liu was as careful as his hair, and when he saw the purse hanging on Kangxi's waist, he smiled and said: "Old man
, no matter how much you dress like a young man, this is just a cover - who among ordinary people would dare to use this color?" Kangxi Fang smiled and took it off and threw it away. Wu Dan had a heavy responsibility after Mu Zixu left, and he did not dare to be like before.
It was so rough. I looked out from the side of the boat. The bright yellow sun was slightly setting in the west. It was not yet midnight. In the distance, Luoma Town was crowded with people. I expected nothing to happen. I called Su Lun and waited until Kangxi had gone.
Four or five small guards followed him from a distance to escort him.
At this time, the card has passed, the orioles are having a cup of tea, jumping on the branches and chirping, and the early summer cicadas are singing quietly. Kangxi and his party walked half a mile to Luoma Town. This is an old town that is more than 600 years old.
, since the Yellow River moved south during the Xining period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Luoma Lake was flooded and collapsed out of control. When the flood season came during the nearly 200 miles of waterway ahead, the lake water poured into the river, and boats were no longer allowed to pass. Pedestrians passing by have always regarded it as a fearful road, and they often stopped on it.
At this time of the flood, it was inevitable that merchants and merchants would gradually gather together, turning it into a big town. As Kangxi and the others walked along the way, they saw meat shops, workshops, jewelry, porcelain, silk and satin, fresh fish, bamboo and wood, wine and rice, all in the streets.
Soup shop, Zha Zuo, Wu Zuo, sauce, ironware, Gu embroidery... thirty-six rows are complete, dazzling, and I looked at it with great interest. When I saw the sign on the rice shop that said it was five coins a dou, I couldn't help but smile happily: "
This price is the best, no matter how expensive it is, the poor cannot afford it, and if it is too cheap, even farmers cannot afford it." Speaking of food, Kangxi suddenly remembered that he had only used two cloud cakes when he got up in the morning, and nearly three hours had passed.
He smiled and asked Han Liu, "Where is your son's treasure number? How about we disturb him for a meal?"
Han Liu was about to agree, but Gao Shiqi said: "This slave has been hungry for a long time. Now that the master has arrived at her house, what preparations have been made? Why not find a restaurant to have a few bites, and Han Liu will go back
Make preparations and disturb her again in the evening. Master, don't forget, you have to get on the boat to meet the gentry!" Kangxi smiled and nodded, and when he saw a large hotel in front of him with a plaque saying "Spring is coming to all families", he walked over.
.
As soon as the three people stepped up the steps, there was a burst of noise inside. A waiter pushed a little girl with a shaggy hair with both hands and shouted: "Get out!" He didn't even look at the food when he was begging. The guest didn't leave, so he just lay down under the table to pick it up like a dog.
Bones! I can't even get rid of the rice balls for you, so I have to ask for broth! Little broken shoes, if you act like this, can we still do business?" The little girl with the shaggy head was very frail, holding a small basin.
As if breaking a sea bowl, he staggered out and was pushed out. He accidentally stumbled on the threshold, and his body was knocked flat, and he bumped into the arms of a woman in a flag dress. The woman hurriedly dodged, and the little girl fell to the bottom of the steps, and the sea
The bowl broke into pieces and the soup spilled all over. The girl curled her lips and burst into tears with a cry. The woman stamped her feet and laughed and scolded: "You are a slut, I scared my aunt!" People gathered around to watch the excitement.
Everyone laughed happily. Mrs. Han Liu couldn't help but clasped her hands and murmured: "Amitabha, it's a sin!"
"Lao Gao, ask this girl to follow you and give her a mouthful of food." Kangxi saw that everyone was laughing, scolding and spitting, but the little girl was so humiliated and silently wept there, and he couldn't help feeling pity.
At the same time, he ordered Gao Shiqi and stepped into the store. The waiter saw that Kangxi was wearing a red velvet knotted six-in-one hat and waving a folding fan. He came in calmly. Although he was not wrapped in silk, he was wearing a poplin gray shirt.
The texture is exquisite and the workmanship is excellent, but he did not dare to neglect it. He flicked the cloth in his hand and shouted like a song: "Here are the regular guests - please take a seat inside!" He moved to the back, wiped the table and said with a smile: "I want to
Use something?"
Gao Shiqi and Han Liu came in with the girl. Seeing that Kangxi was a little at a loss, knowing that he couldn't order, Gao Shiqi smiled and said: "Our master has great taste. You don't have ingredients like hump, bear paw, deer tendon, etc."
As long as we can arrange an eight-jewel banquet." The waiter smiled and said, "The guests really look down on us, and we have all the supplies! The two distinguished guests who just sent us away also said the same, and the younger one will arrange an eight-jewel banquet for them.
, but they just talked about it, ate two Yellow River carps and hurried away - do you know who they are? They are River Governor Jin Shangshu and Chen Hebo!" Kangxi was startled after hearing this, and almost asked: "Jin Fu is so fast.
Just here? Who is Chen Hebo?" Seeing Gao Shiqi's wink, Fang Yixiao said: "Interesting. But don't underestimate me, who is not a minister - just ask Bazhen!"
"Yes! But the old customers have to wait for a while, the orangutan lip hair is ready and everything will be ready!" Seeing that it was a wealthy customer, the waiter smiled with joy, agreed and stepped out. Kangxi waved his hand to stop, then turned around and asked the little girl: "
what would you like?"
"Me?" The little girl didn't expect Kangxi to ask her suddenly. After a while, Fang blushed and whispered, "Please give me a bowl of pork ribs... that's enough..." Ms. Han Liu was careful, and thought of the waiter's scolding, she warmed up.
She said in a loud voice: "My dear, don't be afraid - your mother is in confinement?" The little girl pouted and looked at Han Liu with tears in her eyes, and nodded silently. Han Liu said with a smile: "Our master is the best
He is a person who accumulates virtue and does good deeds. If so, waiter, please make a casserole of hens and cook soup for this child, and the sum will be credited to our account." After that, he took out two more silver coins and gave them to the girl.
Gao Shiqi looked at the girl intently and suddenly asked: "How old are you this year?"
"fourteen."
"What is your name?"
"Ruozhi..."
"What's your last name?"
"...Surname Hei."
Gao Shiqi looked at Kangxi and saw that Kangxi was fanning carelessly, and asked: "Are your ancestors from an official family?" When the girl heard this, she lowered her head and said nothing, and could only tiptoe to the ground. Seeing her like this,
Kangxi was concerned and asked Gao Shiqi with his eyes. Gao Shiqi sighed: "I think this girl has the demeanor of everyone. It's not that she has lost her scholarly reputation, but she must have been an eunuch for her ancestors. Listen to her name. Besides, how can any beggar say that?"
'A bowl of pork rib soup is enough'?——What's your real name?"
At this moment, two waiters came in, one carrying a tray of eight delicacies, and the other carrying a pot of hot chicken soup. They brought the chicken soup to Ruozhi and said, "I don't know if some god has appeared. It's a good day for you."
Luck, take it and feed it to your starving mother!" Ruozhi ignored this and just kowtowed to each of Kangxi's three men, picked up the casserole and left without saying a word. Kangxi smiled and said: "Gaojiang Village is ruined.
I was careful, but I didn’t hear clearly.” Han Liu sighed: “It’s hard to say what’s going on in the world. Didn’t our ancestors also serve as officials before? But I also begged for food, so let’s not talk about the troubles here..."
Gao Shiqi said: "This is the so-called 'gentleman's beauty, beheaded in five lifetimes'."
The three of them were talking, and when they were half full, they heard people in the street shouting and shouting, but they couldn't hear what they were shouting. Kangxi called the waiter in and asked: "It seems like there's something wrong here. What's going on?"
What's the matter?" The waiter bowed and said with a smile: "No matter how bold Liu Tiecheng is, he won't dare to come to borrow food during the day - there's nothing wrong with it. That cheap girl can't enjoy the reward from an old customer, something happened..."
"What's wrong?" Kangxi put down his chopsticks and asked.
The waiter hesitated for a moment and said: "I also heard someone say that the brother-in-law Fang Fuqing, who was in charge of the river, was drinking with a few idlers at Cai's shed along the river. I saw this beggar bringing a pot of chicken soup.
Going to Wutong Temple, some drunk cats wanted to buy them for drinking, but she naturally refused and was snatched away. I didn't expect her to be so angry that she fell into the Yellow River, and people were on the bank shouting for help - this was her
The fate is not good, and it has nothing to do with the guest officer——"
"How could such a thing happen!" Kangxi suddenly became furious. With a "pop" sound, the table full of food and wine jumped to the top of their lungs. He stood up and left. As soon as he reached the door of the store, he was grabbed by the waiter and changed.
Face said: "You just slap your ass and leave without paying the bills? Do you want to have a good time?"
Wu Dan, who had been quietly watching at the door of the store for a long time, saw that Kangxi was being dragged away. Without saying a word, he jumped up and lifted the waiter in the chest. A boss slapped him on the ear and then pushed him. The waiter took seven or eight steps back and fell to the ground in shock.
, half of his face turned purple early. Gao Shiqi didn't care to speak, threw a large piece of twenty taels of silver over, and followed Kangxi straight to the edge of the Yellow River.
The cauliflower flood season has arrived. The mighty yellow water in the upper reaches is swirling, carrying silt, wheat straw, and leaves and pouring down. The turbid waves exude a fishy smell and beat against the stone embankment of Luoma Lake.
When Kangxi arrived, the river bank was full of people. They all opened their eyes to see Ruozhi sinking and floating in the distance - already half a mile away from the shore - and some shouted "Help".
Some were watching the excitement with their teeth in their hands, and some were discussing anxiously. Kangxi looked up at the shore, and because there were no boats nearby, he could only be anxious. When he looked back, Han Liushi clasped his hands and chanted Buddha's name, and Gao Shiqi had a wry smile on his face.
Knowing that they had no good plan, Kangxi saw a few people under a loofah shed drunkenly guessing the money and eating wine. The pot of chicken soup was left on the table. His face suddenly changed and he whispered to Gao Shiqi: "Ming Wu Dan call."
The guards have taken good care of these dogs. If Zhi dies, they will kill them!" Gao Shiqi hurriedly bowed his head and left.
When I was helpless, a "water float" suddenly surfed down the river. A thin, dark man stood on the boat, lighting his pennant, and scolded the people on the shore: "So you have a habit of not saving people in Luoma Town! How hateful!"
"As he spoke, the float on the water turned lightly and was already chasing Ruozhi. The boat appeared and disappeared in the turbulent waves, and the man gradually moved away like an immortal stepping on the waves. Kangxi suddenly remembered that it seemed
I had seen this person somewhere. When Han Liu saw it was Chen Huang, she opened her mouth, but was afraid that she had recognized the wrong person, so she did not shout out. Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and said to Han Liu, "You have nothing to do here.
Okay, I'll give you two days off to see your son. Maybe we'll bother you too!" After saying that, he sighed and said loudly, "The boatman is right, the customs in Luoma Town are really bad.
, I-I really don’t believe that there are so many people on the shore, but none of them know how to swim!”
"What retribution!" A gray-bearded squire sighed while twirling his beard, "Her family deserves to be destroyed by God!" Kangxi laughed angrily and said, "I think it is human beings, not God who robbed her.
Chicken Soup, so tyrannical, with no one to care about it, forcing people to drown themselves in the river, and no one to save them - isn't this the destruction of people?" Seeing his bad look, the old squire said: "It's not all because people's hearts are not old, it's because people in the past have done evil.
Isn’t this God’s will that the younger generation should bear the responsibility?”
"Who is she, a prostitute or a Lehu?"
"She is...Hong Chengchou's granddaughter."
Kangxi's heart suddenly fell, and his face turned pale. Hong Chengchou was a powerful Confucian general in the pre-Ming Dynasty. He served as the minister of economics and strategy of nine provinces in this dynasty. He died less than twenty years ago, and his family was in ruins.
So that his daughter-in-law and grandson were begging for a living, and they were even worse than prostitutes in people's minds! Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief, and shuddered when the river wind rushed towards him - he remembered that when Hong Chengchou died in the fourth year of Kangxi, the courtiers prepared a plan for him
The name was initially drafted as "Wencheng". However, after discussing with Ao Bai, Suk Saha and other assistant ministers, they decided on "Wen Xiang". Needless to say, the word "Wen" is well deserved, and "Xiang" means "
"The armor has work", but the monarchs and ministers knew in their hearts that it was derived from the meaning of "help" in the word Xiang. Not long ago, a special order was issued to give Xiong the shoes: Hong Chengchou was included in the "Biography of Erchen" in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Who would not know if it continues to be passed down! But the common people
Kangxi followed the "holy will" to practice the Hong family in this way, but Kangxi did not expect it. Could it be that he was the first to make figurines, and the people of Luoma Lake followed behind? In retrospect, the meaning of recalling the past is self-evident, how can we take it lightly!
