Qin Official

"I said long before the Southern Expedition that the biggest enemy of the Qin army is not the Yue people, but the land itself..."

After a night of heavy rain, the road to the embankment became bumpy and muddy. Heifu looked at the dense footprints on it with concern. The soldiers of the three armies had rushed to the riverside early before him. novel .

As the first tropical region that Central Plains people came into contact with, the natural environment in Lingnan is so powerful that it exceeds the imagination of northerners.

The dense tropical rainforest once made it difficult for the Qin army to move forward. However, after two large armies advanced, axes and fires burned a lot of the forest along the traffic road. The former jungle became a smooth marching path. Although the vegetation recovered quickly, As long as the fire is set regularly, it can be maintained.

Dysentery, malaria, scrub typhus, these tropical diseases once caused the death of 23 out of 10 troops in the first southern expedition. However, after learning the lessons from the previous expedition, Heifu made sufficient health preparations before crossing the Lingnan Mountains. The epidemic had a serious impact on the army. It’s not that big anymore.

Seeing that everyone has established a foothold in Panyu, the colony is developing well, but who would have thought that they would once again face a strong enemy: a heavy rain, and the ensuing Pearl River flood season...

The Pearl River Delta has a low and flat terrain, dense river network, and rainy summers. The flood season is from March to July in the lunar calendar. Floods from the upper reaches often flood the houses of people and livestock, and the local Yue people and sheep tribes suffer greatly.

But the Yangbu have never moved. Nanyue is a people who are good at boating. Even if Panyu City is filled with floods, they can still travel in small boats and use the streets as rivers. As for the fields? There is no need to worry. Most of the rice fields of the Yue people are "tide fields". They are extensively planted and cultivated purely to depend on God. Because there is no good water conservancy system, they still need to rely on the annual river tide for irrigation.

However, the severity of floods is unpredictable. Every year, half of the tidal fields along the coast are washed away, losing crops.

The Yue people had an indifferent attitude towards the tides of the rivers and seas, but the Qin army could not let the floods drive in.

The slogan "Make enough food and clothing by yourself" in Helan Mountain was shouted again. In the past six months, Heifu ordered the three armies to open up a lot of farmland, and the early rice in Lingnan matured in June and July. It is now the end of May. Seeing that the rice ears are taking shape and can be harvested to supply the southern expedition army and make up for the somewhat tight logistics, how can we just sit back and watch the floods wash them away?

Furthermore, two years ago, the Central Army of the Southern Expedition was caught off guard by a flood and had to evacuate Panyu. It was immediately attacked by various South Vietnamese tribes and was beaten everywhere. It had to run all the way back to Lingbei.

Having learned the lesson from last time, as early as March after the rice planting in the fields was completed, Heifu ordered tens of thousands of corvees to build a small dam in the southwest of Panyu, at least to ensure that the military camps around Panyu would not be flooded.

"Drought means a boat, water means a boat. Only by preparing for a rainy day can we be prepared."

But now, with the flood season arriving as scheduled, it’s time to test the effectiveness of the dams.

The vehicle stopped. Heifu got out of the car and took a look at the embankment. He couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.

Yushui is divided into three parts in the southeast of Sihui. The northernmost one flows through the southwest of Panyu City. At the river mouth, there used to be many sandbanks formed by the impact of sediment brought by Yushui, but now, only one remains. The turbid ocean...

"Good water... no, really big water!"

"Hou Changnan!"

At this time, a gray-haired Qin official came over and bowed to Hei Fu.

"Supervisor of the Censor."

Hei Fu respected this man very much. This was the famous censor Shi Linglu. It was said that he was a disciple of Zheng Guo, a water conservancy expert. During the war between Qin and Chu, Linglu helped Wang Jian build barriers to resist the Chu army. At that time, Hei Fu My husband and Zhang Han were still working men under Linglu.

However, chopping off people's heads to gain military merit is much faster than immersing yourself in civil engineering upgrades. During the ten years when Heifu rose to prominence, Linglu seemed to have fallen into silence. He first served as a worker in Dan in Kuaiji County, and then was transferred to Changsha County as a censor. Linglu, the man-made canal connecting the Xiangjiang and Pearl River basins, was his handiwork!

Half a year ago, Heifu, who wanted to build a dike in Panyu to prevent the flood season, used his power as the chief general of the Southern Expedition to transfer Linglu to Panyu to preside over the construction of the dike.

As expected of a great contractor, after Jian Lu arrived in Panyu, he inspected the surrounding terrain and planned the most suitable location for embankment. He used the protruding hills, hills, terraces and other terrain along the river to connect them with artificial embankments. Building Qili will ensure that Panyu and surrounding military camps are worry-free.

"It's raining too much."

The two were walking on the embankment. Jian Lu said to Heifu: "It has rained for a day and a night. The three branches of Yushui have a tendency to merge. Now there is a vast land. Although the weather has cleared up, the water level is still rising sharply. We’re almost at the foot of the embankment.”

During the flood season, the banks along Yushui can be said to be completely submerged in water. The trees under the embankment have been overflowed by the river water up to their trunks.

"Can you hold it?"

Looking at the dike under his feet, which was too simple compared to later generations, Heifu didn't have much confidence. If it didn't work, he would have to move the military camp with tens of thousands of people to the north and give up the rice fields that he had worked hard for for half a year.

"We will definitely be able to defend it!"

Jian Lu, on the other hand, was full of confidence in this: "If we still use the earth embankment in Qiantang County, I am afraid it will be washed away, but this unique sea-shaking stone pond in the world is not afraid of floods!"

Panyu's dike is obviously not the first sea dike. There is a "Qiantang County" in Kuaiji County where Jianlu once served as an official. The name was given because this county is located at the mouth of the Qiantang River. The tides are strong, and people, livestock, cattle and horses are often washed away, and the houses in the city are destroyed. Therefore, Jian Lu summoned the local powerful officials, each family pooled money, hired and recruited people, and dug the earth for construction. Pond, because of its name.

After arriving in Panyu, Supervisor Lu wanted to repeat his old tricks, but Heifu believed that the earthen wall might not be able to withstand the tide. It was better to learn from the successful experience of Li Bing, the prefect of Shu County, in building Dujiangyan, and put large stones in bamboo cages and build them up one by one. , and then lay down large wooden stakes to make them firm and solid. The stone base is like a ladder, leaning towards the river to block the tide.

Jian Lu pointed to the west and said: "Look, sir, the stagnant water has actually entered the sea a few miles to the west. The water has been released. What rushed to Panyu City was just the end of a strong crossbow. The people in the past let the tide come." Go, now that we have this stone pond, the flood will never cross even half a step!"

Heifu was a little relieved, but at this moment, the soldiers who were ordered to patrol the embankment suddenly shouted: "The water is coming!"

However, we saw another flood peak coming. In areas where no dams had been built upstream, large areas of rice fields had been flooded. Occasionally, the stilt houses of Vietnamese people were completely destroyed. The flood flow was extremely fast. Driftwood, dead beasts and even corpses were floating on the river. Human corpses rushed straight to the foot of the embankment!

"Your Majesty, please retreat!"

Sangmu was trying to persuade Heifu to leave this dangerous place. If the dam broke and the general made any mistakes, then they would be in trouble.

Heifu scanned the surroundings. After receiving his order, tens of thousands of soldiers trained in Panyu came to the embankment under the leadership of military officials, guarding various positions and carrying bamboo baskets filled with pebbles.

Once there is a gap, it must be filled immediately. At this moment, the soldiers of each battalion are quietly waiting for the tide to hit the shore.

He made a decision, called Li Cang, and ordered:

"Put up my Jiaolongzhi and tell the soldiers of the three armies that the Marquis of Changnan is also on the embankment! Advance and retreat with them!"

The messenger galloped forward and spread these words to the left and right embankments, and there were cheers everywhere!

Each battalion also displayed their flags one after another. For a time, the flags were like a forest, hunting in the wind, and it was a spectacular sight. It would be daring for the three armies. With Heifu taking the lead, the three armies were not afraid of the raging river.

The flood peaks of Yushui are still advancing towards the dike from west to east. Heifu can only stare at them. If they hit the dike, will the tide recede or will the dike be destroyed and people will die?

The waves are crashing on the shore! The big turbid waves hit the sea-shaking stone pond, smashing it into pieces, and the water splashed in Heifu's face, but he felt a little more at ease, because the embankment under his feet did not move at all!

Heifu stayed until the evening, even in the middle of the night. Due to the rising tide, the seawater invaded back and the water surface rose a lot, but it was blocked by the dam. Even if one or two collapsed, they were filled up in time by the soldiers of the three armies.

The most dangerous day passed. In the next few days, the weather alternated between rain and sunshine, and the river water rose and receded. Heifu goes to the dike every day to check the situation, but his focus is no longer on the flood, but on observing the order of the battalions that have been ordered to "fight floods and provide disaster relief."

Several captains under Heifu, Anpu, still guarded the three passes and were responsible for the transportation of heavy grains in the south and north of the Ling Dynasty. Dongmen Bao, Gong Ao, and Xiao Tao, with 30,000 people, were sent by Heifu to the upper reaches of Yushui to fight with them. Zhao Tuo from Guilin joined forces and built fortresses in the plains to conquer Xiou. Wu Rui took 5,000 people to Longchuan, Dongjiang River, to recruit the Wasp troops and protect the east side of Panyu.

As a result, there were only a bunch of commanders left in Panyu, holding small bird flags and leading a group of new soldiers sent by Xiao He from Lingbei to practice.

When the flood hits the embankment, whether this group of recruits can stay calm and how efficient their rotation is, these details can also reveal the daily training of an army.

Among them, one team was the most orderly and calm.

"Go and see, who is that?"

Not long after, the messenger came back to report:

"Your Majesty, you will not change Han Xin!"

"really."

Heifu smiled. Since half a year ago, he encouraged Han Xin that "soldiers who don't want to be generals are not good soldiers", this boy has become more peaceful. He doesn't run away at every turn, and he trains troops and farms in an honest way. Among the top recruits.

However, Xiao He, who stayed in Changsha County, wrote in the spring, recommending Han Xin, praising him as a "national scholar" who is proficient in the art of war, good at military formations, and can be of great use...

Heifu said he knew, but he burned the letter. Spring passed, summer came, and autumn was coming, but Han Xin was still not promoted.

He didn't want Han Xin to think that the appointment of Zhuo Ba from Changnan Marquis was due to Xiao He's recommendation, but he often summoned Han Xin to discuss the art of war with him, and showed great importance to him, giving him a feeling of "As long as Xianyang agrees to my promotion, The prince will soon make great use of me".

But for a person like Han Xin, who has a very low self-esteem, self-confidence, and pride all at once, his patience will not last long just by deception and verbal praise.

"I've put this awl in my pocket for a long time. If I don't use it anymore, I'm afraid I won't be able to wait and stand out. However, killing a chicken with a butcher's knife is really a bit of a luxury." Speaking of luxury, Heifu thought in his heart But it's delicious.

Looking at the receding floodwaters and the intact embankments, he made up his mind.

"Panyu has been saved, the food harvest is about to be good, the vehicles and ships have been manufactured, the new soldiers have been trained, and everything is ready. After the flood season, it will be time to fully march towards Xiou and Luoyue!"

"Time waits for no one. I must end this war before thirty-seven years come!"

Heifu looked back to the north: "Then, prepare for the next game!"