Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 88 The Method of Reservoir
Including Zhao Kuangyin, everyone was fascinated by listening. They had never heard someone who could explain the source of the Yellow River flood as clearly as Ye Chen did.

The principle of soil erosion has never been brought up in this era. When Ye Chen said it, everyone fell into deep thought again.However, everyone present was very intelligent. Although they heard this truth for the first time, they felt that it made sense after a little thought, and they couldn't help nodding their heads one after another.

"When I entered the city more than a month ago, I heard that the Bian River in Kaifeng was silted up by the Yellow River water, and the river must be cleaned every year, but even so, it still couldn't keep up with the speed of the river bed rising." Ye Chen said again.

Everyone nodded and said yes. They also knew that near the mouth of the Bian River connecting the Yellow River, the boats inside the embankment were even higher than the roofs outside the embankment. It is necessary to drive a large number of laborers and Xiang troops.The people on both sides of the Bian River suffered unspeakably for this.And this is because the Bianhe River is far narrower than the Yellow River, otherwise, if it were changed to the Yellow River, it may cause civil uprisings.

Ye Chen took the opportunity to say again: "So, the fundamental method to control the flood of the Yellow River is to plant trees and vegetation on the loess plateau and barren mountains in the Yellow River valley along the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Guanzhong, Guanxi, and Hexi."

At this moment, everyone frowned, and Ye Chen didn't wait for the crowd to make trouble, so he took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty and all the adults must have thought that this method is certainly a cure for the root cause, but the three places of Guanxi, Guanzhong, and Hexi are all loess accumulations. To make a mountain, if you want to make the mountain covered with grass and trees, I am afraid that it will take hundreds of years of work. Therefore, this method is the work of Changzhi, not the current method."

There was an inexplicable light in Zhao Kuangyin's eyes, and he said: "Even if it takes a hundred years of work, this method of curing the root cause must be implemented and persisted for a long time. My Zhao family emperor can't do it in one generation, then it will be two generations." , or even three generations, I don't believe that after a hundred years, this will not be possible."

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help feeling deeply moved, and sincerely admired Zhao Kuangyin's great talent and long-term vision.But he is really not optimistic about Zhao Kuangyin's ideas and goals.With the power of manpower, machines, and seedling cultivation in the future, after many years, the barren mountains in Guanxi, Guanzhong, and Hexi are still mostly bare on the Loess Plateau.It's not that the government doesn't pay enough attention to it, it's that there are too many unstable factors involved.There are human factors, but also because of the fundamental flaws of dryness and little rain in the northwest.

In short, Ye Chen really didn't think that this was something feudal society and dynasties could do.But he would never say these words to Zhao Kuangyin.Just for a while without looking, several important ministers said successively such words as 'Your Majesty is wise', 'Officials are far-sighted', 'The meritorious deeds of the Holy Majesty will last for thousands of years'.Saying it at this time is clearly making yourself and everyone else unhappy!

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment, avoiding the matter of planting trees and vegetation, and said: "The minister proposes that from Guanxi and Guanzhong to Xihe Road, logging should be prohibited on both sides of the Yellow River, otherwise if all the trees in the mountains are felled, As there are more and more barren mountains, the sediment in the river will continue to double, and the Yellow River will inevitably become more difficult to control."

Everyone thought it was true, and Zhao Kuangyin even said directly to the eunuchs who were in charge of delivering the decree: "Wang Jien! Write down this matter, and explain the reasons behind it later, and then formulate the corresponding laws, and then immediately issue an edict to the people in the Yellow River Basin. road, state, county."

After finishing speaking, Zhao Kuangyin thought for a while, and said to Ye Chen: "Ye Qing! This method has already been said to cure the root cause, but there are other methods that will work in a short time."

Ye Chen had been prepared for a long time, and immediately said: "Officials, my lords, the silt in the Yellow River comes from Guanzhong and Hexi. If it is before Tongguan, the Yellow River is fast-flowing, and the silt flows with the water. Afterwards, the river slowed down, especially when it reached the Central Plains, and the sand and soil in the water naturally settled down. Therefore, if you want to control the water of the Yellow River, you must first control the sand of the Yellow River. It’s just an emergency measure to treat the symptoms but not the root cause, and it’s inevitable that the Yellow River will burst its embankments frequently.”

"Of course, I just said that the permanent cure will take a hundred years. Before we complete the permanent cure, there is no way to prevent the sediment from depositing in the middle and lower reaches. So we have to find a way to prevent the sediment from depositing in the middle and lower reaches. , but was washed into the sea by the water of the Yellow River."

"Treatment of the Yellow River should be done in accordance with the trend. Since the water of the Yellow River can bring sediment, it can also take it away."

"Then how to take the sand away?" Yu Yueze is a reasonable person. After listening to Ye Chen's analysis of the Yellow River flood just now, his feelings towards Ye Chen have changed drastically. Now he will ask for advice, half with emotion.

Ye Chen smiled at Yue Ze, and said to Zhao Kuangyin: "Naturally, we must find a way to increase the flow speed and momentum of the Yellow River. Simply put, it is to make the Yellow River flow as fast as it was before Tongguan."

"Of course, it is not possible for ordinary people to completely change the terrain of the Yellow River. But we can make the Yellow River flow turbulent in a short period of time, or from time to time, so as to wash away the sediment. When the sediment settles again When it is about to cause floods in the Yellow River, the flow of the Yellow River will become more rapid and the sediment will be washed away."

"Xiang Fubo! We all know this truth. The question is how to make the Yellow River flow fast from time to time or in a short period of time as you said?"

Ye Chen smiled slightly, and said the final method: "Build a reservoir."

"Building a reservoir?" Everyone didn't understand the reason, and their faces were full of doubts.On the contrary, after Yue Ze's body shook, he was thoughtful.

"The so-called reservoir, as the name suggests, naturally stores water. To put it bluntly, it is a man-made lake wave."

"The method I'm talking about is to hold back a part of the Yellow River water, and then suddenly put this water into the Yellow River, which will inevitably make the Yellow River flow turbulent, so that part of the sediment in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River will be washed into the sea. In this way, the river channel will become deeper, the sediment deposition in the middle and lower reaches will be improved, and the flow capacity of the river will be improved, which will naturally reduce the flooding problem of the Yellow River.”

Ye Chen explained the common methods used by later generations to control the floods of the Yellow River and clean up the silt of the Yellow River.As for the effect of this method, it has already been repeatedly verified and proved by later generations, but he doesn't have to worry at all.What he is worried about is the construction of the reservoir. In this era, manpower is by no means a few months' work, but a few years' work.Of course, it is much easier than planting trees and grass on the barren mountains of the Loess Plateau and Guanzhong, Guanxi, and Hexi.

The reason behind the reservoir method Ye Chen said is actually very simple. To put it bluntly, it is easier for people to understand than the previous explanation of soil erosion, planting trees and grass.Even Yue Ze and Chu Zhaofu played the game of blocking up the water in the creek when they were young, and then let it go suddenly, watching the water rush by.

As for Zhao Kuangyin, more than a month ago, during the Northern Expedition, the dam was also blocked. Using the powerful force of the flood, many city walls in Jinyang were once washed down.When fighting the Khitan people in the later period, Pan Mei and Guo Jin also blocked the dam in the upper reaches of the Tongtian River. When the Khitan pioneers were crossing the river, they suddenly opened the dam, and the river rushed down, washing the Khitan people to pieces, thus achieving Victory in that war.

These principles are actually the same as what Ye Chen said.During the battle, the city walls and soldiers and horses were rushed.Ye Chen's method washed away the sediment in the river that originally flowed down from the upper reaches.

When everyone understood the truth, all of them looked excited, and Yu Yueze said, "I'm really confused. I have been studying the methods of controlling the floods of the Yellow River for so many years, and I only thought of the stupid method of digging sand." .Why didn't I think of this method? How stupid of me."

Zhao Pu thought more, calculated in his mind, and said to Zhao Kuangyin: "The method of the reservoir that Xiang Fubo said is simple, and it should be feasible. And I simply calculated it just now, and the method Ye Chen said will not use too much labor. Much, my Great Song Dynasty can bear it, and it will not affect the normal life of the people. It’s just that the time spent by this method is not a one-year effort, I’m afraid it will take three to five years!”

Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly, but then burst out laughing. He was too greedy. It was a blessing to be able to solve the flood problem of the Yellow River that could not be solved for thousands of years in three to five years. Know when people will think of this way.well!It's strange to say that some methods of worldly affairs have been thought of, and after being proposed, I feel that the reason is indeed very simple, but after so many years, no one can think of it.

Ye Chen felt the same emotion as Zhao Kuangyin at this time, thought for a while and then said: "Actually, building a reservoir not only can adjust the flow speed and momentum to wash away the silt, but also has at least three benefits."

Before everyone could ask questions, Ye Chen went on to say: "The Yellow River Basin has more and less rain. There are times when floods flood villages and fertile fields. There are also times when there is drought and little rain, so that farmers' fields have no harvest. And the construction of the reservoir Later, when there is too much rain in the rainy season and the Yellow River floods, the flood can be discharged to a certain extent in the reservoir, which can lower the water level of the Yellow River and weaken the flood situation of the Yellow River. The water in the reservoir is used for drinking and for watering the fields."

Everyone was overjoyed when they heard it, but judging from the expressions of several important ministers at this time, it doesn't matter whether they are greedy in nature, corrupt officials or mediocre officials.But they are all dedicated to the country and want to make the country better.Not to mention Zhao Kuangyin, who wanted to be the emperor of the ages, the emperor of the ages, the construction of the reservoir has such benefits, Ye Chen really gave him too many surprises today.

At this time, Zhao Pu was also very emotional. Seeing the way the officials looked at Ye Chen, he secretly felt proud that he decisively gave up Wang Yuefeng last night and chose not to turn against Ye Chen.At the same time, I was very glad that Zhao Guangyi was not present today and did not witness Ye Chen's performance in person.Even if this scene spread to Zhao Guangyi's ears afterwards, it must have been greatly discounted.Therefore, now he is quite looking forward to Zhao Guangyi's action against Ye Chen, which will cause the emperor to be unhappy.

(End of this chapter)