Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 1779, Wanli Yangtze River, Danger in Jingjiang
In Jingzhou, a lake, the fisherman Xiong Youdi carefully drove his small fishing boat on the dangerous Jingjiang River section.

Since ancient times, the natural danger of the Yangtze River lies in Jingjiang.

This section of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River starts from Zhicheng and ends at Chenglingji. There are as many as dozens of large and small curved and dangerous places.

Such a place is very prone to danger. Once it encounters heavy rain, it is very prone to floods. According to the records of local chronicles, there will be a major flood disaster almost every one or two years.

The dams here have been repaired and destroyed, destroyed and repaired again, almost every year there are disasters, and the local people are always preparing to move.

But here is the most important plain area in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, which is related to the rich Hanjiang Plain.

The rapid development of Hubei and Wuhan in later generations is inseparable from the construction of the Jingjiang levee here after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. With the protection of the Jingjiang levee, the fertile Hanzhong Plain of nearly 2 square kilometers can be protected.

A large area of ​​fertile land that could not be cultivated or dared to be cultivated due to flood disasters was reclaimed and became an important grain-producing area. The original flood disaster area has become a vast and fertile wilderness.

Of course, during this period, this place was still a flooded land. People in the surrounding areas, not to mention having fertile fields, had to be careful even when fishing and transporting goods in the Yangtze River, because the river here was too dangerous. .

Xiong Youdi is an old fisherman. He has been fishing on the Yangtze River all his life. He is well aware of the dangers of the Jingjiang River. The water flow in those places is very fast. There are many hidden reefs, rocks, eddies, etc. in the river channel. , he knows everything very well.

But even so, he is still very careful, sailing the boat carefully for thousands of years, which is also the key to his ability to fish in this dangerous river.

In the dangerous river area, few people dare to fish, and the catch is often more than other places.

"woooo~"

At this time, there was a sound of sirens on the river, and Xiong Youdi turned his head to see that it was a small steamer steaming upstream with billowing black smoke at a very fast speed.

"Oh, times have changed. With this steam ship, the speed of sailing against the current can be so fast."

Looking at the steamer emitting black smoke, Xiong Youdi couldn't help sighing.

In the past, it was a very difficult thing to go against the current on the river. You often shook your hands. When you encountered turbulent places, it might be difficult for you to make much progress for more than half a year. If you are not careful, you may die. It was carried by the current to a more dangerous place.

However, with the advent of steamships, the situation has changed a lot. Steamships rely on steam power to propel them. The powerful propellers are full of power, and they can easily overcome the inconvenience caused by headwinds and avoid many dangers. area.

Looking at this steamship again, a group of officials in official uniforms and a large number of officials are standing on the upper deck. They are holding binoculars one by one, as if they are carefully observing the situation in the Jingjiang River section.

"Mister~"

Soon, the small steamer caught up with Xiong Youdi's small fishing boat.

Zhong Fan, the servant of the ship's engineering department, put down the binoculars in his hand and asked Xiong Youdi with a smile.

Zhong Fan used to be the chief envoy of Guangdong, and was later transferred to the chief envoy of Central Asia Province. Because he did a very good job in both Guangdong and Central Asia, he was also transferred from the local government to the center of the imperial court and became the left servant of the Ministry of Industry. , Just wait for the position of the six ministers to become vacant, or if there is a position in the cabinet, you can directly become the six ministers, and the cabinet is old.

It can be said that he is definitely an important official of the imperial court. This time, he was also ordered to come to the Yangtze River in the south to take charge of the comprehensive management of the Yangtze River. Ports and wharves give full play to the role and value of the Yangtze River Transport.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

Xiong You looked at the steamer in front of him. Although it was a small ship, it was still many times larger than his own small fishing boat. Beside it, it was like a colossal monster.

"Old man, how many years have you been fishing in this section of the Jingjiang River?"

Zhong Fan looked at Xiong Youdi. It was rare to see anyone fishing in this section of the Jingjiang River along the way. Only those who asked would know that this section of the Jingjiang River is extremely dangerous. Few people would dare to fish in the section of the Jingjiang River. The boats are often too afraid to walk this section of the river.

"It has been more than thirty years. I have been fishing with my father on the Jingjiang River since I was sixteen."

Bear thought for a while and said.

"Then you must know the Jingjiang River section very well?"

"I dare not say I understand it very well, but at least I still know which places are more steep and those places are more turbulent."

"That's great. We are officials of the imperial court's Ministry of Industry. Now the imperial court will vigorously dredge the Yangtze River, build dams, flood control reservoirs, and so on."

"The first thing to be treated is the section of the Jingjiang River. We are short of guides. Would you like to guide us?"

When Zhong Fan heard this, he immediately became happy.

Governing the Yangtze River is a systematic project. The court has made great determination and there are many things to do. Yang Yiqing, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, grew up in Huguang Baling. Although his ancestral home is from Yunnan, he is an authentic Huguang He, together with Li Dongyang and Liu Daxia, was called the Three Heroes of Chu in this period.

He has a deep affection for Huguang, so he also focused on explaining the importance of managing the Jingjiang section.

Because of the breach and flooding of the market in the Jingjiang river section, not only did the large area of ​​the surrounding plains fail to become a rich land of fish and rice, but instead became a land of river swamps due to floods.

If the river section of the Jingjiang River can be managed, it can completely benefit the entire Hanjiang Plain and turn a large area of ​​surrounding land into fertile fields and fertile fields.

Of course, from Zhong Fan's point of view, as long as it benefits the country and the people, he is willing to do it.

It has been a while since he came here. He has carefully inspected various sections of the Jingjiang River, and he also agrees with Yang Yiqing's point of view. If the Jingjiang section can be well managed, the surrounding large areas and land will become fertile. The fields are enough and can also benefit the Hanyang and Jiujiang areas in the downstream areas.

"As a guide?"

"But I don't understand anything."

When Xiong Youdi heard it, he also instinctively wanted to refuse.

"No, it is enough for you to know where the river is dangerous, rapid and dangerous."

"If this section of the Jingjiang River is cured, the surrounding land can be transformed into fertile fields, and the people in Huguang will be benefited, right?"

"From now on, the river course of the Yangtze River will be dredged from here to the Songhu area where it exits the sea, and the dangerous areas will be rehabilitated."

"After this project is completed, all seagoing ships and large ships can come directly to Jingjiang, which will greatly facilitate business exchanges and drive the development of our Huguang area."

Zhong Fan said with a smile.

"Really?"

When Xiong Youdi heard this, his eyes widened slightly, a little unbelievable.

It would be completely different if the sea-going ship could come directly to Jingjiang. Jingjiang would also have the same convenient water transportation as places like Songhu and Nanjing.

In more than ten years, Songhu has become a new big city in Ming Dynasty, second only to the imperial capital and Tianjin, and surpassed Songhu.

Although the Jingjiang River can’t be compared with Songhu, after the river transportation is convenient, this business exchange will be more convenient. In the future, it will be much easier for the people of Huguang to go to Songhu, Nanyang and other places.

Also, if this area can be managed well, then the entire Jingjiang area and the Hanzhong Plain area can be no worse than the Jiangnan area, and can become a land of fish and rice.

"Of course it is true. After a while, the court newspapers and newspapers will report it."

"In the future, the railway will be built, from Songhu to Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and finally to Huguang, and the railway will be built from Kaifeng, Henan to Hanyang. After that, the transportation will be much more convenient."

Zhong Fan nodded solemnly and said.

"Great, great!"

"We in Huguang, it's time to build railways and dredge rivers."

When Xiong Youdi heard this, he immediately became excited and excited, and he could imagine that the transportation in Huguang area would become very convenient in the future.

The Yangtze River, railway transportation, and highways are geographically located in the central area, and the geographical location is very good.

"Since my lord is destined to do good things for us in Huguang, the little old man should do his best. If you have any questions, feel free to say, as long as I can do it, I will definitely not delay it. We Huguang people will definitely support it with all our strength." of!"

"Haha, that's great. With the help of the old man, we will be more confident."

(End of this chapter)