Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2954 Overcoming All Difficulties
A potential conflict vanished over a bowl of hot milk tea.

The next day, Uncle Aishan even took the initiative to ride his motorcycle to guide the survey team and avoid some quicksand areas.

Gulimire said to Chen Shanhe with emotion, "President Chen, it seems that our surveying and design work requires not only knowledge of hydrogeology, but also 'human geography'."

Chen Shanhe gave a wry smile: "Most problems in this world are problems of people. If you solve the problems of 'people,' most problems will be solved."

However, engineering projects are not just a matter of people, especially in places like northern Xinjiang with harsh geographical conditions, where the challenges posed by nature are only just beginning to show their ferocious side.

The second survey team, personally led by Chen Shanhe, aimed to delve deep into the Tianshan Mountains to find a suitable dam site for a planned plateau regulating reservoir.

Accompanying them were young geological engineer Xiao Wang, surveyor Xiao Zhang, and experienced Kazakh guide Batel.

Their destination was a high-altitude basin near the snow line, where the catchment area was large and the geological structure was initially judged to be relatively stable.

However, the road to the basin is extremely treacherous, consisting only of narrow paths worn by herders during their migrations. Vehicles cannot pass through at all, and all equipment and supplies are transported by yaks.

Altitude sickness is the first hurdle. Headaches, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing torment every newcomer, even a seasoned Gobi Desert veteran like Chen Shanhe found it challenging.

In such situations, there's usually no good solution but to breathe oxygen to alleviate the symptoms, while the task still needs to be completed.

They could only encourage each other and move slowly but steadily toward the target area. Every step was fraught with hardship.

After several days of trekking, they finally arrived at the pre-selected dam site area.

The scenery here is magnificent, with crystal-clear streams formed by glacial meltwater, but the weather is unpredictable; one moment it's sunny and clear, and the next it could be snowing heavily.

Detailed geological exploration began. Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhang braved the bitter cold every day to drill, take samples, and measure.

However, as the exploration progressed, Xiao Wang discovered some unsettling signs.

In the core area of ​​the pre-selected dam site, he discovered relatively well-developed fissures in the rock strata, and through seismic wave testing, it was shown that there might be a sizable dissolution fissure zone underground.

This situation was naturally not to be taken lightly, and he felt he had found Chen Shanhe.

"Mr. Chen, the situation is not good," Xiao Wang reported anxiously, holding the rock core sample.

"The integrity of the rock mass here is worse than we expected. If a high dam is built here, the enormous pressure after the reservoir is filled may exacerbate the development of these fissures, and even induce leakage or the risk of dam collapse!"

This news came like a thunderbolt. This dam site was the optimal solution selected based on remote sensing data and limited information. If it were rejected, it would mean that all the previous work had been wasted. Even worse, it was possible that no more suitable location could be found in the entire river system.

Chen Shanhe looked grave. He personally went down into the exploration well to inspect it and reviewed all the exploration data.

Inside the tent, the fire flickered, and outside, the wind howled. Guide Batel sipped his hot tea, listening silently to the debate among the technicians.

"Could it be a detection error? Should we expand the detection area further?" Xiao Zhang thought with a glimmer of hope.

“The data has been cross-validated, so the possibility of error is very small,” Xiao Wang insisted on his judgment. “We can’t take this risk.”

Chen Shanhe remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, his voice hoarse but firm:
"Xiao Wang's judgment is correct. Water conservancy projects are a long-term undertaking, and quality and safety are paramount. Success may not be achieved by me, but the effort will not be in vain. This location should be abandoned."

"Give up?" Xiao Zhang exclaimed anxiously, "Then what about our mission..."

"The task is not necessarily to build the dam here, but to find a safe and reliable place to build the dam!"

Chen Shanhe interrupted him, "Pack your things. Starting tomorrow, expand the search area and look for a new dam site!"

The days that followed were even more arduous. The exploration team used the existing camp as a base to expand into more remote and inaccessible areas.

With his decades of experience traversing the mountains, guide Batel led them through ice and snow, searching for possible locations.

On one occasion, while trying to verify a possible point, they were almost trapped in a valley by a sudden blizzard. Fortunately, Batel was familiar with the terrain and found a depression in the rock wall where they were able to take shelter.

Persistence pays off. After nearly a month of fruitless efforts, they discovered an ideal dam site deep in a more secluded canyon upstream of another tributary.

The bedrock here is intact and the water catchment conditions are good. Although the transportation is more inconvenient and the construction difficulty and cost will increase significantly, the safety is extremely high.

When the latest exploration data confirmed this, the entire exploration team cheered.

Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhang hugged each other excitedly, and Batel also showed a simple and honest smile.

Looking at the majestic snow-capped mountains before him, Chen Shanhe let out a long sigh of relief. In this battle against the ice peaks, they had won through their rigorous scientific approach and unwavering commitment to responsibility.

The word "task" is quite simple to write, but when it is carried out, it can be incredibly difficult, sometimes even requiring bloodshed and loss of life.

But it is precisely because of the sacrifices of these people that we have the life we ​​have today.

Another team responsible for the design of irrigation district renovation around the Turpan Basin encountered a clash between history and reality.

One of the team members is Li Zhe, a young designer who has just returned from studying abroad. He brought the latest intelligent water-saving irrigation system and pipeline design concept, and ambitiously wants to create a "high-efficiency water-saving model" in this arid land.

His design extensively utilizes underground pipe networks, automatic control valves, and sensors to precisely deliver every drop of water to the crop roots, minimizing evaporation and seepage losses. From a purely technical perspective, this is undoubtedly advanced.

However, when the plan was discussed with local farmers, especially several Uyghur craftsmen familiar with the "karez" well technology, it sparked controversy.

Karez is an ancient and magnificent underground water conservancy project in Xinjiang. It draws groundwater through underground channels, avoiding strong evaporation, and is a testament to the wisdom of the working people in adapting to the arid environment.

A karez well repair craftsman named Kurban, pointing to the complex pipelines and control nodes on Li Zhe's drawings, asked through a translator:

“Young man, your things are very ingenious. But what if they break? Will the farmers here know how to repair them? Where can we buy the parts? How much will it cost?”

Li Zhe confidently replied, "We have a professional maintenance team that conducts regular inspections. Moreover, the system is very stable and not prone to failure."

Kurban shook his head and led Li Zhe to a still-in-use karez irrigation canal (the outlet of a vertical shaft). Clear groundwater flowed gently out, following the earthen canal towards the vineyards. "Look," he said, "our karez has been used for over a hundred years. Wherever it gets clogged or broken, we can unclog or repair it ourselves with a kantuman (a type of agricultural tool). No electricity, no precision parts, just our understanding of water and our ancestral craftsmanship."

The old craftsman then pointed to a section of the old karez irrigation canal that was planned to be filled in on the blueprints:

"You should bury all of these underground and replace them with pipes. It's good that the water flows in the dark. But then we won't be able to see the water or feel it anymore."

"Water is not just for irrigation, it's an integral part of our lives. Children play in the water by the canal, women wash clothes and chat by the canal—have you considered these things?"

Li Zhe was speechless for a moment. He pursued the ultimate in technological efficiency, but ignored the multidimensional value of water in specific cultural and social structures, and overlooked the applicability and sustainability of technology.

The team leader, a seasoned engineer, patted Li Zhe on the shoulder:

“Xiao Li, advanced technology should not be applied rigidly, but rather combined with our local conditions and traditional wisdom. The ecological value, cultural value, and low maintenance cost of the karez system are all things we need to respect.”

Later, in optimizing the design scheme, they incorporated the concept of "reducing evaporation through underground channels" from the karez system, preserving some open channel sections with cultural and landscape value and transforming them into ecological landscape water use and community public spaces.

The intelligent irrigation system is mainly applied to newly built high-standard farmland, and has been designed with a simple operation mode and localized training program to ensure that the technology can truly "take root" rather than "become unsuitable for local conditions".

In this practice, Li Zhe also learned how to give cold, impersonal technology a warm "locality".

The surveying and design phase was filled with similar difficulties and interesting anecdotes. One such experience involved getting lost in the desert and only escaping danger thanks to the guidance of BeiDou satellites and local herders.

For the sake of a single data point, technicians persevered for more than ten hours in the wind and snow, remaining steadfast at the measurement site.

At a joint celebration between the military and local communities, young technicians from various ethnic groups danced the Meshrep together, their laughter echoing through the air.

There are also companies like Warrior Energy, managed by Ye Feng, which proactively donated portable photovoltaic power generation equipment to remote exploration teams, providing timely assistance in solving their electricity problems in the field...

Yifei's concept of focusing on the "source" and "head" is also playing a subtle but significant role.

During their breaks, some young technicians would listen to veteran experts and veterans recount their past struggles, deepening their understanding and love for this land.

The exemplary leadership of cadres, such as Ayijiang, Ye Qianqian, and Chen Shanhe, who went deep into the front lines to solve problems, served as a silent command, uniting the entire team.

After nearly a year of arduous efforts and countless rounds of demonstration, revision and optimization, the overall design scheme and detailed design blueprints for the "Northern Frontier Clear Spring Project" have finally been successfully completed.

This is not just a few thick volumes of drawings and technical documents, but also embodies the hard work, wisdom, and deep responsibility and love for this land of countless surveyors and designers.

At the review meeting, the experts gave the plan high praise, believing that it was not only technically feasible and economically reasonable, but more importantly, it fully considered multiple factors such as ecological and environmental protection, integration between the military and local communities, and cultural heritage. It was a plan with warmth and vision.

With the design plan finalized, the even more massive construction phase is about to begin.

More teams, equipment, and resources will converge on this vast land, turning the lines on the blueprints into clear springs that nourish the fertile fields and into bonds that connect the hearts of the people.

At the summary meeting, Ayijiang said emotionally, "We took the first step of surveying and design very steadily, but it was also very difficult."

"But what we've opened up isn't just the waterways of the future, but also the connections between people's hearts. This proves that as long as we uphold shared values ​​and work towards a common goal, there are no difficulties we cannot overcome."

Ye Qianqian continued, "Yes, it's just like how our parents pioneered the frontier. It required not only strength, but also faith and wisdom. Now, it's our turn to take the baton and continue writing this chapter."

The scenery in Northern Xinjiang is always beautiful. No matter the season, it has its own unique colors. This is a pristine beauty that is irreplaceable.

But human survival requires changing many things: water sources, soil, and even climate. This change may destroy some beautiful things, but after all, humans are the masters.

Operation Clear Spring was started for this reason, and the investment in this project was staggering.

Ayijiang and Yifei stood together, gazing out the window.

Outside the window, the sky over northern Xinjiang was a clear, deep blue, and the distant snow-capped mountains shone brightly.

The "artificial river" that will soon meander across this ancient land seems to be beating with great intensity.

"Sister, are we undertaking the greatest engineering project in the world?"

Yifei asked excitedly.

Ayijiang's expression was solemn: "It's not just whether it's the greatest in the world, but it's definitely the greatest in the history of northern Xinjiang."

"The karez system was once the greatest engineering project in the history of northern Xinjiang, but our Clear Spring Project will go much further than that and will benefit the entire northern Xinjiang region."

Looking at Yifei, I realized that Ayijiang and Yifei are actually the same kind of people. They don't crave power, let alone have any ambition.

The times have put them in this position, and they will still do very well, arguably better than most people.

People without ambition are generally selfless; they ask for nothing in return. They only give; they dedicate themselves fully to their work.

Ayijiang originally partnered with Ye Yuji, but later fell behind because of her family.

But now she has seen through everything and is fulfilling her duties in her position. Under her leadership, the entire northern frontier has undergone significant changes.

Once the Qingquan Project is completed, it will definitely be a significant part of her resume, but that's not what she cares about.

Rather, it's about what he actually accomplished during his years in office—not vanity projects, not for promotion, but simply by doing things in a down-to-earth manner.

Yifei is the same; she is even more pure than Ayijiang.

Challenges remain, and the construction period will inevitably be accompanied by new difficulties and obstacles, but the flame of hope has been lit, just like the stars that gradually light up in the night sky. Although they shine individually, they together illuminate the journey forward.

The spirit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, together with the songs of the strivers of the new era, are converging into an even more magnificent symphony on this vibrant land.

Thank you everyone for the votes, thank you bookworm chest!