Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 111 Drought Prevention Measures
When the three disasters occur, there will be corpses and bones everywhere. It will be a horrible sight. Everyone here can't help but shudder when they think of this.

"Nephew Liu, you are right. We have seen these signs, but we have lived a good life over the years and have lost our vigilance. We old guys have ignored this."

Director Lu said with some guilt.

"Brother Lu, don't feel guilty. There are so many of us, but we didn't take it seriously. Right now, the most important thing is to prevent the coming of this drought and protect our harvest this year."

Liu Qian's words won everyone's frequent nods.

"Yes, I asked you all to come here for this matter. If this year's autumn harvest is reduced, this winter will definitely be difficult, and we don't know how long this drought will last. So I think we must take precautions before the drought really comes."

"Well, my nephew, what you said makes sense." Lu Tingzhang nodded and said, "To prevent drought, all we have to do is dig rivers, wells, and store water. In our Huangshui Township, there is only one small river, three streams, and nine wells, two of which have been abandoned. Should we dig more wells?"

"Brother Lu is right, that's exactly what we should do," Qian Tingzhang agreed. "Digging a well is not difficult. Now that the drought has not completely arrived, it should be easy to dig out water. Simply relying on well water is definitely far from enough. We must also find a way to increase the amount of water in rivers and streams, and then build dams to store water."

But Liu Qian put forward an opinion: "Building dams to store water is not difficult. With the current manpower in our township, it is easy to build several small dams. But after the dams are built, our township will have water, and the townships downstream may come to settle accounts with us!"

When everyone heard this, they all agreed and fell into deep thought, puzzled.

Liu He saw Qian Li sitting behind Chief Qian and moved his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

"Brother Qian Li, if you have any ideas, please share them with us."

Encouraged by Liu He, Qian Li stood up and bowed to everyone.

"I think the problem Uncle Liu mentioned does need to be treated with caution, but it is not unsolvable."

"Oh?" Everyone perked up when they heard this, and looked at Qian Li with anticipation, especially his father, Qian Tingzhang, who was expectant and a little surprised. He probably also wanted to know what abilities his son had acquired after studying with Liu He, Zhang Yong, Zhang Yu and others for so many years.

Qian Li paused and said, "Li was once loved by the villagers in various villages and helped with farming in several surrounding villages. Therefore, he has some understanding of the conditions in each village. There are five villages bordering our village on the east, south and north sides of the county seat. Although there is one village that is not adjacent to our village, the closest distance between the two villages is only five or six miles. Including our Huangshui Village, there are a total of seven villages within the scope of which there are two large rivers, eleven small streams, one small lake, countless small ditches of various types, and 41 usable wells."

When everyone heard Qian Li describe the water systems of the seven townships in detail, they were impressed, and Chief Qian was even more pleased.

"And in order to prepare for this severe drought, there are a total of three things to do." Qian Li counted out three fingers, and everyone quickly pricked up their ears to listen.

"First, dredge the water flow and divert it to the farmland. I found that in each township, some streams and ditches have been blocked and abandoned for various reasons. It is not a problem in normal times, but now in times of crisis, we must dredge all these ditches to ensure the irrigation needs of the farmland. Only when the farmland has water can the crops grow well."

Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this, secretly thinking that Qian Li had indeed grown a lot.

"Second, we need to dig wells. Each li is a unit, and each li head is responsible for it. There should be at least one well in each li to ensure that the villagers have the most basic water needs for daily life."

“The third, and most important, is to select a few places at the borders of the townships, dig ponds, divert the surrounding rivers and streams into them, build simple dams, and store water in the ponds.”

"Because most of the water systems in the seven townships I selected come from the Taihang Mountains, and they end after flowing through these townships, so there is no need to worry about people downstream causing trouble. As for the few rivers that still flow to other townships, we only need to dig a tributary to lead it to the pond, and there is no need to block the entire river."

Qian Li spoke very clearly, Liu He took the lead in applauding, and others also stood up and applauded, which made Qian Tingzhang very proud. His son has become a successful person, and the happiest person is him as a father. Qian Li felt a little embarrassed after receiving everyone's praise.

At this moment, Zhang Yu, who was recuperating in the room, came out after hearing the sound. Liu He hurried over to support her.

"Yuer, why did you come out?" Liu He looked concerned.

"Husband, I heard you guys talking about drought prevention, so I came out to take a look."

Although Zhang Yu was a woman, because of her relationship with Liu He and the fact that she had repeatedly offered advice to defeat the enemy, everyone respected her very much.

"My sister-in-law is always resourceful, I think she must have a good plan!"

Guan Yu said, and everyone looked at her expectantly.

With Liu He's support, Zhang Yu sat down cross-legged somewhat reluctantly.

"I can't say I have any good ideas, but I got some inspiration from what Mr. Qian said just now."

"Oh? In that case, please tell me quickly, my dear niece!" Chief Lu urged.

Zhang Yu bowed to show that she accepted the order and said, "What Master Qian said is indeed a necessary measure, but it is not enough. If a severe drought comes and the water source decreases, our first priority is to find more water sources!"

Everyone nodded. Once the water source was cut off, everything else would be in vain. If the rivers and streams dried up, what was the use?
"Yu'er, you must have thought of a good idea, right?" Liu He stroked Zhang Yu's palm and asked gently.

Zhang Yu smiled slightly: "Haha, after all, this is not my idea, but the inspiration given to me by my husband."

Liu He was a little confused: "The inspiration I gave you? Why can't I remember it?"

"My husband has been fetching spring water for me to cool off these days. I was thinking that there are countless springs in the Taihang Mountains, but we usually ignore them and let them flow out and then seep back into the ground. If we can find more, we can use bamboo tubes to collect water, or dig pits on the mountain to store water, or lead it to the canal at the foot of the mountain. Although the amount of water in each place is small, with more springs, it will definitely be an extremely optimistic water source."

When Liu He heard this, he slapped his thigh excitedly.

"Oh, Yu'er is really smart! Why didn't we think of Shanquan?"

"Haha, the mountain spring is small after all, so it's reasonable for people to ignore it." Zhang Yu comforted.

"Madam, don't be so modest! If we can succeed in resisting the drought this time, Brother Qian and Madam will be the first heroes of our Seven Townships!"

Everyone bowed to the two of them and expressed their gratitude, which made them feel flattered.

Liu He turned around and said seriously, "Okay, tomorrow we will invite the other six townships to come and discuss the location of the pond. Once it is determined, each township will work together to arrange the division of labor. We will clear the canal, dig wells, build the pond, and divert mountain springs. Everyone will do their own thing. The two thousand soldiers of the Anmin Army will stop training and be led by the six of us to support each place!"

(End of this chapter)