White-robed Minister

Chapter 203 0201 [The Yellow River's waters come from the sky, flowing into the homes of ordinary people]

When Xu Lai led his troops on a western expedition, the focus of the imperial court was on the Yellow River.

Nine years ago, the Yellow River breached its banks, creating a new flow. To put it more vividly, the Yellow River "brooked a bifurcation."

The Yellow River flows north, probably entering the sea in the Dongli District of Tianjin in later times.

The Yellow River flows eastward, and enters the sea about eighty miles east of the present-day Wudi County.

Even managing just one Yellow River is difficult, let alone managing two at the same time. Over the years, the emperor and his ministers of the Song Dynasty have been constantly arguing about how to manage the Yellow River, and have been unable to reach a consensus.

Until early summer of this year, Wang Anshi's river management plan was forcibly passed with the emperor's support: dredging and widening the eastward flow, gradually blocking the northward flow, and ultimately allowing all the Yellow River water to flow into the sea from the east.

After only two or three months of construction, water conservancy expert Zhang Gong reported to the emperor that the river could already be blocked from flowing north.

Many officials strongly opposed it.

Because they were in the midst of a political struggle, Wang Anshi mistook this opposition for factional strife.

While the courtiers were arguing, Zhao Xu sent Sima Guang to conduct an on-site investigation.

Sima Guang spent more than a month investigating the lower reaches of the Yellow River before hurriedly returning to Tokyo to report back.

"You've come at the perfect time," Zhao Xu said with delight upon seeing Sima Guang. "We just received news of a victory from the Qin-Feng Road. Xu Lai, the border pacification commissioner, has captured Mobang Mountain and Panshi Fortress. He annihilated tens of thousands of enemy soldiers, captured 8,000 Qiang soldiers and over 30,000 Qiang civilians, and seized countless grains and livestock. One fierce general named Wang Junwan, despite bearing twenty-six wounds, continued to fight relentlessly."

Sima Guang said, "This is a great honor and blessing, and I congratulate Your Majesty. However, the matter of the Yellow River still needs to be considered in a long-term manner."

Zhao Xu asked, "What did you find during your inspection of the Yellow River?"

Sima Guang said, "Currently, six-tenths of the Yellow River's water flows eastward and four-tenths flows northward. I believe we must wait a little longer; the eastward-flowing water must reach at least eight-tenths before the northward flow can be completely blocked. Moreover, along the eastward-flowing banks of the Yellow River, some sections of the dikes are not yet secure and need to be repaired as soon as possible."

"I already know," Zhao Xu said, somewhat displeased.

Neither Zhao Xu nor Wang Anshi personally conducted the investigation; they obtained information from officials of the Water Conservancy Bureau.

However, Zhang Gong and Song Changyan, who were in charge of the Water Conservancy Bureau, said that the northward flow could have been blocked long ago.

In the midst of fierce political struggle, Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi harbored a victim mentality. They believed that officials who opposed blocking the northward flow of the river were definitely talking nonsense and deliberately causing trouble.

Sima Guang, in particular, opposed Wang Anshi every day; he was probably lying.

Seeing that the emperor's expression was not right, Sima Guang was afraid that the emperor would not believe him, so he went home to organize his inspection report and wrote it into a detailed memorial before submitting it to the emperor.

After reading Sima Guang's memorial, Zhao Xu felt uncertain again, so he quickly summoned Wang Anshi and Zhang Gong.

As an expert in Yellow River management, Zhang Gong confidently guaranteed that the Eastward Flow Project could be completed.

Wang Anshi believed Zhang Gong's words, but he also carefully read Sima Guang's memorial, listened to some of Sima Guang's opinions, and ordered the Director of Water Conservancy and local officials to quickly reinforce the Dongliu Dike.

Subsequently, Zhao Xu sent his trusted eunuch Zhang Maoze to investigate the Yellow River.

During Zhang Maoze's inspection of the Yellow River, Zhao Xu received another report of victory from Xu Lai: the Song army had defeated Mu Zheng's main force and then captured Wushengjun City.

After a while, Zhang Maoze returned to the capital to report: "Your Majesty, the eastward flow of water has reached eight-tenths, which is sufficient to block the northward flow."

Zhao Xu exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"

Zhang Maoze forced himself to say, "Absolutely true."

This eunuch is lying!

He knew the emperor's intentions, which is why he went along with him. In reality, at this time, the Yellow River's eastward flow was less than seven-tenths full, far less than the eight-tenths that Sima Guang had requested.

Why were Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi so eager to block the northward flow of the river?

Continuing with this approach would be unsustainable in terms of both financial and logistical costs. Furthermore, they wanted to achieve quick results through Yellow River management to gain political prestige and then push forward with the next phase of reforms.

Water conservancy experts, led by Song Changyan and Zhang Gong, pandered to the interests of those in power and relentlessly supported Wang Anshi.

Only a few water conservancy experts opposed this, and these people were regarded as political enemies by Wang Anshi.

When Zhao Xu summoned Wang Anshi again, both the emperor and his minister were extremely excited.

However, the management of the Yellow River is of great importance, and they still dared not take it lightly, so they sent people to inquire with the project leaders, Song Changyan and Cheng Fang.

Both Song and Cheng said that the Dongliu Project could be completed.

Therefore, Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi officially ordered that the northward flow of the Yellow River be blocked immediately, so that all the water of the Yellow River would flow eastward.

Upon learning the news, Sima Guang submitted several memorials to the emperor to stop him, and even rallied his relatives and friends to join him in opposing the movement. The more people he gathered to oppose the emperor, the more the emperor and Wang Anshi believed that he was deliberately causing trouble.

"I hope the dam doesn't burst—"

Sima Guang became very worried. He had personally gone to investigate, and blocking the Beiliu River now was not a safe option at all.

Why are those water conservancy experts lying through their teeth?

They were pandering to the emperor and Wang Anshi, and harbored wishful thinking about the Eastward Flow Project. They believed that as long as there was no flooding in the autumn, there wouldn't be any major problems, and they could gradually resolve any potential issues later.

Impatient for quick success and instant benefits!

Zhao Xu has been in a good mood lately.

Good news came from the west one after another: Xu Lai had captured Yanjing Fort, and Gao Zunyu had once again defeated Mu Zheng's main force.

The Yellow River project in the east also went extremely smoothly, successfully blocking the northward flow of the Yellow River and diverting all the water eastward. No accidents occurred; the river management was a resounding success, and Sima Guang and his cronies were indeed causing trouble.

Inside Tokyo.

The officials rode their horses at breakneck speed through the streets, shouting victories: "Great victory! Great victory! The Song army has captured Tabai City, taking prisoner the wife and children of the bandit chieftain Muzheng, as well as dozens of Tibetan nobles!"

After several officials announced the victory along the street, they posted copies of the report on major roads inside and outside the city.

Local residents gathered to watch, and literate people read the detailed content aloud.

"How many times has this been the latest good news?"

"Once last month, three times this month."

"I never would have guessed that Scholar Xu was not only a great writer, but also such a formidable fighter against the barbarians."

"I heard there's a fierce general named Wang Junwan who is still fighting hard despite having twenty-six wounds all over his body."

"That's outdated. There's also Bu Chao firing cannons to rout 20,000 enemy soldiers, and Gao Zunyu charging with 600 cavalry to rout over 10,000 barbarian soldiers. This time, it was Gao Zunyu again who launched a surprise cavalry raid, capturing Mu Zheng's stronghold, Tabai City, and even taking Mu Zheng's wife, children, and elderly relatives prisoner."

"Where exactly is Kisei's territory?"

"It's next to the Western Xia and Qinfeng Roads; that area used to be the homeland of the Han and Tang dynasties."

'

While the public was discussing the matter extensively, officials were also paying attention to it.

When the initial news of victory arrived, the emperor and his ministers would discuss how to bestow rewards. Before a decision could be reached, a second, a third—

—More good news arrived.

Let's not discuss it anymore then, and talk about it after this battle is over.

Su Shi strolled off work, chatting with his subordinates about the war in the Northwest, and even took out a poem he had just written in celebration of the great victory.

He's been doing quite well lately, currently holding the positions of Palace Attendant, Director of the Imperial Historiography Office, and Judge of the Court of Judicial Appeals.

Su Shi held the same rank as Xu Lai, but his rank was lower.

Su Shi's post was a higher rank than Xu Lai's.

If we only look at these factors, the two men are actually of similar rank, and Su Shi is even slightly superior.

But Xu Lai is the Pacification Commissioner of the Border Region of Qinfeng Road!

Su Shi's authority was actually quite good; all the official documents for bestowing titles, rewards, and appointments of civil and military officials came from his hands.

Even Xu Lai's most recent promotion document was written by Su Shi himself.

Not only that, his brother Su Zhe was even more impressive.

Su Zhe was now a key figure in the reform faction, and could even be considered the "fourth most important person," second only to Wang Anshi, Chen Xu, and Lü Huiqing. Even when Wang Anshi wanted to implement any new policies, he would consult Su Zhe's opinion in advance.

The Su brothers are extremely popular.

The two brothers now live together in the house their father bought with a loan years ago.

"Ziyou, do you know that Xu Xingzhi has won another great victory?" Su Shi went straight to his brother's study.

Su Zhe was sitting inside, sulking: "I already know."

Su Shi noticed his pale face and asked, "What's wrong now?"

"It's all because of that Lü Huiqing, she's a complete treacherous villain!" Su Zhe said indignantly.

Su Shi smiled, unwilling to bring up such a topic.

The current reformists are led by Wang Anshi and Chen Xu (Chen Shengzhi).

Lü Huiqing was Wang Anshi's man, while Su Zhe was Chen Xu's man. They worked in the same government office and indirectly controlled the finances of the three ministries.

Relying on Wang Anshi's influence, Lü Huiqing continuously seized power from Su Zhe. Su Zhe went to Chen Xu to complain, but Chen Xu always told him to be patient.

The two key figures of the reform faction are almost at each other's throats.

Su Shi changed the subject, saying, "Ziyou, guess what official position Xu Xingzhi will be promoted to after this battle?"

Su Zhe thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid I'll be promoted five or six ranks, and my post will definitely be no lower than yours. As for my assignment, it will probably be a military commissioner."

Su Shi clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "A military commissioner in his twenties? It's simply unbelievable."

"Boom!"

A bolt of lightning flashed, followed by a thunderclap outside.

Neither brother took it seriously; thunder in autumn is perfectly normal.

However, some officials from the Water Conservancy Bureau were terrified by the thunder and turned pale. The subsequent two days of torrential rain further ecstaticated them.

Wang Anshi's Eastward Flow Project, which blocked the Northward Flow prematurely without considering the actual situation, and whose Eastward Flow Channel was too narrow and whose dam system was not yet perfect, led to the Yellow River breaching its banks!

Daming Prefecture, Enzhou, Dezhou, Cangzhou, and Yongjing Army were all severely flooded, turning the area into a vast swamp. Parts of Dizhou and Bozhou were also submerged.

The floodwaters spread for over 500 li, submerging and destroying county towns, villages, and farmland.

The death toll is impossible to count.

Upon receiving the news, Wang Anshi's hand trembled as he held his pen.

From the imperial court to local authorities, all the officials involved in the flood control efforts assured him that there would be absolutely no problems. Those who said there were problems were not even given the chance to participate in the project this time.

Even the eunuchs sent by the emperor said that eight-tenths of the water had already flowed eastward.

How could Wang Anshi possibly make a judgment?

He definitely trusted his own people, but they were all lying to him!

"My lord, His Majesty summons you."

"Get the car ready quickly."

Wang Anshi rushed to the palace in a great hurry, only to find Zhang Maoze kneeling on the ground.

The eunuch who led the emperor and Wang Anshi to make the wrong decision was still trying to shirk responsibility: "Your Majesty, I don't understand water conservancy. I was deceived by Song Changyan and Cheng Fang. These two are knowledgeable about water conservancy, and they kept saying that the eastward flowing water had reached eight-tenths of its capacity. I didn't know how to calculate the water volume, so I believed them without thinking—"

Zhao Xu was so angry he convulsed, grabbed an inkstone and smashed it down: "Get out!"

Zhang Maoze was hit on the shoulder by the inkstone, wincing in pain, but he knelt there without daring to utter a sound. Only when Zhao Xu shouted "Get out!" again did he slowly retreat, bowing low.

The emperor and his minister looked at each other in silence.

After a long silence, Wang Anshi finally said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is disaster relief."

Zhao Xu said weakly, "Save him."

There was another thing they both tacitly agreed on: how to deal with the backlash from their political enemies.

All officials involved in planning, deciding on, and executing the project will certainly face a barrage of impeachments. This includes Wang Anshi and Zhang Maoze.

This is not only a natural disaster, but also a man-made one.

Moreover, human-caused disasters account for a larger proportion!

"Your Majesty, a great victory! A great victory! Governor Xu and Commander Gao have once again defeated the combined forces of Mu Zheng and Western Xia. Military officials such as Zhang Shouyue have swept through the southern Qiang tribes, subjugating countless Qiang clans—"

Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi exchanged a glance; they already knew what to do.

This involved drastically promoting Xu Lai to an absurd degree, deliberately provoking opposition from censors. This would divert public attention from the impending Yellow River flood and focus it on the controversy surrounding Xu Lai's new position.

Furthermore, how should administrative districts be established in the newly conquered territories? And should the four border routes and the newly conquered lands be separated from Shaanxi Road? These issues can be discussed gradually.

They can argue back and forth for two or three months!

After Wang Anshi left, Zhao Xu dismissed the historians who were compiling the daily records and sat alone in the main hall for a long time in a daze.

He is now filled with regret, thinking he should have listened to Sima Guang; it was Zhang Maoze, that eunuch, who was lying.

Sigh, how did things get to this point?

Fortunately, there was Xu Lai, who expanded the territory and saved face for the emperor; otherwise, he would not know how to face his ministers.

Zhao Xu is now burdened with worries and doesn't know who to confide in.

He picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Xu Lai, saying that he deeply regretted his actions in managing the river. After thinking about it, he crossed out those parts; he was old enough to no longer freely reveal his true thoughts.

Zhao Xu picked up another piece of paper and said that he was very happy to receive the good news. He also said that Xu Lai was his Huo Qubing—well, no, Huo Qubing died too young.

Zhao Xu racked his brains, trying to find a historical figure who had been a young conqueror to compare him to. Moreover, the figure couldn't have suffered a defeat, and the outcome had to be favorable. He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything.

He simply stopped thinking about it, reorganized his vocabulary, and began to recall Xu Lai's days in Beijing.

He also said that he was very happy to hear that Xu Lai already had children, but it was inconvenient to grant the children official positions at present.

He prepared some treasures and gave them to Xu Lai's wife and children. This was not a reward, but a private gift from the emperor.

Then Zhao Xu wrote that he hoped to read Xu Lai's new poems or other articles. He also urged Xu Lai to return to the capital next year, as he truly missed him and wished they could meet now.

The emperor's letter was written almost like a love letter.

He is at his most vulnerable emotional time right now. He used to be able to confide in Wang Anshi, but now it's inconvenient for him to talk to Wang Anshi.

As he finished writing, Zhao Xu began to wipe away tears.

He truly regretted what happened on the Yellow River, but he had to keep going despite the difficulties.