Mu Cailiang frowned, and the river wind made his nose turn red. He said, "The water stored in the dam may have reached its maximum at this moment. If the water level of the Tongtian River rises further, the consequences will be disastrous."
"According to the accounts left by previous officials, if there is such a flood situation and a lot of water accumulates, not only the major state capitals will suffer, but the capital city may even be flooded."
"The final result is usually to open the floodgates and release the water, and the people downstream will move away. The fertile fields and houses will be destroyed by the flood, and then the victims will be everywhere..."
Makicai Liang sighed, there was a lot of unwillingness in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do.
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng asked: "So, with this situation, the government should have ordered the people downstream to evacuate. Why hasn't there been any news?"
"There is no order from the government."
Mu Cailiang was very calm when he said this.
Mu Cailiang said: "With the current situation, no one dares to open the floodgates and let out water. When refugees spread everywhere and the people complain, not only will the court blame them, but the people will also continue to curse."
"No matter who opens the floodgates, they will be infamed throughout the ages."
Chen Changsheng paused and asked: "Hasn't the court paid attention to water conservancy issues in recent years? If we had made plans in advance, I'm afraid it wouldn't be so serious."
Mu Cailiang opened his mouth and said: "The national treasury was tight during the Jingshi period. It took more than ten years to wait for the approval and money to build the dam. But what followed was an emergency at the border and everything came to a halt.
, the money was also transferred to the border."
"When King Xiang came to power, all he wanted to do was solve the rebellion, and then recover Beimang. It was only in the past few years that these things gradually stabilized, but the dam..."
Makicai Liang sighed, the result can be imagined.
Chen Changsheng understood and immediately asked: "Even so, the government should have made plans in advance to disperse the people."
Mu Cailiang said: "The biggest problem is the refugees after the gate is opened, but not everyone in this world has a compassionate heart. In the eyes of Governor Na Shuihe, as long as everyone is dead, there will be no refugees.
There won't be any other sounds."
Chen Changsheng frowned and said: "If you are an official and do not serve the people's livelihood, how can you still be called an official? How can the court allow such a faint official to exist?"
"What my benefactor said is true."
Mu Cailiang lowered his head and said: "But my benefactor, have you ever thought about the current world situation? After King Xiang came to power, Xiang people will be respected, Jing people will be respected, and the lower reaches will be the place where Jing people live."
"Even if the so-called faint official did something that went against the laws of nature, he would only be fined a small salary in the end. King Xiang has no mercy in his eyes, and Jing Ren has no mercy in his eyes. He has died in these years
I can’t even count the number of people who have fallen under the sword.”
Chen Changsheng frowned. Now it seems that whether it is Daxiang or Xixiao, Jingren is probably not doing well.
"I once wanted to go downstream to disperse the people, but I was repeatedly blocked along the way."
Makicai Liang smiled bitterly and said, "Even the roads are blocked. They don't intend to give them any way to survive."
Chen Changsheng looked at the river, shook his head and said nothing.
If the people downstream are really drowned, the heaven and earth will have their own karma. But is the death of one person worth all the people upstream and downstream?
Chen Changsheng asked: "Can the government say when the gate will be opened to release the flood?"
"There is no official document, but as far as Mu knows, the floodgates should be opened at noon three days later."
Mu Cailiang said: "There is nothing we can do now. Nothing can be done in three days."
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, "You don't need to be so pessimistic. You may not be able to do some things, but there are people who can do them."
Mu Cailiang raised his head and asked puzzledly: "Who can do it?"
Chen Changsheng nodded and said: "As far as Chen knows, someone has already gone downstream to inform the people, and has now reached Daochunfang."
Mu Cailiang was slightly startled, blinked and said, "How did my benefactor know this?"
“It’s just that I have learned something along the way.”
Chen Changsheng said: "Based on their current progress, plus the time it takes for the water to reach downstream, three days should be enough to disperse the people before opening the gate to release the flood."
After hearing this, Mu Cailiang began to think.
"Who...are they?" Mu Cailiang asked.
Chen Changsheng said: "Jing Ren."
Mu Cailiang smacked his lips and asked: "Then, where is my benefactor?"
Chen Changsheng just smiled faintly and said, "I'm just a fisherman on the river, nothing different."
As he finished speaking, he saw Chen Changsheng pulling up the pole.
"Coming!"
I saw a red tail falling into my eyes from the river. As Chen Changsheng pulled the fishing rod, the fish was slowly dragged up.
Makicai Liang looked at the caught fish and said immediately: "It's a red-tailed fish!"
"It's just a little small." Chen Changsheng shook his head and sighed, thinking in his mind how this small fish of several kilograms would be worth the one tael of silver.
Mu Cailiang was stunned for a moment and asked: "Is it possible that my benefactor doesn't know about this red tail?"
"What's the point?"
"Every summer, this is the time when the red-tailed cockroaches are at their most plump. There are not many of these red-tailed cockroaches, and they are very cunning and difficult to catch. The demand exceeds supply all year round, and the price is not low! If the quality is good, it can even be harvested.
Sold for eighty or nine cents!”
"And the one my benefactor has in his hands now is in very good condition!"
Chen Changsheng looked at the fish and said blankly: "Eighty-nine yuan, is such a fish so valuable?"
Mu Cailiang said: "If this is the case, I'm afraid it will cost more than eight or nine yuan, and it can even be sold for one tael of silver or more."
Chen Changsheng paused, blinked and said, "Isn't that just right..."
One tael of silver was just enough for him to pay for the drinks.
A smile appeared on Chen Changsheng's face, and he immediately said: "Thanks to the cooking cakes you brought. If not, Chen might not have been able to catch this fish."
He looked at the raised red tail with satisfaction and said: "Not bad, not bad, once and for all, Chen doesn't have to fish anymore."
When Mu Cailiang heard this, he was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is my benefactor going back?"
Chen Changsheng pulled a reed from the side and threaded the red tail through it.
He stood up and said, "Now that the fish has been caught, it's time to go."
Mu Cailiang picked up the lantern and said: "There is no light at night and there is a strong wind by the river. You might as well let me send my benefactor to you."
Chen Changsheng waved his hand, picked up the umbrella on the side, and said: "No need to bother anymore. A cloak, a piece of cooking cake, and a red fish. In Chen's opinion, the relationship has been repaid."
"This chance encounter, you don't owe me anything, and you don't have to worry about me anymore in the future."
"It's getting late, so Chen won't stay much longer."
Chen Changsheng laughed and then walked out of the pavilion carrying the fish.
"My benefactor, my benefactor!"
Mu Cailiang chased out with a lantern.
But as soon as he came out of the pavilion, his eyes were filled with flowers. When he picked up the lantern and looked around, he could no longer see his benefactor.
"Benefactor!"
Mu Cailiang shouted and looked around, but in the end he could not see his benefactor again.
He stood there blankly and could only sigh.
Mu Cailiang felt a little regretful. He was clearly a few steps away, so why could he not find him again as soon as he left the pavilion?