Chapter 478 Investigating the Yellow River Embankment
Chapter 478 Investigating the Yellow River Embankment
Cabinet minister Wei Shiming and Zuo Du Yushi Li Yuanzheng, at the behest of Emperor Su He, investigated the quality of the Yellow River embankment.
Only when the quality of the Yellow River embankments can withstand the impact of floods will the imperial court officially change the course of the Yellow River.
They stood on the dam of Liujiawan Reservoir in Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan Province.
Liujiawan Reservoir, which will be the largest reservoir in Henan in the future, will control the water flow of the new Yellow River channel.
Wei Shiming wiped the sweat from his head and looked at the farmers harvesting winter wheat in the distance.
Farmers only have 20 days, so they must seize the time to finish harvesting winter wheat and plant corn.
Wei Shiming looked at the busy figures in the fields and said with emotion: "The old embankment of the Yellow River in Luoyang Prefecture broke and floods occurred again.
Fortunately, the Luoyang prefect responded promptly and only a few hundred thousand people were affected.
Most of the Mai Ke from all over Henan are from Luoyang.
The family's fields were flooded, so they had to travel to various places to harvest wheat to make money.
One of the main purposes of this method is to strengthen the authority of the governor while weakening the status of the prefect.
They thought there was a very serious problem here.
Wei Shiming smiled and said: "Jining Prefecture is the original Jining Prefecture.
I really didn't dare to relax for fear of something happening. I also felt that if I delayed it any longer, I would have to wait until the dry season of the Yellow River.
This action directly frightened the officials of Jining Reservoir.
These people show a tendency to bend the law for personal gain and will be dealt with immediately by Li Yuanzheng.
Shandong has not suffered from the ravages of the Yellow River for a long time, and they have no deep-rooted fear of floods.
The censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate came to the Jining Prefecture Reservoir and controlled the relevant personnel.
Even if there is a major flood in the upper reaches, the peak of the flood has already reached the local area before the lower reaches have received the news.
He saw some people pulling black threads on the Yellow River embankment.
The opening of the new Yellow River channel will have to wait until next year, which will affect His Majesty the Emperor's arrangements.
Choose to reduce the area of each prefecture and split up the large prefectures."
When the people here saw that the imperial court was rebuilding the Yellow River embankment, they not only enthusiastically signed up to participate.
The cabinet spent several years investigating, and the investigation was completed last year and submitted to the emperor for approval.
He said that a telegraph line from Beijing to Shandong was being set up.
The time spent on the investigation has long exceeded Emperor Su He's expectation.
They were chatting when they saw Song Wenjie walking over with a livid face.
When these people see illegal things, they will take the initiative to report it to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Whether we are serious or not will determine the life or death of tens of millions of people on both sides of the Yellow River.
I have been urging the procuratorates in various places to investigate the Yellow River Project in detail to ensure that the Yellow River Project is not affected by corrupt officials.
After the discussion just now, they decided to maintain the current speed.
I selected a few unimportant points and did some destructive testing.
They dug a hole at the bend of the Yellow River ahead, preparing to drill holes in the concrete embankment, but the hole they drilled collapsed directly, and the inside was not concrete, but silt."
Li Yuanzheng said in surprise: "The speed of delivering news can be so fast.
Wei Shiming asked in shock: "Song Wenjie, you read that right, the concrete embankment has turned into silt, not even a normal rammed earth river embankment."
There are just some minor problems with the steam engine sluice, which can be simply rectified."
All the censors at all levels of the Imperial Procuratorate of Dahua worked under his nose.
When Li Yuanzheng heard Wei Shiming's explanation, he was extremely happy and said: "This is indeed good news. The speed of the flood before was much faster than riding a horse.
"Master Li, we have completed the investigation of the relevant personnel of Liujiawan Reservoir.
"Prime Minister Wei, I have led people to investigate the Liujiawan Reservoir. The quality of the dam and steam-powered sluice, the most important parts of the reservoir, are all up to standard.
If the imperial court fails to fulfill its responsibilities, this minor flood will cause countless deaths."
July 28, 4337 (1640 AD).
When they came, they did not give any news to Shandong.
Wei Shiming quickly asked: "Wenjie, what happened?"
Li Yuanzheng saw Zhang Qinian, the censor of Qiandu, walking towards them with a smile on his face.
After the Yellow River was diverted, wired telegraph also played a great role.
They also dug holes in the Yellow River embankment and erected some burnt black wooden poles.
It is precisely because of the Yellow River Project that Shandong was one of the first places to set up wired telegraphs.
These two things are inconspicuous, but they are related to the quality of the reservoir.
Fortunately, the imperial court waived taxes and distributed food rations to the people affected by the disaster.
Kaifeng Prefecture and the local Metropolitan Procuratorate attach great importance to the Yellow River Project. These scum have a low status and have no chance to extend their hands to the Yellow River Project.
Liujiawan Reservoir is already their last stop in Henan.
A team of experts from the Ministry of Industry began to investigate the quality of the reservoir.
This project will cause minimal damage to the Yellow River embankment, and they came with His Majesty the Emperor's will.
Can we send a message to Beijing now?
Why did the imperial court build a wired telegraph line on the Yellow River embankment?"
After Song Wenjie received the order, he immediately led people to investigate the specific data on steel bars and cement that Wei Shiming specially explained.
He just hopes that the Yellow River Project will not cause any major problems.
Song Wenjie suppressed his anger and said in a hoarse voice: "Prime Minister Wei, there is a huge problem with the Yellow River embankment."
Many people cannot bear the pressure and take the initiative to report and expose others.
We were assigned by His Majesty to investigate the quality of the new embankment of the Yellow River.
Song Wenjie pointed forward and said: "Prime Minister Wei, workers from the General Telegraph Bureau are digging holes on the Yellow River embankment to bury telegraph poles.
When Wei Shiming said this, he was very unconfident.
Wei Shiming said excitedly: "They are setting up a wired telegraph line. This is a newly invented technology by the Academy of Sciences.
The sparks kept flickering and finally lit the lighter.
The test results also support this conclusion."
Liujiawan Reservoir can withstand the impact of a once-in-a-century flood from the Yellow River."
Henan and Shandong have completely different attitudes towards the Yellow River Project.
Wei Shiming took the report and looked through it. He pointed at the report and said, "Everything else is fine. Check the thickness of the concrete dam's steel bars and the grade of the cement.
He is responsible for leading the censor, conducting detailed inspections of the officials responsible for the project, and investigating the financial transactions of the construction company.
Wei Shiming led experts from the Ministry of Industry to investigate the quality issues of the project.
Song Wenjie said with a serious face: "Prime Minister Wei, I think there is little chance of problems with Jining Mansion Reservoir.
The Metropolitan Procuratorate received many clues from Xuanwu Guards and dealt with many officials who had their hands on the Yellow River Project.
The new levees of the Yellow River and the newly built reservoirs can restrain the raging Yellow River as long as they are of good quality.
When Wei Shiming heard Li Yuanzheng's question, he simply explained: "I met the staff of the telegraph office and asked him about the situation of wire telegraphy.
They rushed to the cafeteria and had just finished lunch.
Even if the inspection speed is slower, we still need to find out whether there are quality problems in these projects."
The current course of the Yellow River, after leaving Henan, goes directly southward through the Huaihe River and into the sea.
Cabinet minister Wei Shiming and Zuo Du Yushi Li Yuanzheng came to Jining Mansion.
They got off the train and went straight to Jiningfu Reservoir.
Welcome Emperor Su He and personally lead the Yellow River diversion project.
There is a huge price gap between quality reinforced cement and inferior reinforced cement.”
The Metropolitan Procuratorate followed suit, which was also a shock to the local officialdom.
According to the current situation, they can quickly complete the investigation of the Yellow River embankment.
Li Yuanzheng said confidently: "The Metropolitan Procuratorate attaches great importance to the Yellow River Project.
We have worked so hard, but the progress of the inspection is still very slow.
In a few days, we will be able to directly contact the capital.
For example, the situation here in Henan is that some Yellow River levees are of excellent quality, while others are only barely up to standard."
Wei Shiming takes the lead in this work. Only when the problems are identified is the time for the Metropolitan Procuratorate to unleash its capabilities.
After the advent of wired telegraphy, if there was a flood upstream, the downstream would have enough time to respond."
Wei Shiming lit the cigarette with a lighter. He took a few puffs of the cigarette and said with emotion: "We have traveled so many places in the past month or so.
The Shaofu has three levels of supervision: the royal family, the cabinet and the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Li Yuanzheng listened to Wei Shiming's talk. He knew some information, but he didn't know there were so many inside stories.
Every few years here in Henan, the Yellow River breaks its banks and is baptized by floods.
When Wei Shiming and Li Yuanzheng saw Song Wenjie's expression, they knew that the problem this time was serious.
Let the Yellow River truly become a mother river and nourish the land on both sides.
Wei Shiming and Li Yuanzheng walked towards the cafeteria of Liujiawan Reservoir. It was already noon and they were going to have lunch in the cafeteria.
They prepared a surprise attack and investigated the Jining Prefecture Reservoir without anyone knowing the news.
Song Wenjie took the information report and reported: "Xiang Wei, the Jining Prefecture Reservoir is as good as I expected, and the quality is up to standard.
Wei Shiming said happily: "The investigation in Henan is finally over. We took the train in the afternoon and rushed to Jining Prefecture, Shandong.
He stomped the dam of Liujiawan Reservoir with his foot and said: "The history of wanton flooding in the Yellow River will soon be ended by us.
The two of us bear the expectations of tens of millions of people on both sides of the Yellow River.
Song Wenjie, a foreign minister from the Ministry of Industry, walked to Cabinet Minister Wei Shiming with the relevant acceptance report of Liujiawan Reservoir.
The imperial court conducted all-round surveillance on the Yellow River Project.
When problems arise when the Yellow River changes course, all localities can learn about it immediately and respond promptly.
There may be some corrupt officials who hide themselves well, but I believe these people are by no means the mainstream, and they are far from being able to cover the sky with one hand."
The two of them were responsible for investigating the quality problems of the Yellow River embankment. They failed to discover problems when they were present. This was a major mistake.
When Li Yuanzheng heard the news, he smiled and said: "Master Wei, this is good news. It means that as long as the main body of the project passes the quality inspection, there is no need for more detailed inspections.
Song Wenjie trotted over with the information.
Many problems with the Yellow River Project here in Henan have been nipped in the bud.
Li Yuanzheng had the confidence to say this. The local procuratorate was beyond the reach of the local procuratorate. There would definitely be censors who would bend the law for personal gain.
On the contrary, many of the Yellow River embankments in various places were built by local governments, and their quality varies.
No one stopped them from setting up telephone poles.
"Xiang Wei, I checked in detail the thickness of the steel bars and the marking of the cement in the Liujiawan Reservoir, and they all meet the relevant requirements.
Li Yuanzheng and Wei Shiming took a train westward. They started from Tongguan to investigate the quality of the new levee of the Yellow River.
They waited until the censor asked, and there were many timid people who answered all the questions.
Telegraph lines were erected on the Yellow River embankment, mainly to strengthen communication between various places.
There are two construction standards for Yellow River embankments. Where the water flow is slow, traditional rammed earth embankments are used.
Governors from various places were sparse, and the imperial court intended to weaken the influence of the great government.
The situation in Shandong is completely different. Without the supervision of the people, local officials do not know what they will do.
If a few scoundrels who seek power for personal gain are discovered during the investigation, they will be handed over to the local Metropolitan Procuratorate for disposal.
Wei Shiming and Li Yuanzheng were walking on the Yellow River embankment in Jining Prefecture.
Jining is so far away from the capital, so the news we send out here can be received in the capital within a few breaths."
Concrete embankments are used in bends and other places with rapid water flow to prevent water from invading the Yellow River embankment.
The two places are thousands of miles apart and can communicate directly through wired telegraph.
The original Yellow River channel became an important tributary.
Li Yuanzheng, the censor of Zuodu, listened to Wei Shiming's emotion.
Even if you escape the Metropolitan Procuratorate, you may not be able to escape the Xuanwu Guards.
Wei Shiming took out a cigarette, took out a metal lighter, and slid the flint next to it.
Now the new Yellow River channel enters the sea from Le'an County, Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province.
Confirm that the capital and personnel transactions of various projects are in normal condition.
Now I just hope that the Yellow River project in Shandong will be the same as it is here in Henan."
Li Yuanzheng said confidently: "There may be scum in the local Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Shaofu is under the direct control of the Imperial Metropolitan Procuratorate.
If there is no problem with the Jining Prefecture Reservoir, then the biggest hidden danger can be eliminated."
The investigation process by the Ministry of Industry's expert team went smoothly.
All states across the country were converted into prefectures.
The probability of him having problems is not high, and he needs to pay too many benefits to bribe the three parties.
Li Yuanzheng asked curiously: "Master Wei, what are these people doing?"
Large reservoirs in various places are constructed by construction companies under Shaofu.
What's more, His Majesty has not issued any orders to urge us now, so we don't need to be too anxious.
Li Yuanzheng and Wei Shiming finished their work in Henan and took a train to Jining Prefecture, Shandong.
Based on current information, the Liujiawan Reservoir construction project has not been interfered by any officials."
The lives and deaths of millions of people depend on this, and we must not slack off.
They carefully investigated the new levees and key reservoirs of the Yellow River.
Wei Shiming also served as governor in many places. He had no confidence in officials in the officialdom.
As long as I, Li Yuanzheng, remain in power for a day, those corrupt officials will have no chance of surviving in the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
Only by such a sudden attack can we obtain the most authentic information.
…………………………
Li Yuanzheng and Wei Shiming just discussed whether to speed up the progress of the investigation.
They have finished investigating the Jining Prefecture Reservoir. The quality of the reservoir is very good, and both of them are in a good mood.
The governors of our Dahua Dynasty were feudal officials with great power, unlike the Ming Dynasty, who were just dispatched officials at uncertain times.
We can leave Henan today and go to Shandong to inspect the last section of the Yellow River embankment."
Before the division of major prefectures, the authority of major prefectures such as Kaifeng Prefecture and Jinan Prefecture was too strong in their local areas. The authority of the prefect was sometimes greater than that of the governor.
When a flood occurs in the upstream, the message can be transmitted to the downstream in time, which can avoid many disasters."
Regardless of the construction standards, there will never be silt.
The embankments of the Yellow River were built with loose silt, and the embankments collapsed as soon as the floods broke through.
Song Wenjie said in an anxious tone, "Xiang Wei, the location is just ahead. You will know it as soon as you see it."
Wei Shiming and Li Yuanzheng looked anxious. They followed Song Wenjie to check out the problematic Yellow River embankment.