After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1176 - 1158: Recall

After Zhao Hanzhang expressed her requirements, she waited for the scholar to draft the advertisement.

The scholar hesitated a bit and then asked quietly, "Great General, the county magistrates may not know Mr. Fu’s water control strategy, how can they judge the accuracy of the recitation by newcomers?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Once they hear the water control strategy, they will be able to judge. I believe my county magistrates have the ability to discern a piece of writing."

If someone recites a piece that is not the water control strategy but is judged to be correct, it means the recitation is unknown yet valuable, and that’s exactly the talent she is looking for.

So whether the newcomers are Fu Chun and Fu Cui or not, she wouldn’t be at a loss.

The scholar drafted the article, counted the words, and then looked for a section. Soon, he found a suitable spot and showed Zhao Hanzhang, "Great General, how about placing it here?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced over, the position was excellent, ensuring visibility as soon as people opened the gazette.

She nodded, "Yes, publish this message continuously in the next issue for a month."

The scholar agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang turned and went home.

As soon as she left, people in the publishing house gathered and said, "The Great General is going to repair the river channels."

Soon, many people in Luoyang learned about the matter, and once the gazette was out, everyone knew. The citizens of Luoyang and nearby counties were the first to see the gazette and know about the river siltation, and the court’s urgent need for water control talents.

"Although I don’t know how to control water, I can dig channels, and I’m willing to serve the Great General."

"We are willing too, but the Great General wants people skilled in water control, not those who only possess brute strength like us."

"Does the court intend to send laborers to the Yellow River? I just want to serve in Luoyang, if it’s the Yellow River, it’s too far."

"Walk along the Luoshui for a few days, and you’ll get there, it’s not far at all. It’s rare for the Great General to need us, and we should do our best to assist. I volunteer to go to the Yellow River."

"I’ll go too!"

"I still want to serve in Luoyang, doesn’t Luoshui need clearing?"

Luoshui indeed needs clearing; just fifty miles downstream from the watermill, the riverbank collapsed, and mud fell into the river, making the river channel obscure. During the rainy spring and summer, the river water would overflow, flooding the surrounding fields.

Fortunately, the fields there were abandoned, overgrown with wild grass, and the flooding turned that area into a marshland but didn’t harm people and crops, otherwise, the loss would be significant.

But that area could have been good farmland; in the future, when the population increases, it must be cultivated, so the river channel needs to be cleared to return the water to Luoshui.

Each time the riverbank’s vast wasteland floods, fertility decreases a little, and she cannot allow it to keep flooding.

Moreover, if neglected, a major flood might destroy villages on both sides of Luoshui.

Sometimes danger seems distant but can arrive suddenly.

Nationally, there are countless river channels like Luoshui.

In Great Jin, river channels have not been systematically managed for a long time; the central government neglects it, leaving it to the conscience and insight of local officials.

Many local officials have organized citizens themselves to clear river channels and build water infrastructure; Fu Chang is rumored outside the mountains for what?

Because he is among those few, and he is outstanding.

So even though he hid in the mountains, when someone vaguely sees him, rumors begin that a water-control-skilled hermit resides in the hills.

Unfortunately, with the turmoil in Great Jin’s states and the Xiongnu’s disregard for water projects, more officials ignore waterworks, and the Yellow River and its tributaries are in a poor state.

Shen Ruhui said, "Great General, what I see is all on the map. With my limited knowledge, I see that if the river channels aren’t cleared soon, just one heavy rain and they will overflow."

"This section is suspended aboveground, once the water overflows, both sides’ villages and fields won’t be spared," this time Shen Ruhui actually traveled to many places, just for inspection, and the river channel conditions shocked him, not to mention further understanding.

Zhao Hanzhang frowned deeply, "Lacking manpower."

Shen Ruhui said, "Other matters can wait, but dredging the Yellow River is urgent, the Great General should halt the Qingzhou and Guangzhou dock projects and immediately summon Cao Ping back to the capital for river management."

The Qingzhou and Guangzhou docks are taking shape, expected to be completed by winter. Cao Ping is the chief designer and supervisor; once he leaves, no one can replace him to oversee the projects.

Zhao Hanzhang frowned deeply, "I understand, go back for now, tomorrow morning report to court about the river inspection findings."

Shen Ruhui agreed, bowed, and retreated.

Despite feeling reluctant, Zhao Hanzhang understood the importance and urgency of the matter. After circling twice, she couldn’t find anyone to replace Cao Ping, and the river channel matter was urgent, with autumn harvest over, citizens were preparing to plant winter wheat.

After the winter wheat is planted, it is the best time for labor service, so there isn’t much time left for her to make decisions and preparations.

Zhao Hanzhang turned and went to the radio room, telling the operator, "Contact Qingzhou and Guangzhou, say there’s an urgent matter in Luoyang, urgently summoning Cao Ping back to the capital, temporarily halting dock construction."

The operator noted it down and immediately sent the message.

Since it was an urgent summons, Qingzhou and Guangzhou’s operators translated it quickly, delivered it by fast horse to Zhao Kuan and Sun Linghui.

Zhao Kuan was at the dock, saw the summons, his eyes widened, and couldn’t help but curse quietly, "The dock can be completed in four months, why summon Chief Cao now?"

The soldier delivering the letter was only there to deliver it, unable to answer Zhao Kuan’s question.

Zhao Kuan was anxious, pacing in circles, and could only return to the inspector mansion to communicate with Zhao Hanzhang via telegram.

Zhao Hanzhang only told him that the court urgently needed water control talents, so Cao Ping must return to the capital quickly.

Zhao Kuan tried negotiating twice but couldn’t sway Zhao Hanzhang; ultimately, Zhao Hanzhang stopped replying to his messages, signifying there was no room for discussion.

In the hazy night, he sat on the steps emmm, finally standing up to find Cao Ping, though still inwardly resentful, "I refuse to believe, in all Qingzhou, there is no one who can build a dock, oh, and in Guangzhou too, I must find someone!"

Sun Linghui just came out from the telegraph room, spun twice in place, and said, "Call the adviser, is there an untouched hermit in Guangzhou?"

She didn’t believe, Guangzhou couldn’t procure anyone skilled in dock building and water control; they already had blueprints, and the project was mostly completed, the final touches, even without Cao Ping, they had to strive to complete it. Next spring, Guangzhou’s dock must ship goods.

Sun Linghui glanced at the moon, her expression more resolute than before.

Under the same moonlight, Zhao Hanzhang was with Fu Tinghan, Fu Xuan, and Fu Chang by the campfire, roasting yams and beans to eat.

She only replied to Zhao Kuan and Sun Linghui with two telegrams and then ignored it, directly riding out of the city up the mountain, evading the bombardment of telegrams.