After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1291: Chapter 1258: Disaster Relief

Xiaoman refers to the abundance of rainwater, which is the time when rivers and fields store water. As the saying goes, Xiaoman is not full, Mangzhong doesn’t care.

Generally, during this season, rainwater is usually insufficient, rarely overflowing, after all, aside from rivers accommodating water, the land also can absorb a large amount of water resources.

You must know there are underground rivers hidden beneath.

So when it rained heavily in Jiangnan, Wang Dao initially wasn’t concerned, although the rain was quite heavy.

But after five consecutive days of heavy rain, he became a bit worried, especially since the rains in the north were also heavy, so he immediately sent a telegram to Luoyang.

Zhao Hanzhang could only instruct him to be vigilant against disasters, keep an eye on grain prices, and ensure the work of comforting the people.

While it was raining heavily in Jiangnan, the rain in the Luoyang area paused slightly, and the sun even appeared briefly for two days, Zhao Hanzhang personally went to the countryside to observe the condition of the fields.

Much of the winter wheat planted last fall and winter was drowned, and the farmers were draining the water, trying to save them.

However, the sorghum sown last month, because it is drought-resistant and was originally planted in slightly higher areas, had already grown an inch long. Although the ridges also accumulated water at this time, they soaked in quickly, and with the sun shining on them, the sorghum appeared lively, looking fresh and tender under the sunlight.

Zhao Hanzhang exhaled and asked the village chief accompanying her, "Do many people plant sorghum?"

The village chief said gratefully, "On average, each household plants about seven acres."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Although the yield of sorghum is not high, seven acres are enough for the people to live."

The village chief expressed concern, "But the taxes are still insufficient, whether or not the weather will be clear is unknown. Eleven days later is Mangzhong. If the flooding stops, then we can plant rice, and also possibly reseed some wheat and millet."

After some thought, Zhao Hanzhang said, "Let me go back and ask Guo Shaoqing, at that time, the weather will be published in the newspaper, and the government office will also notify you."

The village chief quickly agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang hurried back to find Guo Pu.

Guo Pu and Fu Tinghan were busy calculating rainfall based on the number of raindrops reported from various places, as well as the capacity of rivers everywhere.

Upon hearing Zhao Hanzhang’s inquiry about the weather, Guo Pu went outside, looked up at the sky, calculated with his fingers, and said, "Sunny tomorrow, sunny the day after tomorrow, don’t ask me about the rest, I don’t know whether it’s sunny or rainy."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Did you calculate that?"

Guo Pu glanced at her and said, "It’s not difficult. Look, what Tinghan is calculating is the difficult part."

Fu Tinghan shook his head and said, "I don’t think what I’m calculating is difficult; your ability to calculate with fingers is more difficult."

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward, "How about it, can the Yellow River accommodate all this rainwater?"

"For now, it doesn’t seem to be a big problem. It’s just early summer, and the Yellow River is in its filling period. It’s China’s largest river, the capacity is not an issue, the problem is the rain is too heavy, and the water absorption of the loess is poor and loose. The heavy rain washes a large amount of mud and sand into the Yellow River." Fu Tinghan said, "Fortunately, we dredged the Yellow River; otherwise, even if the Yellow River can absorb this water, with the sediment accumulation, it would overflow its banks and inundate villages and fertile fields."

"But after the heavy rain this year, the dredging work is likely to return to square one, we will have to dredge again by the end of the year."

Zhao Hanzhang spun around in place, "We’ll discuss it when the time comes. For now, it’s good enough to protect people and fields."

She said, "Mangzhong is approaching, I still want them to catch a wave of sowing, otherwise, after missing Mangzhong, the only thing left to plant in the fields will be soybeans. I’ve already lost hope for this year’s summer harvest."

The court officials shared this thought, so next, flood diversion was urgent, as was farming.

Ming Yu went to the front lines to combat flooding. Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the entire court, dispatching many people to the fields to promote agriculture, not even sparing the military generals.

The military generals who fought wars with Zhao Hanzhang, except for a few from high backgrounds, were mostly rough. But even rough people have their methods.

They went straight back to the barracks, pulled out hundreds of soldiers, and scattered them into the fields, letting them help the common people plow and sow seeds.

When the sun was bright, they wore grumpy faces and worked hard in the fields, and when it rained, they cheerfully ran under the eaves to avoid the rain with the villagers.

Seeing their carefree demeanor, the military generals swung their whips and scolded angrily, "What’s so happy, what’s so happy, I think you’re just lazy, need a beating. Next time I hear your laughter, I’ll beat you to death!"

Nearby villagers quickly intervened, speaking in defense, "Working is a happy thing. The general can’t possibly make the children work while crying, can he?"

"Look at what you’re saying, the children came to help, yet received a scolding, we feel even more embarrassed."