Chapter 412: Promotion ( 5 )
But despite Wen Liyan and the military officers’ doubts and shock, they still returned the greeting. "Greetings, Young Master Lei."
Lu Qianxuan also returned the greeting and said, "Young Master Lei, you came at the right time. We are discussing several areas that could be used as experimental fields."
Hearing this, Yao Zhi walked over and looked at the city map placed on the large desk. The city map was not as detailed as the one provided by the system after scanning the entire city.
She compared the maps and pointed at a location 5 kilometers away from the city’s west gate. "This will be the place."
Everyone looked at the location she pointed to, and Wen Liyan asked, "Young Master Lei, can you enlighten us as to why you chose this place?"
Yao Zhi smiled and took out the printed city map from her system storage before placing it on the desk. The map was smaller but far more detailed.
She pointed at the map and said, "The south gate is near a cliff. It’s not a good place to open farmland due to the lack of a water source and unstable ground."
"The north gate and east gate are both the main entrances to enter and leave the city. If we open farmland in those areas, it will hinder transportation and, therefore, hinder the city’s economic growth."
Then, she pointed at the location she had chosen and said, "The west gate faces the mountains, and there are no people living here. During summer, the soil hardens due to the lack of water. During winter, it faces the danger of avalanches."
"In the entire area surrounding this city, this is the best choice. Although there are many disadvantages, with the correct methods, those troubles can become advantages."
After she finished speaking, Wen Liyan said, "Young Master Lei, it’s easy to say such things, but no one knows whether your methods will actually work. Why don’t you tell us what methods you plan to use?"
Yao Zhi wasn’t offended by his distrust. After all, with the current technology level of this era, it was indeed difficult to turn disadvantages into advantages.
She took out the designs she had prepared earlier in the shared manor, along with the plans to solve the winter disaster and water shortage problems.
Showing the designs to them, she said, "This is the design for a greenhouse and bamboo water pipes. This greenhouse can control the temperature, allowing us to plant crops inside without depending on the seasons."
"During summer, we can lower the temperature inside by using water pipes built between the greenhouse walls. During winter, we can raise the temperature using heat generated from firewood stoves connected to it."
"Young Master Lei, the Northeast City doesn’t have many water sources. I’m afraid it will be impossible to use water to cool the temperature," Lu Qianxuan said.
Yao Zhi smiled when she heard his words and nodded. "If we depend on underground water, it’s indeed not enough. But what if we don’t use underground water?"
"Is there another water source nearby?" Gao Yan asked curiously.
Pointing at the mountain ridges on the map, Yao Zhi said, "Isn’t this the water source?"
"Young Master Lei, are you planning to use mountain springs?" Lu Qianxuan asked.
Nodding, Yao Zhi showed them the bamboo waterway design. "This is the design of a bamboo water pipe."
"We can dig several ponds near the mountain foothills. Then, connect the pipes and turn them into a waterway that channels the mountain spring water into the ponds."
Then, she opened another design and continued, "Since the ponds are located higher than the farmland, we can use a dripping irrigation system to save water and reduce the manpower needed for watering the land."
"At most, you only need 20 people to inspect and clean the pipes regularly to prevent blockages. The ponds can also be used as water reservoirs. If you want to increase the food supply, you can raise fish and plant lotus in them."
"But I still recommend using the ponds mainly as water reservoirs since the amount of underground water in the surrounding area is limited. In the end, you still have to depend on mountain springs to survive the drought."
"As for the avalanche, we will plant more trees in the mountain forest and the mountain foothills. Healthy, dense forests in mountain areas can act as natural anchors to hold the snow and prevent avalanches from initiating."
After she finished speaking, everyone was stunned. They had never thought of such methods at all.
They knew the mountain springs were inexhaustible since the melted snow would eventually seep into the soil and become the mountain spring.
But the dangers lurking in the mountains were not something ordinary people could handle, so they had never considered the mountain springs as a water source for civilians.
If they were able to build this so-called waterway, the people wouldn’t have to climb the mountains and transport water through dangerous mountain paths. This would save them time and greatly increase their safety.
Everyone discussed the matter for a long time before Lu Qianxuan finally said, "Young Master Lei, my people will handle this matter. As for the land, do you want to inspect it personally?"
Yao Zhi had nothing else to do, so she nodded. "It would be better for us to finish this matter sooner."
Remembering the well locations, she added, "By the way, I already marked the places where wells can be dug." She picked up a brush and circled the areas on Lu Qianxuan’s city map. "Just go check these places."
Looking at the map, Lu Qianxuan nodded. "Alright."
Since she had already marked all over the city map, Yao Zhi simply gave Lu Qianxuan a detailed city map as a gift. With this map, it would be easier for the army to plan the city’s reconstruction.
When she left the Magistrate’s office, it was already 11 o’clock in the morning.
