14WangJingGoverningtheYellowRiver

1、Wang Jing Governing the Yellow RiverDuring the last years of the Western Han Dynasty, the Yellow River and the Bianqu Canal burst, with the surging floods destroying the fields, trees, villages, roads and houses, bringing great suffering to the common people for sixty years.When it became the Easter

2、n Han Dynasty, the imperial court organized several times the financial, human and material resourcesto govern the flood, achieving few effects though.Emperor Ming, wise and full of foresight, decided to govern the flood. He called all the ministers together to discuss the flood governing program.In

3、 the court, Emperor Ming stared at the ministers standing on bothsides and scolded them strictly,The Yellow River has been flooding fort you think you ouover sixty years, with the consequence that our people suffer from hunger and cold, destitute and homeless. As ministers, don to share my worries a

4、nd shoulder my burdens? If things go on like this, how can I face my people? Tell me, what good ideas do you have?All the ministers lowered their heads in silence, trembling with fear.At that moment, an elderly minister with a humpback walked to thecenter of the court, saluted Emperor Ming with a de

5、ep bow, and said,YourMajesty, this is an act of Nature, common people like us can donothing to help. ”Realizing the man was speaking a good word for them, the otherministers hurriedly repeated in agreement, “ Right,right. Hope you canobserve that, Your Majesty.Isn t there any means?Emperor Ming watc

6、hed them attentively with a dissatisfied look,having no choice. He sighed, rather preoccupied,Nobody s got the talent to govern the floods? Just go and find such man.If there s someone able to manage the flood in the Yellow River, I will besure to award him all out!The ministers looked at each other

7、 in fear, all of them just shakingtheir heads. Just then, a grizzled minister with a wrinkly face walkedslowly to the center of the hall.The minister presented,Dont worry, Your Majesty. Im in ch12of the talents department in Hanzhong City. There s a man talented for the flood governing. I can recomm

8、end him to Your Majesty for your use.Emperor Ming leaned forward with a delighted look on his face,excitedly asking,Who is this man? ”The Minister said,The man is called WangeJionngc.eHrepairedthe Junyi Canal with Wang Wu and is a real expert on water conservancy.Hes studied hard since a young age,

9、w-erlel ad, and has researched water conservation quite a lot. It is said that after being repaired, the JunyiCanal has never suffered floods since.Greatly delighted, Emperor Mingsaid hurriedly, “ Quick!Quick!Summon Wang Jing! ”The next morning, Emperor Mingwent to the court and awaitedWang Jing wit

10、h all the ministers. Emperor Ming paced back and forth, very anxious, while the ministers had their heads lowered with something on their minds.At this moment, a eunuch trotted to Emperor Ming and reported in asharp voice,Your Majesty, here comes Wang Jing.Emperor Ming shouted,Summon him at once! ”N

11、o sooner had his voice faded away had Wang Jing strode into the hall, with his chin up. Emperor Ming fixed his eyes on him to find theWell, what a talentedyoung man in front of him with thick eyebrows and big eyes, an air of heroes. He approved of the young man to himself, young man!”While Wang Jing

12、 was about to salute, Emperor Ming stopped him ingreat haste, sayingForgo formalities, forgo formalities. Are you WangJing? Are you the one that repaired the Junyi Canal?Yesy, .YToeunr Myeaajers tWang Jing answered in a clear voice, s kindness.ago, you appointed me and Wang Wu to build Junyi Canal,

13、which benefited the people greatly. All due to Your MajestyHearing this, Emperor Ming was quite pleased. Yet he took on aworried look very soon again.WanYg eJlilnogw, Rthiever floods nearthe river reachesof Bianqu Canal have brought severe suffering to our people for decades, thus become one of my s

14、ores. Have you any soundrnemd,ctoncestrategy as to control the flood?Wang Jing said slowly, “Your Majesty, as far as I control the flood, it nsot enough to only block it up. We should also dredge the water and manage the silt in the upper reaches. Only kept in step and carried out hand in hand can t

15、hese have better effects.Hearing what Wang Jing had said, Emperor Ming nodded in approval. However, unexpectedly, another minister walked out from one side, heavily built. He saluted Emperor Ming and presented, “ YourMajesty, I think Wang Jing s plan is unfeasible. If we govern the YellowRiver as hi

16、s plan tells, we have to not only dredge the river ways, but manage the silt as well. However, there has been excessive silt since ancient times, hence without a doubt the huge and costly project willexhaust both energy and money while bringing great hardships to thepeople. ”As if awoken by his word

17、s, other ministers all echoed.WangJing, do you have any countermeasures? as”ked EmperorMing.Your Majesty, I have none.” replied Wang Jing.Emperor Ming went off the deep end,How dare you! I thought youhad ideal solutions but no more than digging out the sands from thebottom of the river. What the hel

18、l is this plan? Merely a kids gaWang Jing was just about to explain when Emperor Ming threw uphis sleeves and said angrily, Put the matter aside, withdraw!At dusk, Wang Jing came alone to the village near the Bianqu Canal,frustrated. The village was totally damaged, with ruins and traces offloods ru

19、nning all over everywhere.There was a window through which lights were still on. Under thelights sat an old woman, waiting for her sons return.Two years ago, her son, along with other young men, went to buildthe Bianqu Canal without returning till now.Wang Jing said to the old lady,Ma am, don t worr

20、y, your son willbe sure to come back and the flood be cornotlled. ”The moon rose as Wang Jing said goodbye to the old lady. He wandered along the Yellow River, pondering, occasionally bending down and drawing some patterns with a branch on the ground.In the imperial palace, Emperor Ming was reading

21、reports while aeunuch came to report,Your Majesty, Wang Jing requests a visit.Emperor Ming was rather unhappy, bending his brows, asking,How many times has he requested? How unyielding he is!Your Majesty, it s his ninth time. Shall I send him away?eeunuch.Emperor Ming thought,He seems rather resolut

22、e,” and said to theeunuch, “ Wait! Summon him in, I want to see him.Upon seeing Emperor Ming, Wang Jing knelt and said in an earnestand sorrowful voice,Your Majesty, please give the ordeegr,olveet rmnthe flood. People are badly suffering from it!Emperor Ming sighed,Ah, Wang Jing, I m in an awkward p

23、ostitionas well. Not to mention the ministers all oppose your plan, it will also bea great burden to our people, which I canof!t b”ear to thinkWang Jing said,Your Majesty, please allow me to tell you a story,after which you can make the decision.Once upon a time, there were two men starving, when th

24、ey came across a farmer.The farmer gave them two things: a fishing rod and a basket of fish.One took the fish and the other took the fishing rod.The one who took the fish joyfully enjoyed the fish while starving to death afterwards, beside the empty basket. The other, however, relying on the fishing

25、 rod to fish, not only tasted the delicious fish but graduallymade a great fortune.Hearing this, Emperor Ming said,Wang Jing, the duty of governingthe flood is now yours. Please dont let me down. Bring benefits to ourpeople. ”Wang Jing took the order and quickly left for Bianqu Canal for an inspecti

26、on.While Wang Jing was checking the drawings alongside the BianquCanal, an official hurriedly came to ask, “ Swirh, ere should we dig the water slot of Bianqu Canal? As the position is of vital importance.Wang Jing said,It s. nWoet hcarnd dig the water slots every tenmiles in the range of one hundre

27、d miles of the section where the YellowRiver water is to be drawn into the Bianqu Canal, then the water can bedrawn from more than one slot. We will also build a water gate at eachslot so as to manually control the water flow to alternate the drawing.The official said in surprise,You re so smart, Si

28、r. I admire you somuch. I ll let them do it immediately.Dont flatter me. To benefit the people is part of my job. Go quicklyand put my words into effect,” said Wang Jing.The imperial court had dispatched hundreds of thousands of armiesfor Wang Jing s use. At Wang Jings command, the mighty project fi

29、nallygot completed after one years effort.It was cloudless on the day when the project was completed. Thedykes on both sides were filled with common people and guards, withsome common people celebrating by beating drums and striking gongs.At this moment, several ships were slowly driving over, with EmperorMing standing on the bow, followed by Wang Jing and some attendants.Emperor Ming said with a deliberately serious look, “ WangJing,how many water gates did yo