Chapter 598: River Defense at Huazhou

On the twenty-fifth day of the first month in the sixth year of Qianyou, Emperor Liu Chengyou of the Han left the capital for Huazhou, troubled by the Yellow River's flooding, and personally inspected the repair work on the river's dikes and embankments.

Last winter, calamity once again visited the Great Han. In the tenth month, floods struck several prefectures in Hebei — Ying, Mo, and You — with over two hundred thousand disaster victims, leading to considerable loss of life and displacement. In the twelfth month, the Yellow River broke its banks again at Zhengzhou and Huazhou.

However, for the Great Han as it stood now, this was something it could well bear, and the court had long since established a set of emergency mechanisms for disaster prevention and relief. As for the displaced victims, the government naturally provided relief.

For Emperor Liu Chengyou, however, concern over the Yellow River's flooding once again began to take root in his heart. Since his accession, the Yellow River had burst its banks more than ten times, and the Zhengzhou–Huazhou stretch was the worst-hit area.

The imperial carriage arrived at Huazhou, lodging at Baima. Without resting, Liu Chengyou, accompanied by Bai Chongzan, Army Commander of the Yicheng Army of Huazhou, directly toured the river defense repair works.

Last autumn, after Prince Wei, Military Governor of the Tianxiong Army Fu Yanqing, was transferred to the Eastern Capital to serve as commander of the imperial guard, the former Military Governor of the Yicheng Army, Guo Congyi, was reassigned to the Northern Capital, Daming Prefecture, as its garrison commander.

Thereafter, the court issued an edict abolishing the Huazhou military governorship, reorganizing it as the Yicheng Army, and transferring Bai Chongzan, garrison commander of Tumen, to serve as Army Commander of the Yicheng Army, commanding the imperial army in Huazhou to consolidate the northern defense of the Eastern Capital.

This Bai Chongzan had also joined the army as a youth, rising through military posts on the strength of his fierce courage in battle. Among the former dynasty's generals retained by the early Han, he was a figure of some note.

However, in the years since the Great Han's founding, Bai Chongzan's postings had made him more like a "watchdog of the gate." When the powerful general Shi Hongzhao was transferred to serve as garrison commander of the Western Capital, Bai Chongzan was garrison commander of Sishui.

When Shi Hongzhao was moved to Shuofang, Bai Chongzan was transferred to Tumen, controlling the strategic passes of the Taihang Mountains, guarding Hedong's gateway for the court. And now, he was again guarding Huazhou, the northern lock and key, for the court.

Still, at every post, Bai Chongzan had been diligent and devoted, giving his full effort. Originally, this man had not been on Liu Chengyou's list of those "trusted with one's heart." But examining his record, the emperor found him diligent in the king's service, possessed of a bold and unyielding spirit, and so extended him trust.

Huazhou lay in the heartland of the Great Han, and the likelihood of seeing war again was not great. But so long as the capital remained at Kaifeng, its importance was beyond doubt, and its garrison commander was necessarily a general trusted and valued by the court.

When the Yellow River broke its banks, Liu Chengyou had directly issued an edict ordering Bai Chongzan to lead soldiers and corvée laborers in repairing the dikes and closing the breaches.

On the south bank of the Yellow River, standing on a high slope, Liu Chengyou gazed into the distance at the dikes. After nearly a month of repairs, a simple emergency embankment had been constructed. What remained was to rebuild the main dikes and reinforce the river defenses. Fortunately, the breach had occurred during the dry season; otherwise, the destruction and losses would have been far greater.

Bai Chongzan attended before the sovereign, reporting the situation to Liu Chengyou. At this moment, he wore no armor, only a light hempen robe — looking less like a general and more like a river worker.

"Your Majesty, this breach at Huazhou was mainly at the two great dikes of Dacheng and Liuhe. The government conscripted eight thousand corvée laborers in succession, and I also dispatched two thousand soldiers for round-the-clock emergency repairs. Now the initial defenses are complete, and the several breaches have all been sealed, awaiting only the subsequent reconstruction and reinforcement." Bai Chongzan pointed into the distance as he reported to Liu Chengyou.

"We are now in the dry season, and the farming season is approaching. In the days ahead, I intend to concentrate manpower and resources on reinforcing the dikes, guaranteeing at minimum that before the flood season arrives, no problems arise at the major breach sites!"

Listening to Bai Chongzan's explanation, Liu Chengyou could sense from his words his familiarity with river affairs — clearly he had devoted himself to the task. Nodding, Liu Chengyou expressed his satisfaction and asked, "Good! Are there any shortages of funds, grain, materials, or manpower? Any difficulties?"

At the question, Bai Chongzan directly made his request to Liu Chengyou: "The previous repairs mostly used rush bags and straw bundles for temporary reinforcement, which truly cannot withstand the river's scouring. I request that the court allocate more hardwood, sandbags, and brick and stone. Only with good materials can we ensure solidity. Also, if a few more laborers could be added, that would be even better!"

"Agreed! I will grant you everything!" Liu Chengyou said. "The Eastern Capital will allocate another batch of funds and grain, and the local governments of Huazhou and Puzhou must fully cooperate in gathering materials and construction supplies. To repair the dikes, I intend to even suspend construction projects in the Eastern Capital and concentrate manpower and resources here! You must do this well — this year, I do not wish to hear again the dire news of the Yellow River breaching at Huazhou!"

Meeting the Son of Heaven's gaze, Bai Chongzan suddenly felt a tremendous pressure bearing down upon him. His expression turned grave, and he vowed to Liu Chengyou in a low voice: "With such trust from Your Majesty, how would I dare fail the charge! If there is any error, I offer my head for the axe!"

Bai Chongzan had clearly made up his mind. Hearing his resolute tone, Liu Chengyou could not help but reveal a hint of approval.

Looking seriously at Bai Chongzan, he saw a face full of exhaustion, with beard and hair bun both poorly groomed, looking somewhat disheveled. Liu Chengyou said, "With such bold resolve from Minister Bai, my confidence is all the greater!"

"I hear that during this period, Minister Bai has been rushing about the dikes directing operations, not even returning to camp to eat or sleep. You have worked hard! This dedication is commendable — I did not misplace my trust!" Liu Chengyou praised Bai Chongzan.

Receiving the emperor's recognition, Bai Chongzan felt that his days of toil had not been in vain. Amid his weary expression, a slight smile appeared as he replied, "Having been charged with guarding Huazhou, I must also protect this land and its people — above, not failing Your Majesty's trust; below, not disappointing the people's hopes!"

"Excellent!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but clap his hands, his words full of sweet praise: "Among the generals and marshals of the Great Han, few possess such awareness as Minister Bai! Minister Bai may serve as a model!"

"Zhang Dejun, reward Minister Bai with ten catties of imperial wine and twenty catties of venison!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand, gesturing to Zhang Dejun.

"As commanded!"

Before Bai Chongzan could offer his thanks, Liu Chengyou looked at him with a gentle gaze and said with a light smile, "When Minister Bai succeeds in sealing the river, I will directly enfeoff you as a marquis!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your servant will exhaust every effort and not fail the imperial grace!" Bai Chongzan immediately prostrated himself.

Clearly, Liu Chengyou held considerable appreciation for Bai Chongzan at this moment. Speaking, he then looked at the several Huazhou officials accompanying him and said, "Did you all hear that? From now on, aside from the farming season, you must fully support the river works. When you have time, walk along the dikes more often. Though I have entrusted Minister Bai with overseeing the river works, you are the prefecture's officials, and river defense repair is also your duty. So long as you devote yourselves to the king's service and seek benefit for the people, the court will never be stingy with rewards and promotions!"

"Yes! We humbly heed Your Majesty's instruction!" The group naturally bowed in respectful acknowledgment.

"Come, let us go up to the dike and take a look!" Liu Chengyou beckoned to the crowd.

The Huazhou Administrative Assistant immediately stepped forward to advise against it, saying the worksite was chaotic and dangerous, but Liu Chengyou refused, saying he had come to inspect the river defense works, not to put on a show — taking a cursory glance from afar on horseback was not his style.

And so, accompanied by his generals and officials, Liu Chengyou personally went up onto the dike, examining materials and questioning the laborers. Only toward evening did he return to the county seat, continuing to exemplify the enlightened sovereign's style of personally attending to affairs.

"Li Fang, what did you gain from your visits in Baima?" That night, Liu Chengyou summoned Li Fang and inquired.

Li Fang had not accompanied Liu Chengyou to the dike but had been sent to visit among the people and investigate the prefecture's affairs. At the question, Li Fang reported: "Huazhou is a prefecture in the near vicinity of the Eastern Capital, and the people's livelihood is generally stable. Though the common folk are not wealthy, they can be called settled. However, the government has been somewhat lax in its duties. The Yellow River breach was in part due to official negligence and insufficient maintenance of the defenses.

"Furthermore, in Huazhou's prisons, many of the cases adjudicated and punishments meted out have been somewhat biased. I reviewed the case files and indeed discovered several cases where the severity of sentencing was open to question — and all of them were left over from Governor Guo's tenure..."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou considered briefly, then instructed Li Fang: "In that case, you need not accompany me to Daming Prefecture. Remain in Huazhou as Prefectural Administrator — rectify the officials, manage the government affairs, and clear up the backlog of cases! At my side, you have been exposed to major military and political matters. Now I entrust you with the affairs of an entire prefecture. Shouldering that responsibility should be no problem for you, should it?"

To this, Li Fang seemed to have anticipated it all along, showing no surprise. Meeting the Son of Heaven's gaze, he replied solemnly: "As commanded!"

And so, the emperor lost another close minister at his side. Liu Chengyou, having stayed in Huazhou for a day, set out with his imperial carriage, heading north to tour Daming Prefecture. This was the first time in three years that Liu Chengyou set foot on the soil of Hebei again.