Chapter 201: Cold Follows the Xia Embankment Away

By the end of the tenth month, the entire Zhao State had already begun large-scale mobilization.

By the start of the eleventh month, twenty thousand laborers from the three counties of Handan, Yiyang, and Xiangguo had already been organized according to the squad-and-file system established during the autumn harvest, and had gathered in great numbers along the Gelu River north of Handan and south of Xiangguo... This was, of course, perfectly reasonable, because the people of these three counties were the direct beneficiaries of the water conservancy project.

Meanwhile, the powerful and wealthy households of Zhao State nearby, following Gongsun Xun's formal orders, had also established numerous laborer camps based on their own estates to receive and settle them.

At the same time, Handan Assistant County Magistrate Wang Xiu and Xiangguo County Magistrate Dong Zhao each led their full complement of county clerks out in force, taking on the management of the laborers on the northern and southern banks of the Gelu River.

Countless amounts of money, grain, fuel, salt, vinegar, and tools also flowed from the state treasury, county treasuries, and the domed granaries and cellars of powerful households into the hands of Wang and Dong.

In the two northern counties, the able-bodied men of Bairen County began harvesting reeds and polishing stone on a large scale, while the people of Zhongqiu County also began undertaking the work of transporting supplies... Unlike the three southern counties, where the unpaid labor was managed with only meals and no wages, the labor in these two counties could earn some meager money and grain subsidies. For the poor who had nothing to do in winter, this was more like a business.

Of course, an army with Gongsun Xun's personal retainers as its backbone, mixed with a large number of commandery troops and having requisitioned nearly all the carts and horses of the Prince of Zhao, also began methodical deployment and patrols within Zhao State. The Gelu River area, where large numbers of laborers had gathered, even had a regular military garrison... This was also unavoidable; in a backward agricultural society, such large-scale corvée labor always harbored immense potential for instability and had to be strictly guarded against.

However, facts proved that a water conservancy project was, after all, a water conservancy project. As the culmination of political significance, economic significance, and popular sentiment projects in an agricultural society, everyone from the most greedy and corrupt powerful households to the most ignorant commoners—anyone who was not of the rogue class—was still willing to cooperate fully... Because almost every normal person understood that once the project was completed, they would all benefit from it to some degree.

But the prerequisite for all this was to have a "powerful" person who could give everyone confidence, making everyone believe that this project, with its enormous initial cost, could truly be completed, and also making everyone believe that this person would maintain a certain degree of fairness throughout the entire project, from contribution to reward.

If this was achieved, the matter would naturally fall into place.

In fact, Gongsun Xun's various previous actions—from eliminating dissidents to cleaning up public order, from investigating farmland and household registrations to establishing schools and donating books—certainly had their own significance, but they were also preparations for this very day. Or rather, after he had done so many things and his control over Zhao State had reached such a level, it would have been somewhat inexcusable not to attempt a water conservancy project!

As for once the project was completed... Since Yu the Great tamed the waters, the Zhengguo Canal, Dujiangyan, and Quebei Reservoir—various famous water conservancy projects have always been benchmarks of an agricultural society, representing divine authority, morality, achievement, wealth, and prestige... If you could successfully complete a water conservancy project, it meant that your "rule" over a certain place had reached a certain level.

Of course, the little Gelu River was merely a tributary of the Zhang River, so this might be stretching things a bit far.

In reality, the Gelu River management plan did not even involve high-end designs like reservoirs... After discussion and consultation, Gongsun Xun ultimately chose the "Xia Embankment" proposed by Ju Zong.

The so-called Xia Embankment is a type of open embankment. While constructing the main dike, openings are deliberately made in it, establishing a series of channels that run diagonally parallel to the river's direction. In shape, it looks as if branches are growing out from the river channel.

The characteristics of this water conservancy facility lie in two points:

First, its flood control capability is extremely strong. Sudden floods would greatly reduce pressure on the main embankments on both sides through backflow into the channels, and after large-scale rainfall, this design also allows waterlogging in the fields to be quickly drained through the channels.

This was designed for the local geographical features of Zhao State. The Gelu River flows from west to east, cascading down from the Mount Taixing area and quickly reaching the plains. The drop in water level is extremely large, so even a little rainfall in the mountains easily forms flood peaks.

Second, in terms of engineering operations, it is simple and direct: just dredge the river channel, build the main dike, and then dig the channels. In actual operation, the progress of the project is almost visible to the naked eye. Every participant can see the results of their efforts at any time, which helps boost everyone's enthusiasm and makes it easier for managers to supervise!

Of course, perhaps building a reservoir might indeed have a better effect, but the problem was that Gongsun Xun did not have sufficient water conservancy talent at hand... In fact, even this plan from Ju Zong was not something he came up with himself. Rather, his family used their local advantage to recruit a person with experience in Yellow River flood prevention from Wei Commandery, and the latter designed it. They even received assistance from Shen Pei's family in this matter.

In summary, with the arrival of winter, the entire Zhao State began to boil with activity.

However, an interesting thing was that while the entire Zhao State was working hard for this project—even a wastrel like Cai Yong could lead a group of old men in performing mystical rites and sacrifices to stabilize public sentiment—the instigator, Gongsun Xun, suddenly found himself with nothing to do.

What could he do?

Methods like dividing the work into contracted sections and rewarding the excellent while punishing the inferior—these were just words spoken with a flap of the lips. Once said, Wang Xiu and Dong Zhao would naturally implement them, and judging by their expressions, these methods were nothing new to them; they seemed more like they were pretending to nod in agreement just to save his face. And if someone paid lip service but failed to deliver the promised grain, he just had Shen Pei put on a stern face and make a trip with a few riders. Even if there were water bandits scouting from the Dalu Marsh downstream, sending Han Dang, Qian Zhao, Yang Kai, and the others to deal with them was more than enough...

Yet even with nothing to do, with everyone else at the riverbank, Gongsun Xun could hardly just stay in Handan City all the time, could he? Besides, Handan City had Lu Fan holding the fort; it didn't need him either!

And so, after much thought, Gongsun Xun did something that left people speechless. He summoned every conceivable source of instability in Zhao State—from the leaders of those powerful and wealthy households, to idlers like Zhao Ping, and even that Zhang Cheng—all to the river dike, formed them into a team, and had them haul stone together.

They really did haul stone!

Starting with Gongsun Xun himself, down to the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace Zhao Ping, everyone had to transport three loads of stone to the worksite every day. Then elderly people like the retired Commandery Assistant Zhang Shu were responsible for boiling water and cooking...

Not a single person raised an objection. After all, as Mencius said, "Yu the Great tamed the waters, spending eight years abroad and passing his home three times without entering." Li Bing worked himself to death on the dike building Dujiangyan. Who did they think they were, to be picky?!

Besides, wasn't it just hauling stone? Three trips a day, carrying it from outside the dike to inside, just putting on a show, purely as physical exercise—was it going to kill you?! In the end, everyone understood in their hearts: who didn't know that Magistrate Gongsun had gathered you all together for easier control? If you didn't come, were you planning to take the opportunity to stir up trouble?!

And so, not a single person made a peep!

Moreover, it must be admitted that the power of example is boundless. It was said that not only were the laborers on the worksite greatly encouraged, but even Cai Bojie, after coming to observe twice, was preparing to write an essay praising this matter...

"My lord!"

Probably due to the haste of his journey, although it was winter, Ju Zong, who had hurried over from Handan City, was drenched in sweat. Fortunately, he quickly spotted Gongsun Xun's figure on the already quite orderly river dike. "Brother Ziheng sent me to tell you, my lord, that this afternoon Master Cai will be accompanying the Regional Governor here."

"Counting the days, it is about time he came." In the slight cold breeze, before Gongsun Xun could speak, Lou Gui, standing nearby, said with a smile, his hands tucked into his sleeves. "If he didn't come soon, this credit would have nothing to do with him."

Ju Zong also gave a dry laugh but did not refute it... Not because Lou Gui was more trusted by Gongsun Xun, but because what Lou Zibo said was the absolute truth. Liu Yan's trip here was inevitably to claim a share of the credit; this was known to all.

As mentioned before, in the agricultural era, the significance of a water conservancy project could not be overstated. From the political achievements of the person in charge to individual social evaluation, from local economic benefits to popular morale, almost everything would see marked improvement... So it would be strange if Liu Yan didn't come to get a piece of the action!

And in all fairness, Gongsun Xun had previously used Liu Junlang as a foil many times, leveraging the other's name in various ways to get things done. Now it was only right for the man to come collect some interest. It could be considered give-and-take, a fair trade.

In fact, besides Liu Yan, this credit was destined to include a share for Xiang Xu, Dong Zhao, and even the Prince of Zhao. One could even imagine that once it reached the central government, Zhao Zhong would certainly add a share for Zhao Ping as well. Perhaps after this affair, that scoundrel Zhao Ping might directly leap to become a two-thousand-dan Grand Administrator.

The scions of eunuchs, after all!

But Gongsun Xun did not feel any indignation... There was no need to be indignant about this, nor should he be. Because everyone in Zhao State and the scholars and commoners of Hebei knew who built the river, and the clever people in the central government certainly knew too. His share would not be missing.

On the contrary, what rose in Gongsun Xun's heart at this moment was an indescribable emotion.

The dike was not very high, but standing there, looking out at the riverbed that seemed somewhat low due to the winter dry season, especially with countless dense crowds of laborers within it, it felt quite commanding.

Lou Gui and Ju Zong stood on the dike exchanging pleasantries and chatting for a while before they noticed Gongsun Xun's unusual demeanor.

"My lord?" Lou Zibo asked tentatively.

"What?" Gongsun Xun only now came back to his senses.

"The Regional Governor will be arriving this afternoon," Lou Gui reminded him. "It would still be better to make some gestures..."

Gongsun Xun nodded slowly. "In that case, Gongtiao (Ju Zong's courtesy name), go and receive them. Also, take all those powerful households and idle clerks I've confined here with you, and put on a proper show."

"Will my lord not be going?" Ju Zong asked, momentarily curious.

"I need to change clothes and go down to carry stones," Gongsun Xun replied calmly. "Attending to matters personally—this is the style of the famous officials of old... The Regional Governor will only praise me when he sees it."

Ju Zong couldn't help but laugh. Having spent time together, he had discovered that while the lord he had temporarily pledged himself to was terrifying when angry, he was also an amusing person in daily life. One very obvious trait was that this lord found it very hard to conceal the trace of arrogance he inadvertently revealed when facing almost all "important people," yet toward "small people," he always inadvertently showed a degree of respect unbefitting his status.

Moreover, this arrogance toward superiors and regard for inferiors was not based on any specific category but purely on the distinction of status... In other words, at the very least, being this man's subordinate was quite comfortable, because you could always receive unexpected respect and reward.

At this point, the three of them turned back together and walked down along the outer side of the river dike. Ju Zong then went straight off to find people, while Gongsun Xun headed along the dike toward the stone collection point. Lou Gui stood below the dike, stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, then directly set off to catch up with his lord.

"Is Zibo coming to carry stone with me?" Gongsun Xun asked casually.

"That is indeed my intention," Lou Gui replied proudly. "In the cold of winter, having been inactive for so long, it is just the time to work up a sweat..."

Gongsun Xun paid no mind. Right there, he took off his outer robe, revealing his short work clothes, then directly rolled up his trouser legs and, together with Lou Zibo, lifted a mere hundred-or-so-jin basket of stone.

By Han measurement, four jin equals one kilogram in later times, so a hundred-odd jin was less than thirty kilograms.

Uh, a defense must be made here: this was absolutely not because Gongsun Xun lacked strength, nor was he deliberately slacking off. If he truly put his mind to hard labor, Gongsun Xun could carry a two-hundred-jin stone onto the dike by himself and still walk as if flying... It was just that he had to accommodate the ability level of those state dignitaries he had confined! Normally, with three round trips a day, these people dared not carry more than Gongsun Xun, but they also dared not carry less. Yet every one of them was pampered and lacked much strength, which forced Gongsun Xun to cheat along with them!

To put it plainly, only the surface layer of the baskets was crushed stone; underneath was mostly large chunks of broken earth. And these baskets were all prepared in advance, with special personnel watching over them... To have the showmanship reach this level was truly disgraceful!

And yet, it was this basket of stone weighing a mere hundred-odd jin, carried by two young men who were perhaps the tallest and sturdiest pair on this stretch of riverbed, that came to an abrupt halt after just one trip.

"Just now on the embankment, I noticed my lord's expression was somewhat troubled?" In the wind-sheltered riverbed, just as Gongsun Xun had dumped the stone and was lifting the carrying basket to go for a second load, Lou Gui suddenly grabbed the rope on the basket and seized the chance to ask. "May I ask my lord, is there something amiss with the project, or are you somewhat dissatisfied with Dong Zhuo's visit?"

"Neither." Gongsun Xun, upon hearing this, simply set down the carrying basket, leaned on the carrying pole, and shook his head with a wry smile. "It's just that with the project nearing completion, my mind wandered idly for a moment. I didn't expect Zibo to see through it so clearly."

"Why would your mind wander idly when the project is nearing completion?" Lou Gui, still holding the basket, looked around in puzzlement. "I admittedly know nothing about waterworks, but since the start of last month, after nearly two months of toil, the main embankment is gradually taking shape, the ditches and channels are growing denser, and everyone coming and going — whether laborers or nobles — wears a look of delight. That stretch of marshland originally belonging to Yiyang is also steadily draining away, visibly transforming into fertile fields... Everyone says that after the new year, with a bit more renovation, this undertaking is clearly going to succeed, is it not?"

"It is precisely because everyone wears a look of delight, and the marshland is visibly transforming into fertile fields, that I feel such emotion about this project." As he spoke, Gongsun Xun actually let out a sigh. "Zibo, there is no need for pretense between us. Others may not know, but you should understand what I came to Zhao to be an official for — merely to gain experience governing a region, and perhaps to contend a little for the hearts of the local people and for talent. Yet this embankment construction, though it came about naturally, has suddenly made me feel that it is somewhat a waste of the people's strength."

"My lord, you are overthinking this, are you not?" Lou Gui's heart stirred, and he suddenly grasped the other's meaning. "Waterworks are unlike other things — they are undertakings that bring benefit for centuries. The Baigong Canal south of Handan City has been in use for over a hundred years... Even if, in some years to come, turmoil arises in the realm, my lord's hard work here will not have been in vain."

"I am not worried that this mist embankment will fall into disuse." Gongsun Xun shook his head. "What I felt just now, standing on the embankment and seeing the laborers who built it with delighted faces, was a worry that these people who toiled so hard to dig the channels may not be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor... In a few years, if chaos truly erupts as you and I imagine, will these people still be alive to farm this land? And at that time, where will you and I be? Will we be able to shelter the common people of this place, even a little?"

Lou Gui fell silent for a moment, and only after a long while slowly shook his head. "My lord, you are still mistaken!"

"Zibo, please speak." Gongsun Xun was as candid as ever.

"My lord, you worry that with the realm about to descend into chaos, the people of Zhao will be unable to remain unscathed, and that no matter how much they toil today, it will all turn to bubbles in the future — is that not so?"

"It is."

"But my lord, with chaos looming ahead, whether the toil of Zhao's people proves useful or useless is one matter — yet what use is it for someone like you to stand here sighing?"

"..."

"Forgive my bluntness." Lou Zibo was uncharacteristically stern. "I, Lou Gui, sensed from youth that this realm would fall into chaos, and spent my days gathering desperate men, seeking to achieve some great enterprise. Yet why, after meeting my lord, have I followed at your stirrup and bridle, letting you drive me as you will? Is it not because I felt that, compared to myself, my lord is the one more qualified to quell the chaos?"

Gongsun Xun fell silent for a moment.

"As for how to quell the chaos." Lou Gui turned his head toward the river embankment, where the Inspector's regalia and a crowd of Zhao nobles and notables had suddenly appeared, and his face showed disdain. "My lord holds authority over one commandery, builds one mist embankment, and thereby allows the people of one commandery to dwell in peace and contentment. Yet the realm has a hundred commanderies — that is why you worry for the local people... But if my lord could one day hold authority over all the hundred commanderies of the realm, establish a hundred public schools, build a hundred mist embankments — where then would there be chaos?!"

"I understand Zibo's meaning." Gongsun Xun saluted in thanks. "To put it the other way — if today I cannot bring peace and comfort to one commandery, how in the future would I be qualified to bring peace and comfort to a hundred commanderies?"

At these words, the two exchanged a smile, and neither said anything more... Yet both knew in their hearts: if the realm did not descend into chaos, what right would a youth from a border commandery have to hold authority over a hundred commanderies?

Castrate himself and enter the palace?!

—————I am the dividing line that can carry two hundred catties—————

"When the Grand Ancestor served as Prefect of Handan, he built a mist embankment on the Gelu River north of Handan, opening up five thousand qing of fertile land across three counties. As it neared completion, Zibo attended the Grand Ancestor on the embankment. Seeing the scholars, commoners, and laborers all with delighted faces, he sighed: 'The realm is about to descend into chaos, and yet they know it not. The mist embankment may be solidly built, the fertile fields may be opened up — but how many days of peace will there be to enjoy such joy?' The Grand Ancestor was displeased and rebuked him: 'Waterworks are undertakings of a hundred years. If these people do not receive this boon, their descendants surely shall! Moreover, if every part of the realm had mist embankments, so that all the realm's humble scholars wore joyful faces — how could chaos arise?' Zibo withdrew in shame." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 70, Biographies, Chapter 20

(End of Chapter)