The first task is to clear the silt blockage, then we can talk about other ways to manage the situation, however...
After looking at the serious Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Chang said: "Actually, Wang Jing’s method is excellent. We can build another dam on this section, creating a double dam, which can solve most of the sediment problem."
He continued: "Since Wang Jing, over two hundred years have passed without major flooding from the Yellow River."
Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "Such dams are costly and have no returns."
"Returns?" Fu Chang frowned and said: "Being able to block sediment so the Yellow River doesn’t flood, isn’t that the return?"
"But the return doesn’t justify the cost," Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fu Tinghan and asked, "What do you think?"
Fu Tinghan knew what she was thinking and said, "You want to build a dam that can store water, separate sediment, and utilize hydraulic power?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Exactly, here at the last section of the canyon in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the water flow has a large drop, and the hydraulic power available can be utilized."
Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes and said, "It’s too difficult, not achieved overnight."
Zhao Hanzhang said: "We can take our time."
"What is the immediate concern then?" Fu Tinghan asked, "Is clearing and dredging the only route?"
"The Yellow River’s problem fundamentally is the issue of sediment entering the river," Anyone who has studied middle and high school geography would know that this is the fundamental problem.
And Zhao Hanzhang, who has read similar books in the library, nodded at the drawings and said, "To fundamentally manage it, we have to start from the banks of the Yellow River."
"We are in a favorable position now because years of war and natural disasters have left most villages near the riverbanks empty, we can start planning now." Zhao Hanzhang said: "Calculate the safest and most suitable distance for production, restrict villages and agricultural land near the banks of the Yellow River. Also, mobilize the planting of trees. Besides, the government will provide funds specifically for planting grasses and trees that can stabilize soil and prevent water erosion along the banks."
Fu Chang frowned, thinking of how to gently remind her, then heard his brother leisurely say: "Third Lady, didn’t you say the national treasury is empty? How can there be money for planting trees? Let’s not even discuss if these trees and grasses can stabilize soil and prevent sediment entering the river, even if they can, how can you ensure that the money will be used effectively?"
Zhao Hanzhang said: "Prince Consort, I have the Imperial Censor, the Prefectural Governor, the County Magistrate, and two mailboxes standing, can the planting of grass and trees on both banks of the river be hidden from so many people? Besides, I have eyes, I will patrol."
"As for the money," she blinked and smiled, "the special funds don’t necessarily have to come from the national treasury, it can be money that hasn’t entered the treasury."
Everyone was stunned, puzzled, "Money that hasn’t entered the treasury?"
"Yes, the taxes, donations, or some compulsory labor they should pay can all be exchanged for planting trees and grassland." Zhao Hanzhang decided to go back and discuss specific plans with Ji Yuan and others, such as how many trees planted and how large a lawn each household must have to offset certain taxes and donations.
Additionally, the equal-field system has been effectively implemented; after this year’s transition, the people should have settled on the land, then the new tax law should be promulgated, from next year replacing the original land tax system of the Great Jin with the rent and service system.
Veterans and soldiers in various garrison troops should also be gradually discharged.
Zhao Hanzhang thought about many things in an instant but quickly detached from her thoughts to continue discussing water management, "Plants can stabilize soil and prevent water erosion, this is true, if not, ask Ting Han."
Fu Tinghan nodded, "Indeed, more plants should be grown."
"But the sediment on the banks of the Yellow River is loose and barren, trees may not survive." Fu Chang, who was the He Yin County Magistrate, understood this well; the soil on the banks of the Yellow River is very loose, and a rain quickly gathers into streams directly carrying sediment into the Yellow River.
This is how the Yellow River has so much sediment; such soil makes it difficult for plants to survive; they may be washed away by rain soon after planting.
Fu Tinghan said: "There will always be a way, besides planting vegetation, we can also try the method of bundling water to flush sediment."
This was a water management method proposed by Pan Jixun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry during the Ming Dynasty and was further improved by Chen Huang in the Qing Dynasty. The method of "bundling water to flush sediment" continuously adapts but the main principles have always been the same, being used effectively modern times."
Different sections use different methods, adapting to local conditions, not only can manage river sediment but also save manpower and resources.
Fu Chang heard of this method for the first time, "Bundling water to flush sediment?"
"Yes," Fu Tinghan took the pen from his hand and sketched on the paper, "This method mainly targets the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, with years of sediment accumulation, it’s unknown how much sediment is at the river bottom, we can’t excavate it all, nor can we send manpower down to dig."
Now it’s not modern times, with various machinery, it’s all manpower; even during the dry season, the Yellow River has no shortage of water, it’s dangerous for manual laborers to go down to clear the silt.
Therefore, we can use other methods to flush the sediment at the bottom of the river, reducing manpower loss.
Fu Tinghan: "Tighten the river channel to utilize the massive impact of the water flow to flush out the sediment accumulating at the river bottom."
Fu Chang leaned closer, interested, and asked: "Where to flush it to?"
"Here," Fu Tinghan drew the near dams for bundling water flushing sediment on the map, thoughtfully and straightforwardly, even sketched the remote dike to prevent floods and the grid dike for blocking water and attacking sediment.
Looking at this sketch, Fu Chang immediately understood without Fu Tinghan needing to explain. He happily stood up, spun in place, "Good method, I never even thought of this method. The Yellow River floods reach north to Jizhou, Qingzhou, and south to Youzhou, and south to Yu State, Yan State, and Xuzhou, but their terrain differs, so the methods used should vary."
"Like the area around Yu State, it’s all plains, so you should build these dams you mentioned. But when it comes to Xuzhou, the terrain is different, and you don’t necessarily need dams; bundling water to flush sediment could save much more effort than building dams." Fu Chang was so pleased he spun around, excitedly speaking with Fu Tinghan, "Ting Han, you are just like your grandfather, you are truly the most like your father, haha..."
Fu Chang finished laughing, looked at the expressionless Fu Xuan, not so happy, "Brother, Ting Han is achieving so much, aren’t you pleased?"
"Happy," Fu Xuan replied, "I realized his potential earlier on since he could render both our father and the Princess speechless, which I cannot."
Fu Chang: "..."
He ignored him, turning his cheerful gaze towards Fu Tinghan. "Ting Han, with your ability, you should go into water management."
Fu Tinghan replied, "Second Uncle, this is just theory on paper, it doesn’t mean I can manage water."
This was only because the task of water management fell on his shoulders, and during quiet nights he strived to recall related knowledge to come up with this thought, but truly it was theory on paper.
Fu Chang disagreed, saying sternly: "Ting Han, don’t underestimate yourself. Our Fu Family is full of people who can manage water—your third and fourth uncles didn’t study much under your grandfather, yet they’re better than the officials in the Water Department. They only needed a few looks at the water management drawings to understand them. Even your father, who lacked ambition in this area, can understand them at first glance, and you are smarter than any of us and more like your grandfather. How could you not manage it?"
Fu Tinghan opened his mouth wide.
Beside him, Fu Yong and Fu Hong also opened their mouths wide; it was rare to see their serious father praising someone like this.
Fu Chang said warmly, "You just haven’t managed it yet, so you feel it’s theory on paper, but when you truly reach the bank of the Yellow River, you’ll understand, you’re capable of managing it, you definitely will be."
Even Zhao Hanzhang was convinced by him, turning to Fu Tinghan with bright eyes, "Go give it a try, I think Second Uncle makes a lot of sense; maybe you do have a talent for this?"
Fu Tinghan opened his mouth, finding himself unable to argue for a moment; what to do, he seemed to have a surge of confidence, feeling persuaded too.

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