Novel Full Chapter 928 - 51: Successful Water Diversion
Chapter 928: Chapter 51: Successful Water Diversion
The swamp lake is not only very large but also very deep, although no one knows exactly how deep it is. The local elders say they have lived for decades and have never seen the water of the swamp lake dry up. Even during the great drought thirty or forty years ago, the lake’s water did not reach the bottom.
Because the swamp lake is somewhat far from Swamp Prefecture, although the people know the lake’s water is good, they are too lazy to go fetch it. Only during droughts do they go to the swamp lake to get water.
The health issues of the people in Swamp Prefecture partially stem from drinking saline water for years. Zhao Yao had been in Swamp Prefecture for a while and hadn’t noticed this until a few days ago when he was inspecting the people’s farmland and drank their water, realizing it was salty.
Daily water use is very important. Moreover, with the trade fair about to begin, he couldn’t let the guests from afar drink saline water. Even if the trade fair was bustling, if the guests disliked Swamp Prefecture’s saline water and refused to do business there, all efforts would be wasted.
Whether for the people of Swamp Prefecture or the guests traveling long distances for the trade fair, the water issue must be resolved.
Ever since deciding to bring the swamp lake’s water to Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao had been discussing plans with the craftsmen. To bring the lake’s water from outside Swamp Prefecture City into the city, they needed to first pipe the water down and then dig wells.
Inspired by the Su Dongpo from Zhao Yao’s dream world history who dug six wells in Hangzhou City, he also had six wells dug in Swamp Prefecture.
When the people learned that Prince Han intended to bring the swamp lake’s water into the city, their first reaction was to think he was being reckless, and many opposed his actions. They didn’t want him to damage the swamp lake.
To the people of Swamp Prefecture, the swamp lake is their "lifesaver." During the massive drought thirty or forty years ago, if not for the water from the swamp lake, they would have perished. For this, the people are full of gratitude and respect for the swamp lake.
They don’t usually drink the swamp lake water, partly because it’s far from the city and partly because they don’t dare to use it casually. If they consumed the swamp lake water daily and exhausted it, another massive drought might occur, with no swamp lake water to save their lives.
Zhao Yao knew the people were worried about depleting the swamp lake water, so he explained that the lake had never dried up because of the springs that constantly flow from the mountains and the springs at the lake’s bottom. Without these springs, during the massive drought thirty or forty years ago, the water from the mountains would have stopped, and the lake would have dried to its bottom.
The people were skeptical. Zhao Yao further told them that if they continued drinking saline water as before, it would not only lead to sickness and early death but also extinction.
The mention of "extinction" frightened the people, but they still didn’t fully believe it, thinking Prince Han was deceiving them.
Zhao Yao asked if they hadn’t noticed fewer and fewer children were being born and how the children that were born often died young?
The people, upon Zhao Yao’s questioning, fearfully realized that indeed, fewer children were being born, and more of those born were dying.
Zhao Yao told them that the reason fewer children were being born, and more were dying, was due to drinking saline water. If they continued, within thirty years, in twenty years, they wouldn’t be able to have any children at all. Though what he said was somewhat exaggerated, the declining birth rate in Swamp Prefecture did indeed relate to the saline water, and he wasn’t lying.
The people were shocked and terrified at the thought of being unable to have children in twenty years, and no longer dared to oppose Prince Han’s plan to divert the swamp lake water. They immediately changed their attitude, praising Prince Han as one who loves the people as his own children and admitting they misunderstood him. Not only that, they volunteered to help.
Zhao Yao was eager to resolve this matter as soon as possible. Seeing the people offering help, he unhesitatingly assigned them tasks.
With the combined efforts of the people and craftsmen, they successfully brought the swamp lake water into the city. Zhao Yao even held a special celebration for the occasion. Besides setting off fireworks, the people spontaneously performed lion and dragon dances.