Chapter 567 – Ruthless Slaughter in the Northern Frontier (4)
This precious rain fell for a full two days and two nights, easing only as dawn broke on the third day.
When the golden morning light pierced through the hazy dawn mist, the air was filled with the freshness of water and the fragrance of earth.
Seeing this, Jiang Pengji gradually felt at ease.
Just to be on the safe side, she took Zhang Ping and the artisans from the Woodworking Workshop to inspect the waterways and reservoirs, ensuring they were functioning properly before she could finally relax a bit.
If drought turned to flooding again, life would be utterly unbearable.
The dry mountain stream was once more bubbling with water, and the leaves, which had wilted all summer, were stretching their limbs, slowly regaining vitality.
“The rain has stopped—”
The pond in the courtyard had refilled with clean and clear water. Under Ta Xue’s direction, the maids released a few goldfish, which had been kept in a water jar, into the pond, adding water weeds. The slender and graceful maidservant had a joyful smile on her face, radiating innocence.
After the rain, the air had turned cooler.
The previously heavy and sultry atmosphere had lifted, and taking a deep breath brought some much-needed moisture to her lungs.
Jiang Pengji changed into a new autumn garment made by the maidservants, the fabric being slightly thicker than what she wore in summer.
Thanks to the enhancement of her physical capabilities, this body’s genes had improved. At seventeen, she was already taller than some adult men—a staggering height of around 1.75 meters in audience-friendly units.
At this growth rate, she could expect to grow a few more centimeters.
Considering the average height of men and women in this era, her stature was indeed quite rare.
“Young Master, you’re awake.”
Ta Xue was the first to notice her, greeting her with a bright smile, while the other maids respectfully saluted.
A group of strikingly beautiful maidens, the audience was in an uproar, and Jiang Pengji felt her mood lift significantly.
“Mm.” She nodded and said, “I’m going to the Administrative Hall.”
Raindrops clung to the branches, falling rhythmically, while Feng Jin, who had been frowning over the drought, was now in high spirits.
“Lord, good morning.”
Feng Jin greeted her and continued with his work after receiving a reply.
Jiang Pengji flipped through the bamboo slips on her desk and asked, “Has Xi Heng not arrived at the Administrative Hall today?”
Feng Jin asked, “Is the Lord looking for him for something?”
Zhang Ping was not very suitable for administrative duties, and he was obsessed with various woodworking tasks, so sometimes it would take him ten days or even a month to show up at the Administrative Hall.
If she went to the Woodworking Workshop to find him, she was sure to catch him there.
Jiang Pengji said, “The rain was so heavy these last two days that I was worried about flooding… I plan to take Xi Heng to check again…”
Many floods occur not because of heavy rainfall but because the drainage systems underground are inadequate, causing excess water to accumulate in one place. When Jiang Pengji rebuilt Xiangyang County, she had also considered the construction of drainage systems. However, since Xiangyang County was not very large, the drainage systems built were not overly complicated, and by the time the county was completed, this part was also finished.
The heavy rain from two days ago was alarming, she thought Xiangyang County would be submerged, but thankfully the newly built drainage systems functioned well, along with several canals constructed before summer, managing to regulate the water levels without major harm to the fields.
Feng Jin chuckled, remembering Jiang Pengji in her raincoat inspecting the area, which warmed his heart.
“The Lord cares for the people’s wellbeing, truly admirable.”
Before they could say much more, the homebody craftsman Zhang Ping arrived, dressed simply and wearing a straw hat, looking very down-to-earth, lacking any trace of a scholarly demeanor. Jiang Pengji set aside her work and went out with Zhang Ping.
The drainage systems of this era are vastly different from what the audience might expect.
Modern drainage systems resemble underground passages that expel urban wastewater and torrential rain floods, but for people of this era, such an undertaking is monumental, with many flaws. Anyone attempting to build such a system would be deemed foolish.
Why say so?
First, the cost-effectiveness is far too low; ancient materials cannot meet the demands of such complex structures. Even if construction were possible, the final labor costs and material costs would be exorbitant, making it impractical, hence Jiang Pengji never considered it.
Second, the nature of warfare during this time makes such drainage systems unrealistic. If enemy troops slipped through the drainage system into the city and caught the guards off guard, who would be to blame? This would be more than foolish; it would be a betrayal of the common people.
In fact, the so-called drainage systems now consist merely of ditches spread throughout the city, with very poor drainage capability.
During the rainy season, flooding frequently occurs, and in worse cases, entire cities get submerged.
After she established kiln facilities, Jiang Pengji specifically instructed artisans to produce thick hollow pipes, each being a tubular structure that can interlock with one another, inspired by beam joints. Then, she had people dig ditches along the main streets of Xiangyang County, ultimately burying these hollow pipes to create a network that connects to the drainage outlets… This drainage system now stretches across the entirety of Xiangyang County.
If such a heavy downpour had fallen before, Xiangyang County would have been submerged to knee-deep water, but today is different; the roads remain intact.
The two found a tea house to sit and relax.
Jiang Pengji recalled the urgent letter she received yesterday, chuckling, “…I have already instructed the other three counties to source materials locally and produce these hollow pipes. Once they’re done, the citizens of the three counties won’t have to worry about being drowned in their sleep anymore…”
Besides Xiangyang County, Jiao Ping County, Mao Lin County, and Cheng An County had all been drenched in the heavy rain, with water levels reaching knee-deep.
Fortunately, the rain wasn’t very long-lasting, and after a while, it would subside.
Zhang Ping remarked, “The Lord’s foresight is commendable; this matter is best addressed promptly. This summer we had little to no rain, and now we’ve just experienced a deluge, which is already quite good. If it had been previous years, with abundant rainfall, the Fengyi County would have been submerged, causing great harm to the fields.”
Since following Jiang Pengji, Zhang Ping had not had a single day of respite, but he relished it.
He had never imagined that the tricks of the Mo family craftsmen could have such a significant impact.
If they could focus on this area, allowing Mo techniques to permeate every aspect of commoner life, their status would not lag behind that of scholars.
To ensure a smooth rainy season next year, the drainage system had to be completed.
While the drainage pipes are not for military use, they heavily influence the quality of life for the common people, and Jiang Pengji naturally placed great importance on this.
The two spoke in hushed tones, while other commoners in the tea house instinctively lowered their voices, refraining from disturbing them.
Because Jiang Pengji frequently appeared in the streets and alleys, not putting on airs as a county official, and when she was bored, she would help older farmers with their work, everyone in Xiangyang County recognized her. It was quite normal for her to stroll around with subordinates discussing political affairs.
In a corner, a young man dressed in worn-out clothing frowned.
