Chapter 71: Friend or enemy?
Zhou Sheng looked at Guo Yi's meaningful eyes, and his thoughts suddenly gathered.
He said slowly: "The flood was really so violent?"
"There have been heavy rains for days, and there is plenty of water upstream. You are the local official here. Don't you know better than me how violent the water surges were in previous years?"
While Guo Yi was serving tea, he glanced at him.
Zhou Sheng looked at his nose and heart, and smiled without trace at the corner of his mouth: "This is really an unexpected situation.
"I am going to rectify my troops and rush back to Shawan with my lord!"
"No need." Guo Yi said, "It's not safe to go back now, not to mention that the prefect had already sent people there when I came."
Zhou Sheng said again: "Since your lord is here, why don't you send someone to clean up a courtyard and settle down here tonight?"
"I'm not busy." Guo Yi said, "Bring over the files from Tanzhou Prefecture and let me take a look."
Zhou Sheng paused: "Didn't you already read the files of Tanzhou Prefecture?"
"I have seen it before, but now that Shawan has been lost, I have to have something to show to the higher-ups. You can bring it here, and you and I can have a good relationship together."
Zhou Sheng stood there for a while before saying yes.
As he walked out of the door, he was greeted by the servants who had already heard him outside.
"Master, there are people spreading news outside, what should I do?"
Zhou Sheng didn’t know what to do.
I grew up in Tanzhou, and have been in charge of water transportation in the government office for so many years. The right time and place tonight, I want to do something, isn't it easy?
Who knew that Guo Yi would come suddenly!
Even after he arrived, he still didn’t leave!
The matter in Shawan is not over yet. He has to act according to the situation at any time. Let alone giving orders now, it is not easy for him to leave Guo Yi's sight and say a word!
This is the imperial envoy!
Guo Yi was recommended by Lu Jie, so he was on the same path as him. But in the two or three months since he came to Tanzhou, apart from official business dealings, they have rarely had any personal contact with each other.
Zhou Sheng had also posted a message asking for a private visit, but he only posted once or twice out of the seven or eight times he left. Each time, he said he was busy with official duties and was in a hurry to settle the incident in Shawan before going elsewhere.
Ordinarily, after Guo Yi arrives, shouldn't he rely on him everywhere?
Zhou Sheng couldn't figure him out even if he was so distant.
Until a secret message came from the capital, reminding him that someone was following him, he had to suspect that it was this imperial minister who was secretly investigating the relationship between the Su family and the Liu family.
Who would have thought that Guo Yi would be uncharacteristic of himself tonight and actually find the Zhou family on his own and arrange a place for him but he wouldn't go there yet, so he had nothing to do but look for some files!
It didn't look like she was looking for him to communicate with her, so why did she look like she was here to block him?
Zhou Sheng looked back at the door, gritted his teeth and said, "Listen to his words and act first!"
……
After the guard conveyed the words left by Guo Yi, the county magistrate did not dare to disobey. News of the immediate blockade of the pier spread widely, and the news spread that the floods had already affected the rice fields on both sides of the river.
After being so busy for half a night, it was almost dawn.
The river embankment was defended, and although there was some water accumulation in the Yamen, it was not a serious problem. While everyone in the county was paying attention to the river, He Qing was sitting under the lamp and looking at a piece of paper.
At this time, someone came back: "Master, the girl from the Xie family has been staying in their shop with Liu Xiyu from Hongtai No. 1 and has not gone back.
"The river will probably not go back until the water recedes."
He Qing put the paper away: "Is there anyone else in the Xie family at the moment?"
"Everyone is out, even Zhang Qiuniang went to the warehouse to keep food!"
He Qing stood behind the case with frowning eyebrows, then walked out and took on his raincoat and bamboo hat: "Follow me."
……
Lu Jia and Liu Xiyu each sent countless groups of people to the riverside to check the flood situation.
It was fine in the first half of the night, but when did the river start to rise rapidly? What level has the water reached? What's the flooding situation like? All are very precise. But in the middle of the night, the government actually stopped letting people come within ten feet of the embankment.
People who live within ten feet must stay in their homes and are not allowed to go out.
Lu Jia and the others can't go back.
"It is said that the order was personally issued by the county magistrate. Now even the gates entering and exiting the county have been closed! The magistrate just sent people over for reinforcements, and they are not allowed to leave after entering the city."
Li Chang had been busy all night, and his body was covered in mud.
"The city gates are closed, so how can Brother Yi and the others come back?"
"Sister!"
Fortunately, at this time, Xie Yi's voice came from outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, he and He Qu rushed in one after another.
The hems of their clothes were also covered in mud, and the color of their shoes and socks could not be seen.
"The gates of both river systems are open!"
Xie Yi was still out of breath, so He Qu continued what he said: "There is waist-deep mud under the gate. At first glance, it seems that it has been washed away.
"To be on the safe side, we found a local river worker and went down to the river to check. Finally, we found intact sacks at the bottom of the water, and the sediment at our opening and closing was also a new mark."
Lu Jia said: "Is it like this in both places?"
"Exactly the same! And we also checked the mountain ponds everywhere. There have been heavy rains in the past few days. The water in the mountain ponds is indeed full, but none of them has burst.
"If the amount of heavy rain is enough to break open the two river gates of Lianshui and Juanshui, some mountain ponds will be washed away anyway!"
"There is something very wrong if the mountain pond is not destroyed," Liu Xiyu frowned and looked at Lu Jia, "I'm afraid this is caused by man!"
Lu Jia's face darkened: "I asked how could there be a sudden flood in this season? There really is someone behind the scenes!"
She asked: "Have you caught anyone?"
"No! We searched the surrounding area and found no suspicious person."
"They must have left a long time ago." Liu Xiyu said, "They will not just stay there and wait for us to catch them.
"But we must catch this man!" Li Chang gritted his teeth, "This heartless beast must be caught and soaked in the pig cage!"
Everyone in the room looked angry.
Only He Qu was thoughtful.
Only he present knew the purpose of Shen Qingzhou's departure this time.
Whoever did this immoral thing has a clue.
But without Shen Qingzhou speaking, he couldn't be sure.
What's more, even if he said it, they wouldn't be able to catch the person out.
"If you dare to do such a sinful thing, there must be another intention behind it. I'm afraid this is not what ordinary people would do."
Liu Xiyu had seen many storms and had an idea at once.
Lu Jia said slowly: "I don't want to say anything else. If we are not prepared tonight, the flood will flood both sides of the bank after it washes down, and the rice fields along the coast will inevitably lose their harvest.
"The farmers who could have changed their predicament have to go hungry again, while some people can just make a profit!"
(End of chapter)