Ancient texts from the Xia Dynasty say that it took Yu thirteen years to control the flood, during which he never even entered his own home. He traveled on land by cart, on water by boat, on muddy ground by mule, and in the mountains by raft, thereby establishing the nine regions; he strategically cleared river channels, effectively organizing labor and resources. He cleared waterways, managed marshes, and opened mountain passes on a grand scale. However, the Yellow River's floods were devastating, especially in the Central Plains. Yu considered this a top priority, so he began his work at Jishi Mountain, working his way down the river through Longmen, Huayin, Dizhu, and eventually reaching Juyeze. Yu found that the water flow in the upper reaches of the Yellow River was too fast for smooth navigation in the plains, and after several failed attempts, he dug two diversion channels to relieve the Yellow River, directing the water northward to higher ground, passing through Jishui to reach the surrounding areas, and dividing into nine rivers that converged into the Bohai Sea. With the waterways flowing freely and the marshes reclaimed, peace returned to the land, and Yu's legacy endured for generations.
Later, from Xingyang downwards, people diverted the Yellow River water to the southeast, digging the Honggou Canal, which connected the states of Song, Zheng, Chen, Cai, Cao, and Wei, while linking with the Ji, Ru, Huai, and Si rivers. Canals were dug in Chu, connecting the Han River and Yunmeng Marsh in the west and the Yangtze and Huai Rivers in the east; in Wu, linking three Yangtze tributaries and Lake Taihu; in Qi, connecting the Zi and Ji Rivers. In Shu, the county magistrate Li Bing dug through the Lidi Mountains to prevent disasters caused by the Mo River and created two rivers in Chengdu. These navigable channels also provided irrigation, benefiting the people. Irrigation canals proliferated across the land.
During the Duke Wen of Wei period, Ximen Bao served as the magistrate of Ye County and had a good reputation. During the reign of King Wei Xiang, the king was drinking with his ministers when he proposed a toast, saying, "I hope my subjects can all serve me with the same dedication as Ximen Bao!" Shi Qi stood up and said, "In Wei, farms averaged one hundred mu, but Ye County had two hundred, suggesting poor soil quality. The Zhang River runs right beside Ye County, yet Ximen Bao didn't use it for irrigation—a lack of wisdom; and knowing its potential but failing to act was unrighteous. Ximen Bao's righteousness and wisdom have not been fully utilized; how can we emulate him?" So King Wei Xiang appointed Shi Qi as the magistrate of Ye County, and Shi Qi used the Zhang River to irrigate Ye County, making the area along the Wei River prosperous. The people sang, "Ye County's got a smart magistrate, Shi Gong, who brought in the Zhang River, and now rice grows where there used to be salt flats!"
Later on, the State of Han heard that the State of Qin loved big construction projects and wanted to find a way to stop Qin from expanding eastward. They sent water conservancy expert Zheng Guo to Qin as a spy, convincing the Qin king to dig a canal from the Jing River in the west of Mount Zhongshan to the Hu Mouth, along the northern mountains to flow east into the Luo River, a total length of over three hundred li, claiming it was for irrigation. Midway through the project, the Qin king discovered Zheng Guo was a Han spy and wanted him dead. However, Zheng Guo said, "Initially, I was indeed a spy sent by Han, but after the completion of this canal, it will also be greatly beneficial to Qin! I bought Han a few more years, but I've given Qin a legacy that'll last forever!" The Qin king found his words reasonable and ultimately allowed him to continue building the canal. After the canal was completed, it irrigated over forty thousand acres of saline-alkali land, with yields reaching one zhong (an ancient unit of measurement) per mu. From then on, Guanzhong blossomed, and famine became a thing of the past. Qin became strong and eventually unified the six states, and that canal? They called it the Zheng Guo Canal.
Thirty-nine years after the establishment of the Han Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, the Yellow River burst its banks at Suanzao, causing the floodwaters to break through the Jindi dyke in the east. As a result, a large-scale effort was organized to block the breach with manpower and resources.
Thirty-six years later, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in the Yuanguang era, the Yellow River burst its banks at Huzi, causing floodwaters to flow southeast into Juye Marsh and all the way to the Huai River and Si River. The emperor sent Ji An, Zheng Dangshi, and others to lead laborers to block the breach, but the repairs kept failing. At that time, Prime Minister Tian Fei held his fiefdom in Shu County, located on the north bank of the Yellow River. Despite the flooding, Shu County did not suffer and, in fact, saw an increase in income. Tian Fei advised the emperor, "Flooding of the Yellow River and Yangtze is a natural disaster that is difficult to block with human effort, and even if forcibly blocked, success is not guaranteed." Those who believed in fate and the heavens held the same view, so the court did not organize further efforts to block the Yellow River for a long time.
At this time, Zheng Dangshi served as the Minister of Agriculture and reported, "Moving grain from the east to the central region via the Wei River took six months due to the long waterway of over 900 li, a difficult and lengthy route. If an artificial canal were dug from Chang'an along the foothills of the southern mountains all the way to the Yellow River, a total of three hundred li, grain transportation would be much more convenient, estimated to be completed in three months. Additionally, this artificial canal could irrigate over ten thousand acres of land along the way. This would save labor and time in grain transportation, enrich the central region, and increase grain production." The emperor liked the idea and ordered Qi's water expert Xu Bobiao to lead tens of thousands of laborers to dig the canal. Three years later, the canal was finally completed. From then on, grain transport became much easier and more efficient, benefiting the people along the canal with irrigation.
So, the Hedong prefect wrote to the emperor, saying: "Right now, grain transportation comes from the western part of Shandong, totaling over a million stones (about 60,000 tons) every year. However, transporting it is a huge pain, with massive losses. If we dig channels to divert the water of the Fen River to irrigate the areas below Pishi and Fenyin, and divert the water of the Yellow River to irrigate the areas below Fenyin and Puban, we can probably irrigate five thousand hectares of land. Currently, these abandoned riverbanks can only be used by the common people to grow some bulrushes and graze animals. If used for irrigation, we could harvest over two million stones (about 120,000 tons) of grain every year. Grain from the Wei River would make Hedong just like Guanzhong. This way, the Hedong region won't have to transport grain from such a far distance." The Emperor thought his suggestion made sense, so he dispatched about 20,000 to 30,000 people to dig channels and cultivate farmland. Several years later, the Yellow River changed its course, the irrigation system failed, and the harvest didn't even cover the costs. After a long time, the channels and farmland in Hedong were all abandoned and left for the Yue people, with the imperial officials keeping a loose eye on things.
Later, someone suggested opening the Baoshe Road to transport grain, and this matter was handed over to the Imperial Inspector Zhang Tang to handle. After investigating, Zhang Tang reported: "Getting to Shu these days means using the old roads, which have steep slopes and a long distance. If we open the Baoshe Road, we can cut four hundred miles off the journey and ease the climb considerably. Both Baoshui leading to the Mian River and Xieshui leading to the Wei River can be used to transport grain by boat. Grain can enter Baoshui from Nanyang along the Mian River. There is over a hundred miles between Baoshui and Xieshui that can be transported by cart before entering the Wei River from Xieshui. This way, grain from Hanzhong can be transported, and Shandong could also send unlimited grain through the Mian River, making it very convenient for grain transportation to the Hedong region. Furthermore, the Baoshe region is rich in resources such as wood, bamboo, and arrows, similar to the Bashu region." The Emperor was convinced by his reasoning, so he appointed Zhang Tang's son Zhang Yang as the Governor of Hanzhong and sent tens of thousands of people to build the Baoshe Road, where they built over five hundred miles of road. The road was indeed completed, fast and convenient, but the river was too fast and rocky for boats.
Later, Yan Xiong suggested, "The folks in Linjin wanted a canal for the Luo River to irrigate over ten thousand hectares of wasteland east of Chongquan. If we can really bring in water, we could see tenfold the harvest!" So, ten thousand people were sent to dig the canal, bringing water from the Luo River to the area below Shangyan. But the riverbanks kept collapsing, so they tried digging wells instead, with the deepest well being over forty feet deep. They dug a network of wells, linking them underground to channel the water. The water washed away Shangyan, flowing eastward to a place ten miles between the mountains. And so, the age of well-and-canal irrigation began. Because dragon bones were excavated during the digging, the canal was named Longshou Canal. After more than ten years of construction, even after all that work, the harvests weren't much better.
So, the story goes that more than twenty years after the breach of the Hu River, the Yellow River suffered poor harvests year after year, and things were particularly grim in Liangchu. Shortly after the emperor performed a heaven-sent sacrifice and toured the mountains and rivers, there was a drought with little rain the following year. The emperor sent Ji Ren and Guo Chang with an army of workers to block the breach of the Hu River. Because they needed to use sand from thousands of miles away, the emperor personally supervised the work at the breach, offering a sacrifice of white horses and jade bi. He ordered all officials, from top brass to foot soldiers, to carry firewood to block the breach. At that time, they were short of firewood in the East, so they had to cut down bamboo from Qi Garden. The emperor watched by the river, feeling anxious as the project progressed slowly, so he composed a song:
"Hu River Song"
How can we block the breach of the Hu River? Endless worries, the land is in turmoil. The land is in turmoil, never finding rest, the work is unending, and our mountains lie flat. Our mountains lie flat, the vast wilderness overflows, fish are not thriving, and the cypress trees are dying. The right path is loosened, deviating from the normal flow, the dragons roam freely. Returning to the old river, the spirits are abundant; without sealing the summit, how can we know peace? The emperor asked the river official, why are you not benevolent? The flooding does not stop, causing worry to our people! Floating on the Huai and Si rivers, the waters lingered, slow to retreat.
Another verse:
The river flows swiftly, the northward crossing is difficult, the long jiang is clear and beautiful, the river official promises, but the firewood is not delivered. The firewood is not delivered, the people of Wei are guilty; burning the withered branches, how can we control the water? Cutting down the bamboo in the forest, removing the rocks, and with the defenses secured, prosperity followed.
Eventually, they finally plugged the breach in the Hu River, and the emperor built a palace on top, called the Xuanfang Palace. Two channels were also excavated along the north bank of the Yellow River, restoring Dayu's old works. From then on, the Liangchu area was peaceful and free from water disasters.
Since then, officials have been competing to discuss irrigation projects. The regions of Shuofang, Xihe, Hexi, and Jiuquan channeled water from the Yellow River and valleys to irrigate fields. In the Guanzhong region, Lingzhi, Chengguo, and Weiqu also diverted rivers for irrigation, while Runan and Jiujang drew water from the Huai River, Donghai from the Juding River, and at the foot of Mount Tai, the Wen River was diverted for irrigation. Canals were being dug everywhere to irrigate fields, benefiting thousands of acres of land in each place. Smaller canals, ponds, and mountain channels were too numerous to count.
Starting from the construction of the Zhengguo Canal, until the sixth year of Yuanding, a total of one hundred and thirty-six years had passed. At that time, Kuan Dan was the Left Interior Minister and requested the excavation of the Six Fu Canals to increase irrigation of the farmland in the Zhengguo Gaoyang area. The Emperor said, "Farming's what keeps this country going! Springs flow to irrigate and cultivate grains. The regions under the jurisdiction of the Left and Right Interior Ministers have many famous mountains and rivers, but the common people do not know how to utilize them, so canals and reservoirs must be built to prevent drought. The paddy taxes in their districts were too high and needed lowering. He ordered everyone to get to work, make the most of the land, improve the irrigation, and get the crops in on time."
Sixteen years later, in the second year of Taishi, Zhao official Bai Gong once again requested the excavation of a water canal. They diverted the Jing River from Gu Valley to Lixiang, where it joined the Wei River, with a total length of two hundred li, irrigating more than four thousand five hundred hectares of farmland, and was therefore named the Bai Canal. The common people benefited from this and composed songs to praise it: "Where is the fertile land? Chiyang, Gu Valley. Zhengguo Canal in the front, Bai Canal in the back. Lift the hoe as numerous as clouds, dig the water canal as plentiful as rain. With one stone of Jing River water (approximately 100 liters), there are several dou of mud. It can both irrigate and fertilize, allowing my crops to grow luxuriantly. Supplying the capital with clothing and food, feeding millions of mouths." The song perfectly captures how much these canals meant to the people.
At that time, while busy fighting the Xiongnu, there were also active efforts to develop water conservancy projects, and many ministers offered advice. A Qi official named Yan Nian submitted a proposal stating: "The Yellow River originates from the Kunlun Mountains, flows through the Central Plains, and empties into the Bohai Sea. Its terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. By consulting ancient texts and observing the terrain, water experts can dig tributaries upstream of the Yellow River based on the elevation, divert them eastwards into Xiongnu territory, and thence into the sea. This way, the Guandong region will no longer suffer from floods, and the northern border will no longer need to worry about the Xiongnu, saving on flood defenses, troop movements, and the devastation of Xiongnu raids. The Yellow River has long served as a natural barrier against the Xiongnu, leaving the Baiyue a lesser concern. Once this project is completed, it will benefit future generations." After the memorial was presented, the emperor greatly appreciated it and replied: "Yan Nian's proposal is insightful. However, the Yellow River was diverted by Great Yu; a sage's works are meant to benefit generations to come and are divinely inspired, and it may be difficult to change." Since the time of Emperor Xuan, the Yellow River changed its course, and the river breached its banks north of Guantao County, forming a new river called the Tunshi River. This river flowed northeast, through Wei, Qinghe, Xindu, and Bohai commanderies, eventually flowing into the sea. The Tunshi River is wide and deep, similar to the Yellow River, so the natural course of the river was followed, and no embankments were built. As a result, while four or five counties northeast of Guantao occasionally flooded, the six counties south of Yanzhou were spared.
During the Xuan Emperor's reign, the official Guo Chang was in charge of managing the Yellow River. There were three streams north of the Yellow River, all turning towards Beiqiu County. Guo Chang feared the river would overwhelm the dikes, so he dug new channels to allow the river water to flow directly east, passing through the border of Dongjun and no longer turning north. After these channels were opened, the river flowed freely, and the common people prospered. However, in the fifth year of Emperor Yuan's Yongguang, the Yellow River burst its banks at Lingmingdukou in Qinghe County, and the Tianshi River also ran dry.
When Emperor Cheng ascended to the throne, Feng Quan, the Prefect of Qinghe County, submitted a memorial saying: "Our Qinghe County is located in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, bordering Yanzhou's East County, separated by the Yellow River. The county's low-lying land and loose soil are easily eroded. In the past, there were no major floods because the Tunshi River flowed freely, diverting water. Now that the Tunshi River is blocked and Lingmingdukou is not conducive to drainage, the Yellow River alone bears the flow of several rivers. Even raising and reinforcing the embankments wouldn't be enough. If heavy rains continue for more than ten days, the river will definitely flood. Dredging Lingmingdukou, located on Qinghe's eastern border in low-lying land, won't solve the flooding problem in Weijun and Qinghe. Dayu didn't ignore the people's hardship; he dug nine rivers based on the land's needs. The Tunshi River has been blocked for over seventy years, but the recent blockage is relatively new and easier to clear. Moreover, its river mouth is higher and can be used for diversion to reduce the water flow. Redredging it would easily help the Yellow River drain. Furthermore, during the time of Di Jie, Guo Chang dug a straight canal, and three years later, the river turned north for six li between the second and third curves, then turned south and converged again. Now the river has turned and flowed towards Beiqiu County, terrifying the people. It is necessary to dig a new channel to divert the water eastward. Ignoring this, a northern breach would affect four or five counties, while a southern one would affect dozens – and then it'll be too late."
This memorial went to the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censorate, then to scholar Xu Shang. Xu Shang, a real whiz with the *Book of Documents* and numbers, checked it out. He figured the Tunshi River flooding was down to a lack of funds and said, "Let's not dredge it just yet."
Three years later, the Yellow River burst its banks at Guantao and Dongjun Jindi, causing devastating floods that submerged Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and even affected Pingyuan County, Qiancheng County, and Jinan County. In total, four counties and 32 counties were flooded, with over 150,000 acres of land submerged. The deepest point was three zhang deep, and nearly 40,000 government offices, pavilions, and houses were destroyed. The official in charge of water conservancy, Yin Zhong, had a rough strategy and was given a dressing down by the emperor, leading to his suicide.
The emperor sent the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Fei Diao, to distribute money and grain to the affected counties and dispatched two envoys to the east of Henan to round up five hundred boats. At the same time, over 97,000 people were organized to move to hilly areas to escape the flood. The envoy responsible for building the river embankment, Wang Yanshi, had a brilliant idea: they'd make giant bamboo cages, four zhang long and nine times around, fill 'em with rocks, and use two boats to carry each one to the break in the dam. In just thirty-six days, the embankment was repaired!
The emperor was thrilled and exclaimed, "The Yellow River burst its banks in Dongjun, submerging two provinces, but the envoy Wang Yanshi managed to seal the breach in just thirty days. From now on, we'll call this the first year of the He Ping era! All those involved in the river management will be exempt from forced labor for six months. Wang Yanshi is particularly skilled in planning, with low project costs and high efficiency, and I greatly admire him! I hereby promote Wang Yanshi to Grand Master, with a very high rank, make him a Marquis of Guannei, and reward him with one hundred pounds of gold!"
Two years later, the Yellow River burst its banks again, flooding the Jinan and Qiansheng areas. The level of destruction was about half as severe as during the Jian Shi period. The court then sent Wang Yanshi to fix the breach. Du Qin said to General Wang Feng, "Last time the Yellow River burst its banks, Prime Minister Shi Yangyan remarked that Wang Yanshi used Shi Yangyan's method to block the river, purposely keeping a low profile. Now they are only sending Wang Yanshi alone; he may not take it seriously this time. Moreover, if it is really as Shi Yangyan said, Wang Yanshi's abilities are not as good as Shi Yangyan's. Each flood is different. Without a broad discussion of the pros and cons, sending only one person means that if he cannot complete the work by this winter, when the spring thaw comes, it will definitely cause a disaster, leading to backups and flooding. As a result, several counties' crops will not be able to be planted, and the people will scatter, giving rise to bandits. Even punishing Wang Yanshi wouldn't solve the problem. Shi Yangyan, Chief Engineer Xu Shang, and Counselor Cheng Ma should be sent together to thoroughly discuss the pros and cons and debate the matter. Xu Shang and Cheng Ma are both skilled in assessing risks and choosing the best course of action; they will definitely succeed." Wang Feng followed Du Qin's advice, reported to the court, and sent Shi Yangyan and the others to manage the situation together, completing the task in June. The court rewarded Wang Yanshi with a hundred pounds of gold, and the soldiers received no pay, only an additional six months of forced labor. Nine years later, in the fourth year of Hongjia, Shi Yangyan said, "The riverbed supports are too narrow; they need widening." The emperor accepted his suggestion and sent Shi Yangyan to widen the river. However, after the widening was completed, the stone proved too difficult to work, causing the river to become more turbulent and the damage to be even more severe than before.
One year, the rivers in Bohai, Qinghe, and Xindu flooded, causing widespread devastation, submerging thirty-one counties and destroying over forty thousand houses. Xu Shang, the River Commandant, and Prime Minister Sun Jin went to the scene to inspect and discuss countermeasures. Sun Jin felt, "The flooding's far worse than when we breached the plain's levees last time. My idea is to cut a new channel between the levees, diverting the water to the old Dumaha River, all the way to the sea—about 500 miles. This would create a navigable waterway, irrigate three counties, and give us over 20,000 hectares of prime farmland. That'd more than make up for any losses from the project and save us the cost of employing over thirty thousand men every year for flood control."
However, Xu Shang disagreed, saying, "Ancient texts mention the Nine Rivers, including the Tuha River, Husu River, and Gejin River, which can still be seen near Chengping, Dongguang, and Ge counties. It's over 200 miles from Ge County to the Tuha River to the north. Although the Yellow River has changed its course many times, it has never left this area. The river that Sun Jin wants to open is at the Dumaha River south of the Nine Rivers, where there are no longer traces of river water. The terrain is flat, the river channel silt up during droughts, and it is prone to embankment breaches during floods—a recipe for disaster." The court sided with Xu Shang.
Earlier, Gu Yong said, "The Yellow River is the central river of China. When a virtuous king rules, the Yellow River flows smoothly; when the royal way declines, the Yellow River will dry up. Now the Yellow River has breached its banks and flooded the hills, which is a very unusual phenomenon. It should be addressed with good governance, and natural disasters will be eliminated." At that time, Li Xun and Jie Guang also suggested, "When the yin energy is strong, the water level will rise. So within a day, the water level drops during the day and rises at night. Rivers overflow, which reflects the natural order where water levels rise and fall seemingly defying gravity. Although water usually flows to low-lying areas, this is just like the ebb and flow of nature; it is the law of the operation of nature. Everyone sees that Wang Yanshi was greatly rewarded for offering advice, so they all try to curry favor and offer insincere suggestions. These recommendations should not be adopted. Everyone always wants to find the traces of the Nine Rivers to dig new river channels. Since the river has breached its banks on its own, it is better not to block it first, observe the water level, and then decide. If the river wants to flow to a certain place, it will erode a channel on its own, and then we can plan and manage in accordance with the will of heaven; we will definitely succeed and save manpower and resources." So everyone decided not to block the river channel first. Man Chang, Shi Dan, and others repeatedly petitioned, saying that the plight of the people was heartbreaking, and the emperor sent envoys to the disaster area many times to relieve and assist the people. When Emperor Han Ai just ascended the throne, Ping Dang served as the river embankment supervisor and reported, "Now the nine rivers have all been filled in. According to the records in the classics on managing water disasters, there are records of dredging river channels and deepening water flow, but there is no record of building embankments to prevent blockages. The Yellow River east of Wei County often floods and breaches its banks in the north, making it difficult to discern the traces of water flow. The people are not easily fooled; we should widely seek those who are skilled in dredging river channels." Then, Prime Minister Kong Guang and Grand Minister He Wu submitted a memorandum, requesting the recommendation of officials and people who are capable in managing water disasters from various prefectures, the Three Adjuncts (administrative regions), the Three Rivers, and the Hongnong Prefecture, but no one responded. Meanwhile, the Imperial Secretary Jia Rang memorialized:
Here's the text of Jia Rang's memorial. More to come!
There are three strategies for governing the Yellow River: three approaches. In ancient times, when founding a country and taking care of the people, the land was planned to leave areas for rivers and lakes, reserving space for flooding. Big rivers had no dikes. Smaller rivers could flow in. Low-lying areas became swamps, soaking up the autumn floods. This let the river flow smoothly, without a rush. Rivers are to land what mouths are to people. Blocking rivers while managing land is like stuffing a kid's mouth shut - it may stop the immediate noise, but the child will soon suffocate. Therefore, it is said: "Good river managers dredge waterways; good rulers guide their people's voices."
In fact, the construction of embankments began during the Warring States period. Each kingdom built embankments to protect their own land, each acting independently. The Yellow River was the border between Qi, Zhao, and Wei. Zhao and Wei were close to mountainous areas, while Qi was low-lying, so they built embankments 25 miles from the river. When the Yellow River water hit the embankments of Qi, it would flood west towards Zhao and Wei, who also built embankments 25 miles from the river. Although this wasn't the best approach, the river water could still flow back to some extent. After the water receded, the silt made the land fertile, and the common people cultivated it. After a long flood-free period, people began to build houses near the embankments, gradually forming villages. When floods came, houses were destroyed, and people would rebuild embankments to save themselves, moving slightly away from the original city walls to live in well-drained areas. They let the water come and go naturally. Now, some dikes are just a few hundred steps from the river, others miles away.
For example, the old Dajindi south of Liyang extends from the west side of the Yellow River to the northwest, to the south of Xishan, then turns east to connect with Dongshan. Folks lived east of the Dajindi, building houses there. Ten years or so later, people rebuilt the embankment, extending from the south of Dongshan all the way south to connect with the old embankment. There is also a lake within Neihuang territory, covering dozens of miles (a "li" is approximately one-third of a mile), surrounded by embankments. Over a decade ago, the county magistrate made the people pay for it, and now the common people have built houses inside. I have seen all of this with my own eyes. The old Dajindi in Baima of Dongjun has also been repaired several times, and the common people live between the embankments. From the north of Liyang to the border of Weiguo, the furthest old dike from the Yellow River is several dozen miles away, with several embankments built inside, all constructed by the previous dynasty. Stone embankments were built to force the river east towards Dongjun's Pinggang, northwest towards Liyang and Guanxia, northeast towards Dongjun's Jinnorth, northwest towards Weijun's Zhaoyang, and northeast again. Over a hundred miles, the Yellow River zig-zagged, forced west twice and east three times; no peace for that river.
Here's what we should do: move the people living near the river in Jizhou, where they are easily swept away by floods, and then cut a new channel at Liyang, diverting the river north to the sea. The river is bordered by mountains to the west and the Golden Embankment to the east, so the flooding won't spread too far. It is estimated that the problem can be solved in a month. Some people will definitely say, "'But think of all the damage! Thousands of homes, temples, even graves—everyone will be furious!'" But remember what Dayu did when he tamed the floods? He blasted through mountains, rerouted rivers—he completely reshaped the landscape! It's all been done before, so why not do it again? Now, in the ten counties near the Yellow River, millions of cash are spent every year on repairing embankments. When a real breach occurs, the losses will be even greater. Instead of wasting years and fortunes on flood control, it's better to organize the people who need to be relocated and follow the example of the ancients, reshape the landscape so everyone benefits. We're the mighty Han Dynasty! Are we really going to let a little river push us around? Once this method is implemented, the Yellow River will be stable, the people will live in peace and contentment, and there will be no worries for a thousand years. So, it's a win-win, right?
The best way now is to move the people near the river in Jizhou, where they are easily swept away, and then cut a channel near Liyang to divert the Yellow River northward into the sea. On the west side of the river is a mountain, and on the east side is the existing embankment. In this way, the river water will not flood far away, and we could wrap this up in a month. But surely there will be opposition, saying, "In this way, the city, countryside, and even the graves will be destroyed countless times, and the people will be furious!" But think about what Dayu accomplished—he rerouted rivers and carved through mountains. This is nothing new! Now, the ten counties near the Yellow River spend a king's ransom each year on repairing river embankments. If the embankment breaks, the losses will be even greater. Instead of spending years of money on river management, it is better to organize the people who need to be relocated, learn from the methods of ancient sages in water management, and redirect the flow of the river to let humans and nature live in harmony. With all the land we have, are we really going to let a little river dictate our plans? As long as this method is successful, the Yellow River will be stable, the people will live and work in peace, and there will be no more floods for a thousand years. This is our best bet!
If we want to dig more canals in the Jizhou area so that the folks can irrigate the fields and divert the river water, although this isn't the method of a sage, it can be considered a quick fix. Some people may say, "The water level of the Yellow River is higher than the plain, the embankments are raised every year, and there are frequent breaches and floods; how can we dig canals?" I did some investigating in the area 18 li west of Zhehaiting, to the mouth of the Qishui River, where there is the Yuejin embankment, one zhang (approximately 10 feet) high. From there to the east, the terrain gradually lowers, and the embankments gradually rise, reaching four to five zhang high by Zhehaiting. In the past six or seven years, the water level of the Yellow River rose severely, rising by one zhang seven chi (approximately 1.7 feet), breaking the southern gate of Liyang, and the embankment was breached. When the water level was two chi (approximately 0.6 feet) away from the top of the embankment, looking north from the embankment, the river water topped the houses, and the folks had all fled to the mountains. The water flooded for thirteen days, the embankment collapsed, and officials and people worked together to plug the breach. I walked along the embankment, inspected the water flow, and traveled more than seventy li to the south, to the mouth of the Qishui River, where the water level was just halfway up the embankment, probably five chi (approximately 1.5 feet) higher than the ground. Now we can build a stone embankment from the mouth of the Qishui River to the east and add more water gates. In the initial years of the Chuanyuan era, the Yellow River was still tens of steps away from the embankment under Zhehaiting, and now, after forty years, the river water is already close to the foot of the embankment. From this, it can be seen that that foundation's solid as a rock. Some may doubt that such a large river as the Yellow River is difficult to control, but the Xingyang canal shows us that its water gates are only made of wood and mud. Now we can build a stone embankment on a solid foundation, which will definitely be stable. Jizhou's canal system will depend on these water gates. Building canals isn't about digging up the whole area; it's just about building an embankment to the east, extending more than three hundred li to the north, flowing into the Zhang River. The channels can all draw water from here; in dry spells, open the lower eastern gates to water Jizhou; in the wet season, open the upper western gates to divert the floodwaters. Opening up the canals has three benefits, while not opening them has three drawbacks. The folks are often busy with disaster relief, and half of the farming activities are delayed; flooding on the ground makes it damp and cold, making the folks prone to dampness diseases, trees wither, and saline-alkali land cannot grow crops; flooding causes damage, and fish and turtles destroy the crops: these are all drawbacks. If there are canals for irrigation, the saline-alkali land will become moist, and the silt will increase fertility; therefore, planting wheat and switching to rice, high-yield fields can increase production by five times, and low-yield fields can increase production by ten times; transportation will also be convenient: these are all benefits. Currently, the officials and soldiers on the river embankment and the several thousand people in the counties spend millions in local currency each year on logging and purchasing wood and stone materials, which is enough to build canals and water gates; and the folks also benefit from irrigation and will actively participate in building canals. Even if it is hard work, they will not give up. When the folks' fields are well managed and the river embankments are repaired, this is truly a great way to enrich the country, help the people, and get rid of problems, which can last for hundreds of years, so it can be considered a mid-range plan.
If we continue to repair the old dam, raising and thickening it, it will be a laborious and costly effort, and there will still be frequent floods. That's just a recipe for disaster. During the time of Wang Mang, he gathered many people, probably over a hundred, to come up with ways to control the Yellow River. Among them was Pingling Guan, who oversaw water control, and others who proposed different opinions. He said, "The Yellow River often breaches near Pingyuan County and Dong County, where the land is low and marshy, with loose, poor soil. I heard that when Dayu was controlling the water, he intentionally left this area empty as a buffer zone for the water flow. When there is too much water, it naturally overflows, and when there is less water, it slowly flows back. Although sometimes adjustments are needed, it will generally not deviate from this area. Ancient history's hard to verify, but looking at the situation since the Qin and Han dynasties, the breaches of the Yellow River have all been in the Cao Wei area, only about one hundred and eighty miles north to south. We can leave this area empty and not build government offices or residential buildings there." Grand Marshal Shichang'an Zhang Rong also said, "Water flows to low-lying areas, and when it flows quickly, it will naturally erode a deeper and emptier place. The Yellow River water is muddy and heavy, thick with silt. Currently, in the western counties, all the way to the east of the capital, the common people use the water from the Yellow River, Wei River, and other rivers for irrigation. During the dry spring and summer, when there is less water, the river flows slowly, causing silt to accumulate at the bottom and the river channel to become shallower; when it rains, the water suddenly increases, making it prone to flooding. The government keeps building higher and higher dams—it's like trying to build walls in the water! It is better to let nature take its course and stop using river water for irrigation. That way, everything would flow smoothly, and we wouldn't have to worry about floods anymore."
Han Mu, the Linhuai censor, believed: "We can refer to the Nine Rivers mentioned in the 'Tribute of Yu'. By excavating some river channels near the Nine Rivers, even if we can't dig nine, digging four or five should also be beneficial." The Minister of Works, Wang Heng, said: "The place where the Yellow River flows into the sea is Bohai, and the terrain of Bohai is higher than the area Han Mu wants to dig. In the past, the northeast monsoon often brought weeks of torrential rain, causing the seawater to surge, flow southwest, and flood hundreds of square miles of land. The area near the Nine Rivers has been eroded by seawater. When Yu the Great's flood control efforts were in place, it flowed northeast into the sea along the foothills of the western mountains. The 'Book of Zhou' states that in the fifth year of King Ding, the Yellow River changed its course, so the current route of the Yellow River is not the river that Yu the Great originally dug. Moreover, when the state of Qin attacked the state of Wei, they once breached the dykes to irrigate the capital of Wei, causing the breach to become very large and irreparable. The Yellow River should be diverted to a flat area, the river channel re-excavated, allowing it to flow northeast into the sea along the foothills of the western mountains, so that there will be no more floods." Huan Tan from Pei County was the Minister's secretary, responsible for organizing these opinions. He said to Zhen Feng: "One of these opinions must be correct. We should carefully investigate and verify them. All these plans can foresee results. After the plan is finalized, the implementation will cost only tens of millions, and it can also allow the unemployed to participate. Let them live in vacant places or participate in the project, and provide them with food and clothing; government-provided food and clothing would ensure their cooperation, benefiting both sides. This way, we can inherit the achievements of Yu the Great and relieve the suffering of the people." During the Wang Mang era, they only talked and did not implement any of these plans. It is said that the ancients once said: "If it were not for Yu the Great's water control, wouldn't we have turned into fish!" Our Chinese territory is filled with rivers, too numerous to count, but the most important one is undoubtedly the Yellow River, the most important of the Four Great Rivers. Confucius also said: "Listen more, remember more, and then you can understand." The rise and fall of a country depend on these matters. So, let's dive into the details.
Next, I’m going to give you the lowdown on the Yellow River. The Yellow River is the mother river of our people, nurturing generations! Throughout history, it's been a blessing for generations. But she's got a temper, a real bad one sometimes! When she floods, it's total chaos, causing countless people to be displaced and many homes to be destroyed. So, emperors and rulers have always treated the governance of the Yellow River as a major issue.
Flooding on the Yellow River has always been a huge deal, affecting everyone and threatening the country itself. Therefore, we need to study the Yellow River carefully to understand what it's all about, so we can find better ways to manage it and bring benefits to our people. This is not an easy task and will require a lot of effort. As the ancients said, "Compared to what Yu did, my efforts are nothing!" Just think, if it weren't for Yu the Great's efforts in controlling the water, who knows what our situation would be like now! So we've got to take this seriously.
