Section 005 The Cause of Discord

  The village of Xiaquan cannot intercept the flowing water, and there is no way to cultivate it.

  The villages below cannot force Xiaquan Village to release water, and they also find it difficult to cultivate.

  Many villages are carrying water from the Ju Ma River, which is tens of miles away, on their shoulders. The closest ones are also over ten miles away, and the farthest ones are almost thirty miles away.

  "Why don't we dig a well?"

  "Every village has a well, but the water in the well is extremely scarce during spring. The deepest well has been dug to fifteen zhang already. On ordinary days, people and livestock have no problem drinking water, but for irrigation in spring, it is far from enough. Every year, many wells stop producing water, and every year each village needs to spend a lot of effort to find suitable locations to dig new wells."

  A young man added at this time: "Bai Nian brother, there are many mountains here, digging wells is very difficult!"

  It's really a dead knot.

  According to modern knowledge, it is possible that the changes in water levels and other natural factors over the past twenty years have turned this place into a water-scarce area. With thirty-two villages, this place is neither big nor small.

  Everyone's attention was focused on Bai Minghe, and what he said just now was really satisfying.

  This problem, no matter how many prefects of Zhuozhou or magistrates of Lai Shui County have been in office, has not been solved. Several canals were dug, but when the spring floodwaters of the Ju Ma River arrived, there was still a shortage of water because of the terrain; two-thirds of the canal bed is rock rather than soil. To lower the canal further would require so much labor and resources that even Zhuozhou, let alone these 32 villages, could not afford it.

  Every year during the spring irrigation, Lai Shui County would send people over to work with the eight village heads to monitor and control how much water was diverted from the lower spring and how much was released. This barely managed to stop the armed fights of recent years, but the ill intentions of each village towards Xiaquan Village were getting heavier and heavier.

  Especially in the past two years, the water level of Chumag River has dropped again in spring, and the water volume is even smaller. This contradiction has reached an extreme degree.

  The county magistrate of Lishui County did not dare say that he could completely suppress the contradictions over water disputes in the 32 villages within the eight miles this year.

  "Please forgive me for my ignorance, since both are water shortages, there is a county magistrate to regulate. Why did someone tell me that this hatred is not because of the fight, is there another reason?" Bai Minghe asked again.

  "Yes, that was seven years ago, during the summer flood season. The Xiaquan Village had built a dam over one zhang high in their own village. Unintentionally, it caused the two villages downstream to lose their entire harvest. If you say Xiaquan Village was not at fault, they were just protecting their own fields. But if you say they were at fault, then Xiaquan Village protected their own fields and destroyed those of others. Although it only happened once, from that year on, it can be said that the feud truly began, and before that, there was still some understanding."

  Bai Menghua really didn't know what to say anymore.

  When Lu Daren picked up the cup to drink water, the young man who spoke earlier added: "Bai Nian brother, it's not that we haven't thought of a solution. Once, a county magistrate designed a lake to store water. But after calculations, the depth and area required for this lake were extremely large, making the project difficult to complete. Just considering the occupation of arable land, it was already impossible to continue. That's why San Shu said that this matter is unsolvable."

  Bai Minghe thought of some ways in his mind.

  It seems that none of them is feasible after careful analysis.

  The first article is about water storage regulation, this scholar also mentioned it in the same year, someone has thought of this method before. It won't work.

  Then Bai Minghe thought of letting the people here move away, but ancient people, unless they really couldn't make a living, would never mention moving.

  The last resort is to consider whether it's possible to dig a deep well.

  But thinking again, this is not a modern era, and digging a 15-zhang deep well is already very difficult. Moreover, I don't have the confidence to say that the well will definitely yield water if dug.

  As for the Lu family, they have a lot of land, with more than half of it located near Zhuozhou, so they don't have to worry about water shortages. The remaining small amount of land, even if there is no water and production is reduced by several hundred or thousand mu, is not a life-or-death matter for the Lu family.

  Compared with the problems of the 32 villages in Hebei and Shandong provinces, this is nothing.

  The Lu family has a big household and business, and doesn't want to get involved in the dispute over water with the 32 villages within eight miles. As long as their fields near these villages can yield one or half a stone of crops, the Lu family is content.

  Bai Minghe fell silent, he never thought there would be such a big trouble.

  The Lu family, from Old Lady Lu to the scholars and licentiates in the house who were as white as cranes, all stared at Bai Minghe. At this time, even if Bai Minghe retreated, no one would say anything against him. After all, this matter was not a conflict of one or two years, it could be said that every county magistrate of Lishui County would lose sleep when hearing about it.

  In Lu's opinion, Bai Minghe was only eighteen years old and had no reason to take on this almost unsolvable trouble.

  Bai Meng thought for a long time, and it can be said that this was the first time he had exhausted his brainpower since arriving in the Ming Dynasty.

  Suddenly!

  Bai Minghe's mind flashed! To know that in the future, any trouble with water will definitely arise from hydraulic facilities. So, to solve this trouble, we must think of a way on hydraulic facilities, and ultimately, the root cause is still in water storage.

  No one does it doesn't mean it can't be done, it's just that the input-output ratio is unbalanced.

  It's not worth it, having come all this way for nothing. I'll definitely be in Xiaquan Village and eventually in Bali San Shi Er Village, and Lu Jia Luo will get a bad reputation. In the future, when the news gets out, even if Bai Ju Ren is still stuck with the dead knot of Bali San Shi Er Village, there's nothing that can be done about it.

  This white scholar is just an ordinary scholar after all.

  On the contrary, there are too many benefits of being single.

  Firstly, he can avoid this imperial examination and gain the notorious reputation of handing in a blank paper, which is more terrifying than failing to solve the problem of the 32 villages of Bali. Moreover, if this matter is done well, there are countless benefits. It's absolutely a win-win situation for both fame and fortune, and it will also make him look good in the eyes of Fan Yanglu and other families, which is a huge bonus.

  Even if he failed, his own abandonment of the imperial examination would earn him a reputation as a tragic hero.

  What people in the Ming Dynasty lived for was power, ordinary people lived for money.

  Scholars live by their reputation; if they want to be superior to others, they must make their names known throughout the world.

  A man is noble in one throw, and it's a must-win throw, why not throw?

  Thinking of this, Bai Minghe stood up.

  "I, Bai Minghe, have read extensively and value loyalty and righteousness. In my interactions with others, I prioritize the importance of 'trust'. Since I said it earlier, if this matter is not resolved, I will not participate in the imperial examination. I, Bai Minghe, will definitely find a way to resolve this. For now, I will use a precious item as collateral and borrow 100 stones of grain. When repaying the grain, consider it as interest and redeem it back!"

  Bai Minghe was also very confident, he believed that he could definitely find a way out.

  At the same time, it also avoided this trial in a legitimate and reasonable manner.

  Bai Minghe knew that with his current abilities, participating in the exam would be futile, and he wouldn't even understand the questions, so he might as well hand in a blank paper.

  But more importantly, Bai Minghe has confidence in himself and takes responsibility for his words, which can establish the image of a good man who stands tall and upright.

  Facing Bai Meng's resolute attitude, some members of the Lu family praised him, while others sighed.

  "Alright, I'll lend it!" thought the old lady. A scholar had sworn an oath to use his own future prospects as collateral. The Lu family's emotions and reason both dictated that they couldn't not help, and by doing so, they would also be able to justify themselves to the 28 villages within a radius of seven miles, after all, this was a scholar.

  "Mr. Bai doesn't need to use valuable things as collateral, just a handwritten note will do!" Lord Lu was indeed a very generous person.

  Bai Minghe took out his own copper mirror and asked the servant beside him to send it to Lu Lao Taijun, saying: "This thing will stay with the old lady for a few days, which is also a thank you from the younger generation to the elder."

  Do you like it? Are there any women who don't like mirrors? Especially under the sunlight, that fairy in the mirror.

  Several men of noble status in Lu's family had seen it and were all astonished, exclaiming that this was indeed a treasure.

  "I thank you, sir. This thing will stay in the Lu Manor for three months, whether or not it is returned with grain, Young Master Bai can come and take it back." Old Lady Lu nodded towards Lord Lu: "Third son, send someone to deliver grain to Xiaquan Village, and also send someone to explain the situation to each village. Today's matter, my Lu family cannot help but assist, cannot help but lend a hand."

  Bai Minghe let out a long sigh and bowed again: "The junior dares to ask for another request!"

  "Go on, say whatever you want!" Old Lady Lu held the copper mirror and laughed with her mouth wide open.

  "Ask the Lu family to set off fewer fireworks, and lend the excess to their juniors after New Year's. Perhaps it will be useful for opening up the mountain." Bai Minghe knew that no matter what method he thought of, some gunpowder would always be correct.

  But who would have thought, Lord Lu burst out laughing: "White gentleman, rest assured, if you really can solve the dead knot of these eight miles and thirty-two villages, even if my family's gunpowder is not enough, I will help you call some from the Ministry of Works."

  Grain arrived at Xiaquan Village, and many uninvited guests also came to Xiaquan Village.

  In the village, the ancestral hall, the elderly were inside, and the young were outside. After seeing the grain cart, Sun Lao Shu Gong naturally led people to greet them, while several old men took Bai Minghe into the Sun family's ancestral hall.

  At this time, there were nearly fifty people crowded into this small temple.

  "Mr. Juren, I am..." The oldest one came out and made a self-introduction, then introduced the others. Bai Minghe was overwhelmed at that time, as there were eight Li Changs, thirty-two village heads, or tribal chiefs, all of whom were present in this deadlocked situation.

  These people came because of the rumors spread by Lu's family, so they all rushed to Xiaquan Village.

  After the introduction, everyone bowed to Bai Minghe. Bai Minghe quickly returned the bow: "Seniors paying respects to juniors will shorten the junior's lifespan, absolutely not allowed."

  An elderly man stepped forward, cupped his fists again: "Bai Gongzi, I have a few words. Bai Gongzi took the initiative to solve the current troubles for Xiaquan Village. Although we are not on good terms with Xiaquan Village, we cannot help but praise you a few times. This is a great kindness."

  Wow! Bai Minghe heard these words of praise, but instead of being happy, he sucked in a breath of cold air.

  First flattery, then murder? Bai Minghe felt a little tense.