Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 712 Talent for Governing the Country 11

The spring chill lingered, and the bamboo slips in the Gewu Academy rustled in the morning breeze. Yun Chu spread a map on the table and lightly pointed to a spot: "Yuenü, this is Linshui Village in the northern part of Zhao State. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces a river on one side. Last autumn, a flash flood washed away the irrigation canal, and this year, with spring plowing just around the corner, there is no water available."

Yuenu stared intently at the map, her finger moving along the winding lines: "Linshui Village...the terrain is high in the west and low in the east, with steep mountains, and during the rainy season...the rainy season is prone to flash floods."

“Exactly.” Yun Chu nodded. “You have been with me for three years, and today it is time for you to take charge. The water conservancy of Linshui Village is entrusted to you.”

Yue Nu took a deep breath, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Disciple...will certainly not fail your trust."

Three days later, Yue Nu arrived at Linshui Village. At the village entrance, several old farmers were squatting by the dried-up irrigation ditch with worried expressions.

“This irrigation canal… was washed away by a flash flood last year and has never been repaired,” sighed an elderly man with white hair. “Spring planting is just around the corner, and if it doesn’t rain soon, we’ll have no harvest again this year.”

Yuenu crouched down and carefully examined the cross-section of the canal, then walked upstream along the river. She discovered that the mountains upstream were steep, and whenever there was heavy rain, flash floods would rush down like wild horses, not only destroying the canal but also carrying away large amounts of silt and sand, clogging the downstream river channel.

“If…if a gentle slope were built upstream,” Yue Nu pondered as she walked, “the water flow would slow down, and the silt…the silt would settle.”

She took out a bamboo ruler and rope that she carried with her and began to measure the terrain. The villagers gathered around curiously.

"Young lady, what are you doing?" a middle-aged farmer asked.

“Measure…measure.” Yue Nu looked up and smiled. “I want to…I want to help the village repair the irrigation canal.”

"Repair the irrigation canal?" The old farmer shook his head. "The craftsmen sent by the government last year also said they would repair it, but it was washed away as soon as it was completed."

“Because…because we couldn’t find…the root cause.” Yue Nu pointed upstream, “The flash flood was too strong, and the irrigation canal couldn’t handle it.”

She took out the sand table model she carried with her and drew a design on the sand with a small stick: "If...if we build a stone weir here, in an arc shape, so that the water flows...the water flows along the arc, the impact...the impact will be dispersed. Then we dig a sedimentation tank behind the weir, and the silt...the silt will settle down, and the water channel will not be blocked."

The villagers were skeptical. Yue Nu remained calm and continued to explain, "When water flows through a bend, the outer side flows faster and the inner side flows slower. If... if the water is allowed to pass through a sedimentation tank first before being introduced into the canal, it can... it can prevent siltation."

She took out a small bamboo tube from her bundle, filled with water and sand, and demonstrated it on the spot. As the water flowed through the arc-shaped channel she had designed, the silt and sand indeed settled in the sedimentation tank, while the water entering the canal became much clearer.

"Brilliant!" exclaimed a young farmer. "How come we didn't think of such a simple principle?"

Yue Nu smiled slightly: "The way of investigating things...the way of investigating things lies in...in daily observation."

In the days that followed, Yuenu led the villagers to begin construction. She divided the villagers into several groups: one group quarried stones, one group dug ditches, and one group made measuring tools. She personally designed the curvature of the stone embankment, accurate to every inch.

“The stone weir cannot be too straight,” she told the craftsmen. “It must be curved like a bow so that the impact of the water flow can be dispersed.”

During construction, a sudden downpour tested Yue Nu's design. A flash flood rushed down, crashing against the unfinished stone embankment. The villagers panicked, fearing another tragedy was about to unfold.

Yue Nu remained calm and observed from a high vantage point. She saw the mountain torrent crashing against the curved surface of the stone dam, diverting along the curve. Most of the silt settled in the pool behind the dam, with only a small amount of clear water flowing into the canal.

"It's...it's a success!" Yue Nu shouted excitedly.

The villagers cheered and praised Yue Nu's wisdom. The old farmer who had initially been skeptical took Yue Nu's hand and said, "Girl, you are truly a living Bodhisattva sent from heaven!"

During the spring planting season, the irrigation ditches in Linshui Village flowed smoothly. In the rice paddies, tender green rice seedlings swayed in the clear water. The villagers spontaneously organized themselves and, following Yuenu's design, further improved the entire water conservancy system.

One day, Yun Chu quietly arrived at Linshui Village. She saw Yue Nu standing on the ridge of the field, instructing the villagers on how to adjust the sluice gate according to changes in the water flow.

“When the water flow is strong, open the sluice gate; when the water flow is weak, open the sluice gate,” Yue Nu explained patiently. “You have to treat it like a child, adjusting it according to the actual situation.”

Yun Chu stood at a distance, observing silently. She saw that Yue Nu had completely overcome her stutter; although her speech was still slightly slow, it was clear and full of confidence. What pleased her even more was that Yue Nu had not only mastered water conservancy technology but also understood the philosophy of "adapting to local conditions" in water management.

In the evening, Yuenu found her master standing at the village entrance and went to greet him with delight.

"Sir...what brings you here?"

Yun Chu smiled: "Come and see my students."

She accompanied Yue Nu on an inspection of the water conservancy facilities, carefully examining every detail. When they reached the stone weir, she stopped and asked, "Did you design this curve yourself?"

“Yes…yes.” Yue Nu nodded. “I…I measured the upstream mountain slope and calculated…calculated the water flow speed before determining…determining this angle.”

Yun Chu stroked the surface of the stone dam, feeling the traces of water flow: "Very good. You have not only learned the technique, but also understood the principle of 'adapting to local conditions'."

Yuenu said modestly, "This...this is all thanks to your excellent teaching, sir."

“No,” Yun Chu shook her head, “I should be thanking you. You made ‘investigating things to acquire knowledge’ no longer just words in books, but… but a practice that truly benefits the people.”

As night fell, Yue Nu sat with Yun Chu on a stone bench at the village entrance. In the distance, frogs croaked in the rice paddies, and water murmured in the irrigation ditches.

“Sir,” Yue Nu said softly, “I…I finally understand what you meant by ‘water flows around rocks and falls over cliffs, eventually reaching the sea.’ Knowledge…knowledge is like this water. When it encounters a problem…when it encounters a problem, it seeks a new path, but…but the direction cannot change.”

Yun Chu nodded with satisfaction: "You have grasped the essence of it."

“I…I want to do more.” Yue Nu looked into the distance. “The water conservancy in Linshui Village…water conservancy is just the beginning. Zhao State…there are still many villages in Zhao State that need help. I want…I want to pass on the Way of Investigation of Things to more people.”

Yun Chu patted Yue Nu on the shoulder: "Alright. Starting tomorrow, you will be an official of the Institute of Natural Sciences. I will recommend you for a government post, specifically in charge of water conservancy affairs."

Yuenu's eyes widened in surprise: "I...can I?"

“Why not?” Yun Chu smiled. “You have already proven your ability. Remember, the Way lies not only in discovering patterns, but also in… applying those patterns to benefit the people.”

The next morning, when the villagers learned that Yue Nu was about to leave, they all came to see her off. They brought their best food and cloth to express their gratitude.

“Miss Yue Nu,” the old farmer said on behalf of the entire village, “you repaired the irrigation canal for us and saved the lives of everyone in the village. We…we will never forget this kindness.”

With tears welling in her eyes, Yue Nu said, "It's...it's the result of everyone working together. Without...without your support, I...I couldn't have accomplished it."

She turned to Yun Chu and said, “Sir, I…I would like to leave a few students in Linshui Village. They…they are very talented and willing to learn the way of investigating things.”

Yun Chu nodded approvingly: "Good. Knowledge is like water; only when it flows can it... can it nourish more land."

On the way back, Yun Chu and Yue Nu walked side by side. The rising sun illuminated the road ahead.

"Yuenü," Yun Chu suddenly asked, "if you were to become a high-ranking official in the court one day, how would you manage the floods?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yue Nu replied, "We must...put the people first, and adapt to local conditions. We should not...pursue grand projects, but...focus on practical results. Every water conservancy project should...solve practical problems, so that...the people can benefit."

Yun Chu laughed loudly: "Good! This is the true spirit of 'investigating things'."

The water that investigates things flows ceaselessly; the talent for governing a country arises from this.