PDLP Chapter 208: Floodgate, Zhou Sisi goes to school
Chapter 208: Floodgate, Zhou Sisi goes to school
While he was deep in thought, Prefect Lin also arrived. He had already arranged all the work that needed to be done.
Zhou Dajiang pointed at the rising water and said, "It's no use blocking the river like this. We have to slow down the rising momentum of the river water.
Lin Zhigao also agreed with his suggestion and said, "Then how do we drain it? Where do we drain this water?"
"If we're releasing the floodwater, it would be best if it flowed directly into the sea. I looked at the map before coming here, and the closest place to the sea is Yanshan Prefecture. And Yanshan Prefecture happens to have a canal running through it, very close to us. I think if we can divert the floodwater into the canal, the danger will be almost over."
"Then what is Master Zhou going to do?"
"From here to the middle of the Caoyun Canal, there is a large rice field. However, this rice field has now become a vast ocean.
We can dig a few more flood discharge vents on the side of the embankment near the Cao Canal, allowing water to slowly flow from the rice fields into the Cao Canal. This will relieve the pressure on Zhending Prefecture."
"Great! That's a great idea! I'll go arrange some people and gather the laborers. Then someone from our Ministry of Works will lead the digging of the flood outlet."
Lord Lin was very fast. Soon, a group of strong men arrived carrying tools.
When He Junchen heard that Zhou Dajiang was going to dig a flood outlet, he quickly sent some people over. However, these people had no tools, so Lord Lin finally had someone find a batch of tools. Everyone worked together, selected a location on the embankment, and got to work in full swing.
After several hours of hard work, the flood discharge outlet was finally successfully dug. The rushing river water also rushed along the flood discharge outlet towards the Cao Canal.
In Sindh, the water level finally dropped thanks to the construction of a floodgate, and the crisis was finally resolved. Everyone looked at the gradually falling water level with relieved smiles on their faces. Finally, they could breathe a sigh of relief.
……
On the other hand, Empress Cao and Emperor Jiayou were also talking about the flood in Zhending Prefecture. "I don't know if Zhou Dajiang and the others have arrived. I heard from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory that it will rain tonight. I don't know how they are doing now. If they haven't arrived yet, they must be suffering on the road now." Emperor Jiayou was very worried about them.
Empress Cao was also worried, but she was more concerned about her own kiln. This time, her ceramics factory was requisitioned to produce cement.
Seeing that Emperor Jiayou was in a good mood, Empress Cao said softly, "Your Majesty, my kiln has made a great contribution this time. If this cement is effective in controlling floods, I wonder if Your Majesty will reward me?"
Emperor Jiayou laughed and said, "I have already made plans. When the incident in Zhending Prefecture is completely settled, I will allow you to expand the scale of the kiln and reduce taxes for three years." Empress Cao was very happy after hearing this.
I just hope Zhou Dajiang can repair the dam as soon as possible. That way, she can set up another super-large ceramic factory and make a lot of money during the three-year tax exemption period.
After thinking about the ceramic factory, she began to seek benefits for the Zhou family of three. "Your Majesty, Zhou Dajiang has made great contributions this time. When he returns from his mission, how do you plan to reward them?"
The Zhou family is full of capable people. Emperor Jiayou stroked his beard and thought for a moment, "Zhou Dajiang is quite talented, but he has only been promoted for less than a year. I can't promote him immediately. So, let's give his family more wealth and grant his wife an imperial title."
Queen Cao nodded with satisfaction. It was okay to confer the title on Zhou, as the glass was made by Zhou.
After saying this, Emperor Jiayou thought of something else and said, "Don't you still have a girls' school? You can issue an imperial decree to allow Zhou Dajiang's daughter to study there."
Empress Cao: "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten about it."
"Okay, I'll issue an order tomorrow." Let Zhou Dajiang's daughter go to the girls' school as soon as possible.
Zhou Sisi was in the small study at this time, and she sneezed for no reason. "Who is missing me?" she muttered.
Little did she know that it was a big surprise given to her by the emperor and the empress.
The next day, when Zhou Sisi had finished breakfast and was about to go to her sachet shop, a eunuch came to announce the imperial edict, holding the imperial edict issued by Empress Cao.
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The imperial edict is unfolded lightly, and I write this with my own hand to express my sincerity:
I have heard that Minister Zhou Dajiang is loyal to the emperor and dedicated to his country, diligent in government affairs, and has made outstanding achievements. He is truly a pillar of the country. His daughter, Zhou Sisi, has been exceptionally intelligent and virtuous since childhood, like a pearl reflecting in water, its radiance overflowing.
In order to commend the achievements of his family and encourage the virtues of women, the minister's daughter Zhou Sisi was specially granted admission to a girls' school to receive education, in the hope that her talents and knowledge will be further improved, her virtues will be perfected, and she will be able to serve the country and benefit the people in the future.
From this day forward, the Minister's daughter, Zhou Sisi, must abide by the rules of the women's school, study diligently, and live up to my high expectations. Teachers at the women's school should also teach her diligently, so that she will develop both talent and virtue, and become a heroine.
Now that this decree has been issued, I hope that the families of ministers and the subjects of the world will all understand my intention and join in this great undertaking.
This is it.
******
Zhou Sisi was dumbfounded when she received the imperial decree. Why did she suddenly have to go to school? She was already so old. Is it okay not to go?
Chen Xiuying was also confused. She hurriedly stuffed a large purse into the eunuch who announced the decree and said, "It's hot in the summer. I'm sorry to trouble you to come all the way here. This is just a small gift, not a token of respect. I hope you can accept it."
The young eunuch weighed the purse and found it was quite heavy. He could tell at a glance that he had been given quite a bit of money, so he accepted it with a smile.
Seeing the eunuch accept the purse, Chen Xiuying continued to ask, "Excuse me, eunuch, could you please tell me what's going on? Why is my daughter suddenly going to school again?"
The eunuch held his purse and told Chen Xiuying what he had heard. "I don't know the details of what the higher-ups mean. I only heard a few bits and pieces of information.
The Emperor and the Empress greatly admire Mr. Zhou's abilities. Mr. Zhou has always diligently served the country, and his efforts and contributions have been seen and remembered by the Emperor and the Empress.
As for Miss Sisi, as the apple of Lord Zhou's eye, her wisdom and talent have long been known in the palace.
As the mother of a country, the Empress Dowager was particularly supportive of women's education, so she opened a girls' school many years ago.
Many of our court's ministers' daughters are studying at this girls' school, so Your Majesty hopes that Miss Sisi can also continue her studies there, so that she can contribute to our Donghua Kingdom in the future, just like Lord Zhou."