When he was at the Jinma River earlier, Jin Feng had already noticed that Wei Datong had deep knowledge of water management and was extremely familiar with the waterways around the Jinma River.
It was with Wei Datong’s help that Jin Feng managed to smoothly find the right spot to divert water and flood the cavalry on Danzhu’s side.
So, once the decision to build water projects was made, Jin Feng immediately recommended Wei Datong to the Ninth Princess.
Facts proved that Jin Feng’s decision was correct.
Wei Datong only needed one glance at the sand table to immediately spot its ingenious points. This was enough to show that his foundation was very solid.
“This sand table was just casually made by me with mud. I am sorry to let Sir Wei see such a thing.”
Jin Feng waved his hand.
Making models was also a required skill for mechanical engineering majors. During his university days, Jin Feng had taken several part-time jobs doing exactly this.
Although the water conservancy sand table he made was not very standard, it still captured the geographical features of the Dujiangyan area perfectly.
“Sir, you are too modest. This sand table is excellently made!”
Wei Datong seemed to completely forget the presence of the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao. He walked to the side of the sand table, carefully observing it while praising, “Mountains, rivers, everything that should be there is here. It is practically a miniature Jinma River… Hmm, what is this?”
Wei Datong pointed to a certain spot and asked, “There is no opening here, and this place is also different…”
The first place he pointed to was the position of the Bottle Neck in Dujiangyan.
The Bottle Neck did not exist in the past. It was created only after Li Bing and his son led the people to cut through Yulei Mountain.
In this world, without Li Bing, there was naturally no Bottle Neck.
But on the sand table, Jin Feng had left an opening in Yulei Mountain.
The later spot Wei Datong pointed to was also a modification Jin Feng had made based on Dujiangyan.
“The reason the Jinma River often suffers from floods is that Yulei Mountain blocks the eastward flow of the river water, while the river channel to the west is narrow. So once the water level rises, it creates a situation of drought in the east and flooding in the west.”
Jin Feng took out a topographic map and pointed to the position of Yulei Mountain. “If we cut an opening through Yulei Mountain, then have the labourers build canals to lead the river water into the Jiang’an River, Zouma River, and Baitiao River.”
These three river systems are complex. With the Min River water flowing through them, it can irrigate Mianyang, Shehong, Jianyang, Ziyang, Renshou, Qingshen, and many other places, covering more than ten million mu of farmland across half of the Chuan Shu plain!
In this way, not only can the flood problem of the Jinma River be solved, but the drought problem of the Chuan Shu plain can also be resolved!
Dujiangyan mainly consists of three parts: the Bottle Neck, the Flying Sand Weir, and the Fish Mouth Diversion.
After explaining the Bottle Neck, Jin Feng went on to explain the Flying Sand Weir and the Fish Mouth Diversion.
Wei Datong’s eyes widened in shock. He was completely stunned by Jin Feng’s words.
He had thought that Jin Feng’s plan to manage the Jinma River was simply to clear and widen the river channel during the spring when rainfall was low. He never imagined that Jin Feng actually planned to cut through Yulei Mountain!
Even if you smashed his head open, he could never have thought of a method to cut through Yulei Mountain and divert the river water.
“My heavens! Sir, how did you come up with this idea?”
Wei Datong’s eyes were filled with astonishment.
Even Qing Xinyao and Qing Mulan, who were hearing Jin Feng’s plan for the first time, felt the same way.
The corners of the Ninth Princess’s mouth curved up slightly. She remembered her own expression when Jin Feng first discussed this with her. It was probably the same as Qing Mulan’s now.
“I happened to hear about it from a great expert named Li Bing.”
Jin Feng once again shifted the credit to the so-called “great expert”.
“Li Bing? Sir, can you still find this great expert?”
Wei Datong quickly asked.
“He cannot be found anymore.” Jin Feng shook his head.
They were not even from the same world. Where could he possibly look?
In his previous life, when Jin Feng visited Dujiangyan as a tourist, the guide said that Dujiangyan was the world’s earliest water conservancy project. Built in the Qin Dynasty, it had been in use for more than two thousand years and was known as the “Treasure that Controls Sichuan”.
But Jin Feng thought the guide was exaggerating on purpose and did not believe that a project built in the Qin Dynasty could still be used after two thousand years.
Like many science-minded otakus, he liked to get to the bottom of things. After returning home, Jin Feng specially looked up detailed information about Dujiangyan.
He was shocked when he checked.
The guide had not exaggerated at all. In fact, he might even have been too modest.
The reason the Sichuan plain became known as the “Land of Abundance” was largely thanks to Dujiangyan.
Jin Feng truly admired the wisdom of Li Bing and his son, as well as the countless ancient labourers.
If Li Bing and his son had not led innumerable people to spend eight years building Dujiangyan, Jin Feng would never have thought of cutting through Yulei Mountain.
Mentioning Li Bing’s name to Wei Datong was also a way to let the great man’s achievement be passed down in this world.
It was the most basic form of respect for the ancient sages.
“Cannot be found? What a pity.”
Wei Datong shook his head with regret.
“Sir Wei, you know the Jinma River best. Do you think the method I just described is feasible?” Jin Feng asked.
This time Wei Datong did not answer immediately. Instead, he stared at the sand table and the map, thinking seriously.
After a long while, he looked up and said, “Sir, this is an extremely massive project. The manpower and resources it would require are simply unimaginable…”
The Ninth Princess interrupted him. “You only need to answer whether Sir’s plan is feasible. As for money and grain, you do not need to worry. This palace will handle it!”
“Reporting to Your Highness, this humble official believes Sir’s words make a great deal of sense. However, this matter is of great importance and will involve countless people. This humble official must conduct an on-site survey before I can confirm it.”
Wei Datong bowed as he answered.
Jin Feng, the Ninth Princess, and Qing Xinyao exchanged glances and all gave a slight nod at the same time.
In fact, this was also a test for Wei Datong.
In Jin Feng’s plan, not only would they build something like Dujiangyan, but they would also dig countless channels across the entire Chuan Shu region for flood discharge and irrigation diversion.
Such a vast project would require enormous manpower and resources. If Wei Datong had agreed without even thinking, Jin Feng truly would not have dared to use him.
“Sir Wei’s concern is reasonable,” Jin Feng nodded and said. “In that case, tomorrow morning I will take Sir Wei to survey the Jinma River together.”
“Sir, surveying rivers and mountains is very tiring and will take a lot of time. There is no need for you to come along. I can just take people there myself.”
Wei Datong waved his hand.
“If I come along, Sir Wei will not have to work so hard, and it will not take too much time either.” Jin Feng said with a smile.
“Sir, this matter is of great importance. It cannot be treated lightly.”
Wei Datong shook his head repeatedly.
“Sir Wei, of course I know this matter cannot be treated lightly, and I will absolutely not treat it lightly.”
“Does Sir have some ingenious method?”
Wei Datong finally sensed something unusual.
From what he knew of Jin Feng, if Jin Feng did not have complete confidence, he would never speak like this.
“Sir Wei will know tomorrow morning.”
Jin Feng deliberately kept it mysterious.
“Then this humble official will wait and see!”
Seeing that Jin Feng did not want to say more, Wei Datong did not press him. He lowered his head and looked at the sand table again.
Wei Datong could hold back his curiosity, but Qing Mulan could not.
She asked curiously, “Sir, what method are you going to use exactly? Can you take me along tomorrow morning?”
