"Tongwaxiang burst, the main slip of the Yellow River first flows to the northwest, flooding Fengqiu, Xiangfu two counties, and then turning to the northeast, flooding Lan, Yi, Kaocheng, Changyuan and other counties. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info river to Changyuan County Lantong set, slip into two shares: one by Zhao Wanghe bet, through the south of Caozhou Mansion in Shandong through the canal.......... According to statistics, the three strands of flooding water walk, all of which converge to Zhangqiu through the canal, take the Daqing River to Lijin County and flow into the Bohai Sea. ”

Speaking of this, Wei Yuan deliberately paused for a moment, and said in a heavy tone: "This flood has affected Henan, Shandong, and Zhili three provinces, ten prefectures, and more than 40 counties, and the drowning population is roughly estimated to be about 200,000.

There were 1,388 villages affected by nine points, 2,177 villages affected by eight points, 1,001 villages affected by seven points, and 774 villages affected by six points, totaling 7,161 villages with more than six points of disaster and 7 million people. ”

Seven million victims! Yi Zhixiang smoked a cigarette and didn't say a word, but his heart was overwhelmed by this series of huge numbers, how much silver does it cost to help the victims? How much silver does it cost to block the breach? This is at least twenty or thirty million taels of silver, Yuan Qi can't take out this silver now, even if he has the heart, he is powerless!

He didn't speak, and a few people in the study didn't say anything, and the atmosphere in the room changed from time to time It was very dull, and it was Wei Yuan who broke the dullness, "Sir, after Jiadao, the Yellow River has broken down in the territory of Henan and Suzhou many times, and the harm of the southward flow is hopeless......."

This time, the copper tile compartment bursts, runs through the Zhangqiu Canal, and seizes the Daqing River into the sea, which is a natural river trough, which can be left to its own devices, and it is guided by ......the trend. ”

"The Yellow River is diverted to the north and flows from Shandong into the sea, and the people of Jiangnan will inevitably have one mouthful, such as the rebirth of Qingqing, while the people of Shandong will be heartbroken and look forward to the southward migration of the river." Bao Shichen said slowly: "If the lord has the intention to promote large-scale immigration in the Northeast, this is a great opportunity. ”

Seeing Bao Shichen's support, Wei Yuan hurriedly struck while the iron was hot, "Sir, the Yellow River is known for its good silting, good decision, and good migration.

The Yellow River has been seized into the sea, it has been five or six hundred years, since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, all dynasties have tried their best to pull the river to the southeast, from the entrance of the Yellow Sea, the downstream river channel has been seriously silted up for hundreds of years, the riverbed has been significantly raised, even if the copper tile compartment is blocked, it can not change the situation of frequent breaks, why not go with the flow, because of the advantage of the situation, but also to keep more than ten years or even decades of peace. ”

Listening to this, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but be moved, indeed, since Daoguang 20 years, the Yellow River has almost never been settled, three years of two ends of the embankment, the court has not spent less silver, Yuan Qi has not spent less silver, now the court has no silver, let Yuan Qi alone to relieve the disaster and control the river, Yuan Qi can not bear such a huge expenditure.

Let it go its own way, instigate the imperial court to immigrate the people of Shandong to the northeast on a large scale, survive the war in the past few years, and then free up their hands to gradually control the Yellow River, which is indeed the most feasible method at present.

However, after thinking about it, he felt that it was inappropriate, not to mention that the cost of immigration is not a lot, and immigration is not an overnight thing, and the seven million people of the disaster, even if they immigrate to the Northeast on a large scale, how much can they move in a year?

The northwest will send troops no matter what, and the wars in Tibet and Heilongjiang will be conservatively estimated to be two or three years, and it is difficult to say about the Taiping army in the southwest, Burma.

That is to say, judging from Yuanqi's current situation, once it is delayed, it will be delayed for at least two or three years, and it is impossible for the imperial court to use troops in Heilongjiang to get the silver, and let the Yellow River flood for two or three years, what will be the consequences? How many people will die?

Thinking of this, he asked in a muffled voice: "What will happen if the Yellow River is diverted and flooded?" ”

"Sir." Wei Yuan hurriedly said: "Where the Yellow River floods, sediment settles, and fertile land becomes sandy...... Even if the breach is blocked, it will not help, and the existing river channel is hopeless, and it is not worth investing huge sums of money to repair ....... every year. ”

Before he finished speaking, Cao Gensheng walked in quickly and said: "The big treasurer, the call from the military aircraft department - the Tongwaxiang breach, the north flow of the Yellow River, is a rare disaster, the imperial court plans to suspend the use ......of troops in Heilongjiang, make every effort to block the breach, and provide relief to the victims." ”

The imperial court did not hesitate to stop using troops against Heilongjiang, but also to block the breach and provide relief to the victims? Several people in the room were stunned, and after a while, Wei Yuan said hatefully: "The imperial court is trying to protect Shandong!" ”

After reading the telegram and signing it, Yi Zhizhi said: "Call back, Yuan Qi strongly agrees, and also strongly supports the construction of the breach and the relief of the victims, but there are many wars and cannot donate large amounts." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Wei Yuan and said, "Mr. will sort out his thoughts and play them in the name of a private person." ”

Bao Shichen said slowly: "Let's play in the name of the old man." ”

Yi Zhishu naturally understood what he meant, this was because his heart implicated Lin Zexu, after all, Wei Yuan had been a staff member by Lin Zexu's side for many years, and immediately bowed his head and said: "Okay, in the name of Mr. An Wu." ”

Jingshi, Yuanmingyuan, outside the Qinzheng Palace.

The weather was stuffy and hot, and although Mu Zhang'a and Lin Zexu, who were wearing court clothes, were standing in the shade of a tree, they were also sweating on their foreheads, but they didn't say a word, waiting quietly, thinking about their thoughts.

After a while, a little eunuch hurried over, bowed down and said, "Two middle halls, the emperor called in." ”

After entering the Fangbi Cong, Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Yuan Qi has called back." As he spoke, he bowed down and handed over the two telegrams.

After reading Yi Zhi's reply, Xianfeng's expression was flat, Yuan Qi had no spare strength to donate a large amount, which was in his expectation, Yuan Qi used troops one after another, and the expenses were huge, which was obvious to all, but it was Bao Shichen's electric performance, which made him frown, pondering for a while, and then he spoke: "What do you think of Yuan Qi's attitude?" ”

"Your Majesty." Mu Zhang'a said slowly: "Bao Shichen is Yi Zhixiang's right-hand man, and it is obvious that Yi Zhizu is quite hesitant about the diversion of the Yellow River, and the reason why he is playing in the name of Bao Shichen is to hope that the imperial court will carefully consider this proposal.

The servants secretly thought that Bao Shichen's proposal was ill-intentioned, and if the Yellow River was allowed to be diverted, Shandong would inevitably flood with yellow water every year, and nearly 10 million victims would be displaced, and they would have resentment against the imperial court, which would inevitably lead to turmoil in Shandong, and even cause great changes. ”

"Your Majesty." Lin Zexu said in a deep voice: "Weichen secretly thinks that what Bao Shichen said is not completely unreasonable, the Yellow River has flowed into the Yellow Sea in the south for seven hundred years, and the downstream river has been silted up several feet above the ground.

As for the victims of the disaster in Shandong, the imperial court can do its best to organize the evacuation, and the northeast, northwest, and Nanyang can be emigrated. Speaking of this, he kowtowed slightly, "Weichen secretly thinks that the governance of the Yellow River should go with the flow, since Jiadao, the Yellow River has repeatedly decided to the north, and it is inevitable to divert it to the north."

River transport is not only a national transport, but also a catastrophe and an opportunity, if we can take advantage of the situation and build embankments along the river, we can ensure that the Yellow River enters a stable period of up to 100 years or even hundreds of years. ”

Hearing this, Xianfeng also hesitated, at the moment, Yuan Qi was busy dealing with foreign wars, unable to make a large donation, relying only on the imperial court, even if he stopped using troops against Heilongjiang, it was difficult to take into account the repair of the breach and relief to the victims, and besides, he was also anxious about the high river engineering expenditure every year, and not letting the Yellow River be diverted, which meant throwing silver into the Yellow River endlessly.

Although the Yellow River will be diverted and a new river embankment will be built along the new channel, once the new river embankment is built, there will be at least a few decades of stability. As for the victims, Lin Zexu reminded him that the Northeast, Northwest, and Nanyang, the three immigrants, the imperial court only needs to be responsible for the northeast, and the immigrants in the northwest and Nanyang are naturally in charge of Yuanqi, which is equivalent to greatly relieving the pressure on the imperial court.

Seeing Xianfeng, who seemed to be a little tempted, Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the Yellow River is diverted, and the new river course will take several years, and the river water will take more than ten years to be formed by natural erosion and artificial constraints, and the cost of building a new river channel will not be inferior to maintaining the existing river, and Shandong needs to suffer from long-term flooding." ”

Lin Zexu said in a deep voice: "How can there be no price for breaking and then standing." ”

Xianfeng couldn't make up his mind for a while, after all, this matter was too big, and there were pros and cons to divert or not, and the impact was also huge, so he was silent for a while before he spoke: "Submit Bao Shichen's proposal to the six branches of public development." ”

The excerpts of the six public developments will be published in the Di Bao, and the meaning of Xianfeng is undoubtedly quite clear, openly arguing whether the Yellow River flows south or north.

Before Bao Shichen's excerpt was published in the Di Bao, the entire Beijing division was already a sensation, and the officials in Beijing were immediately divided into three camps, and the officials of Shandong Zhili and Jiangsu and Anhui immediately argued fiercely, the south flow of the Yellow River endangers Anhui and Jiangsu, and the north flow endangers Shandong and even Zhili, this is not the interest of a few years or a dozen years, but the interest of a hundred years and hundreds of years, how can it not be disputed? If you can't be an official for a lifetime, everyone has to return to your hometown, and if you don't work hard, how can you have a face to return home?

The officials argued endlessly, and the gentry, businessmen, and even the common people were also involved in this controversy, after all, the impact of the Yellow River flowing south and north on the north and south was too great.

It is not only Jingshi, but also Shanghai, many of the big businessmen in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong Zhili in Shanghai have gone to Zhenhai Mansion to see Yi Zhi, hoping to make a modest contribution to their hometown, and they all know that Yi Zhishu can influence this huge controversy.

Those who can come to the door to ask for a meeting, more or less Yuanqi has a large business relationship or has some friendship with Yi Zhishu himself, Yi Zhishu is busy all day long, how can he have spare time to fight with them, so he simply went to the Baoshan Military Factory to be clean.

However, after only staying in Baoshan for five days, he hurried back to Shanghai, and Prince Hui Mianyu and Minister of Military Aircraft Lin Zexu came to Shanghai, and they were sitting in the house and waiting.

Hurriedly returned to Zhenhai Mansion, after taking a bath and changing clothes, Yi Zhishu rushed to Changle Study, entered the courtyard, and looked up to see Mianyu and Lin Zexu standing in the corridor outside the door of the study, and hurriedly greeted him with a smile: "When the two of you come to Shanghai, why don't you say hello in advance, so you can go down to greet you." ”

Mianyu couldn't stand up to him at all, and said with a smile: "Knowing that the national city doesn't like to usher in that set, this king won't bother the national city." ”

Lin Zexu said with a smile on his face: "The old man is ordered to go out of Beijing, so naturally he can't publicize it." ”

Looked him up and down, he saw that he was improving very well, and he was content to put his mind at ease, the last time he saw Lin Zexu was the first year of Xianfeng, this time it was four or five years, and time passed quickly.

Inviting the two of them into the house to sit down, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "The two of you are here for the dispute between the south and north flow of the Yellow River?" ”

Mianyu glanced at Lin Zexu and said with a smile: "This king's matter is not in a hurry, Shao Mu will invite you first." ”

Lin Zexu smiled and said, "It is precisely for this reason that the stakes are very high, and I have to come to consult the national city in person." After a pause, he continued: "The south and the north flow are very involved, and they are inseparable from the support of Yuan Qi.

The situation of the imperial court, the national city should be very clear, it is really impossible to take out this silver, the situation of Yuanqi, the emperor is also clear, there are many wars, and the expenses are huge, but can you borrow money from the West? ”

"I've thought about borrowing money from the West." Yi Zhizu shook his head slowly, and said: "The scale of the Crimean War is not small, Britain and France have frequently increased their troops, and they are unable to lend money at all, Russia is difficult to protect itself, the economy is on the verge of collapse, the United States is neutral, but the United States has limited financial resources, even if it can borrow, it is only three or five million." ”

Lin Zexu also expected this, nodded slightly, and said: "If there is not enough silver to block the breach and help the victims, the only way is to let the Yellow River flow north, but it will take several years for the new river channel to be formed, and the nearly 10 million displaced victims in Shandong will be unimaginable if they cannot be properly resettled."

Yuan Qi has been organizing large-scale immigrants from the South Seas and Northwest over the years, and has rich experience, can he transfer a large number of victims to the Northwest and South Seas? ”

Yi Zhishu shook his head slowly, and said in a heavy tone: "Not to mention nearly 10 million, even 1 million, it is impossible to transfer all of them within a year, even if the imperial court and Yuan Qi join forces, and at the same time large-scale immigration to the northeast, northwest, and Nanyang, at most four or five hundred thousand a year, immigration also requires a huge amount of money." ”

Lin Zexu glanced at him and said with a wry smile: "Without silver, the south and the north will not work, and the national city will not look at the seven million victims in Shandong and be indifferent, right?" ”

"Yuan Qi really can't get the money this time." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "However, Zhongtang has forgotten about Jin Shang? ”

"Shanxi Lao Xuan?" Mianyu said in a disdainful tone: "It is true that Jin Shang is rich, but he is also famous for picking money, how can he share the worries and difficulties of the court like Yuan Qi." Saying that, he didn't go around in circles, and said straightforwardly: "Yuanqi doesn't issue banknotes, printing more banknotes won't solve the problem, why bother to look at the faces of those old pickers." ”