Chapter 20 of Part 5

In the Huangmei season, every family rains, and the grass and ponds are everywhere. If you don’t come for a while, you can’t wait for the middle of the night, and you can beat chess pieces and fall lanterns. The Huangmei season described by the poet Zhao Shixiu is the plum rain season in the south of the Yangtze River. Behind the elegant artistic conception of the poem is a social display that makes people unable to sleep and cannot eat.

Huaihe River! Since the 12th century, after hundreds of years of the Yellow River seizing Huaihe River, the water system in the Huaihe River Basin has become one of the most unstable explosive barrels in the Central Plains.

In mid-June, the plum rain season came as scheduled. When the weather was just a little hot, the sky was not clear anymore. The drizzle was falling continuously, and it took ten days at once. Although the raindrops were light, it was really heavy when it hit Zhang Jian's heart. Standing on the river bank and watching the water level of the Huai River remain high, Zhang Jian frowned.

How to manage the Huai River? Zhang Jian proposed a strategy of focusing on diversion and building dams and storage of floods. His predecessor Yang Yikui guided the Huai River like a canal, and the Yangtze River was developed and promoted by Zhang Jian. It became an important means for Zhang Jian to manage the Huai River. Many experts at home and abroad also put forward many suggestions after field inspections, but these are things that will happen in the future. The most urgent task is to face the plum rain that is raging the Jianghuai land. Last year's winter renovation, Zhang Jian almost visited the Huai River Basin in Anhui. As long as there are frequent accidents, there is no gap.

Bengbu, an important town on the Central Plains, connects the north and south transportation hub.

It was deserted on the platform, and two rows of expressionless soldiers stood on both sides of the railway, carrying k98s with bayonets on their backs. No unrelated personnel were allowed to approach the station within 500 meters. Anyone who crossed the 500-meter cordon line would first fire three guns to drive them away, and those who did not listen could shoot and kill them.

The main local officials in Bengbu appeared at the station, and Cao Yi, the new commander of the Central Plains Military Region, also came and brought 30,000 elite troops, with the mission to assist local flood prevention.

The train had just stopped, and the two agile guards had jumped down and opened the umbrella. Then Shen Congyun, who looked anxious, also came down. Cao Yi and Hu Yu, the old partners, shook off the umbrella held by the guards behind him, and immediately rushed forward in the drizzle.

"Thank you for your hard work, sir!"

Shen Congyun nodded and immediately asked in a low voice: "How is the situation? Where is Zhang Jian? Can his body last? This time I also brought a Chinese and foreign expert group, and you can tell the local government to make arrangements."

"The situation is not good. It has been falling for half a month. Now the water level of the Huaihe River has been five meters higher than the warning level. There is still no sign of sunshine this day. Zhang Jian is worried about the safety of the Huaihe River embankment and has already lived on the embankment. If the rain falls like this this year, it will probably be a flood that has not been encountered in 30 years. My soldiers have now gone up to the embankment and are on standby at any time." Cao Yi whispered, his face grim.

The air seemed to solidify instantly. Shen Congyun sighed long. The crisis in the Huaihe River situation was far more serious than expected.

Seeing dozens of officials standing in the distance, Shen Congyun's face darkened, "What's going on? Didn't it mean that local officials are not used to accept them? What should I do? The people who need them the most now are the people who are threatened by the flood. What can I do if I can pick them up by myself? This Wang Zhong is such a bastard!" Wang Zhong, whom Shen Congyun said, was the leading official, the governor of Anhui Province.

Cao Yi's face immediately showed a look of shame. Hu Xueyan, who was descending from the clouds, saw this scene and immediately stepped forward and whispered: "Zi Gui, don't say that. It's not easy for local officials. Although you said you don't have to answer, who doesn't worry about you blaming them for being looked down upon in the future? So even if you know that you are unhappy now, they still want to come. You have to understand the love."

Hu Xueyan's voice was very low. Chen Congyun always respected the God of Wealth, and he said it with reason. How could the superiors understand the following feelings? Speaking of Hu Xueyan after following Chen Congyun, he put aside all his business and ignored it. Several times when Chen Congyun was short of money, Hu Xueyan secretly sold his property to help Chen Congyun get through the difficulties. Even if Hu Xueyan did such a thing, he never mentioned it. It can be seen that this person can be a human being. Xu You during the Three Kingdoms period, the crisis of the Battle of Guandu helped Cao Cao very much. He talked about it all day long in the future, and finally someone did it. Speaking of being a human being, these two people are really a world of difference.

"Brother Xueyan thought he should see them?" Chen Congyun spoke in an inquiring tone, and Hu Xueyan nodded slightly.

"Okay, then let's meet. But this is not the place to meet. Let's go to Cao Yi's temporary command center. The disaster is urgent now, so it's not a big deal for officials to waste here." Chen Congyun said and gave Cao Yi a wink. Cao Yi nodded immediately, and a team of soldiers came up and hugged Chen Congyun out of the station.

Cao Yi's temporary headquarters was in a small courtyard next to the Bengbu Municipal Government. The house was originally used for miscellaneous items. There were tents outside and a group of staff and adjutants lived. Local officials asked him to move many times, but Cao Yi just didn't let go. He knew that Chen Congyun was coming, but when did he not show it at this time? Among Chen Congyun's old subordinates, Cao Yi was not necessarily higher than others in terms of ability. He was able to be the commander of the three major military regions. Most of the reason was that he was low-key and always looked like an old ox who worked hard. Back then, he asked to go wherever he was hard and tired. This was all traditional.

The temporary headquarters is arranged very simply, with a Go trunk in the middle, a small bed, a desk, and a large map.

The first thing Chen Congyun did when he came in was to look around. After secretly applauding in his heart, he couldn't help but smile on his face: "Cao Yi, I heard that except for the bed that is new, the other furniture was helped from your hometown in Wuhu? Mrs. Zun is also very frugal and never eats more than four dishes at home."

Cao Yi smiled embarrassedly and said, "Zhujing is a small family. He doesn't know a single word, and has big feet. His family was poor before. When I joined the army, I was only 20 years old. My wife borrowed half a pound of flour from the one who asked my grandfather to sue, mixed it with sticks and sorghum, and baked ten big cakes for me. After I left, the whole family was all with my wife's care, and he dragged a one-year-old child. That was difficult. I remember the first one. When I received the money, a big soldier was about to catch up with Lord Li to suppress the nickname. Even the An family fee was paid in total five taels of silver. I was not willing to spend it at all, so I took them home. I remember that my wife received the money and asked someone to bring me a letter saying that five taels of silver were enough for the family to eat for a year. Now as long as the children at home make a fuss, my wife always said that now she has white noodles every meal and forgot to eat steamed buns? Haha!"

Cao Yi spoke easily, Chen Congyun's expression gradually became serious as he listened to him, and he sighed in a low voice: "Hey, if every officer in the new army would think like you, it would be easier to lead the team. By the way, Zhao Xinglong came to me to sue you a few days ago and said that he would go to your house to pay homage to his sister-in-law. The chair he was sitting on was almost broken and almost threw him to death."

Cao Yi laughed and said, "This guy Zhao Xinglong is going to exaggerate the matter."

While he was talking, Hu Yu and Hu Xueyan also came in. Hu Xueyan muttered with a frown: "Zi Gui, I would have listened to you if I had known it. I would not have bothered with these local officials. I have only said less than five minutes. I have been complimenting me and I have goose bumps all over. They all reached out to ask for money, my god."

Chen Congyun laughed and said, "Let them come in. The place here is too small, so let's go to the yard to meet."

Chen Congyun met a official in the yard. After everyone stood up and greeted and polite, Chen Congyun said seriously to everyone: "Everyone, the disaster is serious nowadays, and the central government attaches great importance to it. If you have nothing else, hurry up and watch it. Don't make any mistakes, otherwise I will never leave any kindness."

In fact, Chen Congyun probably couldn't even remember their names, and Chen Congyun felt very uncomfortable when he met.

"Okay, everyone's wish to meet the adults has come. Let's go back and work." The leading official shouted at everyone, and dozens of officials and gentry came out one after another. Chen Congyun certainly recognized the spoken official, the first class of the Shanghai Martial Arts School of Political Class, named Wang Zhong. He was also a member of the streets who carried the fast-paced party and went around the streets to promote rent reductions. Later, he worked as a deputy to Li Jun of the Political Training Department for two years, and now he has become a local official. The governor of Anhui, who was the chief official in the past.

"Wang Zhong! Stay behind." Chen Congyun shouted.

The thin Wang Zhong immediately became shocked and came forward to stand attentively and saluted, "What instructions do the principal have?"

Although he was a little dissatisfied with Wang Zhong asking an official to give up his official duties to take over his own affairs, Chen Congyun still felt a sense of intimacy when he took his class back then, and he raised his hand and said, "Haha, I'm not sure if it's you. I remembered that you were thin and small before, but now it's still unchanged. It seems that you didn't rely on the people's wealth to gain weight."

Wang Zhong immediately showed excitement and said, "Principal, you have been awarded too much. The principal's earnest teachings from those years ago should be the admonition of officials to put the people first, and students still remember them."

Chen Congyun didn't plan to let Wang Zhong go, and his face suddenly sank, "Wang Zhong, as the number one official in Anhui Province, how can you let everyone put down their work and run to the station to pick me up?"

Wang Zhong said bitterly when he heard this: "Principal, you don't know that only a few of these people are government officials, and the others are local gentry. This time the students have something to apologize to you."

When Chen Congyun heard this, his face slowly said, "Oh? What crime do you think?"

Wang Zhong hesitated for a moment and whispered: "The situation of flooding in the Huaihe River this year is severe. Although the main road dam is still there, when you were still on the road the day before yesterday, several rivers broke out, flooding the homes of more than 500,000 people. Yesterday, the mayor of Bengbu knelt down for me and asked students to mobilize food and bedding from various places. As the governor of a provincial governor, the student has reported to the upper house for help. At the same time, he can only rely on local gentry and people to call on everyone to donate money and supplies to help the affected people. Yesterday, when these local gentry came to the meeting, my subordinates were quick-talking and said you were coming. Please show your kindness for your sake, and say, and say..."

"What else do you say?"

"I also said that as long as the donation amounts to 10,000 taels, you will be welcomed by you." Wang Zhong instantly speeded up his speech, and after saying that, a thin bead of sweat suddenly appeared on his forehead.

When Chen Congyun heard this, he immediately asked Hu Xueyan with a smile: "Brother Xueyan, is it him who asked you for money just now?"

Hu Xueyan nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, it's him. He just added three million yuan to his words, and he thought my family opened a bank?"

"Aren't you just a bank?" Wang Zhong replied in a low voice. Chen Congyun laughed and said, "Wang Zhong, I didn't expect you to make money under my banner. It's good, smart enough. Tell me, what do you want so much money?"

Wang Zhong cleared his throat and said, "Principal, the biggest problem in Anhui is flooding. The problem of flooding is not only unique to the Huaihe River Basin. During the plum rain season in Weiwei, Jiangnan, the Yangtze River water flows backwards. Surrounding areas such as Xuancheng, the phenomenon of flooding is serious. Once the rainwater is excessive, mountain torrents break out, natural disasters in hilly areas often occur. After the students take office, they are worried almost every year. Especially in the Huaihe River Basin, they have to prevent floods in the first half of the year, and after September, they have to prevent droughts. Students think that they will try to solve the problem of water conservancy management to a relatively ideal level during their term of office, so they are short of money."

When Hu Xueyan heard this, he stopped talking and said, "Wang Zhong, you don't speak with conscience. Every year, the central government's funding is allocated, and I'm a child less than you? The Ministry of Water Resources still invests a lot of money in Anhui every year, right? Zhang Jian has kept accounts. It's useless to call you poor. Now you are short of money everywhere, so you can't just focus on you."

Wang Zhong didn't dare to offend Hu Xueyan, so he repeatedly begged: "My God of Wealth. Do you listen to me and speak?" As he said that, he looked at Chen Congyun with his eyes begging. Chen Congyun had nodded and smiled: "Brother Xueyan, listen to him finish his words."

"I heard that there are some large-scale water conservancy projects abroad that can not only use water conservancy power generation lighting, but also play the role of intercepting and flood storage. I also want to carry out such projects in the Huaihe River Basin. Just now, Mr. Zhang from the Ministry of Water Resources has never made a clear statement. I think it is because of the money problem. I thought it was just to make up the place and the Ministry of Water Resources to launch a little more to build the project."

When Chen Congyun heard this, a strange smile appeared on his face. After carefully looking at Wang Zhong, he asked with a smile: "Did you hear any rumors? I honestly tell me who is going?"

"The principal is wise! Students cannot say who speaks through words, and they cannot do things to sell off their brothers." Wang Zhong smiled rather slapped. Chen Congyun said slightly: "Hmph! If you don't say anything, I know it's Li Wei. You two are wearing pairs of pants, it's weird if you don't speak through words. Since you already know, I won't hide it. The main purpose of the expert group this time is to conduct on-site inspection of the landform and hydrological conditions of the Foziling area. The central government has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Water Resources. If you want to do a big project there, I'm very pleased to take action first."

Wang Zhong immediately showed ecstasy and looked at Hu Xueyan with his eyes and said, "God of Wealth, should you let go now?" Hu Xueyan didn't buy it at all, and refused, "No way, the central government of Foziling has a special funding, your business is a matter of the province." As he said that, Hu Xueyan kept rolling his eyes to Chen Congyun. Chen Congyun smiled bitterly when he saw it.

"Okay, God of Wealth is interested in my family's wealth. I'll pay for the three million yuan. After going back, Wang Zhong, you went to Beijing and I'll ask Nie Zixu to give you three million yuan."

Hu Xueyan then smiled and said, "Zi Gui, don't say I'm stingy. The telegram that Stephen only came last month showed off, saying that he, according to your wishes, was selling futures in Chicago, the United States, and made a full $30 million. Is there such a thing?"

Chen Congyun slapped his thigh and said, "Why can't this damn Stephen control his mouth?" It turned out that before Chen Congyun traveled through time, he saw in a book on futures that due to the rise of the automobile industry, the price of rubber in the futures market soared. Chen Congyun told Stephen to buy some rubber futures. Anyway, Ford's automobile company also needs rubber, at worst, it's time to take the rubber back and use it yourself. Stephen, the guy, has always known the magic of Chen Congyun. I made a ruthless move in the futures market, started to sweep the goods directly, and bought more than 5 million orders in one go. This guy relied on his strong capital and had no penny in recent years. As a result, in early May this year, the price of rubber soared, and Stephen made a fortune. According to the cooperation agreement between the two, everyone added five in two, half of each person. Chen Congyun's small vault increased by 15 million, so that Hu Xueyan knew that there was another good thing? Hu Xueyan always held back and squeezed out a little.

Regarding futures, Chen Congyun will have better futures for making money in the future, so I won’t talk about these for the time being.

With the money matter settled, Wang Zhong smiled even happier. How could Chen Congyun have bleeding heavily and made him happy. He said with a stern face: "Wang Zhong, honestly, where did you borrow my banner from the gentry yesterday to get how much money did you get?"

Wang Zhong didn't expect that Chen Congyun was still thinking about this, and said with a wry smile: "Principal, there are not many, only 300,000 taels of rice and grain, and some rice and food, are not valuable things, so don't worry about it. However, there are some things that were forced by a local wealthy businessman. The students think you can use them now, so they sent them to you."

"What's the matter? She's so slutty?" Chen Congyun was in a better mood, and his face wasn't as serious as he had just arrived.

Wang Zhong smiled repeatedly and shouted outside: "Come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, a young woman of fifteen or sixteen years old walked in timidly. When she saw Chen Congyun, she immediately knelt down and said, "I have seen the Lord and serve him."

Chen Congyun's good mood instantly fell into a low point. He looked at Wang Zhong with a strange smile on his face, slowly walked to Wang Zhong, raised his foot and kicked him a few times, and said angrily: "Bastard, you dare to accept such a gift? You dare to send it to me, I will kick you to death."

Wang Zhong stood up and didn't dare to move, and repeatedly explained: "Principal, don't get me wrong. I have no other meaning. It's just that you don't have a female family around you. It's not a matter of not having a personal service. I have examined this girl, who is well-educated and well-manned, so I let her serve you for the time being."

"It's just temporary? It's not like the ministers of ancient times to present beautiful women to the emperor?" Chen Congyun hesitated for a moment, stopped his feet, and Wang Zhongtou lit like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Okay, I'll believe you for the time being. I'll find out for me that this matter is your intentional behavior. It would be strange if I don't deal with you." Chen Congyun said hummingly. At this time, someone outside interrupted: "Sir! Who are you going to deal with? It's not me, right?"

A middle-aged man came in and put the umbrella in his hand to the side. Chen Congyun saw this person and couldn't help but feel excited. He quickly stepped forward and held his hand and said, "Brother Ji Zhi, thank you for your hard work."

At this moment, Zhang Jian was wet with several pieces of wet, and there was a lot of mud on the hem of the robe, and there were a lot of thick yellow mud on his shoes, looking like he had just come down from the front line.

"Sir, don't be surprised if you were not able to greet you."

"What do you mean? I'll say it first. I'm here to cheer for you and the soldiers of the three armies. I'm definitely not here to command blindly. You can do whatever you should do, just think I'm here to help you."

Chen Congyun's words set the point for the issue of flood control command this time. Zhang Jian showed a gratified smile on his face and said, "Sir, I just received a good news that the upper reaches of the Huai River are sunny. The foreigners you invited from the United States also said that there will be about three to four days of good weather starting tomorrow."
Chapter completed!