With Zhang Yuanzong's strong support, they endured the hottest hour and a half of the midday sun.
By the afternoon Shen hour, Song Jinzhao arrived at the river behind Song Family Village with forty bailiffs, ready to start building the dam.
Song Mancang, wearing a straw hat, was sweating profusely from the heat, his eyes holding a trace of uncertainty and anticipation.
"Jinzhao, are you sure this waterwheel can really draw water from the river into the fields?"
After so many days without rain, the river's water level had dropped considerably, and the ridges built to guard against floods beside the fields were nearly two meters high.
How could water possibly flow upwards?
Villagers carrying water in the fields watched the large procession of bailiffs march directly along the field ridges, their expressions fearful, not daring to step forward and ask.
They initially thought it was to arrest some criminal, until they spotted Song Jinzhao walking at the front surrounded by people, with the village chief also beside her, and then realized something might be happening.
Seeing them head towards the river, everyone picked up their wooden buckets and followed.
Hearing it was to channel river water into the farmland, most were half-convinced, half-doubting.
Even so, as the bailiffs began constructing the dam, the villagers, urged by the village chief, also started to help.
Could such a miraculous device really exist?
After a night of anxious waiting, the villagers of Song Family Village woke early the next day.
"Chief, why haven't the people from the county office arrived yet?"
The builders of the waterwheel were delayed. As they carried water, the villagers kept looking into the distance, as if they might see them any second.
Song Mancang, carrying a wooden bucket, frowned deeply, his forehead burning like fire.
"Jinzhao went to the county office first thing in the morning. She said they should be here by late morning."
Old Man Song gazed at the parched rice paddies, his heart itching with anxiety like a cat scratch.
He walked over to Old Man Song and asked, "Will the waterwheel really work?"
Old Man Song lifted his arm, moving his stiff shoulders. The applied ointment felt cool.
"Jinzhao showed it to the craftsmen. They said it should work."
The villagers waited with anxious hearts, not knowing how long it had been, until a loud shout drew everyone's attention.
Song Fengshou came running wildly from the village, waving his arms, sweat droplets on his face glistening in the sunlight, brimming with excited joy.
"They're here, they're here."
He rushed up to Song Mancang and pointed towards the village, saying, "The cart convoy carrying the materials has reached the village entrance and is heading this way."
Everyone dropped what they were holding and ran over.
Several large carts stopped on the field ridge. Song Mancang saw Zhang Yuanzong emerge from a carriage and quickly knelt down.
"This humble peasant pays his respects to the County Magistrate."
Seeing this, the villagers knelt and bowed one after another.
The County Magistrate is here too. Then the waterwheel must be useful.
Under Song Jinzhao's direction, the seven-meter-high hydraulic noria was quickly constructed.
Pushed by the water flow, the wooden wheel began to turn, and three hundred meters of bamboo conduit ran along the field paths through the paddies.
Watching the river water gush out, the villagers immediately ran towards their own fields.
The fields of Old Man Song and the others were close to the river and were soon soaked.
Zhang Yuanzong clenched his fists tightly, his lips trembling as he looked at Song Jinzhao standing beside him.
"Miss Song, you have done a great deed that benefits the country and the people. With this hydraulic noria, the people of Xining City are saved."
These days, reports of drought from various places were becoming increasingly severe. The thought of the suffering of Xining City's people during the locust plague the year before last kept him awake at night.
Now, there was finally hope.
Song Jinzhao smiled and said, "Not me, it's us."
"Without your support, Magistrate, the waterwheel couldn't have been built so quickly. It is because you, Magistrate, have a benevolent heart that cares for the people like your own children that you valued this humble woman's opinion so highly."
The wrinkles at the corners of Zhang Yuanzong's eyes slowly smoothed, and a gratified smile appeared on his sun-reddened face.
"When this official reports this matter to the court, I will certainly petition for merit on Miss Song's behalf."
Song Jinzhao curled the corner of her mouth, her gaze turning to the fields. "The drought is severe in various regions. You will have your hands full from now on, Magistrate."
Zhang Yuanzong looked out over the fields and took a deep breath. "Time is pressing. I must hurry back to the county office to draft a memorial."
Capital City —
In the grand hall of the morning court, Emperor Xiao Chengjing of Dongzhao looked at his civil and military officials and said, "Duke Qing has learned from spies in Shuobei that they intend to send troops in early autumn. What do my esteemed ministers think?"
The Minister of War was the first to step forward.
"Shuobei has been eyeing us covetously. Last New Year, under the guise of bandits, they raided Yunzhong City, committing murder, arson, and pillage. This minister believes we should immediately reinforce the border and be ready for battle at any moment."
The Minister of Revenue quickly spoke up: "Your Majesty, the national treasury holds only 1.2 million taels of silver. Border military provisions are tight every year. If we deploy more troops, let alone armor and equipment, I fear even provisions won't last long!"
Officials from the Six Ministries stood divided into two factions.
"If war breaks out between the two countries, it is the innocent people who suffer. This minister believes we should swiftly send an envoy to Shuobei for peace talks."
"To surrender before fighting is an omen of a nation's fall. This minister would rather die on the battlefield than suffer such a great humiliation."
"The national treasury is empty. We truly cannot afford to fight."
"Shuobei repeatedly challenges our nation's prestige. If we don't fight, they will only become more rampant."
...
The two factions of officials argued incessantly, almost on the verge of lifting the roof of the throne hall.
Xiao Chengjing's eardrums buzzed as if listening to a chorus of frogs.
"Prince Qi, what is your opinion?"
Prince Qi bowed and said, "Your son believes the border must be defended, and peace talks are also imperative."
"Prince Ying, what do you think?"
Prince Ying said gravely, "Your son believes troops should be dispatched to the border immediately."
"Now that Shuobei's plot to secretly attack the border is exposed, if we reinforce our troops now, they might hesitate. This battle might be avoidable."
"But if we don't deploy troops, once Shuobei's army presses on the border, it may not hold."
The statements of the two princes created a momentary deadlock.
Xiao Chengjing pondered for a moment and then said, "Draft the decree. Order General Xuanwei to lead one hundred thousand troops to reinforce the border. They will depart in ten days. All necessary provisions are to be dispatched swiftly by the Ministry of Revenue."
The Minister of Revenue knelt with a bitter expression to receive the decree.
...
After Zhang Yuanzong left Song Family Village, the villagers from each household stayed by their fields, wishing the water would flow even faster.
In the afternoon, Song Mancang came to Song Jinzhao's house with a furrowed brow.
"One waterwheel isn't enough. The fields far from the river have only gotten slightly damp so far. Many villagers are anxious. It would be good if we could build another one."
Song Jinzhao met the village chief's eyes. "Building one waterwheel costs about ten taels of silver. The county office can't build them for free in every village."
"The first waterwheel was for the County Magistrate to see the results. Time was tight, so the village didn't have to pay. But building another one won't be possible."
Song Mancang frowned. "Ten taels is no small amount."
Song Jinzhao counted on her fingers. "The cost of wood and bamboo accounts for half. We can go up the mountain to cut it ourselves."
"We have the manpower ourselves. The remaining money, split among each household, would be about forty copper coins each."
Song Mancang went door-to-door to notify everyone after leaving. The next day, the village started work.
Not caring if they might encounter wild beasts, over two hundred people ran up the mountain, carrying the materials down at the fastest speed possible.
