The Xiahou family's head family compound.
The reason it's not called the clan leader but the head of the family.
It's because the main lineage of the Xiahou family is still there, and its influence is quite great.
They are just a branch lineage.
And they also have frequent contact with the main lineage and have not completely separated.
So they call themselves the head of the family rather than the clan leader.
The Chu family was also once a branch lineage of a large family.
But with the changing times.
They had long lost contact with the main lineage.
They were considered to have formed their own lineage.
Naturally, they changed to call themselves clan leader instead of head of the family.
“Head of the family, Clan Leader Chu Ji is requesting an audience.”
“Please invite him in.”
As soon as Chu Ji entered the door, he said to Xiahou Xing:
“Head of the family Xiahou, I have something important to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
Chu Ji did not hesitate, and said straight to the point:
“My son was traveling along the Hu Tuo River, and when he passed by Zhao Family Village, he saw that the fields of the Zhao family were irrigated with water.”
“Now, the Hu Tuo River near us is almost dry. Where did the water go?”
He did not continue speaking.
Instead, he let Xiahou Xing think for himself.
Xiahou Xing understood immediately.
“You mean the Zhao family diverted the Hu Tuo River and led the water into their own fields?”
Chu Ji looked at Xiahou Xing with a meaningful smile:
“After all, this is just my son's word, we must not wrong the Zhao family.”
Xiahou Xing nodded:
“You're right. Let me call my son, Xiahou Lan, over, and have them go to Zhao Family Village again to see if the diversion is true.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Chu Ji also nodded in agreement.
Afterwards, the Xiahou family dispatched several people, with Xiahou Lan as the leader; the Chu family dispatched several people, with Chu Yan as the leader.
The group did not make a big commotion, but instead stealthily approached Zhao Family Village.
Xinghua Village is not that far from Zhao Family Village, but it’s not close either, about ten miles away.
Although they are both close to the Hu Tuo River.
However, Zhao Family Village is located upstream of the Hu Tuo River and is the former site left after the Hu Tuo River changed course.
Here, it became incredibly fertile due to the silt brought by the Hu Tuo River.
Xinghua Village’s location is not bad either.
But because it has been developed for over a hundred years, the fertility of the land has been declining day by day.
However, there is no way, reclaiming land is not as simple as just turning over the soil.
These days, with the continuous drought, even the existing land cannot be cultivated, let alone reclaiming new land.
Unbeknownst to them, everyone was already approaching the fields of Zhao Family Village.
They hid behind a small hill in the distance and looked forward.
They saw that in the flat fields, streams of water crisscrossed, moistening every inch of the land along the ditches that had been dug years ago.
“My goodness, it's true! Zhao Family Village actually has so much water!”
“The Hu Tuo River is everyone's, why should the Zhao family divert it?”
“That's right! We're going to get the water from the Hu Tuo River back.”
Everyone was filled with resentment.
Their words were as if they wanted to tear the entire population of Zhao Family Village to shreds.
At this time, Xiahou Lan, the young head of the Xiahou family, stood up and said:
“Everyone, let’s not jump to conclusions, what if this water is from wells dug by the Zhao family?”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The people who were originally furious and wanted to jump out and fight Zhao Family Village right now gradually calmed down.
Yes!
What if it wasn’t diverted water from the Hu Tuo River?
After all, they only saw the water flowing into the ditches, not the villagers of Zhao Family Village actively diverting the Hu Tuo River.
Chu Yan scoffed from the side:
“How big of a well would you have to dig to irrigate all those fields?”
“And if it was well water, do you think they would dare to be so wasteful and open the sluices to release water?”
Indeed.
If it was well water.
Then no one would dare to be so extravagant and directly open the sluices to release water into the ditches.
While opening the sluices is convenient.
But it is too wasteful of water.
If one part of water can play a role in five parts, that would be pretty good.
How wealthy would they have to be.
To dare to do this during a drought?
Therefore, the best way is to use a carrying pole to carry water and water the crops little by little.
While this may be tiring for people.
But the same amount of water can save more crops.
“Is it because Zhao Yun from Zhao Family Village is your friend, so you are hesitant?” Chu Yan suddenly said again.
Xiahou Lan opened his mouth and didn’t know how to refute.
Although Zhao Yun of Zhao Family Village was indeed his friend.
But he didn’t really let personal feelings affect his official duties.
He just felt that since they were already here, they should investigate thoroughly.
Instead of just taking a glance.
Then hastily returning to report the news.
Chu Yan took a step back主動后退一步:
“Okay, I’ll convince you. Let’s go to the Hu Tuo River and take a look. Let’s see if the Zhao family diverted the water from the Hu Tuo River.”
At this point, Xiahou Lan had nothing else to say.
He could only nod in agreement.
Several people immediately changed direction, circled around, and headed towards the Hu Tuo River.
Not long after.
They arrived at the bank of the Hu Tuo River.
Not far away was the high-walled Zhao Family Village.
They hid behind a small slope and stretched their necks to look into the distance.
They saw by the Hu Tuo River, more than ten tall waterwheels stood upright.
Next to the waterwheels were familiar villagers of Zhao Family Village.
After all, they are fellow villagers.
Although they don’t see each other every day.
But they have seen each other more or less.
The villagers of Zhao Family Village were standing next to the waterwheels at this time, working hard to step on the rotating wheels connected to the waterwheels.
The rotating wheels spun rapidly, and the waterwheels also slowly rotated under the drive of the gears.
Each rotation of the waterwheel brought a large amount of water into the ditches that were one person wide, and then the water flowed through the ditches to every acre of land.
Of course, the most crucial point is.
The waterwheel was churning and pouring the water from the Hu Tuo River into the fields.
But there was only a trickle left behind.
“What do you think? Did the Zhao family cut off the Hu Tuo River’s water? Do you have anything else to say?” Chu Yan asked arrogantly with his head held high.
Xiahou Lan sighed, no longer having any words to say.
“Let’s go back and report.”
Then, they turned around and left, heading back to Xinghua Village.
………….
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