Volume 93 Treatises 46: Rivers and Canals 3

黃河下

The Yellow River, continued

元祐八年二月乙卯，三省奉旨：「北流軟堰，並依都水監所奏。」門下侍郎蘇轍奏：「臣嘗以謂軟堰不可施於北流，利害甚明。蓋東流本人力所開，闊止百餘步，冬月河流斷絕，故軟堰可為。今北流是大河正溜，此之東流，何止數倍，見今河水行流不絕，軟堰何由能立？蓋水官之意，欲以軟堰為名，實作硬堰，陰為回河之計耳。朝廷既已覺其意，則軟堰之請，不宜復從。」趙偁亦上議曰：「臣竊謂河事大利害有三，而言者互進其說，或見近忘遠，徼幸盜功，或取此舍彼，譸張昧理。遂使大利不明，大害不去，上惑朝聽，下滋民患，橫役枉費，殆無窮已，臣切痛之。所謂大利害者：北流全河，患水不能分也；東流分水，患水不能行也；宗城河決，患水不能閉也。是三者，去其患則為利，未能去則為害。今不謀此，而議欲專閉北流，止知一日可閉之利，而不知異日既塞之患，止知北流伏槽之水易為力，而不知闞村方漲之勢，未可並以入東流也。夫欲合河以為利，而不恤上下壅潰之害，是皆見近忘遠，徼幸盜功之事也。有司欲斷北流而不執其咎，乃引分水為說，姑為軟堰；知河沖之不可以軟堰禦，則又為決堰之計。臣恐枉有工費，而以河為戲也。請俟漲水伏槽，觀大河之勢，以治東流、北流。」

On yimao in the second month of the eighth year of Yuanyou, the Three Departments received an edict: "As to the soft weir on the northern flow, act entirely as the Directorate of Waterways has proposed." Su Che, Vice Director of the Secretariat, submitted: "I have long maintained that a soft weir cannot be used on the northern channel—the tradeoffs are obvious. The eastern channel was dug by human effort and is only a little over a hundred paces wide; in winter the stream dries up, so a soft weir is feasible there. Today the northern channel is the river's main course—many times the eastern flow—and the water never stops running. How could a soft weir possibly hold? What the water officials really want is to call it a soft weir while building a hard one—a covert scheme to force the river back onto its old course. The court has already seen through them; the soft-weir proposal should not be approved again." Zhao Zhen also submitted a memorial: "I believe river policy turns on three great tradeoffs, yet debaters push rival plans—some fixated on the immediate and blind to the long term, gambling for credit; others seize one option and reject another, twisting facts beyond recognition. The result is that real benefits stay obscure, real harms persist, the throne is misled, the people suffer more, and forced labor is squandered without end. I find this deeply distressing. These three great concerns are: on the northern channel, which carries the full river, the problem is that the water cannot be split off; on the eastern channel, which diverts water, the problem is that the water cannot run freely; and at the Zongcheng breach, the problem is that the water cannot be shut in. Remove the problem in each case and you gain benefit; fail to remove it and you inherit harm. Instead of addressing these issues, they talk only of shutting the northern channel outright—seeing the short-term gain of a day's closure but not the disaster once it is blocked, noting how easy it is to work the sunken northern channel yet ignoring the surge at Kancun, which cannot all be forced into the eastern flow at once. Trying to merge the river for gain while ignoring the risk of jams and breaches up- and downstream is exactly the sort of short-sighted gamble for credit that I described. The agencies want to cut the northern flow but avoid responsibility, so they invoke water division and propose a soft weir; when they see the current cannot be held by a soft weir, they plan to breach it anyway. I fear we will waste labor and funds treating the river as a toy. Please wait until the flood subsides and the channel settles, observe the main river's behavior, and then decide policy for the eastern and northern flows."

五月，水官卒請進梁村上、下約，束狹河門，既涉漲水，遂壅而潰。南犯德清，西決內黃，東淤梁村，北出闞村，宗城決口復行魏店，北流因淤遂斷，河水四出，壞東郡浮梁。十二月丙寅，監察御史郭知章言：「臣比緣使事至河北，自澶州入北京，渡孫村口，見水趨東者，河甚闊而深；又自北京往洺州，過楊家淺口復渡，見水之趨北者，才十之二三，然後知大河宜閉北行東。乞下都水監相度。」於是吳安持復兼領都水，即建言：「近准朝旨，已堰斷魏店刺子，向下北流一枝斷絕。然東西未有堤岸，若漲水稍大，必披灘漫出，則平流在北京、恩州界，為害愈甚。乞塞梁村口，縷張包口，開青豐口以東雞爪河，分殺水勢。」呂大防以其與己意合，向之，詔同北京留守相視。

In the fifth month the water officials finally pushed to advance the upper and lower bonds at Liangcun to pinch the river mouth; when floodwater hit, the works jammed and collapsed. Water struck Deqing in the south, burst west at Neihuang, silted Liangcun in the east, and spilled north at Kancun; the Zongcheng breach reopened toward Weidian; silt choked off the northern channel; the river fanned out in four directions and wrecked the floating bridges of the eastern prefectures. On bingyin in the twelfth month, Supervising Censor Guo Zhizhang reported: "On a recent mission to Hebei I entered Beijing from Duanzhou and crossed at Sunkou village; the water trending east runs very wide and deep; traveling from Beijing toward Mingzhou and crossing again at Yangjia shallows, I saw only two or three tenths of the water heading north—then I understood that the main river should be closed to the north and sent east. I ask that the Directorate of Waterways be instructed to survey the situation." Wu Anchì was again placed in charge of the Directorate of Waterways and immediately proposed: "We have recently followed the court's order and dammed the spur at Weidian, cutting off the lower branch of the northern flow. But there are no dikes on either flank; if the flood rises even slightly, water will spill across the flats, and a sheet flow between Beijing and Enzhou would do even greater damage. I request blocking Liangcun mouth, sealing Zhangbao mouth, and opening the Chicken-Claw River east of Qingfeng mouth to split and weaken the current." Lü Dafang endorsed the plan because it matched his views, and an edict ordered him and the Beijing garrison commander to inspect the site together.

時範純仁復為右相，與蘇轍力以為不可。遂降旨：「令都水監與本路安撫、轉運、提刑司共議，可則行之，有異議速以聞。」紹聖元年正月也。是時，轉運使趙偁深不以為然，提刑上官均頗助之。偁之言曰：「河自孟津初行平地，必須全流，乃成河道。禹之治水，自冀北抵滄、棣，始播為九河，以其近海無患也。今河自橫壟、六塔、商胡、小吳，百年之間，皆從西決，蓋河徙之常勢。而有司置埽創約，橫截河流，回河不成，因為分水。初決南宮，再決宗城，三決內黃，亦皆西決，則地勢西下，較然可見。今欲弭息河患，而逆地勢，戾水性，臣未見其能就功也。請開闞村河門，修平鄉钜鹿埽、焦家等堤，浚澶淵故道，以備漲水。」大名安撫使許將言：「度今之利，若舍故道，止從北流，則慮河下已湮，而上流橫潰，為害益廣。若直閉北流，東徙故道，則復慮受水不盡，而破堤為患。竊謂宜因梁村之口以行東，因內黃之口以行北，而盡閉諸口，以絕大名諸州之患。俟春夏水大至，乃觀故道，足以受之，則內黃之口可塞；不足以受之，則梁村之役可止。定其成議，則民心固而河之順復有時，可以保其無害。」詔：「令吳安持同都水監丞鄭佑，與本路安撫、轉運、提刑司官具圖、狀保明聞奏，即有未便，亦具利害來上。」

Fan Chunren had returned as chief councilor on the right, and he and Su Che strongly opposed the plan. The court then ordered: "Let the Directorate of Waterways consult with this circuit's pacification, transport, and judicial commissioners; implement if feasible, and report any objections at once." This was in the first month of the first year of Shaosheng. Transport Commissioner Zhao Zhen strongly disagreed, while Judicial Commissioner Shangguan Jun largely backed him. Zhao Zhen said: "From Mengjin the river first spreads across level ground; only the full current can carve a stable channel. When Yu tamed the floods, he spread the waters into the Nine Rivers from northern Ji to Cang and Di because near the sea there was little risk. Over the past century the river has broken west at Henglong, Liuta, Shanghu, and Xiaowu—that is the river's habitual drift. Officials instead built brush revetments and bonds to cut the flow crosswise; failing to return the river, they turned to splitting the water. First Nangong, then Zongcheng, then Neihuang—each breach to the west—shows plainly that the land slopes downward to the west. To seek peace on the river while fighting the lay of the land and the nature of the water—I see no way this can succeed. I ask to open the Kancun river mouth, repair revetments at Pingxiang, Julu, Jiaojia, and elsewhere, and dredge the old Danyuan channel against high water." Daming Pacification Commissioner Xu Jiang said: "Weighing the options today, if we abandon the old course and rely only on the northern flow, we risk a silted lower reach while the upper river bursts sideways—the damage would spread further. If we simply shut the northern channel and force the river east into the old course, we again fear the channel cannot take the full volume and the dikes will fail. I believe we should send water east through Liangcun mouth and north through Neihuang mouth, close the other openings entirely, and thus spare Daming and the surrounding prefectures. Wait until the spring-summer flood peaks, then test whether the old course can carry the flow; if it can, Neihuang mouth may be sealed; if it cannot, the Liangcun project should be halted. Once policy is settled, the people will be reassured and the river can be guided back in due course without harm." The court ordered: "Wu Anchì, together with Directorate Vice Director Zheng You and the circuit's pacification, transport, and judicial officials, shall submit certified maps and reports; if anything is impracticable, state the pros and cons as well."

三月癸酉，監察御史郭知章言：「河復故道，水之趨東，已不可遏。近日遣使按視，逐司議論未一。臣謂水官朝夕從事河上，望專委之。」乙亥，呂大防罷相。

On guiyou in the third month, Supervising Censor Guo Zhizhang said: "The river has returned to its old course and the eastward flow can no longer be stopped. Envoys were recently sent to inspect, yet the agencies still disagree. The water officials work on the river daily; I ask that responsibility be entrusted to them alone." On yihai, Lü Dafang was removed as chief councilor.

六月，右正言張商英奏言：「元豐間河決南宮口，講議累年，先帝歎曰：'神禹復生，不能回此河矣。 '乃敕自今後不得復議回河閉口，蓋採用漢人之論，俟其氾濫自定也。元祐初，文彥博、呂大防以前敕非是，拔吳安持為都水使者，委以東流之事。京東、河北五百里內差夫，五百里外出錢雇夫，及支借常平倉司錢買梢草，斬伐榆柳。凡八年而無尺寸之效，乃遷安持太僕卿，王宗望代之。宗望至，則劉奉世猶以彥博、大防餘意，力主東流，以梁村口吞納大河。今則梁村口淤澱，而開沙堤兩處決口以泄水矣。前議累七十里堤以障北流，今則雲俟霜降水落興工矣。朝廷咫尺，不應九年為水官蔽欺如此。九年之內，年年礬山水漲，霜降水落，豈獨今年始有漲水，而待水落乃可以興工耶？乞遣使按驗虛實，取索回河以來公私費錢糧、梢草，依仁宗朝六塔河施行。」

In the sixth month, Right Remonstrator Zhang Shangying submitted: "During Yuanfeng the river broke at Nangong mouth; debate dragged on for years until the late emperor sighed, 'Even if Yu the Great were reborn, he could not turn this river back. He then forbade any further debate on forcing the river back and closing mouths, adopting the Han view to let the floods find their own level. Early in Yuanyou, Wen Yanbo and Lü Dafang rejected that edict, promoted Wu Anchì to head the Directorate of Waterways, and put him in charge of the eastern-flow project. Within five hundred li of Jingdong and Hebei men were conscripted; beyond that distance hirelings were paid; Ever-Normal Granary funds bought fascines and brush, and elms and willows were felled. After eight years without measurable success, Anchì was moved to Grandee of the Stud and Wang Zongwang took his place. When Zongwang arrived, Liu Fengshi still pressed the eastern-flow policy in the spirit of Yanbo and Dafang, trying to take the full river through Liangcun mouth. Now Liangcun mouth is silted shut, yet they have cut two breaches in the sand dike to release water. They once planned seventy li of dike to block the northern flow; now they say they will wait until frost and low water before building. The court is close at hand; the water officials should not have deceived it for nine years like this. For nine years the Fan River rose every season and fell with frost—did floods begin only this year, and can work start only after the water drops? I ask that envoys verify the facts and audit all public and private spending on money, grain, and fascines since the return-river policy began, following the precedent of the Liuta River project under Emperor Renzong."

會七月辛丑，廣武埽危急，詔王宗望亟往救護。壬寅，帝謂輔臣曰：「廣武去洛河不遠，須防漲溢下灌京師，已遣中使視之。」輔臣出圖、狀以奏曰：「此由黃河北岸生灘，水趨南岸。今雨止，河必減落，已下水官，與洛口官同行按視，為簽堤及去北岸嫩灘，令河順直，則無患矣。」

In the seventh month on xinchou the Guangwu revetment was in critical danger; Wang Zongwang was ordered to rush to the site. On renyin the emperor told his ministers: "Guangwu is near the Luo River; we must guard against a flood pouring down on the capital. I have already sent a palace envoy to inspect." The ministers presented maps and reports: "A shoal has formed on the Yellow River's north bank, driving water toward the south bank. The rain has stopped and the river will fall; we have sent water officials with the Luokou staff to inspect, build tie dikes, and clear the soft shoal on the north bank so the river runs straight—then there will be no danger."

八月丙子，權工部侍郎吳安持等言：「廣武埽危急，刷塌堤身二千餘步處，地形稍高。自鞏縣東七里店至見今洛口，約不滿十里，可以別開新河，引導河水近南行流，地步至少，用功甚微。王宗望行視並開井筒，各稱利便外，其南築大堤，工力浩大，乞下各屬官司，躬往相度保明。」從之。

On bingzi in the eighth month, Acting Vice Minister of Works Wu Anchì and others reported: "The Guangwu revetment is critical; where more than two thousand paces of dike have been scoured away, the ground is slightly higher. From Qili shop east of Gong county to the present Luokou is less than ten li; a new channel could divert the river southward with very little land and labor. Wang Zongwang inspected the site and sank test shafts; all called it advantageous except that a great dike to the south would be enormously costly—I ask the responsible agencies to survey and certify in person." The court approved.

十月丁酉，王宗望言：「大河自元豐潰決以來，東、北兩流，利害極大，頻年紛爭，國論不決，水官無所適從。伏自奉昭凡九月，上稟成算，自闞村下至栲栳堤七節河門，並皆閉塞。築金堤七十里，盡障北流，使全河東還故道，以除河患。又自闞村下至海口，補築新舊堤防，增修疏浚河道之淤淺者，雖盛夏漲潦，不至壅決。望付史官，紀紹聖以來聖明獨斷，致此成績。」詔宗望等具析修閉北流部役官等功力等弟以聞。然是時東流堤防未及繕固，瀕河多被水患，流民入京師，往往泊御廊及僧舍。詔給券，諭令還本土，以就振濟。

On dingyou in the tenth month, Wang Zongwang said: "Since Yuanfeng the great river has run in eastern and northern channels with enormous stakes; years of dispute have left national policy unsettled and the water officials without clear direction. Since receiving the edict nine months ago I have carried out the imperial plan: from Kancun down to the seven river mouths at Kaolao dike, all have been sealed. We built seventy li of Golden Dike to block the northern flow entirely and send the whole river east back to the old course, ending the disaster. From Kancun to the sea mouth we repaired old and new dikes and dredged silted shallows so that even midsummer floods would not cause jams or breaches. I ask that the historians record how since Shaosheng the emperor's decisive judgment produced this achievement." The court ordered Zongwang and others to report in detail the merit grades of officials involved in closing the northern channel. Yet the eastern-channel dikes were still not secure; riverside districts suffered floods; refugees entered the capital and often camped along the imperial galleries and in monasteries. The court issued travel passes and ordered them home to receive relief.

己酉，安持又言：「准朝旨相度開浚澶州故道，分減漲水。按澶州本是河行舊道，頃年曾乞開修，時以東西地形高仰，未可興工。欲乞且行疏導燕家河，仍令所屬先次計度合增修一十一埽所用工料。」詔：「令都水監候來年將及漲水月分，先具利害以聞。」

On jiyou, Anchì reported again: "Following the court's order we surveyed opening and dredging the old Duanzhou channel to split floodwater. Duanzhou was the river's old course; we recently sought to open it, but the east-west gradient was too steep to build then. We ask to dredge the Yan family river for now and have subordinates first estimate materials to repair eleven revetments." The court ordered: "The Directorate of Waterways shall report the pros and cons before next year's flood season."

癸丑，三省、樞密院言：「元豐八年，知澶州王令圖議，乞修復大河故道。元祐四年，都水使者吳安持，因紓南宮等埽危急，遂就孫村口為回河之策。及梁村進約東流，孫村口窄狹，德清軍等處皆被水患。今春，王宗望等雖于內黃下埽閉斷北流，然至漲水之時，猶有三分水勢，而上流諸埽已多危急，下至將陵埽決壞民田。近又據宗望等奏，大河自閉塞闞村而下，及創築新堤七十餘里，盡閉北流，全河之水，東還故道。今訪聞東流向下，地形已高，水行不快。既閉斷北流，將來盛夏，大河漲水全歸故道，不惟舊堤損缺怯薄，而闞村新堤，亦恐未易枝梧。兼京城上流諸處埽岸，慮有壅滯沖決之患，不可不豫為經畫。」詔：權工部侍郎吳安持、都水使者王宗望、監丞鄭佑同北外監丞司，自闞村而下直至海口，逐一相視，增修疏浚，不致壅滯沖決。

On guichou the Three Departments and Bureau of Military Affairs reported: "In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Duanzhou prefect Wang Lingtu proposed restoring the great river's old course. In the fourth year of Yuanyou, Director Wu Anchì, seeking to relieve crises at Nangong and other revetments, adopted a return-river plan at Sunkou village. When bonds were advanced at Liangcun for the eastern flow, Sunkou mouth proved too narrow and Deqing Army and other places were flooded. This spring Wang Zongwang and others closed the northern channel at Neihuang's lower revetment, yet at flood stage three-tenths of the flow still ran north; upstream revetments were already critical and the Jiangling revetment burst, ruining farmland. Zongwang has now reported that below Kancun the river has been sealed, more than seventy li of new dike built, the northern flow fully shut, and the entire river sent east to the old course. Inquiry shows the eastern channel downstream runs over ground that is already high, so the water moves slowly. With the northern flow shut, next midsummer the full flood will run the old course; not only are the old dikes damaged and weak, but the new Kancun dike may not hold. Upstream of the capital we also fear jams and breaches at the revetments; advance planning is essential." The court ordered Acting Vice Minister Wu Anchì, Director Wang Zongwang, Vice Director Zheng You, and the Northern Outer Directorate staff to inspect from Kancun to the sea mouth, repair and dredge as needed, and prevent jams or breaches.

丙辰，張商英又言：「今年已閉北流，都水監長貳交章稱賀，或乞付史官，則是河水已歸故道，止宜修緝堤埽，防將來沖決而已。近聞王宗望、李仲卻欲開澶州故道以分水，吳安持乞候漲水前相度。緣開澶州故道，若不與今東流底平，則才經水落，立見淤塞。若與底平，則從初自合閉口回河，何用九年費財動眾？安持稱候漲水相度，乃是悠悠之談。前來漲水並今來漲水，各至澶州、德清軍界，安持首尾九年，豈得不見？更欲延至明年，乃是狡兔三窟，自為潛身之計，非公心為國事也。況立春漸近調夫，如是時不早定議，又留後說，邦財民力，何以支持？訪聞先朝水官孫民先、元祐六年水官賈種民各有《河議》，乞取索照會。召前後本路監司及經歷河事之人，與水官詣都堂反覆詰難，務取至當，經久可行，定議歸一，庶免以有限之財事無涯之功。」二年七月戊午，詔：「沿黃河州軍，河防決溢，並即申奏。」

On bingchen Zhang Shangying said again: "The northern flow is closed this year; the Directorate chiefs congratulated the throne and some asked the historians to record it—meaning the river is back on the old course and we need only maintain dikes against future breaches. Yet I hear Wang Zongwang and Li Zhong now want to open the old Duanzhou channel to split the flow, while Wu Anchì asks to wait until before the flood season to survey. If the Duanzhou old channel is opened without matching the eastern channel's bed level, it will silt up as soon as the water falls. If it could be leveled, we should have closed the mouths and returned the river from the start—why spend nine years and vast resources? Anchì's plea to wait for the flood season is empty delay. Past floods and this year's floods both reached Duanzhou and Deqing Army—Anchì has been in charge nine years; how could he not know? Pushing decisions to next year is the trick of a rabbit with three burrows—a way to hide, not service to the state. With spring establishment near and corvée drafts due, if we do not decide now and leave room for more debate, how can treasury and people bear the burden? I hear that former water officials Sun Minxian and Jia Zhongmin (Yuanyou year 6) each wrote River Discourses; I ask that they be retrieved for reference. Summon past and present circuit commissioners and veterans of river work, together with the water officials, to the chief council hall for thorough debate, settle on a policy that is sound and durable, unify opinion, and avoid spending finite resources on endless projects." In the seventh month of year two, on wuwu, an edict ordered: "All Yellow River prefectures and garrisons must report river-defense breaches or overflows at once."

元符二年二月乙亥，北外都水丞李偉言：「相度大小河門，乘此水勢衰弱，並先修閉，各立蛾眉埽鎮壓。乞次於河北、京東兩路差正夫三萬人，其他夫數，令修河官和雇。」三月丁巳，偉又乞於澶州之南大河身內，開小河一道，以待漲水，紓解大吳口下注北京一帶向著之患。」並從之。

On yihai in the second month of the second year of Yuanfu, Northern Outer Vice Director Li Wei proposed: "Survey the main and secondary river mouths; while the current is weak, repair and seal them and set eyebrow revetments to hold each in place. I ask to draft thirty thousand regular laborers from Hebei and Jingdong; other quotas should be hired by the river offices." On dingsi in the third month, Wei also asked to cut a small channel inside the main river south of Duanzhou to take floodwater and ease the threat to the Beijing region below Dawu mouth." Both proposals were approved.

六月末，河決內黃口，東流遂斷絕。八月甲戌，詔：「大河水勢十分北流，其以河事付轉運司，責州縣共力救護堤岸。」辛丑，左司諫王祖道請正吳安持、鄭佑、李仲、李偉之罪，投之遠方，以明先帝北流之志。詔可。

At the end of the sixth month the river broke at Neihuang mouth, and the eastern flow was cut off. On jiaxu in the eighth month, an edict said: "The great river is running almost entirely north; entrust river work to the Transport Commission and require prefectures and counties to protect the dikes together." On xinchou, Left Remonstrator Wang Zudao asked that Wu Anchì, Zheng You, Li Zhong, and Li Wei be punished and exiled to clarify the late emperor's policy favoring the northern flow. The edict approved the request.

河為中國患，二千歲矣。自古竭天下之力以事河者，莫如本朝。而徇眾人偏見，欲屈大河之勢以從人者，莫甚于近世。臣不敢遠引，只如元祐末年，小吳決溢，議者乃譎謀異計，欲立奇功，以邀厚賞。不顧地勢，不念民力，不惜國用，力建東流之議。當洪流中，立馬頭，設鋸齒，梢芻材木，耗費百倍。力遏水勢，使之東注，陵虛駕空，非特行地上而已。增堤益防，惴惴恐決，澄沙淤泥，久益高仰，一旦決潰，又復北流。此非堤防之不固，亦理勢之必至也。

The Yellow River has plagued China for two thousand years. Never in history has any age poured the empire's resources into the river as ours has. Yet in recent times none has indulged popular prejudice more, trying to force the great river to obey human will. I need not reach far back: at the end of Yuanyou, when Xiaowu breached, advocates plotted extravagant schemes to win glory and rich rewards. Ignoring terrain, labor, and state expense alike, they pressed hard for the eastern-flow policy. In mid-flood they erected horse-head spurs and sawtooth works, launched fascines and timber, at a hundredfold the cost. They fought the current to drive it east, lifting the channel into the air rather than letting it run on the ground alone. Dikes were raised ever higher in fear of a break, but silt piled up until the bed stood steep; when it finally burst, the river turned north again. This was not mere failure of the dikes; it was the inevitable course of nature.

昔禹之治水，不獨行其所無事，亦未嘗不因其變以導之。蓋河流混濁，泥沙相半，流行既久，迄邐淤澱，則久而必決者，勢不能變也。或北而東，或東而北，亦安可以人力制哉！

When Yu tamed the flood he did not only take the easy path; he always worked with the river's shifts to guide it. The Yellow River is muddy, half water and half silt; the longer it runs the more it silts up downstream, and breach becomes inevitable—no human power can alter that. Whether it turns from north to east or east to north, how can mere human strength control it?

為今之策，正宜因其所向，寬立堤防，約欄水勢，使不至大段漫流。若恐北流淤澱塘泊，亦祗宜因塘泊之岸，增設堤防，乃為長策。風聞近日又有議者獻東流之計，不獨比年災傷，居民流散，公私匱竭，百無一有，事勢窘急，固不可為；抑亦自高注下，湍流奔猛，潰決未久，勢不可改。設若興工，公私徒耗，殆非利民之舉，實自困之道也。

Today's policy should follow the river's course: build dikes broadly, restrain the current, and keep it from spreading in wide floods. If one fears silt from the northern channel filling the border marshes, shore up the marsh banks with dikes—that is the lasting policy. Rumor says advocates have again proposed the eastern flow; after years of disaster, displacement, and empty treasuries, the realm cannot bear it in any case; And since the river now plunges from high ground in a fierce torrent, the recent breach cannot be reversed. To launch such works would only drain state and people alike—not help the people but deepen our own plight.

崇寧三年十月，臣僚言：「昨奉詔措置大河，即由西路曆沿邊州軍，回至武強縣，循河堤至深州，又北下衡水縣，乃達于冀。又北渡河過遠來鎮，及分遣屬僚相視恩州之北河流次第。大抵水性無有不下，引之就高，決不可得。況西山積水，勢必欲下，各因其勢而順導之，則無壅遏之患。」詔開修直河，以殺水勢。

In the tenth month of the third year of Chongning, officials reported: "Having received orders to manage the great river, we traveled the western route along border prefectures and garrisons, returned to Wuqiang, followed the embankment to Shenzhou, then north to Hengshui and on to Ji. We crossed north at Yuanlai Fort and sent subordinates to inspect the northern channel above Enzhou. Water by nature flows downward; to draw it uphill is impossible. The western hills hold standing water that will seek the low ground; guide each stream by its own course and nothing will be dammed up. An edict ordered the straight channel cut open to ease the current.

四年二月，工部言：「乞修蘇村等處運糧河堤為正堤，以支漲水，較修棄堤直堤，可減工四十四萬、料七十一萬有奇。」從之。閏二月，尚書省言：「大河北流，合西山諸水，在深州武強、瀛州樂壽埽，俯瞰雄、霸、莫州及沿邊塘濼，萬一決溢，為害甚大。」詔增二埽堤及儲蓄，以備漲水。是歲，大河安流。

In the second month of year four, the Ministry of Works proposed: "Repair the grain-transport embankments at Sucun and elsewhere as main dikes against floods; compared with rebuilding abandoned dikes and straight dikes, this would save some 440,000 labor units and 710,000-odd units of materials." The proposal was approved. In the intercalary second month the Secretariat reported: "The northern channel, fed by streams from the western hills, overlooks Xiong, Ba, and Mo and the border marshes from the Wuqiang and Leshou revetments; any breach would do great harm." An edict ordered higher revetment dikes and stored supplies against floods. That year the great river ran quietly.

五年二月，詔滑州系浮橋於北岸，仍築城壘，置官兵守護之。八月，葺陽武副堤。

In the second month of year five, Huazhou was ordered to anchor its floating bridge on the north bank, build fortifications, and station troops to guard it. In the eighth month the Yangwu auxiliary embankment was repaired.

大觀元年二月，詔于陽武上埽第五鋪開修直河至第十五鋪，以分減水勢。有司言：「河身當長三千四百四十步，面闊八十尺，底闊五丈，深七尺，計役十萬七千餘工，用人夫三千五百八十二，凡一月畢。」從之。十二月，工部員外郎趙霆言：「南北兩丞司合開直河者，凡為裏八十有七，用緡錢八九萬。」異時成功，可免河防之憂，而省久遠之費。」詔從之。

In the second month of the first year of Daguan, work was ordered on a straight channel from the fifth to the fifteenth station of the Yangwu upper revetment to split and ease the current. The offices reported: "The cut should be 3,440 paces long, eighty chi wide at the surface, five zhang wide at the bottom, and seven chi deep—107,000-odd units of labor using 3,582 workers, to finish in one month." This was approved. In the twelfth month Zhao Ting of the Ministry of Works noted: "The northern and southern vice directorates together plan eighty-seven li of straight channel at a cost of eighty to ninety thousand strings of cash." Once completed, they will spare long-term flood-defense costs." The edict approved.

二年五月，霆上免夫之議，大略謂：「黃河調發人夫修築埽岸，每歲春首，騷動數路，常至敗家破產。今春滑州魚池埽合起夫役，嘗令送免夫之直，用以買土，增貼埽岸，比之調夫，反有贏餘。乞詔有司，應堤埽合調春夫，並依此例，立為永法。」詔曰：「河防夫工，歲役十萬，濱河之民，困於調發。可上戶出錢免夫，下戶出力充役，其相度條畫以聞。」丙申，邢州言河決，陷钜鹿縣。詔遷縣於高地。又以趙州隆平下濕，亦遷之。

In the fifth month of the second year Zhao Ting submitted a plan to commute corvée, arguing in summary: "The Yellow River drafts laborers each spring to build revetments, disturbing several circuits and often ruining households. This spring at Huazhou's Yuchi revetment they accepted cash in lieu of labor, bought earth to shore the revetment, and had money left over compared with drafting corvée. I ask that all spring corvée on dikes and revetments follow this precedent as standing law." An edict said: "River-defense labor drafts a hundred thousand men a year and has long burdened the riverside population. Let wealthy households pay to commute service and poorer ones supply labor; report the detailed rules." On bingchen, Xingzhou reported a breach that engulfed Julu County. An edict ordered the county seat moved to higher ground. Longping in Zhaozhou was also relocated because it stood on low, wet ground.

六月己卯，都水使者吳玠言：「自元豐間小吳口決，北流入御河，下合西山諸水，至清州獨流砦三叉口入海。雖深得保固形勝之策，而歲月浸久，侵犯塘堤，沖壞道路，齧損城砦。臣奉詔修治堤防，禦捍漲溢。然築八尺之堤，當九河之尾，恐不能敵。若不遇有損缺，逐旋增修，即又至隳壞，使與塘水相通，于邊防非計也。乞降旨修葺。」從之。庚寅，冀州河溢，壞信都、南宮兩縣。

On jimao in the sixth month, Directorate Commissioner Wu Jie reported: "Since Xiaowu breached in the Yuanfeng era, the northern channel has entered the Imperial Canal, gathered western streams, and reached the sea through the triple fork at Dulu Fort in Qingzhou. Though this secured the strategic terrain, over the years it has eroded lagoon dikes, washed out roads, and damaged frontier forts. I have been ordered to repair the embankments and hold back floods. But an eight-chi dike at the tail of the nine rivers may not hold. Patching only after damage will let the ponds merge with the channel and undermine border defense. I request orders for full repair." Approved. On gengyin, flooding in Jizhou destroyed Xindu and Nangong counties.

三年八月，詔沈純誠開撩兔源河。兔源在廣武埽對岸，分減埽下漲水也。

In the eighth month of year three, Shen Chuncheng was ordered to open and dredge the Tuyuan River. Tuyuan lies across from the Guangwu revetment and diverts high water below it.

政和四年十一月，都水使者孟昌齡言：「今歲夏秋漲水，河流上下並行中道，滑州浮橋不勞解拆，大省歲費。」詔許稱賀，官吏推恩有差。昌齡又獻議導河大伾，可置永遠浮橋，謂：「河流自大伾之東而來，直大伾山西，而止，數里方回南，東轉而過，復折北而東，則又直至大伾山之東，亦止不過十里耳。視地形水勢，東西相直徑易，曾不十餘里間，且地勢低下，可以成河，倚山可為馬頭，又有中氵單，正如河陽。若引使穿大伾大山及東北二小山，分為兩股而過，合於下流，因是三山為趾，以系浮梁，省費數十百倍，可寬河朔諸路之役。」朝廷喜而從之。

In the eleventh month of the fourth year of Zhenghe, Meng Changling reported: "This summer and autumn the river held to the middle course, so Huazhou's bridge did not need dismantling and annual costs fell sharply." The court allowed congratulations and graded rewards for the officials. Changling also proposed routing the river past Mount Daqi and placing a permanent bridge, saying: "The river approaches from east of Daqi, runs west of the mountain and stops; after a few li it bends south, turns east, then north again, and again halts east of Daqi—all within about ten li. The terrain and current make an east-west crossing easy over barely ten li; the ground is low enough to cut a channel, cliffs can serve as horse-heads, and a mid-channel bar lies between, much like Heyang. If the river were cut through Mount Daqi and the two lesser hills to the northeast in two branches reuniting downstream, the three peaks could anchor a floating bridge at a fraction of the cost and ease labor across the north." The court welcomed the plan and approved it.

五年，置提舉修系永橋所。六月癸丑，降德音于河北、京東、京西路，其略曰：「鑿山釃渠，循九河既道之跡；為梁跨趾，成萬世永賴之功。役不逾時，慮無愆素。人絕往來之阻，地無南北之殊。靈祗懷柔，黎庶呼舞。眷言朔野，爰暨近畿，畚鍤繁興，薪芻轉徙，民亦勞止，朕甚憫之。宜推在宥之恩，仍廣蠲除之惠。應開河官吏，令提舉所具功力等第聞奏。」又詔：「居山至大伾山浮橋屬浚州者，賜名天成橋；大伾山至汶子山浮橋屬滑州者，賜名榮光橋。」俄改榮光曰聖功。七月庚辰，御制橋名，磨崖以刻之。方河之開也，水流雖通，然湍激猛暴，遇山稍隘，往往泛溢，近砦民夫多被漂溺，因亦及通利軍，其後遂注成巨濼雲。是月，昌齡遷工部侍郎。

In year five a supervisory office for the permanent bridges was established. On guichou in the sixth month an amnesty was proclaimed in Hebei, Jingdong, and Jingxi, declaring in part: "We cut through mountains and opened channels along the tracks of Yu's nine rivers; and bridged their footing to achieve a benefit that will last ten thousand generations. The work finished on schedule without neglect. Travelers are no longer blocked, and no place is cut off north from south. The spirits are appeased and the people rejoice. Yet the northern frontier and the capital districts have seen shovels busy and supplies moved—the people have labored, and We deeply pity them. Let them enjoy Our leniency and receive broad tax relief. Let the supervisory office report graded rewards for officials who opened the channel. Another edict named the bridge from Jushan to Mount Daqi in Xunzhou the Tiancheng Bridge; and the bridge from Mount Daqi to Mount Wenzi in Huazhou the Rongguang Bridge. Rongguang was soon renamed Shengong. In the seventh month the emperor composed the bridge names and had them engraved on the cliff. When the channel was first cut the water ran through, but the current was violent; where it narrowed at the hills it often flooded, drowning workers near the forts and reaching Tongli Army—later forming a vast marsh. That month Meng Changling was promoted to Vice Minister of Works.

八月己亥，都水監言：「大河以就三山通流，正在通利之東，慮水溢為患。乞移軍城於大伾山、居山之間，以就高仰。」從之。十月丁巳，中書省言冀州棗強埽決，知州辛昌宗武臣，不諳河事，詔以王仲元代之。

On jihai in the eighth month the Directorate of Waterways reported: "With the river now flowing through the three mountains just east of Tongli, We fear flooding. We ask to move the garrison between Mount Daqi and Jushan to higher ground." Approved. On dingsi in the tenth month the Secretariat reported a breach at Zaoqiang revetment in Jizhou; Prefect Xin Changzong, a military appointee ignorant of river work, was replaced by Wang Zhongyuan.

十一月丙寅，都水使者孟揆言：「大河連經漲淤，灘面已高，致河流傾側東岸。今若修閉棗強上埽決口，其費不貲，兼冬深難施人力，縱使極力修閉，東堤上下二百餘里，必須盡行增築，與水爭力，未能全免決溢之患。今漫水行流，多堿鹵及積水之地，又不犯州軍，止經數縣地分，迤邐纏御河歸納黃河。欲自決口上恩州之地水堤為始，增補舊堤，接續御河東岸，簽合大河。」從之。乙亥，臣僚言：「禹跡湮沒於數千載之遠，陛下神智獨運，一旦興復，導河三山。長堤盤固，橫截巨浸，依山為梁，天造地設。威示南北，度越前古，歲無解系之費，人無病涉之患。大功既成，願申飭有司，以日繼月，視水向著，隨為堤防，益加增固，每遇漲水，水官、漕臣不輟巡視。」詔付昌齡。

On bingyin in the eleventh month Meng Kuo reported: "Repeated floods have raised the shoals and tipped the river toward the east bank. Closing the upper Zaoqiang breach would cost a fortune; deep winter forbids heavy labor, and even a full repair would require raising two hundred-odd li of east embankment—fighting the river—without wholly preventing breaches. The overflow now crosses saline flats and standing pools, avoids prefectures and garrisons, passes only a few counties, and winds back to the Imperial Canal and the Yellow River. I propose to begin above the breach at Enzhou's flood dike, strengthen the old embankment, link it along the east bank of the Imperial Canal, and tie it back into the main river." Approved. On yihai officials said: "Yu's work lay buried for millennia until Your Majesty's wisdom restored it at once, routing the river through three mountains. Long embankments coil firm; a bridge spans the flood leaning on the hills—heaven and earth themselves seemed to ordain it. Your might spans north and south, surpassing all earlier ages: no yearly cost of dismantling bridges, no hardship for travelers. Now that the great work is done, I urge the offices daily and monthly to watch the river's course, strengthen the dikes, and have water and transport officials patrol without cease in every flood." The edict referred the matter to Changling.

六年四月辛卯，高陽關路安撫使吳玠言冀州棗強縣黃河清，詔許稱賀。七月戊午，太師蔡京請名三山橋銘閣曰纘禹繼文之閣，門曰銘功之門。十月辛卯，蔡京等言：「冀州河清，乞拜表稱賀。」

On xinmao in the fourth month of year six Wu Jie reported the Yellow River clear at Zaoqiang in Jizhou, and the court allowed congratulations. On wuwu in the seventh month Grand Preceptor Cai Jing proposed naming the bridge inscription pavilion the Carry On Yu Pavilion and its gate the Record Merit Gate. On xinmao in the tenth month Cai Jing and others asked to submit a memorial of congratulations on Jizhou's clear river.

七年五月丁巳，臣僚言：「恩州甯化鎮大河之側，地勢低下，正當灣流沖激之處。歲久堤岸怯薄，沁水透堤甚多，近鎮居民例皆移避。方秋夏之交，時雨霈然，一失堤防，則不惟東流莫測所向，一隅生靈所系甚大，亦恐妨阻大名、河間諸州往來邊路。乞付有司，貼築固護。」從之。六月癸酉，都水使者孟揚言：「舊河陽南北兩河分流，立中氵單，系浮梁。頃緣北河淤澱，水不通行，止于南河修系一橋。因此河項窄狹，水勢沖激，每遇漲水，多致損壞。欲措置開修北河，如舊修系南北兩橋。」從之。九月丁未，詔揚專一措置，而令河陽守臣王序營辦錢糧，督其工料。

On dingsi in the fifth month of the seventh year, officials reported: "At Ninghua Town in En Prefecture, beside the Great River, the ground is low and lies directly in the path of a crushing bend in the current. Years of wear had left the banks thin and brittle; water seeped through in countless places, and townsfolk had long since abandoned the vicinity. With the rainy season between summer and autumn, a single breach would send the eastern flow surging on an unknown course—endangering a whole district of lives—and might also cut the frontier highways linking Daming, Hejian, and neighboring prefectures. We ask that the proper offices be ordered to reinforce the banks in place." The court agreed. On guiyou in the sixth month, Waterways Commissioner Meng Yang reported: "At Heyang the northern and southern branches once split the flow, with a central pontoon anchoring a floating bridge. Lately the northern branch has silted shut and no longer carries water; only the southern branch still bears a bridge. That stretch is narrow, and the current hammers it; every flood season the bridge suffers repeated damage. We propose reopening the northern channel and restoring both bridges as before." The court agreed. On dingwei in the ninth month the court put Yang in sole charge of the work and ordered Heyang prefect Wang Xu to supply funds and oversee labor and materials.

重和元年三月己亥，詔：「滑州、浚州界萬年堤，全藉林木固護堤岸，其廣行種植，以壯地勢。」五月甲辰，詔：「孟州河陽縣第一埽，自春以來，河勢湍猛，侵齧民田，迫近州城止二三里。其令都水使者同漕臣、河陽守臣措置固護。」是秋雨，廣武埽危急，詔內侍王仍相度措置。

On jihai in the third month of the first year of Chonghe, an edict ran: "The Wannian Dike along the Huazhou–Xunzhou border depends wholly on timber to hold its banks—plant trees widely along it to buttress the ground." On jiachen in the fifth month another edict said: "At the first revetment in Heyang County, Mengzhou, since spring the river has run fierce, eating into farmland and closing to within two or three li of the prefectural seat. Let the Waterways Commissioner, the transport commissioner, and the Heyang prefect coordinate reinforcement." That autumn rains endangered the Guangwu revetment; the court sent palace attendant Wang Reng to survey and manage the crisis.

二年九月己卯，王黼言：「昨孟昌齡計議河事，至滑州韓村埽檢視，河流沖至寸金潭，其勢就下，未易禦遏。近降詔旨，令就畫定港灣，對開直河。方議開鑿，忽自成直河一道，寸金潭下，水即安流，在役之人，聚首仰歎。乞付史館，仍帥百官表賀。」從之。

On jimao in the ninth month of the second year, Wang Fu reported: "When Meng Changling surveyed the river at Hancun revetment in Huazhou, the current had driven into Cunjin Pool—the descent was steep and nearly impossible to contain. A recent edict had ordered a channel cut straight across the mapped harbor bend. While crews debated excavation, a straight channel suddenly formed of its own; below Cunjin Pool the water steadied at once, and laborers raised their heads and marveled. I ask that the event be recorded in the Historical Archives and that all officials be led in congratulatory memorials." The court agreed.

三年六月，河溢冀州信都。十一月，河決清河埽。是歲，水壞天成、聖功橋，官吏行罰有差。四年四月壬子，都水使者孟揚言：「奉詔修系三山東橋，凡役工十五萬七千八百，今累經漲水無虞。」詔因橋壞失職降秩者，俱復之，揚自正議大夫轉正奉大夫。

In the sixth month of the third year the river flooded Xindu in Jizhou. In the eleventh month the river burst at Qinghe revetment. That year floods wrecked the Tiancheng and Shenggong bridges; responsible officials were punished according to their degree of fault. On renzi in the fourth month of the fourth year, Waterways Commissioner Meng Yang reported: "By imperial order we restored the Sanshandong Bridge, employing 157,800 laborers; it has since weathered repeated floods without trouble." The throne restored officials demoted for the bridge disaster; Yang was promoted from Rectifier of Discussion to Rectifier of Tributary.

七年，欽宗即位。靖康元年二月乙卯，御史中丞許翰言：「保和殿大學士孟昌齡、延康殿學士孟揚、龍圖閣直學士孟揆，父子相繼領職二十年，過惡山積。妄設堤防之功，多張梢樁之數，窮竭民力，聚斂金帛。交結權要，內侍王仍為之奧主，超付名位，不知紀極。大河浮橋，歲一造舟，京西之民，猶憚其役。而昌齡首建三山之策，回大河之勢，頓取百年浮橋之費，僅為數歲行路之觀。漂沒生靈，無慮萬計，近輔郡縣，蕭然破殘。所辟官吏，計金敘績，富商大賈，爭注名牒，身不在公，遙分爵賞。每興一役，幹沒無數，省部御史，莫能鉤考。陛下方將澄清朝著，建立事功，不先誅竄昌齡父子，無以昭示天下。望籍其奸贓，以正典刑。」詔並落職：昌齡在外宮觀，揚依舊權領都水監職事，揆候措置橋船畢取旨。翰復請鉤考簿書，發其奸贓。乃詔昌齡與中大夫，揚、揆與中奉大夫。三月丁丑，京西轉運司言：「本路歲科河防夫三萬，溝河夫一萬八千。緣連年不稔，群盜劫掠，民力困弊，乞量數減放。」詔減八千人。

In the seventh year Qinzong succeeded to the throne. On yimao in the second month of the first year of Jingkang, Censor-in-Chief Xu Han impeached the Mengs: "Baohé Academician Meng Changling, Yankang Academician Meng Yang, and Longtu Direct Academician Meng Kui held river office in succession for twenty years, piling wrong upon wrong. They invented dike works and inflated stake counts, exhausting the people and hoarding gold and silk. They trafficked with court favorites; palace attendant Wang Reng was their shadow patron, catapulting them through ranks beyond reason. The Great River pontoon bridge required new boats every year, and western capital corvée districts still dread the duty. Changling's Sanshan scheme diverted the main current, squandering a century of floating-bridge costs on a few years of ceremonial thoroughfare. Countless thousands drowned; neighboring prefectures lay in ruins. Hirelings they picked were paid by the purse; wealthy contractors queued for nominal posts and drew honors without ever attending court. Every project they launched bred bottomless graft, beyond the reach of ministry auditors or the censorate. As Your Majesty sets the court in order, the Mengs must be punished first—or justice will never convince the realm. I urge that their ill-gotten gains be inventoried and standard penalties applied. All three were demoted: Changling to an outer palace post, Yang retained interim charge of the Directorate of Waterways, Kui to finish pontoon work before further orders. Han again asked to audit their accounts and expose their corruption. The court instead granted Changling Junior Grandee of Grace and Yang and Kui Junior Master of Grace for Tributary—mild ranks after denunciation. On dingchou in the third month the Jingxi transport commissioner reported: "This circuit levies 30,000 corvée laborers yearly for river defense and 18,000 for canal work. Years of failed harvests and bandit raids have broken the populace; we beg a measured reduction. The court cut the levy by eight thousand laborers.

汴河，自隋大業初，疏通濟渠，引黃河通淮，至唐，改名廣濟。宋都大樑，以孟州河陰縣南為汴首受黃河之口，屬於淮、泗。每歲自春及冬，常於河口均調水勢，止深六尺，以通行重載為准。歲漕江、淮、湖、浙米數百萬，及至東南之產，百物眾寶，不可勝計。又下西山之薪炭，以輸京師之粟，以振河北之急，內外仰給焉。故于諸水，莫此為重。其淺深有度，置官以司之，都水監總察之。然大河向背不常，故河口歲易；易則度地形，相水勢，為口以逆之。遇春首輒調數州之民，勞費不貲，役者多溺死。吏又並緣侵漁，而京師常有決溢之虞。

The Bian Canal: in early Sui, engineers dredged the Ji Channel to draw Yellow River water toward the Huai; under Tang it was renamed Guangji. The Song seat at Daliang took the Yellow River intake south of Heyin in Mengzhou as the canal head, feeding the Huai and Si systems. From spring through winter officials balanced the intake so depth held at six chi—enough for heavy grain barges. Millions of bushels from the Jianghuai and Zhe regions arrived annually, with southeast luxuries beyond counting. Western Hills charcoal rode the same waterway to feed the capital and Hebei's emergencies—the realm depended on this conduit. Among rivers none weighed heavier in statecraft. Depth was regulated by statute; canal officers answered to the Directorate of Waterways. Yet the Yellow River's course shifted; the intake moved almost yearly; and each time officials had to read the land and bend a new mouth against the current. Every spring brought corvée from several prefectures at ruinous cost—workers often drowned. Officials fattened on graft, and the capital lived under perennial flood terror.

太祖建隆二年春，導索水自旃然，與須水合入於汴。三年十月，詔：「緣汴河州縣長吏，常以春首課民夾岸植榆柳，以固堤防。」

In spring of Taizu's second Jianlong year, the Suo River was channeled from Zhanran to join the Xu and feed the Bian. In the tenth month of year three, an edict ordered Bian Canal magistrates each spring to set the people planting elms and willows along both banks.

太宗太平興國二年七月，開封府言：「汴水溢壞開封大寧堤，浸民田，害稼。」詔發懷、孟丁夫三千五百人塞之。三年正月，發軍士千人復汴口。六月，宋州言：「寧陵縣河溢，堤決。」詔發宋、亳丁夫四千五百人，分遣使臣護役。四年八月，又決于宋城縣，以本州諸縣人夫三千五百人塞之。

In Taizong's seventh month of Taiping Xingguo year two, Kaifeng reported the Bian had burst the Daining dike, flooding fields and ruining crops. The court sent 3,500 corvée workers from Huai and Meng to plug the breach. In the first month of year three a thousand troops restored the canal intake. In the sixth month Songzhou reported that at Ningling the river had overflowed and broken the dike. Four thousand five hundred corvée laborers from Song and Bo were sent under dispatched commissioners. In the eighth month of year four the river broke again at Songcheng; three thousand five hundred local laborers sealed it.

淳化二年六月，汴水決浚儀縣。帝乘步輦出乾元門，宰相、樞密迎謁。帝曰：「東京養甲兵數十萬，居人百萬家，天下轉漕，仰給在此一渠水，朕安得不顧。」車駕入泥淖中，行百餘步，從臣震恐。殿前都指揮使戴興叩頭懇請回馭，遂捧輦出泥淖中。詔興督步卒數千塞之。日未旰，水勢遂定。帝始就次，太官進膳。親王近臣皆泥濘沾衣。知縣宋炎亡匿不敢出，特赦其罪。是月，汴又決于宋城縣，發近縣丁夫二千人塞之。

In the sixth month of Chunhua year two the Bian breached Junyi. The emperor walked a litter out the Qianyuan Gate; chancellor and Military Affairs commissioners met him. He said: "Eastern Capital feeds hundreds of thousands of soldiers and a million households—the empire's transport hangs on this single ditch. How could I ignore it?" The procession plunged into mud for more than a hundred paces; attendants trembled. Palace Front commander Dai Xing kowtowed and pleaded for retreat, then bore the litter back to firm ground. Xing was ordered to seal the breach with several thousand foot soldiers. Before noon the water stilled. The emperor then took refreshment from the Imperial Pantry. Princes and close ministers stood filthy with mud. County magistrate Song Yan had fled in hiding; he received a special pardon. That same month the Bian broke again at Songcheng; two thousand nearby corvée workers plugged it.

至道元年九月，帝以汴河歲運江、淮米五七百萬斛，以濟京師，問侍臣汴水疏鑿之由，令參知政事張洎講求其事以聞。其言曰：

In the ninth month of Zhidao year one, noting that the Bian yearly moved five to seven million bushels of Jianghuai grain to the capital, the emperor asked how the canal had been cut and ordered Zhang Bi to research and report. Zhang Bi answered:

禹導河自積石至龍門，南至華陰，東至砥柱；又東至於孟津，東過洛汭，至於大伾，即今成皋是也，或云黎陽山也。禹以大河流泛中國，為害最甚，乃于貝丘疏二渠，以分水勢：一渠自舞陽縣東，引入漯水，其水東北流，至千乘縣入海，即今黃河是也；一渠疏畎引傍西山，以東北形高敝壞堤，水勢不便流溢，夾右碣石入於渤海。《書》所謂「北過洚水，至於大陸」，洚水即濁漳，大陸則邢州钜鹿澤。「播為九河，同為逆河，入於海。」河自魏郡貴鄉縣界分為九道，下至滄州，今為一河。言逆河者，謂與河水往復相承受也。齊桓公塞以廣田居，唯一河存焉，今其東界至莽梧河是也。禹又於滎澤下分大河為陰溝，引注東南，以通淮、泗。至大樑浚儀縣西北，復分為二渠：一渠元經陽武縣中牟台下為官渡水；一渠始皇疏鑿以灌魏郡，謂之鴻溝，莨菪渠自滎陽五出池口來注之。其鴻溝即出河之溝，亦曰莨菪渠。

Yu channeled the river from Jishi to Longmen, south to Huayin, east to Dizhu; then east to Mengjin and past Luoyin to Mount Daqi—today's Chenggao, also called Liyang Hill. Because the river's vast floods ravaged the central plains, Yu at Beiqiu cut two canals to split its force: one east of Wuyang feeding the Luo, which ran northeast through Qiansheng to the sea—the present Yellow River; another drew field channels along the western hills; where northeastern terrain rose high enough to threaten dikes, overflow was checked and the stream was guided past Jieshi into the Bohai. The Documents' "north past the Ji to the Great Plain" means the muddy Zhang and the Julu marsh of Xingzhou. "It was spread into nine channels, together forming the opposing river, and entered the sea." From Guixiang in Weijun it once split into nine branches down to Cangzhou; now only one remains. "Opposing river" describes how backwater and main current alternately receive each other. Duke Huan of Qi dammed channels to reclaim farmland, leaving a single stream whose eastern limit today is the Mangwu River. Yu also split the main river below Rong Marsh into the Yin Ditch toward the Huai and Si. Northwest of Daliang at Junyi it again forked: one branch ran under Zhongmou in Yangwu as Guandu water; another was the First Emperor's Hong Ditch to irrigate Weijun, fed by the Langdang channel from five outlets at Chiyang in Xingyang. The Hong Ditch is the river's outlet channel, also termed Langdang.

漢明帝時，樂浪人王景、謁者王吳始作浚儀渠，蓋循河溝故讀也。渠成流注浚儀，故以浚儀縣為名。靈帝建寧四年，于敖城西北壘石為門，以遏渠口，故世謂之石門。渠外東合濟水，濟與河、渠渾濤東注，至敖山北，渠水至此又兼邲之水，即《春秋》晉、楚戰於邲。邲又音汳，即「汴」字，古人避「反」字，改從「汴」字。渠水又東經滎陽北，旃然水自縣東流入汴水。鄭州滎陽縣西二十里三皇山上，有二廣武城，二城相去百餘步，汴水自兩城間小澗中東流而出，而濟流自茲乃絕。唯汴渠首受旃然水，謂之鴻渠。東晉太和中，桓溫北伐前燕，將通之，不果。義熙十三年，劉裕西征姚秦，復浚此渠，始有湍流奔注，而岸善潰塞，裕更疏鑿而漕運焉。隋煬帝大業三年，詔尚書左丞相皇甫誼發河南男女百萬開汴水，起滎澤入淮千餘里，乃為通濟渠。又發淮南兵夫十餘萬開邗溝，自山陽淮至於揚子江三百餘里，水面闊四十步，而後行幸焉。自後天下利於轉輸。昔孝文時，賈誼言「漢以江、淮為奉地」，謂魚、鹽、穀、帛，多出東南。至五鳳中，耿壽昌奏：「故事，歲增關東谷四百萬斛以給京師。」亦多自此渠漕運。

Under Han Ming, Wang Jing of Lelang and attendant Wang Wu rebuilt the Junyi Canal along the old river trench. When complete, its flow entered Junyi and took that county's name. In Ling's fourth Jianning year, masons piled a stone gate northwest of Aocheng to throttle the mouth—the Stone Gate of later ages. East of the canal it mingled with the Ji; river, canal, and Ji thundered eastward, and at Aoshan's north Bi water joined—the stream of the Jin–Chu battle at Bi. Bi was also read bian—the origin of the character "Bian"; ancients shunned the homophone "fan" and wrote "Bian" instead. The canal ran east past Xingyang's north, where Zhanran water entered from the county's east. Twenty li west of Xingyang stand twin Guangwu towns on Sanguan Hill a hundred paces apart; the Bian issued between them through a narrow gorge, and the Ji ended there. The canal head takes only Zhanran water—then called the Hong Canal. In Eastern Jin's Taihe era Huan Wen, campaigning against Former Yan, tried to reopen it but failed. In the thirteenth year of Yixi, Liu Yu, marching west against Yao Qin, dredged the channel again—swift water returned, though banks still collapsed until further cuts restored transport. In Sui Yang's third Daye year, Left Chancellor Huangfu Yi conscripted a million Henan workers to open the Bian from Rong Marsh to the Huai—a thousand li—the Tongji Canal. Another hundred thousand Huainan troops cut the Han Gou from the Huai at Shanyang to the Yangzi, three hundred li wide enough for forty paces, before Yang undertook his tours. Thereafter the realm reaped the benefits of long-distance transport. As early as Emperor Wen’s reign, Jia Yi wrote that the Han took the Yangtze and Huai as its provisioning lands—fish, salt, grain, and cloth flowed chiefly from the southeast. By the Wufeng reign period, Geng Shouchang reported that precedent called for shipping four million hu of eastern grain yearly to the capital. Most of that grain, too, moved along this canal.

唐初，改通濟渠為廣濟渠。開元中，黃門侍郎、平章事裴耀卿言：江、淮租船，自長淮西北溯鴻溝，轉相輸納于河陰、含嘉、太原等倉。凡三年，運米七百萬石，實利涉於此。開元末，河南採訪使、汴州刺史齊浣，以江、淮漕運經淮水波濤有沉損，遂浚廣濟渠下流，自泗州虹縣至楚州淮陰縣北八十里合於淮，逾時畢功。既而水流迅急，行旅艱險，尋乃廢停，卻由舊河。

Early in Tang the Tongji Canal was renamed the Guangji Canal. During Kaiyuan, Grand Councilor Pei Yaoqing noted that Jianghuai tribute fleets sailed northwest up the Hong Gou from the lower Huai and transshipped grain into granaries at Heyin, Hanjia, Taiyuan, and elsewhere. Over three years they moved seven million shi of rice—the gain lay in this route. Late in Kaiyuan, Qi Huan of Henan and Bianzhou, seeing Jianghuai grain boats wrecked in Huai surf, dredged the lower Guangji from Hong in Sizhou to Huaiyin in Chuzhou—eighty li to the Huai—and finished, though past deadline. The current proved too swift for safe travel, so the cut was abandoned and traffic reverted to the old channel.

德宗朝，歲漕運江、淮米四十萬石，以益關中。時叛將李正己、田悅皆分軍守徐州，臨渦口，梁崇義阻兵襄、鄧，南北漕引皆絕。於是水陸運使杜佑請改漕路，自浚儀西十里疏其南涯，引流入琵琶溝，經蔡河至陳州合潁水，是秦、漢故道，以官漕久不由此，故填淤不通，若畎流培岸，則功用甚寡；又廬、壽之間有水道，而平岡亙其中，曰雞鳴山，佑請疏其兩端，皆可通舟，其間登陸四十里而已，則江、湖、黔、嶺、蜀、漢之粟，可方舟而下。由是白沙趨東關，經廬、壽，浮潁步蔡，曆琵琶溝入汴河，不復經溯淮之險，徑于舊路二千里，功寡利博。朝議將行，而徐州順命，淮路乃通。至國家膺圖受命，以大樑四方所湊，天下之樞，可以臨制四海，故卜京邑而定都。

In Dezong’s reign four hundred thousand shi of Jianghuai rice were shipped annually to supply Guanzhong. Rebel commanders Li Zhengji and Tian Yue held Xuzhou and the Woguo crossing; Liang Chongyi blocked Xiangyang and Dengzhou—north–south grain routes were severed. Transport Commissioner Du You proposed a new route: ten li west of Junyi, open the south bank into Pipa Ditch, follow the Cai to Chenzhou and the Ying—an ancient Qin–Han channel silted shut. Minor dredging and bank work, he argued, would reopen it cheaply; Between Luzhou and Shouzhou a level ridge called Jiming Hill blocked the waterway; Du You urged cutting both ends so only a forty-li portage remained, letting grain from the Yangtze basin, the southwest, and Hanzhong float down in fleets. Grain would run from Baisha to Dongguan, through Lu and Shou, down the Ying and Cai, into Pipa Ditch and the Bian—avoiding the Huai ascent yet saving two thousand li, with modest cost and great gain. The court was poised to adopt the plan when Xuzhou submitted and the Huai route reopened. When the dynasty took the Mandate, Daliang stood where the realm converged—a hub from which to command the four seas—so the court chose it and fixed the capital there.

漢高帝云：「吾以羽檄召天下兵未至。」孝文又云：「吾初即位，不欲出虎符召郡國兵。」即知兵甲在外也。唯有南北軍、期門郎、羽林孤兒，以備天子扈從藩衛之用。唐承隋制，置十二衛府兵，皆農夫也。及罷府兵，始置神武、神策為禁軍，不過三數萬人，亦以備扈從藩衛而已，故祿山犯關，驅市人而戰；德宗蒙塵，扈駕四百餘騎，兵甲皆在郡國。額軍存而可舉者，除河朔三鎮外，太原、青社各十萬人，邠甯、宣武各六萬人，潞、徐、荊、揚各五萬人，襄、宣、壽、鎮海各二萬人，自餘觀察、團練據要害之地者，不下萬人。今天下甲卒數十萬眾，戰馬數十萬匹，並萃京師，悉集七亡國之士民於輦下，比漢、唐京邑，民庶十倍。甸服時有水旱，不至艱歉者，有惠民、金水、五丈、汴水等四渠，派引脈分，鹹會天邑，舳艫相接，贍給公私。所以無匱乏，唯汴水橫亙中國，首承大河，漕引江、湖，利盡南海，半天下之財賦，並山澤之百貨，悉由此路而進。然則禹力疏鑿以分水勢，煬帝開畎以奉巡遊，雖數湮廢，而通流不絕於百代之下，終為國家之用者，其上天之意乎？

Han Gaozu once said, “I called the empire’s armies with urgent dispatches, and they still did not come.” Emperor Wen added, “When I first took the throne I would not even issue tiger tallies to summon the commanderies.” Both remarks show that real military power lay in the provinces. Only the capital guards—the Northern and Southern Armies, the Qimen, and the Yulin cadets—served as the emperor’s personal escort. Tang kept Sui’s twelve guard units of farmer-soldiers. After the frontier armies were dissolved, the Shenwu and Shence formed a palace guard of barely thirty thousand—enough for escort duty alone, so when An Lushan stormed the pass he had to press townsfolk into battle; and when Dezong fled the capital his escort numbered four hundred horsemen while arms and armor sat in the provinces. Deployable frontier forces—aside from the three Hebei circuits—numbered about one hundred thousand each at Taiyuan and Qingqi, sixty thousand at Binning and Xuanwu, fifty thousand at Lu, Xu, Jing, and Yang, twenty thousand at Xiang, Xuan, Shou, and Zhenhai, and at least ten thousand at every other strategic garrison. Now hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses crowd the capital, with subjects from seven conquered kingdoms packed under the throne—a population ten times that of Han or Tang Chang’an. Flood and drought in the capital region rarely brought famine: four canals—the Huimin, Jinshui, Wuzhang, and Bian—fed the city in an unbroken line of barges for public and private stores alike. The capital never wanted for goods because the Bian crossed the empire, took the Yellow River at its head, drew the Yangtze and lakes, and reached the southern sea—half the realm’s taxes and every mountain and marsh product came this way. Yu had split the waters by dredging; Yang of Sui had cut channels for his tours—time and again they silted up, yet the current never failed the dynasty for long. Perhaps heaven meant the Bian to endure.

大中祥符二年八月，汴水漲溢，自京至鄭州，浸道路。詔選使乘傳減汴口水勢。既而水減，阻滯漕運，復遣浚汴口。八年六月，詔自今後汴水添漲及七尺五寸，即遣禁兵三千，沿河防護。八月，太常少卿馬元方請浚汴河中流，闊五丈，深五尺，可省修堤之費。即詔遣使計度修浚。使還，上言：「泗州西至開封府界，岸闊底平，水勢薄，不假開浚。請止自泗州夾岡，用功八十六萬五千四百三十八，以宿、亳丁夫充，計減功七百三十一萬，仍請於沿河作頭踏道擗岸，其淺處為鋸牙，以束水勢，使其浚成河道，止用河清、下卸卒，就未放春水前，令逐州長吏、令佐督役。自今汴河淤澱，可三五年一浚。又于中牟、滎澤縣各置開減水河。」並從之。

In the eighth month of the second Xiangfu year (1009) the Bian flooded from the capital to Zhengzhou and covered the highways. The court sent fast couriers to lower the headworks at the Bian intake. When the level dropped and barges stalled, officials dredged the intake again. In the sixth month of year eight (1015) the throne ruled that a rise of seven and a half chi on the Bian would trigger three thousand palace guards along the levees. That autumn Ma Yuanfang urged cutting the mid-reach five zhang wide and five chi deep so dikes could be trimmed. The emperor ordered a survey and dredging at once. The envoy reported that from Sizhou west to Kaifeng the channel was wide, shallow, and calm—dredging unnecessary there. Dredging should begin at the Sizhou hills—865,438 corvée days from Suzhou and Bozhou, saving 7.31 million units overall. Along the reach they should build towpaths, notch the banks, and set saw-tooth groins to pinch the flow; River-Clear and Lower-Unload crews must finish before the spring rise under local magistrates’ supervision. Henceforth the Bian would be dredged every few years as needed. Flood-relief cuts were also ordered at Zhongmou and Xing Marsh. The court approved everything.

天禧三年十二月，都官員外郎鄭希甫言：「汴河兩岸皆是陂水，廣浸民田，堤腳並無流泄之處。今汴河南省自明河接澳入淮，望詔轉運使規度以聞。」

In the twelfth month of Tianxi 3 (1019) Zheng Xifu reported that ponds along both Bian banks were flooding fields with nowhere to drain at the toe of the levee. He asked that the transport commissioner survey linking the Ming River and Ao into the Huai south of the canal and report back."

仁宗天聖三年，汴流淺，特遣使疏河注口。四年，大漲，堤危，眾情恟忄匈憂京城，詔度京城西賈陂岡地，泄之于護龍河。六年，勾當汴口康得輿言：「行視陽武橋萬勝鎮，宜存斗門。其梁固斗門三宜廢去，祥符界北岸請為別竇，分減溢流。」而勾當汴口王中庸欲增置孫村之石限，悉從其請。七年，德輿言，修河芟地為並灘農戶所侵。詔限一月使自實，檢括以還縣官。皇祐三年，命使詣中牟治堤。明年八月，河涸，舟不通，令河渠司自口浚治，歲以為常。舊制，水增七尺五寸，則京師集禁兵、八作、排岸兵，負土列河上以防河。滿五日，賜錢以勞之，曰「特支」；而或數漲數防，又不及五日而罷，則軍士屢疲，而賜予不及。是歲七月，始制防河兵日給錢，薄其數，才比特支十分之一，軍士便之。明年，遣使行河相利害。

In Tiansheng 3 (1025) the Bian ran low and the court sent a special mission to clear the intake. The next year a flood threatened the levees and panic gripped the capital; officials cut a spill west of the city into the Hulong River. In year six Kang Deyu, overseer of the Bian intake, argued after inspection that sluices at Yangwu Bridge and Wansheng must stay open. Three gates at Lianggu should close, he said, while a new culvert on the Xiangfu north bank would bleed off excess flow." Wang Zhongyong, his counterpart, wanted a stone weir at Sun Village; the court granted both plans. In year seven Deyu reported farmers seizing river-maintenance land on the floodplain. They had one month to confess encroachments before surveyors restored the land to the state. In Huangyou 3 (1051) the court sent an officer to repair Zhongmou’s levees. The following autumn the channel dried up; the Canal Bureau was told to dredge the intake annually thereafter. By old rule a seven-and-a-half-chi rise mobilized palace guards, artisans, and bank troops to heap earth along the levee. After five days they received a bonus called the "special payout"; but repeated surges often ended the emergency before five days, leaving men exhausted and unpaid. In the seventh month of that year daily flood pay was introduced—one-tenth of the old bonus—and troops approved. The following year an inspector toured the canal to weigh costs and gains.

嘉祐六年，汴水淺澀，常稽運漕。都水奏：「河自應天府抵泗州，直流湍駛無所阻。惟應天府上至汴口，或岸闊淺漫，宜限以六十步闊，於此則為木岸狹河，扼束水勢令深駛。梢，伐岸木可足也。」遂下詔興役，而眾議以為未便。宰相蔡京奏：「祖宗時已嘗狹河矣，俗好沮敗事，宜勿聽。」役既半，岸木不足，募民出雜梢。岸成而言者始息。舊曲灘漫流，多稽留覆溺處，悉為駛直平夷，操舟往來便之。

In Jiayou 6 (1061) low, sluggish water on the Bian repeatedly delayed tribute fleets. The Directorate reported that from Yingtian to Sizhou the current was swift and unobstructed. Only the reach above Yingtian to the intake was wide and shallow; narrowing it to sixty paces with timber revetments would pinch the flow and deepen the channel. Timber cut from the banks would supply the revetments. The throne ordered the project, though many called it ill-advised. Cai Jing urged the emperor to ignore critics: “Our forebears already narrowed the channel; common talk always blocks useful work.” Midway through, timber ran short and civilians were hired to furnish mixed revetment poles. Once the revetments stood, opposition died away. Former bends that had slowed and sunk boats were straightened, and traffic eased.

神宗熙寧四年，創開訾家口，日役夫四萬，饒一月而成。才三月已淺澱，乃復開舊口，役萬工，四日而水稍順。有應舜臣者，獨謂新口在孤柏嶺下，當河流之沖，其便利可常用勿易，水大則泄以斗門，水小則為輔渠於下流以益之。安石善其議。

In Xining 4 (1071) the court cut the Zijia intake with forty thousand laborers a day and finished in a month. Within three months it silted shut; reopening the old mouth with ten thousand men restored a modest current in four days. Ying Shunchen alone argued that the new cut below Gubai Ridge sat in the main current and should stay open—sluices for floods, a feeder ditch in drought. Wang Anshi endorsed the plan.

五年，先是，宣徽北院使、中太一宮使張方平嘗論汴河曰：「國家漕運，以河渠為主。國初浚河渠三道，通京城漕運，自後定立上供年額：汴河斛鬥六百萬石，廣濟河六十二萬石，惠民河六十萬石。廣濟河所運，止給太康、咸平、尉氏等縣軍糧而已。惟汴河專運粳米，兼以小麥，此乃大倉蓄積之實。今仰食於官廩者，不惟三軍，至於京師士庶以億萬計，太半待飽於軍稍之餘，故國家於漕事至急至重。然則汴河乃建國之本，非可與區區溝洫水利同言也。近歲已罷廣濟河，而惠民河斛鬥不入大倉，大眾之命，惟汴河是賴。今陳說利害，以汴河為議者多矣。臣恐議者不已，屢作改更，必致汴河日失其舊。國家大計，殊非小事。願陛下特回聖鑒，深賜省察，留神遠慮，以固基本。」方平之言，為王安石發也。

In year five Zhang Fangping—palace commissioner and Zhongtaiyi envoy—had warned: “Imperial transport rests on the canals. The founders opened three routes to the capital and fixed quotas: six million hu on the Bian, 620,000 on the Guangji, 600,000 on the Huimin. The Guangji fed only garrisons around Taikang, Xianping, and Weishi. Only the Bian carried polished rice and wheat—the substance of the Great Granary. Millions in the capital, not just the armies, live on surplus transport grain; the dynasty’s fate hangs on the canal. The Bian is the dynasty’s lifeline—not some local irrigation ditch. The Guangji had been shut and Huimin grain no longer reached the central stores; the people depended solely on the Bian. Memorials debating the Bian had multiplied. If debate never ends and plans keep changing, the canal will erode year by year. This is no minor affair of hydraulics—it is national policy. I beg Your Majesty to look far, examine deeply, and secure the foundation of the realm." Zhang’s memorial was aimed at Wang Anshi.

六年夏，都水監丞侯叔獻乞引汴水淤府界閒田，安石力主之。水既數放，或至絕流，公私重舟不可蕩，有閣折者。帝以人情不安，嘗下都水分析，並詔三司同府界提點官往視。十一月，範子奇建議：冬不閉汴口，以外江綱運直入汴至京，廢運般。安石以為然。詔汴口官吏相視，卒用其說。是後高麗入貢，令溯汴赴闕。

That summer Hou Shuxian proposed flooding suburban fields with Bian water; Wang Anshi backed him firmly. Repeated draw-downs sometimes dried the channel; heavy barges grounded and some were wrecked. Public alarm moved the emperor to order analysis by the Directorate and a joint inspection by the Three Departments and capital commissioners. In the eleventh month Fan Ziqi urged leaving the Bian mouth open through winter so sea-route fleets could sail straight to the capital, ending relay labor. Wang Anshi agreed. Intake officers surveyed the scheme and the court adopted it. Later, Goryeo tribute missions were told to sail up the Bian to the capital.

七年春，河水壅溢，積潦敗堤。八月，御史盛陶謂汴河開兩口非便，命同判都水監宋昌言視兩口水勢，檄同提舉汴口官王珫。珫言訾家口水三分，輔渠七分。昌言請塞訾家口，而留輔渠。時韓絳、呂惠卿當國，許之。

In the spring of year seven floodwater backed up and burst the levees. That autumn Censor Sheng Tao attacked the twin intakes and had Song Changyan measure both flows with intake officer Wang Xiu. Wang Xiu reported the Zijia cut took three-tenths of the flow and the feeder seven-tenths. Song Changyan urged sealing Zijia while keeping the feeder ditch. Han Jiang and Lü Huiqing, then in power, approved.

八年春，安石再相，叔獻言：「昨疏浚汴河，自南京至泗州，概深三尺至五尺。惟虹縣以東，有礓石三十里餘，不可疏浚，乞募民開修。」詔檢計工糧以聞。七月，叔獻又言：「歲開汴口作生河，侵民田，調夫役。今惟用訾家口，減人夫、物料各以萬計，乞減河清一指揮。」從之。未幾，汴水大漲，至深一丈二尺，於是復請權閉汴口。

In the spring of year eight, with Wang Anshi back as chancellor, Hou Shuxian reported dredging the Bian from Nanjing to Sizhou to a depth of three to five chi throughout. East of Hong, he noted, thirty li of bedrock resisted dredging and asked for civilian contractors to cut through." The court ordered a cost survey. In the seventh month Hou added that annual intake cuts flooded fields and tied up corvée. Relying solely on Zijia would save tens of thousands in labor and supplies, he said, and asked to cut one River-Clear regiment." The throne agreed. Soon a twelve-chi flood forced them to seek a temporary closure of the intake.

九年十月，詔都水度量疏浚汴河淺深，仍記其地分。十年，範子淵請用濬川杷，以六月興工，自謂功利灼然，請「候今冬疏浚畢，將杷具、舟船等分給逐地分。使臣於閉口之後，檢量河道淤澱去處，至春水接續疏導」。大抵皆無甚利。已而清汴之役興。

In the tenth month of year nine the Directorate was told to sound the Bian and log depths by section. In year ten Fan Ziyuan proposed deploying the Junchuan dredge rake from the sixth month, boasting clear returns, and asked that after winter dredging "rake gear and boats be allotted by district. Envoys should then survey silt after the intake closed and resume cutting when the spring freshet arrived. Few of these schemes paid off. Soon the great Clear-Bian project began.

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