That year, there was a serious drought in Hangzhou, which lasted 998 1 day. Thousands of acres of farmland on both sides of the West Lake have holes in the land, and rice and grain are yellow, as if they had been burned. People go to yamen every day and ask Old Master Q: Release the West Lake water quickly and save the farmland. However, those government officials only know how to have fun on the West Lake all day, but they always ignore it.
One day, the people rushed to the yamen in a bustling way and asked the master to release the West Lake water. Some shouted, "Master Qingtian, release the West Lake water quickly and save the farmland!" Some shouted, "Sir, all of us can't live without the West Lake water!" "For this person, sleep also can not sleep, eat also eat not sweet, so we have to personally to the yamen mouth, angrily said to them:
"Who said anything about putting the West Lake water? If the water in the West Lake is released, there will be no place for the fish and shrimp in the lake to live? " At this time, I saw an old man with five beards walking out of the crowd and asked unhurriedly, "Which is more important, fish and shrimp, compared with the lives of the people?"
Hearing this, the'm angrily said again:
"Who said anything about putting the West Lake water? When the water in the West Lake is released, the water chestnut will not grow. "
The old man smiled coldly and asked again:
"Which is more important, water chestnut or rice?"
Hearing this, the'm more discouraged:
"Who said anything about putting the West Lake water? Isn't it good for Emperor Hongfu to put the water in the West Lake? " In fact, what this gentleman wants to say is that it is not good for his official career, and he is afraid of being too explicit and offending public anger, so today he carried out the emperor to make an example.
Who knows the old man a listen to these words, more angry, he confidently asks.
"Compared with the people, the emperor which is more important? If there is no rice for him to eat and clothes for him to wear, can he still be an emperor? "
The people around you were unreasonable after listening to the old man's words, and wanted to scold him for a long time: now they jumped up with joy after listening to the old man's words: "Is he right?" Is he right? "
The old man was shaking with anger: "You, who are you?" Dare to contradict your master in public and incite the people? "
The old man smiled again and said, "Ask me which one? I am Bai Juyi! "
Hearing this, old Bai Juyi has arrived. That old man, even the present emperor is afraid of his three points, and he is not good at hard work. He quickly bowed and said, "It turns out that the new master of the secretariat has arrived! Xiaguan is far from meeting each other and apologizes face to face. Please, please rest in the yamen. "
People have heard that the old man is Bai Juyi, and some people have read his poems about caring for the people. They all said, "If Bai Juyi is our parents, our farmland will be saved!"
Sure enough, the next day, the green West Lake water spouted into the nearby farmland; Dry rice grains, like drinking nectar, "brush" straight up at once; People shed tears with excitement when they watched the gurgling lake water flow into their farmland.
Later, Bai Juyi visited a nearby farmer. Outside Qiantang Gate, he built a dam and a stone culvert gate to store the lake water. He was also afraid that the local officials of later generations did not understand the benefits of the dam to the people, so he personally wrote an article "Qiantang Lake Dike" (then the West Lake was also called Qiantang Lake) carved on a stone tablet, detailing the use of the dam and the methods of storing water, releasing water and protecting the dam.
People gathered to look at the stone tablet. When writing about how many hectares of farmland can be irrigated by putting an inch of lake water, everyone was moved to tears, because Bai Juyi knew the sufferings of the people and designed the water conservancy project accurately. Everyone talks about it in succession, thinking that this is a good man and we should ask the court for him. Hearing the news, Bai Juyi quickly stopped and wrote a poem with deep regret:
Taxes are too heavy for poor households, and farmers are eager for dry land;
Leave only one lake to save the disaster year with you.
Bai Juyi made a secretariat in Hangzhou. Usually, the management of this lake is very strict.