Liu Tianhe, a famous minister of water control in the Ming Dynasty, was known for his honesty and political achievements, and was called Songshi by later generations.
He was born in the area of Luopu Suokou River in Macheng, Huguang, and was proficient in military affairs and showed outstanding ability in officialdom.
Although he is known for his water control, his achievements in water control are often overshadowed.
In fact, in the history of water control at that time, he was unparalleled.
In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River flooded frequently, but the governance situation did not fundamentally improve.
The Yellow River has been diverted several times, creating a complicated situation.
During this period, it was more difficult to control water in the Ming Dynasty, mainly for two reasons.
One is the canal, which became the lifeblood of the country, ensuring the transportation of goods.
Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the needs of water transportation when controlling the Yellow River, but the frequent flooding of the Yellow River often affects the smooth flow of water transportation.
The second is the problem of protecting the tombs, in the early Ming Dynasty, most of the frequent river disasters of the Yellow River were in the Huaibei region, and the threat to the Huaisi region was not great.
However, in the later period, the Yellow River disaster gradually shifted to the Huaisi area, which exacerbated the political problems of the tomb.
After Liu Tianhe took office, he conducted an in-depth field survey of the Yellow River, focusing on quantitative analysis of data.
On this basis, he proposed measures to address the main causes of the flood in the lower reaches of the Yellow River.
Liu worked tirelessly during the field trip to understand the actual needs of the people, which provided him with a unique idea of river management.
He first emphasized the importance of governing the movement, and took this as the main line to carry out overall governance.
His research on river control projects is even more thorough and thorough.
He did not hesitate to freeze, personally measured the depth of the river bottom, and measured the width of the river.
In terms of the construction of sluices and dams and dredging channels, he meticulously formulated the construction plan and carried out the project in an all-round way.
Liu highlighted the importance of canal security in river control, and at the same time paid attention to the issue of tomb protection to prevent accidents.
He proposed a design for the embankment of the mausoleum to ensure that it would not block the passage of the surrounding lake and river into the Huai.
Liu Tianhe's methods and attitude towards water control were highly recognized and praised by the emperor at that time, and he was entrusted with important tasks.
In just over two years, he has achieved great success with field research and implementation.
Liu's achievements in water control are of great significance in the history of river governance in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and set an example for future generations of river rulers.