The Heroes of the River

This film (drama)Also known as大河英雄传，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2023Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating0.0(For reference only)。

In November of the 12th year of the Kangxi era, Wu Sangui united with Geng Jingzhong and Shang Zhinx to launch the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. They occupied most of southern Jiangnan. The 20-year-old Kangxi Emperor sent troops from three directions to confront them, and the situation was quite tense. At that moment, the Yellow River was flooding. Anhui Governor Jin Fu was tasked with collecting disaster relief donations. During the fundraising process, the magistrate of Shexian, Tang Min, in order to please his superiors, extorted money from the common people without caring for their lives. He reported the highest contributions, and Jin Fu was unaware of this and publicly praised him. Tang Min felt even more emboldened as he gained recognition from the governor. On the other hand, the magistrate Yu Chenglong, who submitted the least amount of money, did not comply. He not only confronted Jin Fu but also implied that Jin Fu was an incompetent official. Jin Fu knew that Yu Chenglong was an honest official and did not hold it against him, nor did he dismiss his opinions. He sent Xu Zhi, the governor of Huizhou, to Shexian for an investigation. Unexpectedly, Tang Min, cruel and ruthless, poisoned Xu Zhi. Jin Fu then sent Yu Chenglong to investigate again. Just as Yu Chenglong was about to start his investigation, a famine broke out in the flood-stricken area of Anhui, and remnants of the Ming Dynasty, claiming to be the "Prince of the Zhu family," had sent the Yang family to the disaster area to incite riots among the starving people in support of Wu Sangui's rebellion. The starving people stormed the county town, intending to raid the granary. Tang Min dispatched troops to suppress them, and chaos was imminent. Upon arrival, Yu Chenglong discovered a conspiracy; while opening the granary to distribute grain, he captured two henchmen of the so-called Prince of Zhu. The entrusted confidant of Suo E Tu, who came to distribute grain, immediately detained Yu Chenglong and reported him to Suo E Tu. Private handling of military grain was a capital offense, and Suo E Tu reported back to Kangxi. The already anxious Kangxi was furious. He dispatched people to escort Yu Chenglong to the capital, intending to execute him as a warning to others. Considering Yu Chenglong's concern for the people, Kangxi ultimately pardoned him. At this moment, the Yellow River breached its banks, and the original governor of the river committed suicide in fear of punishment. Kangxi appointed Jin Fu as the governor of the river to specifically manage the Yellow River. Tang Min, having ingratiated himself with Suo E Tu, was promoted to a position in the capital. Jin Fu wanted to first assess the disaster situation from Henan. On the way, he encountered a commoner, Chen Huang, at the Lüzu Temple in Handan. During their conversation, Jin Fu noticed that Chen Huang was well-versed in the history of the Yellow River floods and had many great insights on managing the Yellow and Huai Rivers. Thus, he recruited Chen Huang as his advisor. Throughout the journey, Jin Fu witnessed the immense suffering of the people struck by disaster and was eager to find a fundamental solution to the Yellow River issue. He submitted eight memorials to Kangxi. Jin Fu began the river management project. Whenever Tang Min had a chance, he would create difficulties for Jin Fu. The so-called Prince of Zhu even personally arrived at Qinghe to cause trouble, adding to Jin Fu's troubles. Fortunately, with the help of Chen Huang and the support of starving people who had once benefited from him, Jin Fu finally managed to close the breach, restoring the river flow. Kangxi inspected the Yellow River and summoned Jin Fu at the Qingjiang riverbank. He indicated that the situation of the Three Feudatories War had improved and urged a faster management of the Yellow River. Kangxi's urgency moved Jin Fu, and he promised to make the Yellow River clear within three years. Suo E Tu immediately seized on this promise and made a big deal out of it, issuing a public declaration to all provinces. Afterwards, Chen Huang advised Jin Fu that three years was too short to truly clear the Yellow River. Jin Fu had to lead the river management efforts with a stiff resolve, exhausting himself to the point of collapsing on the levee. In the second year, the Yellow River faced another flood, with several breaches occurring again. Suo E Tu mobilized his trusted allies to submit memorials to accuse Jin Fu. Mingzhu staunchly defended Jin Fu. Fortunately, the Kangxi Emperor believed that one instance of a river breach could not determine success or failure, and he dispatched Cao Yin from Jiangnan to provide funds to support river works and disaster relief. Jin Fu was greatly moved. Subsequently, Yu Chenglong became the Inspector of Anhui, advocating for dredging the Yellow and Huai Rivers leading to the sea according to the methods of Da Yu (Great Yu). He criticized Jin Fu's river management methods—such as bundling water to flush sand and repairing and reducing dams—as contrary to established precedents. Kangxi tasked Jin Fu with responding. Jin Fu, along with Chen Huang, submitted a memorial explaining that the current Yellow River was not like the ancient Yellow River, and one could not be stuck to the methods of Da Yu. Bundling water and flushing sand was the best way to deal with the suspended river. The decision was left unresolved, and the first investigation was sent by Mingzhu's faction, who returned supporting Jin Fu; the second investigation sent by Suo E Tu's faction returned supporting Yu Chenglong. Kangxi could not make a statement. Just as the autumn flood arrived, Jin Fu aimed to protect the newly constructed levee by utilizing the water-reducing dam to lessen the pressure of the flood. Yu Chenglong, prioritizing the interests of his own people, personally took the risk of leading laborers to raise the water-reducing dam. As a result, they managed to protect the interior of Anhui from flooding but breached the dam downstream. The muddy water inundated the canal, obstructing the grain transportation and hindering Kangxi's preparations for liberating Taiwan. Kangxi was furious. Suo E Tu seized the opportunity to attack Jin Fu and had him arrested. Later, Jin Fu disclosed the hidden matters, and Kangxi relieved Jin Fu of his gubernatorial position, allowing him to redeem himself through merit. Tang Min embezzled a considerable amount of funds allocated for the river management, which Jin Fu discovered. However, he was under duress due to his previous misdeeds and was suppressed by Suo E Tu's confidants. Jin Fu informed Mingzhu. Mingzhu sent investigators to look into Tang Min, who utilized old tricks to cause the new arrivals to fall into disgrace. At this juncture, Yu Chenglong intervened in the case and uncovered Tang Min's previous crimes. Tang Min was stripped of power and revealed his embezzled funds for the river management. Jin Fu was very pleased and thanked Yu Chenglong, yet Yu Chenglong believed that Jin Fu was handling money like a flowing stream and thought that after three years, the Yellow River had not been cleared, which surely indicated that he was also corrupt. He continued to adopt a non-cooperative attitude. With help from Chen Huang and others, Jin Fu finally repaired the long levees along both banks of the Yellow River, built the yarn dams and water-reducing dams. The sand was washed away, the river was cleared, and shipping was smooth again. Kangxi, in disguise, went out to inspect the river, feeling very pleased. He saw the emaciated Jin Fu on the dam and praised him. Jin Fu recommended Chen Huang to Kangxi, explaining that he had not recommended him before due to the high risks of river management and the treacherous nature of the officialdom, fearing that if anything went wrong, it would implicate Chen Huang. Kangxi, with a sigh, appointed Chen Huang to the rank of third-grade assistant. Chen Huang then suggested to Kangxi to open the Central River. Because a segment of the grain transportation ran through the main stream of the Yellow River, during storms or flood seasons, the grain ships could only dock at the pier and wait. Yu Chenglong immediately opposed, arguing that this would overly expend national resources and increase the burden on the common people. Jin Fu and Chen Huang responded that during the river management process, many lands had been dried out and could be sold to farmers; the money obtained could be used to open the Central River. Yu Chenglong again objected, asserting that the dried land should belong to the original owners. The two sides held their ground. In order to ensure smooth communication along the north-south artery, Kangxi still supported Jin Fu and Chen Huang's proposal to open the Central River. Mingzhu's misconduct increasingly came to light, and Yu Chenglong, along with other capital officials, submitted a memorial to expose him. Mingzhu fell from grace, and both Jin Fu and Chen Huang were viewed as members of Mingzhu's faction and were dismissed from their posts. Chen Huang was even thrown into the Tianshi prison, where he suffered greatly due to lack of money and power, while Jin Fu, worn out with effort, fell ill. Yu Chenglong replaced Jin Fu and employed his own theories on managing the river. As a result, after a severe flood, over twenty breaches occurred along the Yellow River. Yu Chenglong locked himself in and went to the capital to plead for forgiveness, admitting that the Yellow River needed to be cleared, and only by reinstating Jin Fu and Chen Huang could it be accomplished. By the time Kangxi realized this, Chen Huang had already died in prison. The imperial edict was sent to Jin Fu's home, and he set out with his son, ill, but died on the way to take office. Upon hearing this, Kangxi felt infinite regret. When Yu Chenglong arrived in the capital, he knelt outside the Yangxin Hall and requested death. Kangxi did not kill him, but handed Chen Huang's remaining works to him, allowing him to retain his position as governor of the river and assigning him the important task of river management. Yu Chenglong diligently implemented Chen Huang's methods for managing the Yellow River and worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk. After several supervisors, generations of river soldiers, and the extraordinary efforts of millions of laborers, on the year of Kangxi's fiftieth birthday, Kangxi finally joyfully proclaimed to the world: Peace throughout the realm, the populace prosperous, hearts unified, and river work completed! The great governance of the Yellow River laid an unprecedented achievement for the flourishing era of Kangxi. The river management measures and theories of Jin Fu, Chen Huang, and others became a valuable legacy in the history of river management in the Chinese nation, with some still holding practical value and continuously being referenced and utilized.