Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 201

Military Supplies and Navigation: Rivers and Canals, Part 2

Twelve

Because the water breached the banks and overflowed into the lake, causing the current to shift and silt to accumulate, in the 17th year of the Wanli reign 1589 AD; the Wanli Emperor’s reign was marked by significant infrastructure challenges and the work of famed hydraulic engineer Pan Jixun, a proposal was approved to construct a West Earth Dike. It spans three thousand, six hundred and thirty-five zhang Approximately 11.6 kilometers or 7.2 miles in length. Its purpose is to constrain the water within the canal system to save on the heavy costs of constant dredging. A major freshwater lake in central Jiangsu province that served as a crucial buffer for the Grand Canal's water levels. The Temple of the Three Officials (Heaven, Earth, and Water), deities often propitiated by river workers and travelers for safety. Approximately 274 meters. This likely refers to a specific reinforced section of the larger dike system mentioned above.

Temple River

original: "Lu Pu." A station for the imperial postal and transport network. original: "Dai Baihu." A Baihu was a mid-level military officer in the Ming Ming-dynasty "Guards and Battalions" (Weisuo) system, here tasked with infrastructure oversight. original: "Yangzhai Xunsi." A local administrative and security outpost responsible for monitoring river traffic and dike integrity.

Clear Water Likely referring to the relatively silt-free water of the Huai River or a specific tributary before it merged with the sediment-heavy Yellow River.

original: "Ge Tao." Referring to the winding loops of the river channel that required constant management to prevent flooding. original: "Yunti Guan," literally "Cloud Ladder Pass." Historically, this was the primary gateway where the Yellow River entered the Yellow Sea during the period when it flowed south. The estuary leading to the Yellow Sea.