📖 Bianjing Local Gazetteer

Yu the Great blocked the waters of Yingze, opening a passage to the Huai and Si; this is the so-called "Langdang Canal" mentioned in the Water Classic. In the tenth year of King Huicheng of Liang, river waters were diverted into the Putian fields, and a great channel was cut to lead them... In the thirty-first year, in the third month, a grand canal was constructed outside the northern walls to carry water through Putian.

Records of Lineage - Dwelling Chapter: Yu established his capital at Yangcheng, south of Daliang and Kaifeng. It notes that from Yu to Taikang, unlike the era of Tang and Yu, the capital domain remained unchanged. Thus, those who dwelled in Yangcheng did so when Yu fled from Shangjun it was not the capital. Book of Rites: In the righteous commentary on The Plain Garment, Yu's capital lay at Yangcheng, south of Daliang. Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era: The Xia sovereign dwelled at Yangcheng, originally located south of Daliang.

Chenliu County in Bianzhou, a stronghold. In the fourth year of Wude, it was established from Junyi and Kaifeng of Zhengzhou, and Fengqiu of Huazhou. Local tribute: Silk. Households: 109,876; Population: 577,507. Six counties: There is the Xuanwu Army, established in the second year of Jianzhong in Songzhou. In the first year of Xingyuan, it was relocated. Junyi, a prominent county. The original county fell to Li Mi, and the county resident Wang Yaohan led the aristocrats to establish the county, appointing himself as the magistrate. Gaozu followed this, reestablishing Bianzhou and creating the counties of Xiao Huang and Xinli, which were abolished in the first year of Zhenguan. Kaifeng, a prominent county. In the first year of Zhenguan, it was merged into Junyi, and in the first year of Yanhe, Junyi and Weishi were divided to reestablish it. There is the Zhan Canal, which in the first year of Zaichu was redirected from Bian to the White Canal to facilitate the transport of taxes from Cao and Yan. There is the Fuyuan Pool, originally Peng Pool, renamed in the sixth year of Tianbao, where fishing and harvesting are prohibited. Weishi, a prominent county. Originally part of Yingchuan County, Wang Shichong established Weizhou. In the fourth year of Wude, it was abolished, and Weishi, Fugou, and Yanling were used to establish Weizhou, along with the counties of Kangyin, Xinji, Wanling, and Guihua. In the first year of Zhenguan, the state was abolished, and Kangyin, Wanling, Xinji, and Guihua were merged, with Fugou and Yanling belonging to Xuzhou, and Weishi becoming part of it. Fengqiu, a key county. Yongqiu, a prominent county. Originally part of Liang County. In the fourth year of Wude, Yongqiu, Chenliu, Yucheng, Xiangyi, Waihuang, and Jiyang were used to establish Qizhou. In the first year of Zhenguan, the state was abolished, and Jiyang, Yucheng, and Waihuang were merged, with Xiangyi belonging to Songzhou, and Yongqiu and Chenliu becoming part of it. Chenliu, a key county. Established in the fourth year of Wude. There is the Guansheng Dam, and in the tenth year of Zhenguan, Liu Ya was ordered to divert water to irrigate a hundred hectares of fields.

In the Xinhai year, over one million men and women were conscripted from the various commanderies of Henan to excavate the Tongji Canal channeling the Gu and Luo Rivers from the Western Garden to the Yellow River, and diverting the Yellow River from Banzhu toward the Huai River. On the day of Gengshen, Court Attendant Wang Hong and Yu Shicheng, ranked with the Upper Dignitaries, were dispatched to the Southlands to procure timber and construct tens of thousands of vessels among them Dragon Boats, Phoenix Censers, Yellow Dragons, Crimson Warships, and Towered Ships.

Tradition holds that Xiangguo Temple in the Eastern Capital was once the residence of Prince Wuji of Wei, and to this day it remains within the bounds of Xinling Ward. Before the temple once stood the Pavilion of the Prince. During the reign of Ding Wei, the Baokang Gate was opened, and a bridge was built facing the temple; the pavilion was then relocated closer to the east. The temple grounds were once vast, spanning several wards. The Lecture Hall Alley that runs north to south marks the site of the temple's former preaching hall, and the Precepts Hall still stands as the temple's ordination altar.