9. The Great Flood and the Passing of the Duty of Flood Control

In ancient times, there was a wise and virtuous ruler in the Central Plains named Emperor Yao. He was kind and benevolent, and under his rule, the world was at peace. But near the end of his reign, a great disaster struck.

For years, heavy rains poured without end, rivers overflowed, and raging floods surged from all directions. The floodwaters rushed like wild horses, surrounding mountains and submerging hills. Fertile farmlands turned into vast oceans. Homes and fields were swept away, and people were forced to flee to higher ground just to survive. Suffering and despair spread everywhere. Seeing his people in such misery, Emperor Yao was deeply troubled.

One day, Yao gathered the leaders of the four regions—known as the “Four Mountains”—along with his ministers for a serious council. Looking at the assembly, Yao said with great concern:

“My lords and ministers, the floodwaters rage endlessly, engulfing mountains and drowning the land. The people are homeless and in agony. Tell me—who among you, or in all the realm, is capable of taking on the responsibility of taming these floods?”

The court fell silent. After a moment of discussion, all eyes turned to the Four Mountains. Stepping forward, they replied:

“Your Majesty, in our opinion, the only person suitable for this task is Gun.”

At the mention of Gun’s name, Yao frowned. He hesitated, then shook his head.

“I know Gun well. He often disobeys orders, acts on his own, and causes division among his kin. I fear he may not be the right man for such a crucial duty.”

But the Four Mountains pressed their case:

“Your Majesty, your worries are understandable. Yet, among all our peers, no one has more experience with waterworks than Gun. The floods are urgent and cannot wait. We beg you to set aside your doubts and give him this chance.”

Yao, being an open-minded ruler, considered their united advice. The floods were worsening, and time was running out. At last, he sighed and said:

“Very well. Since you all insist, let Gun try.”

Thus, Gun was appointed as chief of flood control. Bearing the hopes of the emperor and the people, he began the struggle against the raging waters. Gun’s strategy was to block the waters. He ordered massive dikes and dams to be built to hold back the floods. Thousands of laborers toiled day and night, carrying soil and stone. Wherever the waters broke through, Gun ordered barriers to be raised.

The work was unimaginably hard. One year passed, then two, then three… nine years went by. Despite endless effort, the floods remained uncontrollable. No sooner was one dike built than another was washed away. When one river was blocked, another burst its banks. After nine long years, little progress had been made. The floods still raged, and the people still suffered. Gun’s mission had failed.

During this time, Yao had already entrusted the throne to another worthy man—Shun. After long observation, Yao believed Shun had both virtue and ability, and so he passed him the mandate of rule.

As Emperor Shun took power, he traveled widely to inspect the land and meet the people. What he saw shocked him: the destruction of the floods, the misery of the people, and the failure of Gun’s nine-year effort. Shun was outraged. Not only had Gun wasted enormous resources, but his failure had delayed the fight against the floods and worsened the people’s suffering. To Shun, this was a grave offense.

While touring the region of Mount Yu (in present-day eastern Shandong), Shun made a harsh decision. He ordered Gun to be executed at the foot of the mountain. The news spread quickly. Far from causing outrage, people felt it was fair justice—Shun had acted firmly and justly.

Gun’s end was tragic, but the task of flood control could not be abandoned. Shun understood this well. He did not punish Gun’s family but instead looked for new talent with an open mind.

At a grand assembly, Shun asked his ministers and the Four Mountains:

“Who can continue Emperor Yao’s great work? Who is worthy of this responsibility, to tame the floods and bring order to the land?”

This time, the ministers all answered together:

“Your Majesty, only Yu, the son of Gun, can do this. He should be made Minister of Works. He will surely succeed in completing the great task.”

Shun nodded, pleased.

“Yes. I, too, believe Yu is the right man. It shall be so.”

He summoned Yu and gave him the imperial command:

“Yu, the duty of taming the waters is now yours. The safety of the realm and the lives of the people depend on you. Do not fail.”

Yu bowed deeply, grateful yet humbled. With mixed feelings of honor, duty, and the painful memory of his father’s failure, he replied:

“Your Majesty, there are others more worthy than I—Qi, Hou Ji, and Gao Yao are all more capable. Perhaps the task should go to them.”

But Shun insisted:

“No, Yu. Do not refuse. This task belongs to you, and only you can carry it through.”

And so, the great mission of flood control was passed from father to son. From Gun’s tragic failure to Yu’s determined beginning, a new chapter in the fight against the floods was about to unfold.